At this moment, when Lily Bennett saw Maxwell Thornton, the surprise on her face froze, while the man sitting down beside her casually wrapped his arm around her waist. He looked at Lucas Greek sitting across from him with the polite smile of a renowned businessman.
"Hello, Vice Director Greek, long time no see," Maxwell greeted softly.
Lucas Greek, of course, knew the chairman of Thornton Corporation. Not only that, they had worked together on several projects before. However, seeing Lily Bennett in Maxwell's embrace, he couldn't help but ask her in confusion:
"You and Mr. Thornton know each other?"
"No! I don't know him," Lily instinctively denied any connection to Maxwell.
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a cold aura emanating from the man sitting beside her. Maxwell still wore his smile, but it didn’t reach his deep eyes. His voice, though gentle, carried a hint of warning as he addressed Lily.
“Sweetheart, don’t say that. Even if you're mad about last night, can't we wait until we get home to argue? Darling, don't be upset.”
Darling??? Whose wife is he talking about?
Lily looked at the man beside her with a shocked expression. Was this really the same man she knew? This charming and well-dressed man looked nothing like the ferocious beast who had tormented her the night before.
Hearing Maxwell's words, Lucas Greek also understood that Lily Bennett was not really Maxwell’s wife. However, there was no reason for a man like the chairman of Thornton Corporation to lie about something so personal, unless he was pursuing her.
Lucas glanced at the child sitting next to Lily. This boy bore a striking resemblance to Maxwell, at least 70-80% similar. Perhaps because of the boy's softer features inherited from his mother, his face wasn’t as stern and sharp as Maxwell’s. No wonder the chairman seemed a bit uncomfortable seeing him by her side. If he had something to say, why not be direct instead of being so roundabout? After all, Lucas knew well the saying, “Don’t mess with your friend’s wife!”
Lucas smiled and said to Maxwell, "I didn’t realize that you already had such a grown son. But I’ve never heard that the chairman of Thornton Corporation is married."
Maxwell chuckled, "We may have jumped the gun a little. I apologize if it caused any confusion, Mr. Greek."
Hearing Lucas’ words, Maxwell finally glanced at the child sitting beside him. The boy was sipping through a straw, his bright eyes staring intently at him. His posture was graceful, dressed in a black t-shirt and navy-striped shorts, sandals on his feet. The boy appeared well-behaved but with a certain boldness in his eyes. Maxwell could see the unspoken message in those clear eyes: "Don’t mess with my mom."
Was this the child Lily had given birth to when she was only sixteen?
Maxwell couldn’t take his eyes off the boy. To have a child this adorable, the man who fathered him must have had some impressive genes.
The restaurant owner hadn’t expected such an awkward situation. She had thought Lily Bennett was unfortunate in her circumstances but beautiful, so she had planned to introduce her son to Lily. Little did she know, Lily was already someone else's wife. Not only did her plan fail, but now even talking about it felt embarrassing.
The owner gave a forced smile to Maxwell. "I didn’t realize Lily was your wife, Chairman Thornton. We’ll leave you three to your family reunion. Lucas, let’s go."
At that moment, Simon, Maxwell’s assistant, rushed over, panting. "Chairman, the hotel reception just informed me that they’re fully booked due to two tour groups arriving this morning. There’s only one room left..."
As soon as he finished, Simon noticed Mr. Bennett standing beside Maxwell, and he wisely fell silent.
The restaurant owner gave an apologetic smile, "Since Chairman Thornton didn’t notify us in advance that he would be staying, I’m afraid we’ve been caught off guard. We can’t evict guests with reservations, as you understand, reputation in our business is paramount.”
Maxwell smiled gently, "No worries. Simon, move my luggage to my wife’s room."
Simon nodded immediately and left to fetch the luggage, not daring to glance in Mr. Bennett's direction.
Though Lucas Greek was still slightly displeased, he maintained a respectful attitude toward Maxwell. He nodded, "Chairman Thornton, I’ll excuse myself now. See you tomorrow."
Maxwell nodded. Once everyone had left, Lily sharply pinched Maxwell's arm. “Did you just say you're moving your luggage to my room? Did you even ask for my permission?”
“You’re my wife, and you ran off with my son. Did you ask for my permission first, huh?” The man’s voice suddenly rose, the last word lingering threateningly in the air.
Lily pushed Maxwell away and grabbed her son's hand. "Your son? Where on earth did you get that idea? This is my son, and he has absolutely nothing to do with you!!"
Maxwell Thornton smirked at Lily Bennett's angry expression. From any angle, she radiated the glow of a mother, fiercely protective of her child. Yet, Maxwell couldn’t help but chuckle as he spoke.
“So, where is the boy's father? Why isn’t he stepping up to protect you both?”
Before Lily could respond, Liam Bennett raised his head, looking directly at Maxwell and said confidently, "Because Mom already has someone to protect her. She only needs me."
Maxwell was taken aback by the boy’s bold and confident demeanor. His mood lightened as he knelt down, seriously gazing at Liam and nodded.
"Alright, I believe you."
