I Crashed His Meeting to Give Him a Son

"You better say that again outside!"

"Hey, don't beat yourself up, man. Your skills are still lousy, and you're as forgetful as ever. But let’s be real, you're almost 30. Men peak around 30, but it's also normal to start slipping a little."

The man's expression darkened considerably. This woman spoke like a seasoned critic, casually evaluating his abilities. He wanted to argue back, but his memory came up empty—he'd never been with a woman before, so he had no proof to counter her claims. He gritted his teeth and corrected her, "Woman, I'm 29. Is it appropriate to call me 'old man' every time you speak?"

His appearance was undeniably striking. Among the stars at a Hollywood gala, he'd stand out as one of the most handsome. At 29, he exuded a confident maturity, making him an ideal match for women seeking romance. And he was Khai Howell, a powerhouse in the business world. Just his name alone commanded immense respect.

"But I'm only 22! There's a seven-year gap between us! So, really, calling you 'old man' is just being generous," Maeve Riley quipped.

Khai's grip tightened ever so slightly, "You're 22? And you had that child three years ago, which means you gave birth at 19, so you were with me at 18..."

Maeve initially wanted to conceal her age, but she knew that if Khai had come looking for her, he had already done his homework. She could bluff about a child, but her birthdate was set in stone. She laughed coolly and, under Khai's scrutiny, spun her tale, "Yes, yes. Maybe I was just too attractive back then, and you couldn't help yourself."

Khai scrutinized her calm demeanor, showing no signs of deception. He growled, "You better not be lying to me!"

"I swear, not a single lie. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me," she swore.

—Of course, technically, she wasn’t lying, because it was all made up. Maeve maintained her innocent and charming facade. Khai seemed to accept it, leaning against the wall and releasing her arm. He stood tall, casting a shadow over her, eyes gleaming with intensity as he asked, "Your name."

Maeve was taken aback. He had come all this way and still didn’t know her name? "My name is none of your..." The word 'business' was interrupted as his commanding presence silenced her defiance. "Maeve Riley," she finally conceded.

"Maeve Riley," he repeated, her name rolling off his tongue with a deep, melodic resonance that made her ears grow warm. "Still in school?"

"Yes," she replied. "I've been juggling work and studies all these years just to provide for your child. Look at these hands, worn and weary."

She hoped to stir his guilt, to wipe the smugness from his face so he would leave her alone. But to her surprise, Khai lifted her hand, examining it closely. Though he'd never touched another woman's hand, Maeve's was soft and smooth, addictively so. Suppressing his feelings, he spoke slowly, "Understood."

Wait, what did he mean by that? It sounded like he was signing a contract!

"Now that you understand, you should..." she began, secretly praying he'd vanish from her life. But before she could finish, Khai cut her off with unexpected words.

"I'll take responsibility," he declared.

No! This was not what she wanted!

Is he out of his mind?

Maeve jerked her hand back as if burned and took a breath to steady herself. "No, I don't need you to take responsibility. We live in different worlds. My focus isn't on this; I have my own dreams, my ambitions, my future. Once I leave the child with you, I'll focus on myself. So if you feel any guilt, treat Eli well. As for me, just consider me gone. Well then, old man, goodbye forever," she said, waving her hand dismissively before turning to leave.

Initially, Khai had questioned her intentions in seeking him out, but after tonight, he realized Maeve had no hidden motives. Instead, there was a deliberate distance about her. Her attitude only increased his curiosity, prompting him to delve deeper into her life to discover the truth. He was particularly interested in why every other woman triggered his old symptoms, yet she, even in close proximity, did not.

His dark, enigmatic gaze lingered on Maeve, filled with intrigue.

Maeve opened the door, eager to escape this complicated mess, only to be blocked by a woman radiating hostility.

"Maeve Riley, you're really here!" Aliza George stood with a cadre of henchmen, all clad in black and looking stern.

Maeve had expected this confrontation, knowing Aliza would soon face the consequences of her own actions. Aliza's eyes were bloodshot, glaring at Maeve with intense fury.

Maeve elegantly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Khai's words today had bolstered her confidence—he already believed Eli was his son. With Eli secured, Maeve had no other concerns.

She lifted her chin defiantly, "Oh, here to beg for forgiveness?"

"Beg? You trash, you're finished, and you're still so arrogant!"

"Please, let’s not act. Compared to you, dear Miss Aliza, with your rotten heart and dubious reputation, don’t pretend you’re pure," Maeve replied, her words heavy with implication.

As expected, Aliza's face flushed with rage. Her hand shot up, ready to strike Maeve, "I'm not pure? And you're any better? Broke with a gambling father and a kid; how do you even manage? Oh right, you probably turned down the older man I set up for you, opting for another. Does the one you found have better skills or more money? Pathetic!"

Maeve, determined not to stoop to Aliza's level, snapped at the mention of Eli. In a flash, she delivered a swift kick, causing Aliza to crash to the ground.

"Ah!!" Aliza's scream echoed.

"What are you standing there for? Get her! Anyone who brings her down tonight gets a hundred grand in cash!"