Liam's face instantly lit up.

A wide smile spread across his features.

He quickly set down his bowl and spoon.

"Really?"

Ethan simply nodded.

He reached out and ruffled Liam's hair.

"Finish your meal first. Then we'll go. Clear your bowl."

Liam nodded enthusiastically.

He eagerly resumed eating, his face glowing with anticipation.

Ethan watched him with a complex expression.

The scent of fried chicken enveloped them inside KFC.

Liam sat across from Ethan, happily gripping a chicken leg.

His face was shiny with grease.

Ethan studied the boy.

A gentle softness crossed his face for a moment.

A slight smile emerged.

He was rarely seen in such informal settings.

His crisp, business-like attire stood out in the casual fast-food atmosphere.

"This is so good!" Liam exclaimed.

He held up a half-eaten chicken leg enthusiastically.

"Take your time. No one's going to take it from you," Ethan said.

He pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the grease from Liam's mouth.

In a quiet corner of the restaurant, Vanessa's eyes landed on the unexpected scene.

She had only come to grab an ice cream.

She never imagined she'd stumble upon Ethan here.

Ethan was with a child?

Vanessa narrowed her eyes.

She studied Ethan and the boy across from him.

She recognized Ethan, the prominent CEO of Blackwood Enterprises.

But the child seemed familiar too.

Acting on a hunch, Vanessa discreetly pulled out her phone.

She aimed it at Liam and snapped a photo.

Once she captured the image, she swiftly opened WhatsApp.

She located the contact and sent the photo along with a message.

"Guess who I saw at KFC?"

After sending it, Vanessa anxiously watched her phone screen.

Her heart pounded.

Meanwhile, Ethan was oblivious to the fact that he'd been photographed.

He was focused on teaching Liam how to use ketchup properly.

"Squeeze it out like this. Be careful not to get it on your clothes," he instructed.

"Got it," Liam replied.

He concentrated, mimicking Ethan's actions.

He carefully squeezed ketchup onto his fries.

Watching Liam's focused demeanor, Ethan felt an unexpected warmth wash over him.

Maybe bringing Liam to KFC was indeed a good idea.

Back in her apartment, Sophia stared intently at the photo on her phone.

The man in the picture was a side of Ethan she had never seen before.

"Impossible…" she murmured.

Her fingers trembled as she zoomed in on Liam's face.

It grew clearer by the second.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

"It's him… that bastard…" Sophia's voice was shaky.

The words barely escaped her clenched teeth.

Could it be that Ethan already knew?

Did he know that Liam was his son?

Was that why he continued to endure Isabella's presence?

Was that why he took the time to go to KFC with the boy?

In a sudden fury, Sophia sprang to her feet.

She spilled her coffee.

The hot liquid splashed onto her leg.

She barely flinched.