Oops! My Secret Baby Is Caught By His Top-Lawyer Daddy! Novel

---- Chapter 10: The Choice "What do you think we should do to fix this?" Aaron didn't answer; instead, he threw the question right back at her. Clara read his mood carefully, her eyes darting nervously. She didn't dare look him straight in the eye and cautiously offered, "How about I just pay you some money?" She'd thought she'd lucked out before, but it was clear now-she was still too green. Maybe breaking the bank was the price to pay this time. "Forget about that fantasy," Aaron said flatly.

"Clara, I want the kid." "What right do you have?" Clara exploded, furious, her finger nearly poking his eye out. "You just donated one sperm! What exactly did you do?" For once, she didn't stutter. Aaron stayed cool and confident. "Exactly. That's all it takes." ---- He tossed the paternity test lightly onto the table. Clara's face froze-it was the truth, and there was no changing it. She deflated like a popped balloon, her fight completely drained. She begged quietly, "Can't you just pretend you don't know? To you, this kid's probably nothing.

You've lived four or five years just fine without him, right? If you want, you can always have another kid. It's not hard." "Think of it like a good deed-donating a few sperm samples. Easy peasy for you, right?" Aaron let out a cold chuckle. "Yeah, why would I donate sperm? That's not me." "Fine! I'll pay you! Want a few more? I'll pay for all of them." Clara held up two fingers. "Twenty years? No, fourteen years-My son will handle this." Aaron laughed, genuinely amused. ---- Here he was-a lawyer who billed by the minute-actually wasting time bickering with her? "Cut the crap.

I'm not letting this go. You have two options: one, fight me in court; two, we get married." Clara didn't dare challenge a top lawyer like him in court. Marriage? "No way!" Clara snapped. Aaron asked, "Do you have someone you like?" Clara quickly shook her head. "No." Aaron frowned. "Then we're both single. Why not? Am I too old?" It was true-they were ten years apart-25 and 35. Clara rolled her eyes. Seriously? That's the issue? "We're strangers. How can we get married?" Aaron snorted. "Ms. Hartley, we were strangers when you had my kid-and that didn't stop you.

---- "Isn't there another way?" Clara clung to hope. "I don't mind if you visit Leo, or take him to stay a couple days now and then. Will that work?" Aaron flatly refused. "That's already my right! But what others have, my son deserves. He needs a whole family and a happy childhood." If it were anyone else, maybe Aaron wouldn't care this much. But he couldn't be like his dad-having a kid and then vanishing. Clara was speechless and could only plead, "Please, can I have some time to think?" "Fine. Tomorrow's Monday. I'll have my assistant book us at the courthouse for 10 a.m.

Bring your documents. I'll pick you up to register," Aaron said casually. Clara was stunned. What? Just twenty-four hours? Was it really time to think, or just a chance to catch her breath and accept it? ---- "Don't worry. Marriage won't ruin your life. I'm busy, and you can keep living like you always have," Aaron said, watching her pale, drained face. So fair and clear but completely colorless. He felt a twinge of pity. After all, she was just a woman in her twenties. Most people her age were still living wild and free.

He couldn't imagine what she'd gone through having a kid so young, but she had already sacrificed a lot. So he tried to comfort her, "I just want to give the kid a happy childhood. I won't interfere with your life." He walked over to the cushion and crouched down in front of Leo. "Leo, I'm your dad. Would you mind having me around?" Leo frowned. "But Mom says I don't have a dad. Not everyone has a dad." "I'm your dad. Don't believe me? Look here." Aaron pulled up his phone's front camera and snapped a selfie with Leo, then showed it to him.

---- Leo looked at the two faces-about 80% alike-and grinned wide. "We look so much alike!" "Of course! You're my son!" Aaron smiled proudly. Leo said, "I like you! But I listen to Mom. If she says you're my dad, then I'm your son." Aaron ruffled his hair. "See you tomorrow!" As for Clara's feelings? Not on Aaron's radar. If she wanted to play hardball, she had to face the consequences. He was already being merciful. If he were younger, he'd have made her pay ten times over. That was it. Aaron didn't overthink it, opened the door, and left.

He'd come straight from the airport and hadn't even made it back to the office yet. A mountain of work was waiting for him.