Chapter 289

Ethan pretended not to hear Lily's furious stomping at all as he continued leading her deeper into the hospital room.

"Stinky... jerkface, where are you taking me? Are you selling me to some creepy orphanage?" Lily huffed, crossing her arms.

She knew it was impossible—this man wouldn’t dare.

"An old man wants to meet you," Ethan replied bluntly.

Old man?

Lily scrunched her nose, unable to guess who it could be, but she had no choice but to follow Ethan inside.

The private hospital suite was lavish, with four or five specialized nurses attending to the elderly patient. Richard Blackwood and Eleanor Blackwood stood nearby.

"Father," Ethan greeted as he entered.

The moment Richard laid eyes on Lily, his breath hitched.

Eleanor, however, looked like she'd swallowed something bitter.

She had borne three sons, all lost too soon, and even half her grandchildren had been taken from her. Yet this illegitimate child—this bastard’s daughter—was now the sole heir to the Blackwood legacy.

How ironic.

Ethan was illegitimate. His daughter was illegitimate.

A flicker of disdain passed through Eleanor’s eyes—so quick, yet Ethan caught it.

Richard, on the other hand, stared at Lily with undisguised excitement.

Was this child really five years old? Meeting her family for the first time?

"Sweetheart, come here. Let Grandpa see you," Richard coaxed, bending down.

Lily immediately clung to Ethan’s leg, her small fingers gripping his trousers as she eyed her grandfather warily.

Meanwhile, Grace Blackwood struggled to sit up in bed, her frail voice calling out, "Child... let me see you."

Lily had nowhere to hide.

She wanted to bolt, but she didn’t know the way home, and she had no mother to run to. At least with this jerkface, she had some semblance of safety. She tightened her grip on Ethan’s leg.

Then, to her shock, Ethan crouched down and murmured, "Call me 'Dad,' and I’ll pick you up."

Lily’s eyes widened.

Now she understood those ridiculous internet memes—this man was sneaky.

"Say it," Ethan pressed, his tone unyielding.

Lily jutted her chin out. "If I call you Dad, Mommy will cry."

Ethan smirked. "Fine. Compromise. You don’t have to call me that in front of her. Just when she’s not around."

Deal.

Lily brightened.

Truthfully, she’d always wanted to call him Dad—she just felt guilty.

But right now, in this terrifying room full of strangers, survival came first.

She beamed up at him. "Daddy!"

Ethan froze.

Six years.

Six years of waiting for that single word.

And now, he’d finally heard it.

He scooped her into his arms.

"What are you two whispering about?" Eleanor snapped. "Ethan, bring the child here!"

Ethan carried Lily to Grace’s bedside and stated coolly, "My daughter. Lily Blackwood."

Silence.

Then chaos.

Eleanor was the first to recover. "What did you just call her?"

Ethan’s voice was steel. "Her last name is Montgomery."

"You’re disowning her?" Eleanor gasped.

Ethan’s lips curled. "Isn’t that what you wanted?"

Richard’s face turned purple with rage. "You ungrateful brat! You carry the Blackwood name! You inherited everything from this family! And you won’t even let your own child bear our surname?!"

Ethan scoffed.

His child was his. Whether she took his name or her mother’s, she would always be the sole heir to Blackwood Enterprises.

No one else had a say.

Eleanor sighed dramatically. "So the rumors are true. You hate that woman. You’re punishing her by keeping her child. Fine. At least we can explain this to high society. And it’s time you married Isabella Thornton. Six years is long enough."

Her tone was maternal—as if Ethan were her own son.

In her mind, he was.

She was the matriarch. By tradition, Ethan should call her "Mother." With her sons gone, he was all she had left.

She would mold him into the perfect heir.

Just as Ethan opened his mouth to retort—

"EXCUSE ME?!"

A tiny, furious voice erupted from his arms.

Lily’s face was red with outrage. "Who said my mommy is disgusting?! HUH?!"

The five-year-old understood everything.

She glared at the adults, her little mind racing.

Ethan was big and strong. The jeweled old lady looked mean. The other old man seemed softer, but still scary.

Decision made.

In a flash, Lily wriggled out of Ethan’s hold, scrambled onto Grace’s bed—without removing her shoes—and before anyone could react, she jammed her tiny fingers up Grace’s nostrils.

"OW!" Grace yelped.

Lily yanked hard.

"LISTEN UP, JERKS!" she bellowed. "IF ANYONE HURTS MY MOMMY, I’LL RIP GRANDPA’S NOSE OFF AND TURN HIM INTO A UGLY MONSTER! HUFF!"

At that moment, Lily resembled a feral, pint-sized warrior—ready to take on the world.