Chapter 1863


    Today had already been a whirlwind for Yulia, and she had simply assumed Nathan''s impromptu


    visit was driven by his notorious appetite for a free meal.


    She hadn''t expected things to escte so quickly. Or so dramatically.


    She was utterly blindsided. Completely unprepared.


    Though she and Nathan hadid their feelings bare the night before, Yulia had carefully skirted


    around the subject of Anya.b2


    Her fear was palpable—if something were to happen between her and Nathan, at least he wouldn''t


    be quick to hold Anya back. Now, it seemed she was being cornered into acknowledging Anya''s


    parentage. It wasn''t paranoia if she felt like she''d been set up today, was it?


    But who could have masterminded such a scheme? Damon and Chloe? A nce at the pair


    revealed nothing amiss.


    Nathan?


    If he''d orchestrated this whole scenario, surely he''d have avoided the potential smackdown from his


    brother, right?


    Or was it a conspiracy between Nathan, Damon, and Chloe? Shaking her head, Yulia doubted


    Nathan would go that far.


    Despite the suddenness of the situation, it seemed to be unfolding quite naturally, but the more


    natural it felt, the more Yulia sensed something was off. Yet, without proof, she was stuck in her


    suspicions.


    Her wary gaze lingered on Chloe, who was merely holding her phone with a casual smile. To


    suspect her of any wrongdoing felt like a cardinal sin.


    "This is a bit hard to exin," admitted Yulia with a sheepish grin.


    Chloe chuckled. "They don''t need an exnation. As long as they''re sure Anya is their beloved


    granddaughter, that''s all that matters. As for whatever''s going on between you and Nathan, that''s


    between the two of you. They don''t need to be involved."


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Yulia felt the sting of truth in Chloe''s words. Indeed, Nathan’s parents had never meddled in the


    younger generation''s love lives. Whether it was Damon, Nathan, Chloe, or herself, none had faced


    scrutiny or judgment from them.


    Considering Damon and Chloe''s own journey, it was clear their parents were supportive. As long as


    Damon''s mind was made up, they had no objections. On the contrary, they showered them all with


    love. It was rare to find such understanding family.


    Yulia remained silent, and after a few seconds, Chloe seemed to understand her stance and dialed


    the phone without further ado.


    …


    After cleaning himself up, Nathan descended the stairs to find the living room silent, everyone deep


    in their own thoughts, including Anya, who clung to Damon''s leg with wide, bewildered eyes.


    His entrance inevitably drew everyone''s attention. A single nce from his brother sent shivers


    down Nathan''s spine. Clutching his nose and keeping a safe distance, he shuffled over to Yulia.


    Anya, seeing Nathan unscathed, left Damon''s side and ran to him, hugging his legs and looking up


    in concern. "Nathan, are you feeling better? Damon said you were feeling under the weather."


    Nathan''s lips twitched in annoyance, shooting his brother a sardonic look. He never would''ve


    guessed his usually stoic brother could spin such tales to a child.


    Bending down, Nathan scooped Anya into his arms, feigning injury. “The bleeding''s stopped, but my


    nose still hurts a bit."


    Anya, looking distressed, blew gently on his nose. "There, there. My breath will make it all better."


    Nathan nodded, his gaze lingering on Anya''s face. She didn''t mind his intense scrutiny and


    continued her tender care. After a while, she looked up and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"


    Nathan shook his head slightly, nuzzling Anya''s forehead with a gentle motion. "Just a little bit," he


    murmured softly.


    "I''ll keep blowing on it then," Anya offered, her hands cupping his face, her touch as soft as


    feathers.


    Nathan''s eyes never left Anya''s face, the emotions swirling in his gaze as intense as a tempest


    roaring at sea.


    His expression was not lost on the others.


    His brother watched with cold disdain, his look one of sheer contempt.


    Chloe’s eyes, on the other hand, shone with emotion. The natural bond between a father and


    daughter could soften even the hardest of men.


