Cedric's kindergarten was on break.
If it weren't for needing to drink cold spring water every night, Catriona had wanted to take her son on a little trip.
It wasn't just about her anymore. The financial burden had lightened, and now she wanted to spend more time with her son. Before, she had been so consumed with work that her son would quietly sit on the little bench in the flower shop, playing with his toys without fuss or complaint.
Sometimes, when business was good and she worked late, the little one, exhausted, would head to the small bed in the flower shop and fall asleep on his own.
Now, she wanted to spend more time with her son.
Though they couldn't travel far at the moment, they could still have fun around Capital. So over the next few days, she took him shopping, to food courts, amusement parks, and even fishing along the Capital River.
Roderick also took some time off and was there wherever they went.
As Cedric's father, it was great that he could find time to be with his son.
Catriona gave her son a small camera, and he took pictures everywhere they went. She didn't have to worry about him figuring out how to use it—he loved fiddling with things like that.
"Mom, look at me."
Catriona, holding a cup of juice, had just taken a sip when she looked in her son's direction.
Click.
Cedric had successfully taken the picture. "Got it, Mom."
Catriona was used to it by now and smiled.
Another click.
"Did you get it, top photographer?" A deep voice sounded next to her.
Catriona froze and turned to see Roderick, who had somehow come up beside her.
Then, she heard her son answer proudly, "Got it!"
Catriona:...
So, the picture her son just took was of her and Roderick together?
Little photographer, next time, please give your mom a heads-up if your dad's in the shot!
Cedric held the camera, chin raised, lips curled proudly—he clearly saw himself as the top photographer.
With both Mom and Dad on vacation, spending time with him, he was thrilled; even in his sleep, his little mouth curved with joy.
Cedric's fifth birthday was just around the corner.
Roderick had discussed with Catriona his plan to announce the cub's existence to the outside world at this birthday celebration and to host a birthday banquet.
So, a few days in advance, a designer came to take measurements for Cedric's outfit for the day.
"Me? Do I need one too?" Catriona was momentarily stunned.
"Of course. For the young master's birthday banquet, Miss Ashford, as his mother, you should definitely attend, right?"
"Of course, I'll attend," Catriona replied. She had dresses, but a new design was fine; she didn't mind.
Roderick seemed to take his son's birthday quite seriously.
He personally oversaw the setup and decorations for the banquet.
On Cedric's birthday.
Roderick gave the staff the day off and handed out gifts.
The designer arrived with makeup artists and stylists.
The sunlight spilled onto the dresses hanging on the rack, their scattered diamonds gleaming with dazzling light. The small diamonds shimmered in shades of pale white, deep burgundy velvet, and black...
"Miss Ashford, please choose one of these five gowns."
Red seemed too flashy, black... not quite right for her son's birthday, too dark.
"The white one, please. Thank you."
The dress was beautiful and elegant, without being too revealing, perfectly suited for the mother of the birthday star.
However, Catriona noticed one commonality: each dress exposed only a modest amount of the neck. While she didn't want to draw attention to herself, she couldn't help but wonder—would covering her neck too much make her look... awkward?
She didn't notice that after she chose the white dress, the stylist briefly left the room and quickly returned, though she thought nothing of it.
"Here is the young master's outfit. Since you've chosen white, we suggest he also wears white for a matching parent-child look."
Cedric sat on the sofa, fiddling with a camera, his little legs swinging back and forth. Hearing this, he looked up and, in a soft, babyish voice, said, "I want to wear the same color as Mommy."
Catriona smiled. "Alright, whatever you want."
An hour later, mother and son were ready.
Cedric, dressed in his little white suit, looked adorable and handsome with his round face. He looked up at Catriona like a little gentleman, reaching out to take her hand. "Mommy, I'll hold your hand."
Catriona couldn't help but laugh. "You're going to lead me? Alright."
"Mommy, you're so pretty."
"My little sweetheart." Catriona let her son lead her out of the room, stepping onto the plush carpet and reaching the staircase.
She stopped, surprised.
Roderick was leaning against the wall, having waited who knows how long.
He... was wearing a white suit, and the sharpness in his features seemed to have softened slightly.
Catriona bit her lower lip, her thoughts racing. What was this... he was wearing white too? Wasn't this an obvious, unspoken declaration to the whole world that they were a family of three?
