Accidentally Slept With The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 618: A Paternity Test

Michael hadn’t expected her to accept him so quickly, let alone defend him. A faint smile formed on his lips, warmth settling in his chest. This was what it felt like to be a father, the joy only a child could give.

"Today, Elaine’s happiness is all that matters," Michael said, his smile proud, his chest lifting slightly.

Sophia exhaled, caught between frustration and acceptance.

For the first time, Michael stepped into the role of a father.

Elaine was having the time of her life, and even as the sun began to set, she showed no sign of wanting to leave.

Michael’s suit was smudged with dirt from their time in the park, but he didn’t care. The admiring looks people gave Elaine made Sophia feel like she was watching someone else’s family.

“Mommy, I’m thirsty,” Elaine said, her tone impatient.

Sophia looked around and realized the water she’d brought was gone. There were no shops or vending machines in sight.

“I’ll get some,” Michael said. “There are a few bottles in my car.”

But Elaine clung to his hand. “No, I want you to stay and play with me. Let Mommy go!”

“Elaine…” Sophia stared at her, surprised by how quickly she’d grown attached to Michael.

Michael noticed Sophia’s hesitation and handed her the car keys with a gentle smile. “It’s just by the road. Bring two bottles, I’m thirsty too.”

Sophia ground her teeth, gave him a sharp look, then took the keys and walked toward the car.

Sophia got into the car, but there were no water bottles in sight.

“Is Michael messing with me?” she muttered, glancing around.

She opened the glove compartment, and her hand brushed against something unexpected. Beneath a stack of water bottles was a paternity test report.

Her eyes widened as she read the name on the cover—Michael Hayes.

A paternity test? Her heart pounded, and a cold realization crept over her. Any warmth she had started to feel toward Michael vanished instantly.

So… Michael had a child with someone else.

Sophia stood still for a long moment, the paternity test report heavy in her hands. A storm of emotions swirled inside her as she stared at it. She wanted to know whose child Michael had fathered.

But after a long silence, she let it go. Looking would mean she still cared.

And she didn’t. Not anymore. Whoever the child was, it had nothing to do with her.

Still, an emptiness crept in, settling in her chest as she carried the water bottle back to Elaine.

Elaine, unaware of her thoughts, was laughing and playing with Michael. Their easy closeness seemed to shut Sophia out, leaving her standing on the outside, watching.

“Elaine, it’s getting late. We should head back now,” Sophia said softly, opening the bottle and handing it to her.

Elaine, clearly not ready to leave, took a long drink and pouted. “Mommy, can’t I play a little longer?”

“Let her stay. It’s not completely dark yet,” Michael said lightly. He reached for the bottle with a smile, his hand already halfway there.

But Sophia pulled it back before he could touch it, almost without thinking.

Michael’s hand hung awkwardly in the air. “Isn’t that bottle for me?” he asked with a small, awkward laugh.

Sophia’s eyes stayed fixed on him as she handed him the bottle, her voice cold.

“Michael, a man should take responsibility. Do you understand?”

Michael frowned in confusion. “Of course I do.”

“Then don’t act recklessly,” she said, her tone sharp and unyielding. “Face what you’ve done. And don’t see me again.”

To her, finding out Michael had a child with another woman wasn’t just betrayal; it was a slap in the face. He hadn’t only played with her feelings; he was also avoiding his responsibility to someone else.

Somewhere, a mother was likely raising that child alone, enduring the gossip about an absent father. Sophia knew how hard that was. She had raised Elaine without help, and she carried the scars of that struggle.

“But why, Sophia? Didn’t we have a good time today? Elaine and I got along so well. I know I made mistakes, but I can change,” Michael said with desperation.

He had thought spending time with Elaine would bring them closer again. All afternoon, he’d soaked in the sound of their laughter, certain he was making progress.

But when Sophia came back from getting water, she was different; cold, sharp, and distant. Her words cut deep.

“Drop the act, Michael,” she said, her tone like broken glass. “I’m not going to dig into your private life. But you should at least be a man who takes responsibility.”

The disappointment in her eyes was like a weight between them. To her, Michael’s idea of responsibility was nothing but an empty shell. He was a father, yet instead of standing by his child, he was here chasing after her and Elaine. She couldn’t think of anything lower.

“Stop arguing!” Elaine’s small voice broke through, her eyes filling with tears. She didn’t understand why they were suddenly fighting or why her mother was pushing Michael away.

“Mommy, I like playing with him,” she said with a sniff.

“I like playing with you too, Elaine,” Michael replied quickly, kneeling in front of her. “I’ll come visit as often as I can.”

“You’re not welcome anymore!” Sophia’s voice was firm. She picked Elaine quickly, turned around, and walked out of the park without looking back.

“Sophia, can we at least not do this in front of her?” Michael called, hurrying after her.

“Michael, stop living in denial,” she said, her tone final. “Think about your choices, take responsibility, and leave us out of it. This kind of moment between us is over! There’s no going back.”

She quickened her pace, as if putting more distance between them could cut the last thread between them.

“Mr. Hayes, do yourself a favor and clean up your act.”

Michael was stunned, watching Sophia walk away. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to follow her. He was afraid she might fall while carrying the child. She had almost twisted her ankle just now trying to get away from him.

“What did I do wrong today, Sophia?” he muttered as he walked back to his car. Her words echoed in his mind. “How am I not responsible?”

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. Sitting in the car, he felt the distance between them had only grown.

But he wasn’t about to give up. After spending the afternoon with Elaine, he knew one thing for certain: his daughter needed a father. He couldn’t let her grow up without one.

“No. I have to make Sophia understand. Elaine is my daughter, and she needs me,” he said, pulling open the drawer and taking out the paternity test report.