Chapter 131: Dream

Samuel Ford had taken over the Ford Group at a young age. There had been doubters at first, of course, but he quickly demonstrated his formidable tactics, and all dissent was silenced.

He was a force to be reckoned with in the business world, a man who had never known defeat. Who would have thought his one weakness would be a little five-year-old who had just started kindergarten?

Amanda Vance couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter. Her smile bloomed unexpectedly before Samuel Ford, and for a moment, she completely captured his gaze.

Oblivious to his reaction, Amanda Vance quickly stifled her smile and cleared her throat. "Sorry."

She hadn’t meant to laugh; she didn’t normally find things funny so easily. But she had just pictured him with a child riding on his shoulders, and when she looked at the stern, perfect face before her, she just couldn’t contain it.

The contrast was just too ridiculous.

Samuel Ford said nothing. As he watched the lingering mirth in her eyes, he felt no displeasure at all. In fact, his mood was even slightly better than before.

He frowned slightly, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, but he quickly pushed the thought aside.

Perhaps feeling a little guilty for laughing, Amanda Vance thought for a moment before offering a suggestion. "President Ford, are you saying you haven’t spent much time with your child?"

"Yes," Samuel Ford affirmed. He didn’t tell her that the child in question wasn’t Colt. He truly hadn’t spent much time with the boy—he didn’t even know his name. But since he’d begun to distinguish between the two children, he was also keenly aware that this particular boy did not like him.

He didn’t particularly mind; they had only recently met and had no real bond. It didn’t matter whether the boy liked him or not. It was just that the child’s animosity left him feeling helpless, unsure of what to do.

Since he didn’t elaborate, it never occurred to Amanda Vance that the child he was talking about was Jean Vance. She continued, "Children naturally rely on their parents; it’s an unbreakable bond of blood. It’s true you may have neglected your child a bit due to work, President Ford, but you’re not a bad father by any means. I think Colt is acting out because he wants more of your attention. He wants you to spend more time with him."

She was basing her assessment entirely on Felix Ford’s personality, and she was more or less right. The only thing was, the child himself wouldn’t be aware of these motivations, and the adults wouldn’t overthink it, simply writing it off as him being mischievous.

’Perhaps it’s a common blind spot,’ she thought, ’or maybe it’s just hard to see things clearly when you’re in the middle of them.’

Her words, however, made Samuel Ford’s thoughts drift to her. ’So, does that mean she has feelings for Holly Vance, too?’

’No, that can’t be right. All she feels for Holly Vance now is hatred.’

’But when she was little... she must have longed for her father’s love, right?’

A sudden pang shot through his heart, and a tightness constricted his chest. His brow furrowed unconsciously.

Amanda Vance had no idea his focus had shifted completely to her. She continued, "It’s nothing major. Things will get better if you just spend more time together. I know you’re busy with work, President Ford, but no matter how busy you are, you still have to look after your family. You can always make more money, but a child’s youth doesn’t wait. Time flies, and before you know it, he’ll be grown up. It’ll be too late to make up for lost time then."

Listening to her, Samuel Ford slowly returned to the present and nodded.

Amanda wasn’t quite sure how to take his response. After a moment’s thought, she asked, "Have you ever thought about finding a mother for Colt, President Ford? I remember you saying he’s always wanted a mom."

At this, Samuel Ford’s expression suddenly turned cold. "He doesn’t need one."

The atmosphere turned icy for a moment. Amanda Vance paused, but said nothing.

Sensing the shift, Samuel Ford pressed his lips together and said in a low voice, "My apologies."

He just had trouble controlling his emotions whenever he thought of that woman.

Amanda Vance shook her head nonchalantly. It was a private matter, after all, and not something she should pry into. ’She had overstepped her bounds.’

"It’s not that." Seeing the sudden distance in her expression, Samuel’s chest tightened. The word came out instinctively. He rubbed his temples, trying to keep the memories of that night at bay, and continued with restrained emotion, "Colt wants his biological mother. That is a wish I cannot grant."

The woman had vanished after that night. No matter how much he investigated, he couldn’t find a single shred of information about her. If it weren’t for Colt’s existence, he would sometimes even doubt whether that woman had been real at all.

’Otherwise, how could a person just vanish so completely?’

’He can’t get his biological mother to come back?’ Amanda Vance was surprised, but she completely misunderstood the situation. She said apologetically, "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject for you, President Ford."

Knowing she had misunderstood, Samuel Ford opened his mouth, then swallowed his words. ’How was he supposed to explain this?’

’That the woman slept with him, then ran off, and he still couldn’t find her?’

’Forget it. It was better to let her keep misunderstanding.’

The memories left him feeling frustrated, and Amanda Vance, feeling she had touched a sore spot, didn’t say any more. They drove the rest of the way in silence. It wasn’t until they arrived at the house that Amanda finally broke the quiet. "Well, you should get some rest, President Ford."

"Yes." Samuel Ford nodded. He glanced around the quiet house and asked, "Is Jean not back yet?"

"He’s at his uncle’s house today. He won’t be coming back tonight."

She had to work late, and kindergarten let out early, so she’d asked Hayden Grant to pick him up.

"I see." ’So that’s why,’ he thought.

Since this was his house, Amanda didn’t feel the need to play hostess and went straight to her room.

The master bedroom was reserved for the old man. Since it was still early, Samuel Ford went to the study. His gaze happened to land on the photo wall, and he walked over to it.

’If you look closely, the two boys aren’t actually that similar,’ he mused.

’Colt is lively, always playing and making a fuss. But this child... he prefers quiet. He’s often just sitting there with a book. He’s well-behaved and doesn’t say much, but his disposition seems a bit withdrawn. He doesn’t seem to like talking.’

’He takes after me.’

Dr. Vance had said she didn’t like it when children were too mature for their age. She said no child is born that way; a child who is too well-behaved has often been forced by their circumstances to grow up too fast.

’Is this child like that, too?’

’Is he living with that woman? Is she not treating him well?’

At that thought, his face darkened and his fists clenched. ’That woman!’

He took a deep breath, managing to suppress his emotions only by burying himself in work. It was late into the night by the time he finally returned to his room.

He was also staying in a guest room, which happened to be right next to Amanda Vance’s, separated by only a single wall.

His hand on his own doorknob, he glanced back at her door. The light within was off; he could only hear the faint sound of her even breathing.

The turmoil in his heart subsided. Lying in bed, he quickly fell asleep.

The curtains blocked out the moonlight, leaving the room in silence. Suddenly, the breathing of the man in the bed grew heavy, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

The man in the bed suddenly snapped his eyes open.

Samuel Ford’s breathing was still labored, his brows tightly knitted as his mind replayed the dream he’d just had.

’He’d dreamed of that night again.’

In the inky darkness, the woman had been wearing a half-mask. Whether in reality or in his dreams, he had never been able to see her face clearly.

He had tried to remove her mask, but he failed every time.

’But just now... he had actually gotten it off!’

His breath hitched.

That woman was—