Chapter 2

One of the elders of the family cleared his throat, trying to calm the chaotic scene.

“Everyone, quiet down!” His deep voice carried an unquestionable authority.

The room gradually fell silent, and every gaze turned toward him.

He looked at Evelyn. “Evelyn, why did you call everyone here?”

Evelyn took a deep breath, as if she were gathering her courage.

She wrapped an arm around Ryan’s shoulders, looking as if they shared some tragic, undying love.

“Actually, I have an important announcement to make today.” She paused, sweeping her gaze over everyone before finally looking at Noah and me.

I watched her in silence, wondering what ridiculous performance she would put on next.

“Noah, he… he isn’t Ethan’s biological son.” Evelyn’s voice wasn’t loud, but her words exploded through the living room like a bomb.

Noah whipped his head around to look at me, his eyes filled with shock.

I signaled for him to stay calm.

The relatives around us began whispering among themselves, stirring excitedly like sharks that had smelled blood.

“Back when we underwent IVF…” Evelyn paused, as if the words were difficult to say. “The doctor said Ethan’s sperm quality wasn’t good… To keep from hurting his feelings about wanting to become a father, I replaced it with Ryan’s…”

This shameless thief had actually stolen my sperm and now tried to dump all the blame on me!

Evelyn cast me an ill-intentioned look, clearly hoping I would lose control in a rage.

But I remained perfectly calm, leaving her no choice but to continue her performance.

“I called everyone here today so they could witness…” She looked deeply at Ryan. “Noah accepting his biological father.”

The surrounding relatives immediately erupted.

“Noah isn’t Ethan Carter’s son, so of course he should recognize his biological father!”

“Exactly. Ethan has occupied the position of the Carters’ son-in-law for all these years. It’s time for him to step aside!”

“Ethan has controlled the Carter family’s business all these years. Now that the truth is out, he should step down from the Carter Group!”

I listened to their comments and sneered inwardly.

These relatives had ulterior motives. In recent years, I had suppressed them and removed them from the company’s management, leaving them with nothing but annual dividends to live on. They had resented me for it.

Now they were delighted to watch the drama unfold. If Evelyn and I fell out, they could return to the company and claim their share of the profits.

Noah tightened his grip on my hand as he looked at the relatives’ undisguised greed.

I spoke up. “Noah will always be my child.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but every word landed with weight.

Ryan put on a helpless expression and choked out, “Ethan, how long are you going to keep lying to yourself?”