Chapter 214: Are You Someone’s Sugar Baby?

"It’s because you’ve been dating so many girls behind our backs."

Mrs. Hale shot Luca an annoyed glare.

"That’s why your dad is so angry."

Despite her words, there wasn’t much anger in her eyes.

If anything, there was the faintest trace of satisfaction.

She couldn’t deny that her son was remarkably capable.

At such a young age, he’d built a fortune for himself, and every girl around him was stunning.

"Huh?"

Luca looked flustered.

"Mom, don’t make things up."

He still tried to argue his way out of it.

After all, his parents only knew about Sophie and Naomi.

How could they possibly know about the others?

"Oh, stop pretending."

Mrs. Hale rolled her eyes.

"Your dad looked into it today, and that little girl told him everything."

As she explained what had happened, Luca slowly realized where he’d slipped up.

Trish hadn’t just taken Vivienne and the others shopping.

She’d snapped photos all day long and happily uploaded them to her social media.

She hadn’t hidden the posts from anyone.

Naturally, Mr. and Mrs. Hale had seen them too.

Although they only recognized Naomi, Vivienne and Arabella were the kind of beauties nobody forgot after seeing them once.

Mr. Hale was the more observant of the two.

After looking through the photos, he remembered that Luca had supposedly been dating two girls already.

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became.

So...

They called Trish.

First, they pretended to scold her.

Then they claimed Lisa had already confessed everything.

Trish was still too inexperienced.

Without thinking twice, she’d spilled everything.

That was how things had reached this point.

Having two girlfriends had already pushed Mr. Hale’s patience to its limit.

Finding out there were actually four...

That was another matter entirely.

There was no way Luca could marry all of them.

Which meant...

Someone’s sincerity was bound to be betrayed.

Mr. Hale had spent his entire life living honestly and responsibly.

Never had he imagined his own son would become such a playboy.

’Leading other people’s daughters on like this...’

’How is that any different from being a scumbag?’

If someone ever treated Trish the way Luca was treating these girls...

He’d be the first to pick up a knife and settle the score.

If Mrs. Hale hadn’t stopped him earlier, he would’ve slapped Luca without hesitation.

After listening to the whole explanation, Luca finally understood why his father had exploded.

"Hehe..."

He gave an awkward laugh.

"Dad..."

"Don’t call me Dad."

Mr. Hale glared at him.

"You’re the one who’s acting like my father."

"Dad, I’m only trying to help carry on the Hale family line."

Luca smiled sheepishly.

"Ha!"

Mr. Hale almost laughed from anger.

"What do you think this is?"

"Ancient times?"

"Are you some emperor?"

"You’ve hurt all those girls, and you still think you’re being reasonable?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became.

He rolled up his sleeves and stood up, looking ready to teach Luca a lesson.

"Hey!"

Mrs. Hale hurriedly grabbed his arm.

"If you’re going to talk, then talk."

"Stop trying to solve everything with your fists."

After calming him down, she turned toward Luca.

"Answer me honestly."

"Does Sophie know about the other girls?"

"I told her."

Luca nodded without hiding anything.

"Good."

Mrs. Hale visibly relaxed.

"At least you didn’t lie to her."

She sighed softly.

"Your father feels the same way."

"Sophie..."

She paused before continuing.

"You’d better not hurt that girl."

Only then did Luca finally realize something.

Without him noticing...

Sophie had completely won over both of his parents.

She came to Stillwater Bay almost every week.

Sometimes she’d accompany them shopping.

Sometimes she’d sit and chat for an afternoon.

She even helped with cooking and housework whenever she visited.

She had quietly become the perfect daughter-in-law in their eyes.

Gentle.

Kind.

Hardworking.

Thoughtful.

It was impossible not to like her.

"If you ever abandon Sophie because of another woman..."

Mrs. Hale looked at him seriously.

"I’ll never forgive you."

"I won’t either."

