Chapter 187: Impossible, and Unacceptable

Once they reached the study, Mr. Ford looked at Amanda Vance. "What is it? You can speak freely now."

Amanda Vance opened the photo gallery on her phone, found a picture, and handed it to him. "I heard your brother once brought a young woman home. I wanted to ask, was this her?"

Her other hand, held behind her back, clenched unconsciously, a subtle sign of her nervousness.

Mr. Ford glanced at it, seemingly unsurprised, and nodded. "That’s her."

’So it’s true.’

Amanda Vance froze for a moment. The study fell silent.

After a long while, Mr. Ford finally looked up at her. "So, now you understand why my attitude toward you suddenly changed, and why I wouldn’t let Samuel’s mother try to set you two up."

Amanda Vance was speechless, her expression dazed as she stared at the person on her phone screen.

Seeing her reaction, Mr. Ford sighed, turned his head to look out the window, and said slowly, "That day, this is what Victor told me."

He said he always hated me for breaking him and Vivian Sullivan up. If it weren’t for me, they would have been together long ago.

"Brother, you don’t know, do you? Amanda is Vivian’s daughter. What do you and Sister-in-law think you’re doing, trying so hard to set her up with Samuel?"

The expression on Victor Ford’s face as he said those words in the hospital that day resurfaced in his mind—mocking, disdainful, and filled with the thrill of revenge.

He had leaned in close, whispering another sentence in his ear, "Brother, do you know who Colt’s birth mother is?"

He had stared at him in disbelief, at the smile on his face, and his heart had instantly sunk to the depths.

Emotions churned within him. Mr. Ford squeezed his eyes shut, his fists clenched tightly. A long time passed before he opened them again. His gaze, full of exhaustion, fell upon Amanda Vance as he said in a heavy voice, "Megan, stay away from Samuel. You two... it’s impossible. And it’s not allowed."

Amanda’s heart trembled. Lowering her gaze, she took a deep breath, picked up her phone from the table, and gave him a slight bow. "Thank you for clearing this up, Uncle. I’m sorry for the trouble. Please rest assured, what you’re worried about will never happen. As I’ve said before, I will never get married in this lifetime."

Mr. Ford looked at her, but her words did nothing to improve his mood. Instead, his feelings grew even more complicated.

’She isn’t getting married because of her child.’

’And that child is also...’

Closing his eyes for a moment, Mr. Ford avoided her gaze. "That’s good, then."

Amanda Vance offered a small smile. "I’ve intruded long enough. I’ll be leaving now."

"Mm."

After one last glance at him, Amanda turned and walked out, running right into Samuel Ford. He looked at her and asked, "Are you all right?"

"I’m fine." Amanda shook her head and gave him a nonchalant smile. "I have something to do, so I’ll be going."

"I’ll walk you out."

"There’s no need." Amanda glanced at him from the side, her smile distant. "I’ve been here before. I know the way. Thank you."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Samuel Ford stood frozen, watching her walk out of the Ford family home, step by step. She carried herself with an air of breezy indifference, but it made his heart sink, bit by bit, until it hit rock bottom.

"Samuel," Mrs. Ford said, walking over and looking at him with concern.

Pressing his lips together, Samuel Ford pushed down the handle, went inside, and asked directly, "Dad, what did you two talk about?"

Mrs. Ford followed him in, looking at her husband quizzically.

Mr. Ford was sitting in his chair, wearily pinching the bridge of his nose. He gave a listless wave of his hand. "Don’t ask. Just go."

"Old man..." Mrs. Ford looked at him, displeased, and was about to press further when she met his gaze and fell silent.

It was as if the old man had aged ten years in an instant. Not in his appearance, but in his aura—that sense of helpless hesitation, the light in his eyes completely gone.

After locking eyes for a few seconds, Samuel Ford turned and walked out without another word.

Mrs. Ford knew this wasn’t obedience or compromise. He simply didn’t want to argue with his father; his mind was still made up.

’It looks like the relationship between this father and son is going to be strained from now on.’

"Old man," she said, looking at him with some concern.

