"You can't possibly be my daddy."

Becca Young sat in the chair, her big eyes locked onto the man in front of her, curiosity flickering across her tiny face.

She was only four years old!

Right now, she was supposed to be in kindergarten. But after just one class, a towering man,easily over six feet, had shown up and whisked her away. His expression was as cold as ice, and he claimed, of all things, to be her father.

"That’s impossible," she declared, crossing her arms. "Mommy told me Daddy is dead. He jumped off a building! His head cracked open like a watermelon, and his brains splattered everywhere. The grass on his grave is as tall as me by now."

To prove her point, Becca raised a tiny hand, indicating her height. Her serious expression only made her look cuter.

The corner of Matthew Benson’s lips twitched. He shot a look at the butler, who immediately handed Becca a stack of documents.

Matthew’s voice was as cold as steel. "This is a paternity test. It proves you're my child."

Becca’s small mouth fell open. She stared at the paper, momentarily speechless.

Meanwhile, Matthew studied her intently. Though she was only four, she was already nearly four feet tall. Her innocent little face was striking, but her sharp, obsidian-like eyes held a wisdom beyond her years.

Becca finally snapped out of her daze and narrowed her eyes. "Then why did Mommy say you were dead?"

Matthew raised an eyebrow. He had expected crying, tantrums, maybe even a full-blown meltdown. Instead, this tiny child was calmly interrogating him.

Why had they declared him dead? The answer was simple. Because to them, he had been a heartless bastard.

Becca’s expression stiffened at his silence. Her delicate brows furrowed. "I get it now," she muttered. "You’re a scoundrel. You played with my mommy’s heart, then threw her away. She hates you so much that she pretended you were dead."

Well reasoned.

Matthew dismissed her words without hesitation. "I didn’t abandon her. There was… a reason."

Becca’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She hopped down from her chair and approached him, her tiny face full of intrigue. "Tell me! If it’s really some tragic reason, I might consider putting in a good word for you with Mommy."

Before Matthew could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the room. His expression darkened.

"Mind your own business, kid. Stay put. I’ll bring your mommy over. Then, our little family can reunite."

Without another word, he turned and strode away.

Becca scowled, muttering under her breath, "Ha! Wishful thinking. You have no idea how tough the women in my family are."

…

Downstairs,

A look of worry painted Emma's face as she scanned her surroundings, her heart pounding.

She had barely stepped into work when the call came from Becca's kindergarten teacher, her voice trembling. A group of men in black had taken Becca away.

By the time Emma had rushed out of the building, another set of men had intercepted her, their faces cold, unreadable. They gave no answers, no explanations, just forced her into a car and drove off.

Now, she stood in a vast, eerily silent hall.

Too quiet.

Even her own heartbeat felt deafening in the stillness.

Then, a sound.

A light footstep.

Emma’s head snapped up, her pulse hammering in her ears.

A pair of dark, ink-like eyes met hers.

The breath left her lungs. A chilling wave of familiarity crashed into her, making her limbs feel weak. Her fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into her palm.

No… it can't be.

The man's lips quirked into the faintest smirk as he descended the stairs, his every step slow, deliberate, taunting.

Closer.

Even closer.

Emma’s entire body tensed.

It’s him.

It’s really him.

Rage burned in her chest, but she held still. If not for Becca’s safety, she would have already swung her fist and shattered his jaw.

The man finally stopped a few feet away, his sharp gaze locked onto hers. His voice, deep and magnetic, cut through the silence.

"So... you've been telling people I'm dead?"

That damn voice was still as intoxicating as ever,so smooth, so rich…dangerously captivating, it could make a woman’s ears pregnant.