Mr. Hale spoke coldly before standing up.

Then he walked toward the door.

"Dad."

Luca called after him.

"Aren’t you going to finish dinner?"

"Hmph."

Mr. Hale snorted.

"You’ve already made me too angry to eat."

Watching his father leave, Luca felt rather wronged.

’Do they really think I’d abandon anyone?’

’I’m not that kind of man.’

’Once they’re mine... none of them are getting away.’

"Forget about your dad."

Mrs. Hale smiled knowingly.

"He’s just saving room."

"He’s meeting his friends for drinks tonight."

Luca was speechless.

No wonder his father’s exit had looked so confident.

Turns out he already had plans.

"Mom..."

He looked at her curiously.

"Aren’t you angry?"

Logically speaking...

Mrs. Hale was the one who valued harmony in the family the most.

Yet she’d accepted his ridiculous love life far more easily than expected.

"My son is outstanding."

She smiled proudly.

"Isn’t it normal for beautiful girls to like him?"

Then her smile grew even wider.

"It’d be even better if your father and I could hold a grandchild soon."

She was already approaching fifty.

Many relatives her age were already happily looking after grandchildren.

Now that their family no longer lacked money...

Raising children wasn’t something they had to worry about anymore.

"So..."

Luca blinked.

"Mom, you really mean that?"

"Of course."

She nodded confidently.

"Don’t be fooled by your father’s attitude."

"He actually cares about these things more than anyone."

He simply refused to admit it in front of his children.

Whenever they visited relatives and saw little grandchildren running around...

Mr. Hale would secretly envy them.

Sometimes, while watching television together at night, the couple would even imagine a future where little grandchildren filled this very house with laughter.

After hearing that, Luca suddenly made up his mind.

"Mom..."

"It might be difficult for me to raise a baby right now."

"But..."

"Would you mind having a four or five-year-old granddaughter instead?"

Smack!

Mrs. Hale slapped him squarely on the forehead.

"You little brat!"

"So you were fooling around back in college?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Four or five years ago...

Luca hadn’t even graduated yet.

Every time he came home during winter or summer break, he’d insisted he wasn’t dating anyone.

And now he was telling her he’d already gotten someone pregnant?

Not only that...

He’d secretly raised the child without telling them?

Luca rubbed his forehead helplessly.

He couldn’t help laughing.

His mother had misunderstood everything.

"Mom!"

"Can you let me finish first?"

"I wasn’t even dating back then."

"How could I possibly have had a child?"

Mrs. Hale’s expression suddenly changed.

She looked horrified.

"You..."

"You didn’t become somebody’s sugar baby, did you?"

"What if all this money came from some rich older woman?"

"What if one day she dumps you for a younger man?"

She knew exactly how handsome her son was.

Honestly...

It wasn’t impossible for some wealthy woman in her forties or fifties to fall for him.

Luca nearly choked.

"Mom."

"Do I really look like that kind of person?"

Then he patiently told her everything about Daisy.

As she listened...

Her expression shifted again and again.

Shock.

Anger.

Heartache.

Until finally...

Only pity remained.

"So..."

She wiped the corner of her eye.

"You want to adopt her?"

Luca nodded.

"Daisy is a really good child."

"And now..."

"I have the ability to give her a proper home."

"I agree."

Mrs. Hale answered almost immediately.

Years ago, she would’ve thought it over carefully first.

Now...

She didn’t hesitate at all.

Partly because she genuinely loved children.

And partly because Luca was right.

Their family could easily afford to raise another child now.

"I’ll talk to your dad tonight."

She smiled warmly.

"I don’t think he’ll object."

"He loves children."

"He’s actually a very kind man."

Back then, she’d fallen for Mr. Hale because he was handsome...

And because he was honest to a fault.

Sometimes she even joked that if she hadn’t married him first...

Some other woman would’ve tricked that honest fool out of both his money and his heart.

She simply couldn’t rest until she’d made him hers.