Chapter 725


    The height of the man was also a dead giveaway; Jeffrey was the spitting image of his father.


    "Is the kiddo down for the night?"


    Paige nodded, her voice soft with a mother’s weariness, "Yeah, wanna take a peek? I can bring her


    over…"


    "No need." Huxley waved off the offer, his face a mask of stern resolve. "We heard from Jeffrey. The


    kid''s his?"


    "Yes!" Paige''s gaze was steady, devoid of evasion or guilt. "You can always go for a paternity test."


    "That''s exactly why I''m here," Huxley''s impression of Paige was far from favorable, and it showed in


    his unsmiling demeanor. "If the test confirms she''s a Turner, we''re willing to take the child in and


    raise her, and we''ll give you a lump sum for your trouble."


    Paige blinked, the redness returning to her already tear-swollen eyes. "So, even if I bore a Turner


    child, there''s no chance of marrying Jeffrey?"


    "It''s not that I don''t want you joining the family—it''s Jeffrey who doesn''t want to marry you."


    That was something Huxley couldn''t force.


    He couldy out the pros and cons, but when it came to his son''s marriage, he couldn''t demand it.


    He''d spoken in anger before, but seeing his son so adamantly refuse, Huxley wouldn''t coerce him


    into marriage.


    After all, what was the point of going through all that trouble just to end in divorce?N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "I knew it…" Paige muttered, her voice breaking as she wiped away fresh tears with the back of her


    hand. "Forget the marriage. I didn''t tell him about the baby for money! This child is my flesh and


    blood—I won''t let you take her away, and I don''t want your money."


    "Jeffrey mentioned a congenital heart defect?"


    "Yes."


    "Well, congenital heart defects don''t run in the Turner family."


    Paige looked up sharply, her brow furrowed. "I''ve agreed to the paternity test. We don''t need to


    discuss this further. As soon as my daughter wakes up, we can go. She''s just fallen asleep, so you''ll


    need to wait."


    "I’m not doubting the child''s lineage. It''s about responsibility. If your family has a history of


    congenital heart defects, you shouldn''t keep the child."


    Paige was at a loss for words.


    "Look, I know I shouldn''t be saying this, but since it involves the Turners, I have to speak up. Paige


    Taylor, you im to love my son, but you secretly have a child who might carry a gic illness.


    And now, in this predicament, don''t pretend like you want nothing in return."


    Paige bit her lip, silent, while Paloma, feeling her husband had gone too far, subtly tugged at his


    sleeve.


    However, Huxley, being a stubborn man who didn’t mince words, had little patience for Paige''s


    ims of selfless devotion.


    "You and I both know, you''re keeping this child to tie my son down, holding on to some hope of


    marrying him one day! Am I wrong?"


    "I love him. Is that so wrong?"


    "Mutual love is love. What you''re doing is selfish."


    "Enough." Paloma, empathizing with another woman whose child was seriously ill, interrupted,


    "Let''s do this—since the child is asleep, we''lle back tomorrow. Or leave us your number, and


    we''ll coordinate a time for the test."


    Paige agreed without objection, reciting her number.


    Huxley and Paloma left the hospital without so much as a nce at the child.


    Once they were in the car, Paloma let out a heavy sigh.


    "Judging by Paige''s demeanor, the kid is most likely Jeffrey''s. Honey, maybe we should pay the


    Miller family another visit. I could talk to Karen''s parents, promise them anything as long as they


    don''t break up. Who knows... it might just give our son another shot."