Isabella Scott took the seat opposite her.

Eleanor Grant studied the young woman before her. “Would you like something to drink?” she offered, her tone polite yet distant.

“Just water, thank you,” Isabella replied softly.

Eleanor signaled the waiter and ordered a glass of water.

Silence settled between them for a long moment.

Eleanor reached into her expensive handbag. She pulled out a check and slid it smoothly across the table. The paper was crisp, bearing the Grant family seal and her own elegant signature. The amount line was blank.

“Name your price, Miss Scott.”

Isabella’s eyes dropped to the check. Confusion flickered in her gaze.

“Mrs. Grant, I don’t understand.”

Eleanor set her spoon down with a sharp click. The sound echoed in the quiet cafe.

“I will not have a Grant heir raised outside this family.”

Isabella blinked, her bewilderment growing.

Eleanor continued, her voice cool. “I know your situation. The Scott name carries no weight anymore. You’re a single mother. Raising a child alone must be a struggle. This check ensures you never have to struggle again. Think about it, Miss Scott. This is the smartest choice for you and for Liam.”

Understanding finally dawned on Isabella. Eleanor had gotten everything wrong.

“Mrs. Grant, you can set your mind at ease. I don’t have the ulterior motives you suspect. Regarding Liam’s paternity… there’s been a serious misunderstanding.”

Eleanor stiffened, clearly not expecting this. Her expression darkened.

“What are you implying? My investigators were thorough. Liam is your son, born in Salzburg three years ago. Lucas is the father.”

The discovery had initially shocked her. Her sources also confirmed that Isabella had previously claimed, multiple times, that Lucas was the boy’s father. Now she was denying it? Was she playing for more than just money?

Isabella let out a slow breath. It was time to set the record straight.

She pushed a small velvet box across the table. “Lucas’s assistant gave this to me. I believe it should be returned to its rightful owner. As for Lucas and me… we were never more than friends. He helped me in the past, but that is all.”

Isabella lowered her gaze, her long lashes hiding the emotion in her eyes. The past was not something she wished to revisit.

“And Liam… he is not Lucas’s son. Due to personal reasons, I once asked Lucas to pretend to be Liam’s father. I apologize for any confusion this caused.”

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed with skepticism. She studied Isabella intently, searching for any sign of deceit. The woman before her seemed fragile, yet there was a core of steel in her posture.

After a tense pause, Isabella spoke again. “If you still doubt me, I am willing to have my son take a DNA test. That should settle this matter conclusively.”

With those final words, she picked up her purse, stood, and walked away without a backward glance.

Eleanor watched her go, a pensive frown on her face. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the situation was far more complicated than it appeared.