The Heiress Spoiled by Four Brothers and One Devilish CEO-Chapter 178 Put It All Out There

When the man asked, Megan raised an eyebrow. "That’s your son, you know!"

Tristan wrapped an arm around her waist. "Doesn’t matter, he’s a guy—still competition. He’s taking up some of your love that should be mine."

Megan stared at him. "...You’re such a jerk!"

Tristan chuckled and gently tapped the tip of her nose. "Done eating? Let’s go build a snowman."

"Yup!" Megan darted into the closet and picked out a puffer coat that reached her ankles, then grabbed a beanie, scarf, and gloves. "I’m good to go!"

Tristan also put on his puffer coat and took her hand as they headed downstairs.

Zeta Prime took one look at them all bundled up and let out a chuckle. "Where are my master and little fairy off to?"

"We’re building a snowman! Wanna come?"

Zeta Prime hugged its robotic arm. "I’ll pass. Too cold for me." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Megan shot it a look of distaste and walked out with Tristan.

Snow floated gently from the sky. Megan stretched out her hand and caught a flake, watching it melt into a tiny droplet.

"If people didn’t hold so much jealousy and hate in their hearts, and there were no evil in the world... wouldn’t that be nice?" she murmured.

Tristan looked at her delicate profile and smiled. "One day, maybe. It’ll happen."

He meant to comfort her, but the words actually hit home.

Megan turned to look up at him. Snow had lightly dusted his hair under the sunlight. "Oops, your hair’s turning white."

"You too," he said, reaching up to brush the snow off her head.

"Wait!" Megan grabbed his hand. "Don’t. Don’t we look like an old couple growing old together?"

Tristan nodded, cradled her face in his hands, and kissed her deeply. Warmth and longing mingled until Megan was left a little breathless.

She exhaled foggy white mist and suddenly laughed.

"What’s funny?" Tristan’s voice softened.

"My lips are freezing," Megan said, covering her mouth.

Tristan chuckled and pulled her close, their foreheads touching, noses grazing. "Then let me warm them up some more."

He tilted his head and kissed her again.

After a long moment, they finally pulled apart.

Megan crouched down and threw a handful of snow over him. "Babe, you should totally grow a big white beard."

Tristan let her play around and laughed. "Why?"

"Then you could pretend to be Santa Claus! And on Christmas, you have to stuff my favorite present into my stocking."

He grinned. "I’m afraid it won’t fit."

She blinked. "I’m not asking for anything huge."

Tristan patted his chest. "I’m this tall and big. No way I’m fitting in there."

Megan ran into his arms. "I love you. All those days I was away from you, I kept saying that in my heart. Once this is over, let’s never be apart again, okay?"

"Okay," he said, holding her like she was everything to him. "Once it’s all settled, I’ll bring you home. I’ll be there for every checkup, every step until our baby arrives." He leaned in closer. "Thank you, Megan. I love you."

Parked just off the road outside Dreamscape Manor was a black Bentley.

Inside, a man sat silently, a trace of sadness in his eyes. During all the time they were together, he’d never seen that kind of joyous smile on her face—pure happiness that came from deep within.He used to think he was part of the Richmond family—at least someone with a decent background, someone good enough for her. But now? His origins were a mess. Maybe he was the son of a criminal, maybe just some kid left behind. Either way, he wasn’t worthy of her.

What mattered most—she didn’t love him.

Keith caught his expression in the rearview mirror and cleared his throat. "Boss, I think Miss Shaw still cares. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t bother with you."

Karl gave a bitter laugh. "She pities me. I don’t need anyone’s sympathy. Let’s go. Time to return to the base. It’s about time I settled some old scores."

The car slowly drove along the winding mountain path, cutting through the woods until it stopped in front of a white three-story house buried deep in the forest.

From a distance, that white house, standing among the lifeless trees, looked downright eerie.

Keith got out and opened the rear door. Karl bent slightly as he stepped out. He dusted off the snowflakes clinging to his fur coat, his sharp gaze fixed on the entrance ahead before heading in.

Inside the hallway, armed guards stood every few meters, rifles slung across their chests. Karl ignored them all and went straight to the old man’s room.

The elder, seated behind a rosewood desk, froze mid-sip of tea when he saw Karl walk in.

"You ran off again? Your wounds haven’t even healed."

Karl dropped into the leather couch, legs crossing casually. He pulled a cigarette from his pack. A snap of his lighter sparked a small orange flame.

The cigarette burned, smoke curling upward, softening the harsh scar that ran across his face.

The old man frowned. His eyes were sharp as ever. "I hate the smell of smoke."

Karl chuckled, flicked the ash onto the expensive Persian rug without a second thought.

"What do you want?"

Karl didn’t answer, just kept that slight smile on his face.

The old man slammed his hand on the table. "Get out!"

Karl raised his eyes, the bitter resentment in them locking onto the old man. "I think it’s time we talk about what’s really gone down all these years."

The old man narrowed his eyes, suspicion flashing across his face. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"How long are you planning to keep up this act, Jacob Scott?"

The chill in Karl’s voice sent a shiver down the elder’s spine. How did he know? Last night he’d been normal, but now?

He inhaled sharply. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"No?" Karl took a long drag. "Jacob Scott—Nathaniel Cooper’s secretary. Had an affair with Mrs. Richmond. Got caught and fired. And not long after, the Richmond family gets wiped out, and Jacob just disappears."

He turned his eyes on the old man, laughing, but there was no joy in it. "You’re Jacob. And me? I’ve got nothing to do with you or the Richmonds. I’m not that baby from back then."

The old man’s face darkened. "Your father was a murderer. Your mother was a hooker. You were abandoned the second you were born. I took you in from the orphanage. Without me, you think you’d be standing here today?"

Karl stubbed out the cigarette, eyes burning red. "Achievement? I’d rather you never took me in."

He got up, walked to the desk, leaned forward, hands braced on the wooden surface. "If I didn’t have a special body, would you have even looked at me? You raised me like a test subject—do you even know the hell I went through? Ever felt bugs crawling under your skin? That constant itching you can’t escape? That crushing pain, like burning one second and freezing the next? You forced it all on me—with your made-up revenge, your lies, your twisted cause that was never mine but I had to carry!"