    Yulia, too, was touched, feeling the walls she''d built around herself crumbling bit by bit. Her lips


    twitched into a smile, and the hands she''d been clenching in front of her rxed.


    Chloe, catching the subtle gesture out of the corner of her eye, focused back on her phone, her


    smile growing wider.


    After Anya seemed satisfied with her efforts, she patted Nathan''s cheek gently. He grinned weakly,


    sighing as he looked up, only to meet his brother''s icy gaze. A shiver ran down his spine, and he


    clutched Anya closer. "I... um... suddenly remembered something urgent. Gotta run."


    "The business has been doing well these past few days," Damon interjected coldly.


    Nathan hesitated. "It''s personal. It''s really important personal stuff."


    "The folks will be here soon." His brother’s tone was calm yet firm. "What personal matter could


    possibly be more important than seeing them?"


    Nathan was speechless, his lips twitching as he sought an excuse. But his brother''s piercing gaze


    bore into him once more, and Nathan''s resolve wilted. Defeated, he settled back down next to Yulia,


    clutching Anya close.


    Anya mbered off Nathan and returned to Damon''s side. Ever since he''d held her, she took every


    chance to snuggle close.


    Damon nced at Chloe, who was eager to dote on Anya, then bent down and lifted Anya onto his


    lap.


    Anya kicked her legs joyfully, only to be halted by Damon, who gently pressed down her wriggly little


    limbs before ncing at Chloe.


    Chloe scooted closer with a wide grin, reaching out to caress Anya''s rosy cheeks.


    "My sister-inw!"


    "Anya, sweetie, you''ve got to change how you address me," Chloe said with a chuckle. "It''s not


    ''sister-inw'' anymore. From now on, it''s ''Aunt Chloe.''"


    Anya blinked, "Aunt Chloe?"


    At this, Nathan, who had been silent, suddenly looked up at Chloe. "Aunt Chloe?!"


    Chloe nced at him and continued to smile at Anya, "Yes, that''s right. Call me Aunt Chloe."


    Anya blinked again, "Aunt Chloe."


    Chloe patted her head fondly and turned to Damon, "And call him Uncle."


    Anya looked at Damon and attempted, "Uncle?"


    Her attempt at the word was slightly off but utterly adorable. Damon didn''t seem to mind as he


    grunted an acknowledgment.


    Nathan didn''t speak this time. Instead, he turned to Yulia, who seemed a bit uneasy. He suddenly


    stood up and pulled her to her feet.


    "What... what are you doing?"


    "Come with me!"


    He dragged Yulia upstairs without another word.


    Yulia cast a desperate look at Chloe for help, but Chloe didn''t even nce her way. Overpowered


    by Nathan''s strength, Yulia was taken upstairs to a guest room.


    Nathan closed the door and pinned Yulia against the wall with a fierce grip on her chin. "Spill it,


    Yulia! What''s going on?"


    Yulia swallowed nervously, "We''re married, and you know Anya''s my daughter, which makes her


    yours too."


    "Is that so?" Nathan''s voice was icy. "Tell me straight – is Anya Ronald''s daughter or not?"


    Yulia furrowed her brows, "When did I ever say she was Ronald''s."


    Nathan leaned in closer, "You didn''t refute it when he mentioned it yesterday. Just answer me – who


    is Anya''s real father?"


    Yulia''s eyes flickered, "Didn''t you say she looks like Damon today?"


    Nathan narrowed his eyes, "What are you saying? She really is Damon''s daughter?"


    Her expression darkened, "Youter said she resembled your father, too."


    "So, she''s my father''s? Anya’s my sister?!"


    Yulia kicked him hard in frustration. "Are you crazy? How could I be with your brother, your father,


    and then you? What kind of woman do you take me for? If she looks like your brother and your


    father, didn''t you ever consider she might resemble you?"


    Nathan''s lips curled into a smug smile. "Did I know you before? When did I ever get a child with


    you?"


