On the day Richard returned home, I took my son by the hand and went to the Snow residence. Mavis was tied up with work, so she told me to go ahead first and that she'd arrive later.

After five years away, everything at the Snow residence appeared the same, and yet I felt everything had changed.

Quilton now carried himself like the head of the Snow residence, standing with Melissa to greet the guests who came to see Richard.

When she saw me bringing a three-year-old boy, Melissa gave a look that screamed, "I knew it!"

"Zack, didn't you say you'd bring your wife back? Where is she? Why did you bring a kid?" Melissa asked with mockery.

Smiling, I held my son's hand tighter. "This is my son, Tyler Johnson."

Melissa's face blanched. "Your son? Impossible! Where did you even get a kid?"

I looked at her, puzzled. "I'm married. Of course, he's the child my wife and I had together."

Melissa's expression shifted once more before she suddenly let out a mocking laugh. "Look at his sickly state. He's probably one of your students from Mount Dalon, right? Zack, you're really going all out just to spite me."

Upon sensing Melissa's hostility, Tyler shrank behind me. I held him protectively while feeling heartbroken. "If you have a problem, come at me. Don't drag a child into this," I said defensively.

Melissa was about to say more, but Quilton quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Zack, don't just stand there. Please, come in."

Tyler followed me inside, visibly nervous in the unfamiliar setting as he clung tightly to my hand. I gently reassured him, "It's okay, Tyler. Everyone here is family."

From across the room, Richard spotted me and immediately waved. "Zack, come here quickly."

I briskly walked over while holding Tyler's hand.

Richard looked me over with satisfaction, saying, "I haven't seen you in years. Zack, you're starting to look more and more like your father."

When I heard him mention my father, I felt a sharp sting rise in my nose.

"Zack, you're 26 now, right?" Richard asked.

I nodded.

Richard chuckled. "You and Melissa aren't young anymore. It's about time to settle down."

Quilton's smile froze when he heard that, but Melissa reacted even strongly. She abruptly stood up. "Dad, I just finished my master's. I'm not in a rush to get married."

Richard frowned, and he suddenly slammed the table with his fists. "Zack has been waiting for you all these years! How much longer do you expect him to wait?"

Melissa opened her mouth, wanting to argue but also not knowing what to say. All she could do was glare at me in frustration, as if asking me if I were satisfied now.

I blinked at her innocently. She didn't want to marry me, and I didn't want to marry her either. I addressed Richard respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Richard. But I'm already married, and my son is already three years old."

I patted Tyler's head and said, "Tyler, greet Mr. Snow."

"What?" Richard stared at me in disbelief, his eyes wide open.

He looked at Tyler, then turned to Melissa and demanded, "What's going on here? Zack, weren't you with Melissa? How could you have married someone else? Why didn't anyone tell me about something this big?"

Just as I was about to speak, Melissa suddenly shoved me. "Zack, haven't you had enough of this act?"

Startled by the shove, Tyler burst into tears. I quickly crouched down and gently patted his back. "It's okay, Tyler. I'm here."

Melissa pointed at me angrily. "Zack, tell my dad the truth! This kid is your student, right?"

I looked at her calmly. "Tyler is my biological son. He was born after I got married at Mount Dalon."

Melissa clearly didn't believe it. "Impossible! You say you're married, so where's your wife? Why isn't she here?"

I replied flatly, "My wife was held up by work and will be here shortly."

Richard was overwhelmed by the commotion and muttered, "Why did Zack even go to Mount Dalon? And he got married and had a kid there? This… This…"

As he spoke, Richard clutched his head and began to sway unsteadily.

Shocked, I rushed forward to support him, but Melissa shoved me aside and had the butler escort Richard back to his room.

Melissa's expression kept shifting as we watched Richard and the guests leave. After a moment, she looked up at me and said, "I don't care if he's really your son or not. If I haven't said we're over, don't even think about getting married and having kids. Someone, take this brat away."

I quickly shielded Tyler and shouted, "Melissa!"

Melissa waved her hand, and the Snow family's bodyguards swiftly surrounded us. They pinned me down without hesitation, rendering me immobile.

"What are you doing?" I shouted, struggling desperately. Still, I couldn't break free from their grip.

Melissa stepped in front of me, towering above me. Her tone was icy as she said, "Zack, listen carefully. This little brat will ruin your future. Get rid of him and I'll take care of you."

I glared at her in fury. "Melissa, how can you do this? He's my biological son! You can't do this!"

She sneered, "Your biological son? What a joke. You're nothing but a dog I raised. What right do you have to have a family? Without that child, you'll still belong to me."

She turned to Tyler with a flicker of disgust in her eyes. "Take this child away and dump him somewhere," she ordered.

Two bodyguards dragged Tyler away by force. He cried out loudly, "Daddy! Daddy!"

Melissa turned back and slapped him hard across the face. "You brat! He's not your dad!"

I felt like my heart was being torn apart. I fought with everything I had, but the four bodyguards held me down tightly, and I couldn't move at all.

"Tyler! Melissa, leave him alone! Come at me instead!" I yelled.

Rage filled my vision, and I was about to lunge at Melissa like a madman when suddenly, one of the bodyguards who was dragging Tyler away flew backward and hit the floor. The sharp, cold sound of high heels clicked steadily and powerfully against the floor.

Mavis walked in holding Tyler in her arms, her icy gaze sweeping across the room.

"What do you think you're doing to my son?" she demanded.