The Final Checkmate

Zayn leaned in cheerfully, gently tapping Lucas's tiny nose. "My smart boy knows that his mommy is the better-looking one! Lucas, I can't wait for you to grow up and take over your mom's responsibilities so she can relax!"

I smirked to myself. Lucas was not even a month old, and Zayn was already so eager. I could not help but wonder how he would react when he realized I was the one in control, not them.

After Lucas was born, Yvonne visited more frequently, happily running errands despite my demands. She would occasionally mutter, "Why doesn't he look anything like me? He's like Candice's carbon copy."

Zayn always reassured her, saying, "Well, Candice carried him for nine months. It's normal that he looks like her now."

Soon, Lucas began showing signs of exceptional intelligence. Zayn proudly told everyone that Lucas had inherited his brains while ignoring how much the boy increasingly resembled me.

In elementary school, Lucas skipped three grades. He completed all his high school courses in three years and graduated as the state's top science student.

Within five years, he earned his Ph.D. and was acclaimed as a computer genius worldwide. His breakthrough chip technology led the domestic market and rivaled top international innovations.

Right after graduation, major international companies competed to recruit him. Meanwhile, the Summers Group announced that Lucas would take over as CEO.

Three days later, at the Summers Group's share transfer ceremony, just after I signed the agreement, Zayn suddenly took the stage. He grabbed the microphone and paused dramatically.

He said, "Thank you all for attending Lucas's succession ceremony. After careful consideration, I've decided to reveal the truth—Lucas is actually my child with Yvonne! Candice has no biological connection to him."

The room erupted into chaos. Camera flashes everywhere as reporters fired increasingly pointed questions.

"Mr. Yeager, are you saying you had an affair 18 years ago and made your wife raise your mistress' child?" one reporter demanded.

Another called out, "How does your conscience handle 18 years of deception?"

A third reporter asked, "Did you wait until Ms. Summers signed over her shares to reveal this? Was this your plan all along?"

The livestream comments section exploded.

[Oh my God, this is horrifying! They planned to steal her entire fortune!]

[I just looked it up. The mistress was a scholarship student Candice sponsored! What an ungrateful traitor! Karma will get her!]

Yvonne panicked, grabbing the microphone to defend herself. "What mistress? What Zayn and I have is true love—she's the outsider!"

Zayn's face darkened as he threatened them, saying, "Anyone who spreads more lies will face the consequences."

Then, he placed divorce papers in front of me with a grim expression. "Candice, let's end this. After 18 years, Lucas should be with his real mother."

I smirked and signed the divorce papers without hesitation. Yvonne burst into tears of joy and rushed toward Lucas. "My precious son, we can finally be together!"

Lucas was exasperated. He shook his head at me and stepped away from Yvonne. "My real mom is right here, so don't try to claim me as yours!"

Yvonne stumbled, frozen by his words. She looked pleadingly at Zayn, tears welling in her eyes.

"Lucas, stop this nonsense!" Zayn frowned. "I know this is hard to accept, but it's true. You're an adult now and the majority shareholder of the Summers Group—you need to handle this rationally."

Yvonne clutched Zayn's sleeve, looking hopefully at Lucas. She sobbed and said, "Are you angry with me, sweetie? I had my reasons. Your dad and I fell in love at first sight, but we were poor then and couldn't give you a good life.

"For your future, I had to let you grow up with this woman who stole your dad away from me!"

Yvonne angrily pointed at me before switching to a sweet smile. "But things are different now! My precious son is successful and has inherited the Summers Group—we can finally be a family!"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "So, I'm supposed to thank you for your thoughtfulness? My mom raised me for 18 years and gave me the Summers Group. Now, you want me to abandon her and use her company to support you two?"

He laughed coldly. "You two are the most shameless beings I've ever seen."

Yvonne choked on her words, her fake smile freezing on her face. On the other hand, Zayn exploded.

"Watch your mouth! She's your birth mother! You have an unbreakable blood connection—has all your education taught you nothing? Apologize immediately!"

I had planned to toy with this despicable couple longer, but their attempts to separate Lucas from me crossed a line. I asked, "What proof do you have that Lucas isn't my biological son?"

I gazed across the assembled media before playfully pinching Lucas's cheek. Lucas played along, crouching down his six-foot-three frame to match my height.

I asked, "How can you claim we're not related when we look identical?"