Without thinking much, Maxwell stretched out his muscular arms to pick the boy up, but Liam stepped back, spreading his small, pale arms protectively in front of Lily, as if shielding her. With a serious expression, he declared to his mother behind him:
"Don’t be afraid, Lily! I’ll protect you from this man!”
Maxwell couldn’t help but laugh at the child's adorableness. He had always thought he didn’t like children, but seeing this little one melted his cold exterior. The once aloof Thornton Chairman was utterly defeated by this charming boy. Having a child seemed quite wonderful, he thought.
Maxwell smiled and, without further hesitation, scooped Liam into his arms. Then, turning to the woman beside him, he simply said:
"Lead the way."
Liam, seeing his mother still standing there in shock, stretched his small body and waved his hands in front of her.
"Lily, I’ve been kidnapped! Hurry up and lead the way, or this uncle will take me away forever!" He giggled as if an invisible hand was tickling him.
Lily stood there speechless. Kidnapped and this happy?
She watched her son, laughing and chatting with the man holding him, like they were long-lost family. Their faces lit up with bright smiles. It seemed Liam had taken quite a liking to Maxwell. Perhaps, Lily thought, her son's initial request for a stepfather had come after seeing Maxwell on TV. And with Emily Hayes constantly praising Maxwell these past few days, it was hard for Liam not to be intrigued.
The boy had taken to him immediately, just upon meeting. A child without a father always dreams of the perfect one — tall, strong, someone to rely on. And in Liam's eyes, Maxwell was the ideal candidate.
After taking a few steps, Maxwell turned back to see Lily still standing in a daze. He frowned slightly and pinched her rosy cheek.
"What are you standing there for? Lead the way, or I'll eat this little one right up."
With that, Maxwell turned his attention back to the child in his arms, who was too cute for words. He kissed the boy’s cheek and playfully buried his head into Liam's neck, making the boy giggle uncontrollably.
Lily was at a loss for words. She had never seen her son so happy and content in the arms of a stranger. For some inexplicable reason, in that moment, she didn’t want to let go of Maxwell, even though she knew she probably couldn’t keep him.
After all, her son was still a child and must’ve been exhausted from the long day. So, Lily let Maxwell carry Liam back to their room. By the time they arrived, the boy had fallen sound asleep. Simon, Maxwell's assistant, placed his luggage down and left.
Lily lifted the blanket and said to Maxwell, "Put him down."
Maxwell had never held a child before, much less one who had fallen asleep in his arms. The boy was like a kitten, so obedient and adorable, his small head nestled against Maxwell's arm. Maxwell found himself unwilling to let go. Seeing this, Lily couldn’t help but smile.
Maxwell carefully placed the boy on the soft bed, moving gently as though afraid to wake him. But despite his best efforts, the sleepy Liam stirred and opened his eyes briefly, only to close them again moments later. Even in his sleep, the little boy held onto Maxwell’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. Half asleep, he murmured something.
“Daddy~”
Maxwell knew full well that the child wasn’t calling him, but for some reason, a wave of warmth spread through his chest, and his heart skipped a beat. How could a child be this endearing?
Lily tried to gently pry her son’s fingers off Maxwell’s hand, but even in his slumber, Liam clung on, refusing to release him.
Helplessly, Lily gave Maxwell an apologetic look. "Maybe you should just sleep with him. I’ll sleep on the couch."
She turned to head to the bathroom to change, but Maxwell stopped her. “Wait.”
“What is it?” Lily asked, confused.
“Sleep on the bed,” Maxwell said.
Lily shook her head, "It’s late, you should get some rest. You’ve been traveling for work, and you have a busy day tomorrow. The bed will be more comfortable for you." Her voice softened.
Maxwell’s voice lowered unconsciously as well. He patted the space next to him on the bed and looked at Lily earnestly, “Come sleep here.”
Lily firmly shook her head. “I’ll sleep on the couch. You take the bed.”
"Come here, or I’ll call someone to take the couch out right now."
His sharp tone left no room for argument, leaving Lily perplexed. She frowned after a moment of silence.
“I haven’t thrown you out yet, and you’re already pushing it! Who’s the owner of this room? Why are you always so arrogant, bossing others around?”
Sensing the tension building, Maxwell glanced down at the boy still holding his hand. Liam’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if unhappy in his sleep. Sighing, Maxwell turned to Lily with a helpless expression.
“I’ve never slept with a child before. I’m just worried I might accidentally hit him in my sleep…”
Hearing Maxwell’s hesitant voice, Lily couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at him in shock, noticing a flicker of vulnerability in his dark eyes.
“Why are you just standing there? If you don’t come here, I’ll toss the kid onto the couch. Believe me?”
"..." Lily shot him a cold look. "Of course, I believe you. How could I not? You’re as bossy as ever."
With that, Lily walked over and sat down on the bed. As soon as she did, Maxwell gently pulled her hand as if worried she might fall. The slight tug caused Lily to stumble and fall into his chest. She looked up at him, annoyed, and whispered,
“What are you doing?”
"Keep your voice down. Don’t wake the boy."
Who’s the one trying to wake him?