Chapter 97

Irene stepped forward and asked, "Is this the child? Let me see."

Michael clung tightly to Jonathan's neck. "Mr. Lime, I'm shy around strangers."

"It's okay. Don't be afraid," Jonathan reassured Michael, patting his head. He wondered, He's usually quite outgoing; why is he so shy today?

Irene could only see the back of Michael's head. She calmly asked, "What's his name?"

"Mike," Jonathan answered.

Irene coaxed patiently, "Mike, let me see your face."

Michael finally turned, and Irene was momentarily stunned. The next second, her eyes welled up, and her voice softened. "This child… Mike, let me have a good look at you."

She gently touched Michael's cheek and glared at Jonathan. "I thought you made up a story to fool me, but he really is your child."

Jonathan hesitated before saying, "Not my child. I'll send him back to his parents later."

Irene sneered. "Where are you sending him? This kid looks exactly like you did when you were young. Who would believe he's not your child? I'm old, but I'm not senile."

She then looked at Hayden and said, "Hayden, look at this child. Doesn't he look just like Jonathan?"

Hayden slowly approached with Cheryl's help. After examining Michael's face, he said, "I've seen this child before. He came to Jonathan's company looking for his dad. I thought he looked familiar then. I must be getting senile not to recognize he looks like Jonathan. Haha!"

Cheryl chimed in, "Really? I don't think he looks like Jonathan at all."

Hayden glared at Cheryl and retorted, "How does he not? He looks exactly like Jonathan when he was young."

Jonathan emphasized, "Grandpa, he's really not my son."

Hayden, ignoring Jonathan, turned to Michael with a wrinkled smile. "You're Mike, right? I'm your great-grandfather. Is Mr. Lime your dad?"

Michael nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly shook his head.

Hayden sighed. "Kids don't lie! You must not want to take responsibility for the child and pressured him into denying it on the way here, right?"

Jonathan was amused. "He's really not my son. Do you have to insist on twisting the facts?"

Hayden chuckled. "If not, why did you bring him home? Do I need to hit you before you admit it?"

"Don't hit Mr. Daddy Lime!" Michael suddenly shouted.

Jonathan patted his back. "Don't worry, Grandpa is just joking. He won't really hit me."

Hayden became nervous, fiddling with his hands, and gently poked Michael's cheek. "Dear, I was just joking. I won't hit him. I haven't hit anyone in years."

Michael remained silent, clinging to Jonathan's neck and refusing to look at anyone else.

Irene questioned, "Why is the child so introverted? Doesn't he talk at all? Where has he been staying? And who is his mother?"

Jonathan frowned. "Have you finished with your questions? I've already said he's not my son. Mom, you insisted on seeing the child, so I brought over a friend's kid to show you. That's it."

After Jonathan spoke, everyone was speechless. He had planned to stay for a meal but changed his mind and decided to leave with Michael.

Irene stopped him. "If he's not your child, why does he look so much like you?"

Jonathan repeated, "He's not." He added, "If he were my son, I'd be the happiest person in the world. I'd book the top five-star hotel in Nareigh and celebrate with fireworks for a whole week. But unfortunately, he's not."

Cheryl said, "If Jonathan says he's not, then he's not. Maybe your eyes aren't as sharp as before. To me, this kid looks nothing like Jonathan; they are clearly different."

Cheryl's words left Irene confused. Is he really not my grandson? she wondered.

"All right. Enough," Hayden declared. "Let's stop the pointless argument. Just do a DNA test to find out."

Jonathan refused. "There's no need."

Hayden insisted, "Do it! Get that DNA test done immediately. If he's your son and you're denying it, just wait and see how I'll deal with you."