?Chapter 691:


    “Yes, really,” Ernest said, his tone steady and certain.


    Slowly, he reached out his hand, extending his pinky toward the child.


    “Daddy promises. No lies. Ever. Okay?”


    Locke hesitated. His small chest rose and fell with uneven breaths as he stared at the outstretched pinky. Then, after what felt like forever, he raised his chubby little hand and hooked his tiny finger around Ernest’s.


    “No lies?” Locke’s voice was barely above a whisper.


    “No lies,” Ernest promised, his grip gentle but firm.


    “Daddy will never lie to Locke.”


    The director beamed, her eyes misty.


    “Locke, sweetheart, aren’t you going to call him Daddy now?”


    “Dad… Daddy.” Locke’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. His voice came out shaky, unsure, but it was there.


    “Good boy, Locke.” Ernest’s heart clenched. A rare warmth surged in his chest, something unfamiliar yet profoundly moving. He exhaled slowly, his arms opening. The boy hesitated only a moment longer before allowing himself to be pulled into Ernest’s embrace.


    At the door, Linda stood frozen.


    So did N.


    And at that moment, everything clicked into ce for N. Her grandson had a child. A child of the Flynn family. Her great-grandson.


    Mσr? υpdαt?s ín Gαlnσv?ls.cσm


    “Locke!”


    Overwhelmed with emotion, N rushed forward, momentarily forgetting everything else—including Linda.


    “Locke, my precious boy!” she called out, her hands trembling as she reached for him.


    “I’m your great-grandmother. Come here, let me take a good look at you!”


    Linda’s gaze turned ice-cold, her breathing in sharp, shallow bursts. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as she watched the scene unfold before her.


    “You’ll regret this, Ernest,” she grumbled under her breath, her eyes dark with fury.


    “You’ll regret ever treating me like this.”


    “Linda!”


    In that fleeting moment, Ernest glimpsed the wild frenzy dancing in Linda’s eyes.


    He swiftly passed little Locke into N’s waiting arms.


    “Locke, my dear boy, Daddy has some urgent matters to attend to, so you’ll stay with your great-grandmother for a spell.”


    Turning to N with a heavy heart, Ernest began,


    “Grandma…”


    “No need to exin, child. I understand perfectly.” N reassured him with a knowing nod.


    “Go on now, don’t fret. Locke is safe in my care.”


    “Thank you, Grandma!” Ernest’s voice carried the weight of gratitude.


    “Off with you,” N said warmly, cradling a bewildered Locke in her arms.


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