Chapter 3

Mark tried to persuade her further, but seeing Serena’s determined attitude, he could only withdraw his hand awkwardly.

However, he secretly pulled out his phone and quickly sent a message to a confidant, instructing them to destroy some crucial evidence.

He thought he had done it perfectly.

But he didn't know that if I dared to appear here today, I came fully prepared.

My people acted almost simultaneously with his.

At this point, Serena’s gaze returned to Kaia, her eyes filled with obsessive resentment.

“Arthur, you think you can pretend not to know me and trick me with this child?”

Her voice trembled.

It wasn't the frenzy of madness, but more like six years of suppressed grievance and hatred.

“I’ll tell you one thing: as long as she has my blood, she must stay with the Linwood family, under my control!”

Serena slammed her hand on the table, warning me.

It was clear she was very confident about the files.

Kaia, scared by her fierce gaze, shrank back behind me.

Her small hand gripped my shirt tightly, her voice laced with a sob:

“Daddy…”

I gently patted her back, my eyes suddenly turning cold as I looked at Serena.

“She is my daughter, and she answers only to me!”

“As for what happened back then…”

“Do you really think I was the one who initiated it?”

I scoffed.

“What did you say?”

Serena’s face instantly flushed red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“Arthur, a pathetic driver like you dares to twist the truth? Back then, it was clearly you who…”

“It was Mark who told you I drugged and assaulted you, right?”

I cut her off, my gaze directly piercing Mark.

Mark’s lips twitched.

His eyes seemed to hold a hint of panic.

“Cut the crap!”

Mark’s face was grim as he reiterated:

“You’re the one who set up Serena back then, making her pregnant with your child! You ruined her life!”

“And now you’re back, bothering her with the child, simply trying to use the child as leverage to extort money from the Linwood family!”

The murmuring grew louder and louder. The eyes fixed on me were filled with disdain and contempt.

“So it really was a setup? This guy is disgusting.”

“Coming back with a child to extort money, even using his own daughter—he has no bottom line.”

“Poor Ms. Linwood, to be entangled with someone like this.”

To them, Serena and Mark’s words were clearly more trustworthy.

After all, in their eyes, I was just a driver.

My humble origins were my biggest sin.

Kaia didn't understand the adults' contempt, but she sensed the hostility around her, and her crying intensified.

“Daddy, they’re so mean. Can we go home?”

I held her tightly, my palm gently stroking her back to comfort her, my eyes as cold as a deep pool.

I didn't even glance at Serena or Mark.

“Whether it was my setup or not, we’ll know once the files arrive.”

“But by then, Serena, I hope you manage to stay calm. And you better not regret it!”