< Chapter 449
Chapter 449
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Tim didn’t know what to say. Sam added, “Uncle Tim, I think I’ve heard your voice somewhere before…”
Over the holidays, Ashley had been on speakerphone for hours discussing business with Tim. Sam had been there. No wonder Tim’s voice sounded familiar to him.
Tim didn’t explain. He just chuckled. “Is that so?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah.”
Tim
smoothly
replied, “Maybe it’s because my voice is SO common, sweetheart.”
Hearing this, Chase touched his perfectly sculpted nose and smiled.
“What the hell is so funny?” Tim thought.
Guests began to arrive in droves. The Sterlings went to entertain them.
Rumors had swirled through high society circles for months: Chase, the well–known billionaire, was secretly married with a child. But the truth remained elusive.
As more guests arrived, the discussion grew more heated. They saw Sam, a young version of Chase, holding Chase’s hand and sweetly calling him “Daddy.” The rumors must be true. Chase had a child.
Whether Chase was married or divorced, however, remained a mystery. The Sterlings weren’t spilling the beans.
Jeffery had already met Sam before, but he’d kept it under wraps. His best friend, Benjamin, nearly choked on his drink. “Holy crap,” he exclaimed, “Chase’s actually married, and his kid’s about six years old! So, Tanya’s gonna be a stepmother? What a shame…”
Benjamin wanted to say Tanya got the short end of the stick, but then he remembered the gap between the two families and Chase’s undeniable appeal. Given Chase’s status, even though he had a child, Tanya’s marriage to him would be a success. Plus, boy as Sam was, Tanya would inherit more than half of Chase’s fortune as long as she popped out another child.
another child. Chase’s previous marriage wouldn’t be a problem to Tanya.
Meanwhile, a guest said to Wendy, “Tim’s still so young, and Eternal is already so successful! Wendy, your son is truly exceptional.”
Wendy beamed.“Oh, please, he’s just lucky,” she said modestly.
The conversation then shifted to Ashley.“Tim’s still single, right? He and Miss Jones from his company seem quite close. Any wedding bells on the horizon?”
Tim and Ashley weren’t romantically involved. But Wendy didn’t correct the guest.“That’s entirely up to themselves,” she said smoothly, her words implying she’d be happy to arrange the wedding if they decided to get married.
Zark and Ethan were seated nearby, and they overheard the conversation. While Tim and Ashley had been close for the past six months, Ethan never believed Ashley would marry into the Reed family. Eternal was booming, and a man like Tim, with his lineage and success, could have any woman he wanted. Why would he choose Ashley, a divorced single mother with humble background and no substantial career? Wendy’s words shocked him a lot.
Ethan looked at Zark in astonishment. “The Reeds… are they insane?” he whispered. “Or do they not know about Ashley’s past?”
Rumors of Tim and Ashley dating had run rampant before. After learning that Ashley was also a student of Burke, Zark had observed them closely and sensed no romantic connection. He couldn’t tell if Wendy was joking. Nevertheless, given Ashley’s current achievements, even with her past, she deserved anyone. He replied, “They should know.”
Ethan’s eyes widened.“Then why…” He stopped abruptly, as if a thought struck him.“So, Ashley really fell for Tim, and she’s over Chase?” He thought for a while and then continued, “That’s why she was so calm when Chase wanted a divorce, and didn’t even fight for Sam’s custody! I thought she was plotting something to win Chase
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< Chapter 449
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back. Turns out she had a backup plan. If she keeps Sam, it’ll be really hard for her to marry into the Reed family…”
Zark remained silent. Ethan was really surprised. the Reeds would
accept Ashley.
Seeing Chase approach, Ethan couldn’t resist sharing it with him.“Zark and I overheard Tim’s mother talking to a guest. She sounded really keen on Ashley being with Tim,” he said. “I think Ashley’ll marry Tim soon after the divorce.”
Chase raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. “Oh? Really?”
Ethan said, “That’s what Wendy implied. Ask Zark.”
Chase looked at Zark.
“…Yeah.” Wendy’s words did indeed suggest that.
Chase smiled and said nothing.
Then, Marshall arrived. He was almost the last guest. Ignoring Chase, he handed his gift to Emily. After talking with her, he turned to Sam with a warm smile.“Sam, come give me a hug.”
Sam hugged him. He chuckled, “That’s my boy.”
Sam looked at him and asked, “Mr. Cook, why didn’t Mommy come with you?”
Sam had already asked Chase about Ashley. He said she was too busy to come. Still, he couldn’t help but ask Marshall why Ashley didn’t come.
Many guests, who were curious about Sam’s mother, watched intently. Jeffery was one of them. Marshall smiled gently.“She couldn’t make it; she’s busy.”
“Fine.”
Sam didn’t call
Marshall
“great–grandfather,” which
meant
his
mother wasn’t
a
Cook.
Still, the
mystery of Sam’s mother remained. However, Marshall’s words gave the impression to those who were uninformed that Chase and Sam’s mother were divorced, but they had kept it from Sam.
