Chapter: 485

"From how you see it, he might seem like a jerk. But, listen, when I spoke to him earlier, he didn't know about you. Maybe your mom never told him you exist. That could be why he hasn't been around."

Nikolas felt compelled to stick up for Jonathan.

He couldn't bear the thought of Jonathan being despised by his own son.

“Why wouldn't my mom tell him about me? Could it be because he wasn't kind to her?"

"Hey!" Nikolas was momentarily at a loss for words. "You might be on to something. I like the way you think!"

Gradually, Nikolas began piecing together the story.

It seemed to have been a brief affair. Perhaps the woman, realizing she was pregnant, feared Jonathan would reject the child, so she chose to have the baby in secret.

Now, with the child appearing, it seemed driven by financial motives.

If she was clever, she would understand that having Jonathan's child wouldn't be enough to secure a place in the Bates family. If she thought bearing his son might make her Mrs. Bates, she was Likely mistaken.

“Sir, are we going to see him?"

"You'll meet him tomorrow. He's not in Odonset today; he's gone to reconnect with his first love," Nikolas explained.

Rowan's expression turned into a frown.

Nikolas couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at the child's face, a near replica of Jonathan's.

It was the same way Jonathan frowned, looking all so serious.

"I knew he's a jerk," Rowan complained.

“He really is," Nikolas said, bending down to Lift Rowan. Placing a kiss on the boy's cheek, he said, “Let's forget about him for now. Tomorrow, I'll beat him for you."

Rowan nodded. "Okay!"

Taking Rowan to a nearby restaurant, Nikolas pondered what a child like him might enjoy eating. Uncertain but determined to make the outing special, he chose an assortment of expensive dishes, hoping to delight his young companion.

Before their meal arrived, Nikolas' phone buzzed insistently with Maddie's call.

Seeing the number, Nikolas didn't want to answer.

But he also knew that Maddie wouldn't give up.

He glanced at the screen before reluctantly answering. “Hello?”

“Where are you?" Maddie's voice carried a note of anxiety.

“I'm out for dinner," Nikolas replied casually.