"Daddy! I'm wearing matching clothes with Daddy too!"
When Cedric said this, Catriona snapped back to reality. Of course—her son was a little piece of both of them.
If she could wear a warm, matching family outfit, then Roderick could too.
"Happy birthday, my little cub."
Roderick held his son and planted a kiss on his small cheek.
Cedric's face instantly tightened, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He wasn't his mother, so why should he kiss him? Even at his young age, he sensed the awkwardness.
Downstairs, a few suited executives from the Nightblade Corporation arrived with a stack of documents. Seeing the family of three, they smiled and said, "Happy birthday, young master. Good day, Mrs. Nightblade."
Catriona paused, almost denying it, but held back.
"Here is the shareholding agreement for the young master. Happy birthday."
On Cedric's birthday, Roderick gave him something truly his own.
The little one's net worth skyrocketed.
He became the youngest shareholder in the Nightblade Corporation.
That day, the typically low-profile Nightblade appeared in several trending searches across major platforms.
"Nightblade Young Master 5th Birthday"
"Family of Three"
"Nightblade Matching Outfits"
"Roderick Says He's Pursuing Son's Mother"
At the banquet, in the restroom, Catriona scrolled through her phone, biting her lip and stomping her foot lightly when she saw the trending topic!
This guy... he's too much! Doing something so outrageous was hardly human!
Oh, he wasn't human to begin with.
She let out an exasperated sigh and clicked into the trending topic.
It was a video from a banquet interview.
Roderick wore a white suit, his sharp brows and defined features looking both handsome and commanding.
Facing the camera, he looked calm, his amber eyes exuding an unseen intensity.
"May I ask, how did you meet your wife?"
"By chance," he said, his lips barely moving. "Actually, I am pursuing my son's mother; we are not married."
"Oh, you met by chance? If I may, was there something that happened for you to meet? And now, do you love the young master's mother deeply?"
"Yes, it was chance at first. Now, it's deep love," he replied, his expression indifferent but tone sincere.
Next came a few photos, all of Roderick looking in a certain direction.
There, stood a woman in a white evening gown. Her posture was graceful, her figure tall and slender, though her face was obscured by a blur.
She was holding a little boy's hand, and his face was also obscured.
The video ended there.
The comments section exploded.
Top Comment #1: "Oh my god! Mr. Nightblade is so damn handsome!"
Top Comment #2: "Tell me, who's lucky enough for him to like? I've followed him forever; he took over the family business so young, so low-key, no arrogance, and insanely handsome, sob sob! I'm heartbroken!"
Top Comment #3: "The woman in the white dress must be Mr. Nightblade's crush, right? Looks classy and has a nice figure. If the boss likes her, she can't be bad."
Top Comment #4: "Ahh! Forced marriage followed by love! Ahhh! It must have been a one-night stand, right? Trust me, it has to be like that!"
"I want to be Mr. Nightblade's kid too, sob, sob... So tell me, little young master, do you have any troubles at age five?"
"And Mr. Nightblade pursuing a woman? Just use that face of his to seduce her."
Catriona's lips twitched.
What, seduce her?
She wasn't some shallow pervert.
There was no way she'd be seduced!
"Future Mrs. Nightblade, you're amazing! Don't you think your son's father is irresistibly handsome? Just looking at him feels something! Can you really hold back? Go for it already! Wasting such a man!"
Catriona immediately shut off her phone.
These people... if they really knew Roderick, they probably wouldn't be saying this.
Some flowers only looked pretty on the surface.
People only seem wonderful when they remain unknown.
If they knew Roderick wasn't human, would they still say these things?
Of course, she didn't mean Roderick was terrible, but making her swoon and fall for him? That wasn't going to happen.
Wasting such a man?
Go for it already?
Well! She tugged at her lips, expressionless, her skin prickling with goosebumps.
But Roderick, going on record with such statements to the media...
She took a deep breath, stepped out of the restroom, and washed her hands.
Walking across the deep red carpet and around the corner, she spotted the culprit.
Roderick watched her. "Are you upset?"
Catriona shot him a glare, pressing her lips together. "No." She then walked toward the banquet hall.
Wasting him? Well, well, well.
Just a scheming, shameless, childish silly wolf.
Behind her.
Roderick's lips curled slightly as he followed her with his long strides, moving at a leisurely pace.
