Chapter 576 Concerns Of The Shaw Family
“Leanne, since you refuse to believe us, you should go ahead with the paternity test. Only by doing so would you know if both of us are really telling the truth.”
At that moment, I found it pointless to continue arguing with Leanne, for nothing we said could get through to her. As a result, the only way to change her mind was to rely on science, hence the paternity test.
After hearing my argument, Leanne fell silent while her face lost all color. Evidently, what happened today didn’t go according to her plan. She must have assumed that Michael would return to her side once he saw Melvin. Unfortunately, the matter had developed in a manner that deviated significantly from her expectation.
“As of now, the paternity test is the only way to determine whether the child is mine or not. If he really is, I’ll definitely take responsibility for both of you. If the result says otherwise, you had better make sure you disappear from my life.”
Michael, who had been silent throughout, finally stated his stand while staring at Leanne with an indifferent expression.
The fact that he said those words supported my conviction that the child wasn’t his. That led me to let out a long sigh of relief.
After staring at Michael’s face, Leanne finally replied with an expression that was filled with anguish, “Do you really think Melvin isn’t your child? Why do you resent the fact that he is our son so much?”
“My feelings and hopes are irrelevant to this entire saga. Isn’t the paternity test the only way to determine whether the child belongs to me? Leanne, don’t you want to know for certain if I’m the father?”
Michael met Leanne’s sorrowful gaze with his usual emotionless expression. In spite of the accusations she hurled at him, there was barely a minute change on his face.
A long silence ensured before Leanne locked gazes with Michael and replied firmly, “Fine. I’ll prove that Melvin is our child. If the paternity test shows that he is your son, I hope that you’ll keep your promise when the time comes!”
The only reason she dared to agree to it was that she truly believed Melvin was Michael’s son.
Nevertheless, I sympathized with Leanne when I saw how she reacted to the matter. Since she was unwavering in her faith that her son was Michael’s, I wondered how she would take it when she finally realized she had no idea who the father truly was. In fact, I wasn’t even sure if she could take the shock of such a revelation.
However, that was no longer any of my business. All that mattered to me was having the paternity test prove that Melvin wasn’t Michael’s son.
Michael looked into Leanne’s eyes and declared earnestly, “If you can prove that he is my son, I’ll take responsibility for the two of you.”
Locking gazes with him, Leanne felt tears welling up in her eyes. Coupled with her ashen-looking face, she looked extremely haggard.
Subsequently, I walked up to Michael’s side and took his arm before suggesting softly, “Let’s go.”
Learning of the truth behind the matter came as a mental release for me. As for Leanne, there was no way a woman like her could become a threat to my relationship with Michael.
After shooting Leanne a glance, Michael turned around and left with me in tow.
After getting into Michael’s car, I heaved a long sigh of relief.
“I didn’t expect both of you to have such a complicated history. When she wanted to give herself to you during her twenty-second birthday, were you frustrated that you never took her then?”
The thought that Michael never took Leanne’s virginity due to being bogged down by something else gave me a sense of inexplicable relief. Even though I had long prepared myself mentally for the fact, I would still feel saddened by it.
“I think you’re the one who seems more frustrated by it. That smug expression on your face says it all!” Michael replied in resignation after rolling his eyes at me.
Nevertheless, he was right. Whatever crossed my mind would never escape his notice. As if he could read my mind, he would always see through all my thoughts.
“So what if you know what I’m thinking? I just can’t help my delight in knowing that nothing happened between both of you despite being together for three years.”
At that moment, I just couldn’t contain my emotions, but it barely mattered for there was no need for me to do so in front of Michael.
When he saw how delighted I was, Michael simply shook his head before driving off.
Upon returning to the Shaw residence, the entire family was sitting in the living room waiting for us. The stern faces on every single one of them filled me with a sense of dread.
I walked up to them and greeted them with a smile, “Dad, Mom, Grandpa, why are all of you gathered here?”
Looking at Michael with a grim expression, Andy was the first to broach the topic. He asked coldly, “Michael, what’s all this about Leanne’s child? Is it really yours?”
Taking his seat on the couch nearby, Michael explained in a nonchalant tone, “No, it has nothing to do with me at all.”
“How can you still say that the child isn’t yours when Leanne has brought the child out here?”
It was obvious Andy didn’t buy Michael’s explanation as he gave the latter an angry and disappointing look.
Furrowing his brows, Michael retorted with a tone that was tinged with rage, “I just told you that the child isn’t mine!”
Right when I saw Andy about to say something, I interrupted at once, ”Grandpa, Michael really has nothing to do with the child. We have gone to see him today and persuaded Leanne to take him for a paternity test.”
I was well aware of the disdain the Shaw family had for Leanne. Therefore, their expressions darkened at my mention of her. After all, they too didn’t wish for the child to be Michael’s.
“Is the child really not Michael’s?”
Just as I spoke, Andy gave me a skeptical look. Evidently, he wasn’t convinced that the child didn’t belong to Michael.
When it was clear to me that Andy didn’t believe both of us, I declared at once, “Grandpa, I guarantee that the child is undeniably not Michael’s. The result of the paternity test will definitely prove the matter beyond any doubt. Unless, of course, you don’t trust the two of us?”
In truth, I was cognizant that the Shaw family didn’t want Leanne’s appearance to come between Michael and me. That was the reason why they treated the matter with such gravity. Hence, I was deeply grateful to them for their concern. Ever since I got back together with Michael, they had treated me exceptionally well.
When Josephine saw that Andy was still angry, she stepped in to defuse the situation. “All right now, Dad. Everything will be cleared up once the results of the paternity test are out. It’s pointless for you to be angry or worry about it right now. Anyway, Michael has always been sensible in whatever he does. Hence, you have to trust him when he says that Leanne’s child is not related to him at all.”
