A Qualified Father

Nidia stayed over at Lily's place that night.

Lily had just taken a shower when she noticed that Nidia was using a pump to extract breast milk. Confused, she asked, "Is there even enough milk for my godson back there?"

Nidia lifted her gaze as realization hit her.

As a mother, she knew very well how much milk Bubsy consumes every day. The breast milk they stored in the mansion would've run out ages ago. However, no one had come to retrieve any breast milk from her.

The only explanation she could think of was that Bubsy had started drinking powdered milk. It was clear as day as to why they started feeding him powdered milk...

Jackson wanted to cease all interaction between them two!

Lily didn't know how to cheer Nidia up. After putting it into some thought, she ordered two servings of desserts. She knew that desserts could help cheer someone up.

As they ate the red velvet cake, a news article popped up on Lily's timeline. She had been scrolling through her phone, and spotted a very eye-catching title.

[Jackson Cunningham's mother attends a charity banquet. The background of Angelica Chandler.] Lily then clicked to view the article. She realized that the article included photos, and that the banquet was held last night.

"Nid, look at this article! Doesn't this mean my godson's grandmother is still in town and had never been to some birthday celebration?" Lily gave it straight to Nidia and shoved her phone in front of Nidia's face.

Nidia fell silent and took Lily's phone.

The eye catching title was bolded as well, and Nidia couldn't take her eyes off it.

With the pictures and the article, Nidia could feel her blood run cold...

She had been hoping and comforting herself. Now that she thought about it, she had been a joke all along. Dylan's lie was a kind and dismissive reply he made up to not hurt her.

That night, Nidia couldn't get any sleep at all.

The next morning, Lily drove Nidia to her work place.

After basically spacing out for the whole morning, Nidia decided to not eat lunch with her colleagues. Instead, she took a cab home and went to the Cunningham mansion on her own.

After getting off the car, she waited at the tall gates.

The sun was scorching during the afternoon. There weren't any passerbys in the area, and only cars could be seen on the road.

Nidia called her manager and lied that she needed to take a medical leave. She continued waiting in front of the Cunningham mansion.

It would be hard to bump into Jackson in his company, and she wouldn't be able to even make it past the underground parking lot. Jackson also had a private elevator made specially for the CEO. Even employees in the same company found it impossible to see him.

However, Jackson would definitely return to or leave the mansion at any given time.

The sun was burning her up, and Nidia started feeling dizzy and dehydrated. There weren't any shady areas for her to rest under. Nidia closed her eyes, and all she could think of was the incident in the bathroom that night... Jackson had a physical reaction, just like any other male.

His big hands gripping hard at her slender waist, the sensation of the thin layer of fabric over her thighs, and her lips being violently seized... She still had clear memories of these images, including the slap she gave him out of anger.

Nidia knew she had infuriated him.

However, she didn't expect that the price she had to pay was this. Not only she won't be able to see her son anymore, she also lost her rights to breastfeed him.

At noon, Nidia took a screenshot of that news article and sent it to Dylan.

[I'm sorry, Miss South. I can't help you.] Dylan made it fairly clear with his reply.

When it comes down to whether or not she could see her child, only Jackson has a say in this.

She had to face the stone-cold Jackson Cunningham on her own. This time, no one else can help her.

Nidia wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, but she decided to go all out. When she reached home in the evening, she took off her conservative attire and changed into a dress with thin straps. Even still, she knew this dress wasn't something Lily would consider sexy...

...

Back in the Cunningham mansion, the two month old child had been vaccinated in the morning and was now throwing a tantrum.

Jackson didn't go to his company today. In fact, he was the one who brought his child to get vaccinated during the morning.

However, the little guy started burning up at noon!

Angelica was heartbroken. "Oh, my poor baby grandson. You shouldn't have to suffer!"

The family doctor was standing next to them, waiting for further orders. At these words, she smiled and said, "Madame, this is a normal reaction after getting a vaccine. Don't worry!"

Jackson continued to watch his son until 6 p.m. He had a business dinner to attend at eight, so he left his child in the hands of his mother and the family doctor. Before leaving, he repeatedly reminded Patricia about feeding the child.

As he walked downstairs, Patricia couldn't help but smile. She turned to Angelica and said, "The master seems to love his son very much, he's a qualified father."

Angelica replied, "He's much better at this than his own father!"

Jackson exited the mansion by car, his eyes as calm as still water. Dylan was the one driving. The black Rolls-Royce Ghost was now on the broad streets. Before reaching the hotel, Dylan noticed that something was wrong.

