"Yours?!" Jason shot up. "When did you have a kid? Who's the father?"

His face twisted, eyes blazing. "You had a child with another man behind my back? Tessa, I never agreed to break up! This is cheating! We were just on a five-year break—how do you already have a two- or three-year-old?"

Margo grabbed Leo's leg, shaking. "You cheated on Jason? Shameless! He treated you so well, and this is how you repay him? No wonder you wouldn't transfer the house—you were hiding this little bastard!"

I stared at them, stunned.

We broke up five years ago. Wasn't it normal for me to move on?

I shoved Margo back. "Stay away from my son! Touch him again, and you're done."

She glanced at the maid and let out this nasty laugh. "This brat kinda looks like her. Bet he's hers."

Jason's face lit up like he'd cracked the case.

He yanked Leo out of my arms and shoved him at the maid. "You're fired. Take your bastard and get out!"

Leo broke down, reaching for me. "Mommy! Hug me!"

Jason snapped. He slapped Leo across the face. "What 'Mommy'? Say it again and I'll throw you out on the street!"

My heart shot into my throat. I grabbed a vase and hurled it at him. "I said don't touch my son!"

It caught him off guard—he slammed into the wall.

I didn't hesitate. I shoved the maid toward the stairs. "Take Leo to the third-floor bedroom. Lock the door and call the cops! My husband's on his way!"

She nodded, panicked, and rushed off with Leo crying in her arms.

Margo helped Jason up, then swung at me. "Jason's the son of the richest man now! If anything happens to him, you couldn't afford it—even if you sold yourself!"

My head rang.

The second I steadied, I hit her back—twice. "You're not even related to the Hardings, and you're acting like this? If they find out how you're treating their heir, you're the ones who'll pay for it."

"Their heir?!" Margo stared at me. "What does your kid have to do with the Harding family?"

Then it clicked. She lunged, grabbed my hair, and yanked me back. "No wonder you have my fiancé's contact! Say it—is this his illegitimate kid? Did you seduce him?

"And this mansion—he bought it for you too, didn't he? If that's the case, give it back!"

Jason just gawked at me. "Tessa and my new dad?! No way. Impossible. Five years ago, she was obsessed with me. Why would she go for an old guy? She's gotta be desperate to marry me—just grabbed some random kid and claimed it's mine. Yeah, that's it."

Half-convinced, Margo called Arthur and put him on speaker. The second he picked up, her voice went syrup-sweet. "Babe, I ran into this shameless woman. She says her three-year-old is yours."

Arthur snapped. "What?! That's ridiculous! Where is she? How dare she slander me—I'll make her apologize. Margo, relax. I'd never betray you."

I cut in fast, "It's me, Tessa!"

He paused. "Tessa?"

Margo frowned. "Arthur, how do you—"

He cut her off. "She's my daughter-in-law. Of course I know her. Her child is my grandson. How could he be mine? Who's spreading this nonsense?!"

He was about to keep going when Margo blew a couple kisses into the phone. "Alright, don't get mad. Just a misunderstanding. Don't worry—I'll make sure our son marries her."

She hung up, looking pleased with herself.

Then she exhaled and turned to Jason. "You were right. She's lost it—trying to stick you with a kid so she can marry into money. Even Arthur's already calling her his daughter-in-law, so she must've planned this.

"Since you two clearly want each other, just sleep together today. I'm not accepting some random brat as my grandson. Once she's actually pregnant, Arthur might be so happy he hands you shares."

My stomach dropped. What was she even planning?

Before I could figure a way out, Jason grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the bedroom. "You keep saying no, but your actions say otherwise. You've already gotten close to my dad—how do you explain that?

"My patience isn't endless. Drop the act. I'll give you what you want and make you a rich wife for real."

I fought back, panic hitting hard. "You're insane! My husband will be home any minute—let me go!"

Jason didn't even slow down. "Your husband? That's me."

He was too strong. I couldn't break free.

Margo jumped in, tugging at my clothes, grinning like a psycho. "Once Jason's done with you, transfer the house. Can't have him looking bad in front of Arthur.

"Just stick with Jason, and I guarantee you'll live it up in the Harding family."

The front door slammed open.

"Touch my wife and you're dead!"

Hank stormed in, Arthur right behind him, looking rattled.