Mr. Ford shook his head. Seeing this, Mrs. Ford immediately shut her mouth and walked out. She was relieved to see that her son hadn’t left, but had sat back down on the sofa.

Trying hard to control his emotions, Samuel Ford picked up a magazine but couldn’t read a single word. He took a deep breath, tossed the magazine aside, and braced his hands on the sofa, barely managing to suppress the turmoil churning inside him.

A few seconds later, he reached for the magazine again, but then he noticed a sliver of light coming from behind a nearby throw pillow. Reaching out, he moved the pillow and found a phone hidden underneath. The screen was on, showing it was in the middle of a call.

He reached for it, but the screen instantly went dark, displaying the power-off animation.

He pressed the power button, but it didn’t turn on.

The battery was dead.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took the phone and went upstairs. The door to the room was locked from the inside. He called out a few times with no response, so Samuel Ford got the key and opened it. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the little boy fast asleep on the bed.

Mrs. Ford had followed him. Seeing Felix Ford asleep, she laughed helplessly. "This child. No wonder it was so quiet."

Samuel Ford didn’t say anything. He walked over and picked the boy up. Seeing him like this, Mrs. Ford’s expression filled with worry. "Samuel..."

Not taking his emotions out on her, Samuel Ford said, "Mom, Colt has school tomorrow. I’m going to take him home now."

His expression left no room for argument. Knowing she couldn’t stop him, Mrs. Ford had no choice but to say nothing and see him off.

Only after watching the car drive away did she return to the study. Looking at the dazed Mr. Ford, she sighed. "Why did you have to do that? Megan is such a good kid, but you just had to refuse. Look what’s happened now. Samuel took Colt and left. I bet they won’t be back for a long, long time."

Hearing her words, a flicker of something passed through Mr. Ford’s eyes, but in the end, he still said nothing.

Mrs. Ford felt tired, too. She waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, have it your way. I’m not going to bother with you anymore."

’And here I thought his temper had gotten better over the years. Turns out he’s just as stubborn as when he was young, always keeping everything bottled up inside. No matter how much you ask, he won’t say a word if he doesn’t want to.’

Mrs. Ford couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger. They had spent the better part of their lives together; she didn’t understand what could possibly be so important that he couldn’t tell her.

’It’s like he doesn’t even see me as family.’

Holding back her frustration, Mrs. Ford stormed out as well.

’This house is unbearable.’

The house instantly fell quiet. After a long while, Mr. Ford walked out of the study and heaved a deep sigh.

’It’s not that I don’t want to,’ he thought. ’I just can’t.’

Felix Ford woke up over an hour later. Staring at the familiar large bed, he suddenly remembered something. Without even putting on his shoes, he ran out of the room, a panicked look in his eyes. ’Weren’t I at Grandma’s house? How did I get back home?’

Samuel Ford was walking over with a cup in his hand. He glanced at him. "Shoes."

Felix Ford looked down at his own bare feet. Seeing his father’s icy expression, he swallowed hard, feeling a sudden sense of fear. He didn’t dare make a fuss. He obediently went back to his room, put on his shoes, and came out again. Wringing his hands, he asked tentatively, "Um, Dad, why didn’t you wake me up when we came back?"

"I did. You didn’t wake up."

Remembering that he slept like a log, Felix Ford was at a loss for words. He didn’t press the issue. A worried look crossed his face. ’What am I going to do? My phone is still on the sofa.’

Just as he was thinking that, something familiar suddenly appeared before his eyes.

His phone!

Realizing something, he snapped his head up and stared at his father with wide eyes.

Seeing that he didn’t take it, Samuel Ford held it out a little further and explained, "You left your phone on the sofa. I saw it and brought it back for you."

Felix Ford took it. "Then... Dad, did you go through my phone?"

’He remembered clearly; he hadn’t hung up the call.’

"No. The battery died and it shut down automatically as soon as I picked it up."

’Then I’m relieved!’

Watching the boy’s instantaneous look of relief, Samuel Ford narrowed his eyes, studying him with a probing gaze.