    Taking in his barely concealedughter, Yulia pursed her lips, "Maybe I''m mistaken. Anya''s father


    must be someone else."


    His smile froze, "Someone else my foot. I am Anya''s real dad."


    Yulia''s lips twitched, "Nonsense. I didn''t even know you back then, so how could we have a child?"


    He caught her wrist as she tried to push him away. "Tell me. Was that woman in Brookside you?"


    Yulia raised an eyebrow, "No."


    Nathan paused, then snickered, "You deny it so quickly? Didn''t even think about it?"


    She choked on her words, "Because it''s not me. What''s there to think about?"


    He hummed, "Oh, really? Maybe I got it wrong. I remember being with another woman. I''ll have to


    have someone look into it. If there''s a child of mine out there, I''ll have to bring them home."


    Yulia red at him. "Didn''t you say there was only one womanst night?"


    Nathan released her, adopting a nonchnt demeanor, "I got it wrong. There was another, just not a


    virgin."


    Yulia''s face twisted in disgust, and she kicked again, "Scumbag!"


    Nathan easily dodged, trapping her foot between his legs.


    "Let go of me!"


    "No chance. Are you going to tell the truth or should I take Anya for a paternity test right now?"


    Yulia bit her lip, "Even if she is yours, I won''t acknowledge it. Go find the children you have with


    other women."


    Nathan studied her for a moment before leaning in to kiss her fiercely. Afterward, he looked at her


    with a mixture of anger andughter. "Damn it! So Anya really is my daughter. You''re something


    else, Yulia, raising my girl right under my nose."


    Yulia pushed him away, "Stay away from me. I don''t admit it. Find someone else who will."


    He released her trapped foot and buried his face in her neck, "Jealous, huh?"


    She turned her face away, "Don''t touch me."


    His low chuckle resonated, "That''s what makes you cute."


    Yulia bit her lip again.


    Nathan nibbled gently at her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "I was just kidding before."


    Her eyes fluttered slightly.


    "The part about other women was a lie. If you admit that the woman in Brookside was you, then


    Yulia, you''ve been the only woman for me from the beginning."


    Her body tensed, and she turned to face Nathan. "Are you serious?"


    He whispered against her skin, "Of course, I am. Otherwise, with my potent seed, I''d have children


    scattered all over the ce, wouldn''t I?"


    A smile crept onto Yulia''s face, "Potent seed? It was just one time, a fluke. Hardly a skill."


    His lips grazed her earlobe. "Just once, huh?"


    "Yulia, it seems you were destined to be my wife from the start." It all came full circle, "You were


    always meant toe back to me."


    Yulia looked down, avoiding his touch. "I came to you on my own. It had nothing to do with you. At


    first, you were the one who didn''t agree. And now you are acting like it wasn''t you who wanted a


    divorce every day."


    "At least I agreed to marry you at the start. And besides, in the end, you were the one yelling for a


    divorce."


    "Because you were unbearable! ...Ah!"


    Barely a word into their conversation, and suddenly, she felt a sharp nip on her ear. "Cut it out,


    Nathan. Your brother and his wife are still downstairs." Yulia protested, fumbling to keep Nathan''s


    wandering hand from slipping under her shirt.


    Nathan didn''t press further, though he yfully nibbled on her ear again before finally letting her go.


    She hastily adjusted her clothes, and he couldn''t help but burst intoughter, dragging Yulia back


    down the stairs with him, chuckling all the way.


    Theirughter echoed until they reached the bottom of the stairs, where Damon greeted them with a


    skeptical nce. "Lost your marbles or just in dumb?" Damon inquired, with a cool edge to his


    voice.


    Nathan''sughter grew wilder, as he nonchntly ced a hand on his hip, the picture of cocky


    triumph.


    "I''m sorry, bro, really. But it looks like I''m a dad before you. Your future kids are gonna have to call


    my little one ''sister''—hahaha." Nathan boasted, unable to contain his glee.