"I heard Zac treats his girlfriend, Tia, like crap. Some netizens even saw bruises all over her—like she’d been beaten!" "Oh my God! Zac is an abuser?" "The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Like father, like son!" "Let’s not lump everyone together. Arthur is completely devoted to Ashley." "If Arthur didn’t look a little like John, I’d start questioning if he was even John’s real son." John scrolled through the comments online, his blood pressure spiking. His face turned red, then purple, then damn near green—like a glitching traffic light. These idiots actually had the nerve to say Zac wasn’t his kid! Where did they get the audacity to spew such nonsense? How did Zac not look like him? Renee had only ever been with him. Zac being anyone else’s son was impossible! If Renee saw these comments, she’d be devastated! Without hesitation, John immediately posted a public statement on his account, declaring that Zac was his biological son. He would never let anyone question Zac’s identity! He couldn’t let these baseless rumors hurt Zac! As for Raelynn and his daughters, John had no time to worry about them. Right now, the one who needed his protection the most was Zac! In a quiet corner of the hospital, Renee stared at the barrage of online insults on her phone, so furious she nearly blew her cover. Because the truth was—Zac really wasn’t John’s son. She had done a paternity test not long after Zac was born and confirmed it herself. She had never told Zac. She didn’t want to burden him with the truth. But hearing it twisted and thrown around like this made her blood boil! Thinking of the shares John still held in his grasp, Renee swallowed her anger and pulled out her phone. She typed in a familiar number and sent John a message. Inside the hospital room, John was suppressing his fury as he issued his public statement. Zac couldn’t find out. He couldn’t know what people were saying about them online!Zac was bedridden, his limbs all broken, unable to use his phone. John had even turned off the hospital room’s TV. As long as he kept the doctors and nurses from talking, Zac wouldn’t hear a thing. Just as John sent out the statement, a message from an unknown number popped up. Normally, he wouldn’t even bother checking—years of experience told him it was probably some spam ad. But for some reason, he clicked on it anyway. The moment he read the contents, he shot up from his chair with a loud "Hah!" Zac glanced at him and asked flatly, "What’s wrong?" John had always been composed and refined in front of Zac, never showing much emotion. This reaction was a first. John looked at Zac, barely able to contain his excitement. "Your mom’s here!" "What?" Zac’s eyes widened in shock. That was impossible! How could Mom be here? John didn’t have time to explain. "She sent me a message. She wants to meet in the hospital garden. Stay here—I’ll be right back." Without waiting for Zac’s response, John hurriedly strode out of the room. Raelynn was busy looking after Susie. As John stepped into the hallway, he made sure to glance around, confirming that neither Raelynn nor her daughters were anywhere in sight before quickly heading for the garden. His palms were sweating. His fingers trembled slightly with anticipation. Renee. His Renee. She was finally willing to see him. Ten years ago, he had thought she was dead. Back then, he had nearly lost his mind. He knew Renee resented Arthur’s existence. So the moment he brought Zac into the Gray family, he had started treating Arthur with cold disdain. Ever since she jumped into the river, her phone had been unreachable. Yet, for all these years, he had never stopped topping up her phone plan—just in case. Whenever he missed her, he would dial that number, send messages into the void. The message he received today came from an unfamiliar number, but he knew, without a doubt, that it was her. Because of the way she addressed him—Johnny. That was a name only Renee ever used for him.John didn’t even bother waiting for the elevator. He sprinted toward the stairs, his steps suddenly light, his pace quick. For the first time in years, he felt alive again. Lately, blow after blow had left him weary, his hair turning gray. He had been worn down, exhausted, drained. But now? Now he felt like he had turned back time. Like he was young again.