"Mr. Cunningham, there's a taxi that's been following us since we exited the mansion." Dylan said as he slowed down the car.

All of the vehicles Jackson owned had bulletproof windows, so safety wasn't a problem for them. After slowing down and closing their distance, Dylan could see who was in the taxi.

'....It's the young master's mother, Miss South.' Dylan took a glance at Jackson from the rearview mirror, who was resting in the backseat. He reported, "Mr. Cunningham, Miss South is the one following us."

Jackson continued to rest with his eyes closed. He hadn't said a word, his aura still cold as ever. Dylan decided to not push the matter any further and drove as per usual.

At the hotel entrance stood a group of men in suits, all of them seemingly waiting for someone. As Jackson got out of his car, they immediately rushed towards him.

Throughout the whole dinner, Jackson ended up not eating anything. All he had were a couple of shots.

Around nine, Jackson left the private room and went to the VIP hotel room on the top floor. Dylan followed him, acting as his bodyguard.

This hotel was bought by TF Co., and Jackson owned the VIP room on the top floor.

He would usually take a rest here whenever they had any social events.

When Nidia walked out of the elevator, she immediately spotted Dylan, who was standing in front of the door to the VIP room.

Dylan noticed Nidia as well. He informed the employees to let a young lady in a white dress with thin straps in, and to let her come up to the top floor as well.

She had been following them for quite a while, so Dylan was able to guess what Nidia was up to.

Dylan didn't even think of stopping her one bit. Jackson had let her taxi to continue following them, after all. If he really wanted to stop her, they would've sued her for suspicious behaviour.

However, Nidia was still a very understanding person. She did not stop Jackson and demanded to see their child in front of everyone.

Dylan felt as if he was just second guessing his boss' thoughts, and he wasn't sure if his guesses were right. However, he still entered the password for the VIP room for her.

Nidia bowed and thanked him, and then walked into the room.

Jackson was loosening up his tie. He turned around and lifted his gaze. What met his eyes was Nidia in a pure white dress with thin straps. The dress was simple, but she looked like a beautiful lotus flower.

Jackson couldn't help but look her up and down. Without changing his cold expression, he took out a box of cigarettes and lit one up.

The man stared at her with his deep and unpredictable black eyes. He then spoke, his tone extremely cold, "Why are you here?"

Nidia could feel her cheeks burning up, turning as red as a rose.

Jackson sat on the black leather sofa and crossed his legs. Still expressionless, he took a drag on the cigarette and waited for her next move.

Nidia lowered her gaze, her eyes filled with fear. She mustered up all the courage she had and reached for the zipper on the back of her dress, slowly pulling it down...

...

It was as if they could hear a pin drop in the large VIP room.

Outside the french windows was a beautiful scenery of the night sky. The floor was up too high, so Nidia couldn't see the night life in the city from her position. Even the neon signs on the tall buildings couldn't be viewed.

No one would know what was happening in this VIP room on the top floor of this tall hotel building.

No one would know what humiliation this mother, who was desperate to spend time with her child, had to go through...

Nidia had curves in all the right places. Her long black hair, as soft as silk, was paired with a fair little face. She looked innocent yet alluring, as if she was born to be a succubus.

Jackson's cold gaze now laid on Nidia's beautiful figure. His hand tensed up, still holding on to the cigarette. In an instant, a wave of electricity coursed through his whole body.

"What are you doing, Miss South?" He asked, seemingly calm on the outside.

He knew exactly what she was here for. He knew how much courage it took for her to take off her dress in front of him. Even so, frustration and anger arose from his heart.

'I, Jackson Cunningham, am now a thug who forces women to do as he pleases?'

"Mr. Cunningham should know exactly what I'm doing." Nidia replied. Without her dress, her bare skin was now cold, exposed to the air conditioner. However, her face kept burning up despite the coldness.

Jackson's voice was icy yet hoarse. "I'm sorry. I don't know, but I'd like to hear it from you."

Nidia fell silent. She lifted her gaze and her eyes met his deep, stern eyes. The shade of his pupils were as dark as a bottomless pit, making him seem unpredictable in others' eyes.

'Hear it from me...'

'How do I even put this into words?' Mustering up the remaining mental strength she had, Nidia blushed harder and replied, "To finish what we should've done back in the bathroom that day."

Jackson smiled softly, yet it was difficult to tell what he was thinking. He tapped his cigarette gently on the ashtray, his movements elegant and gentle.

He continued, "I remember Miss South said a man like me could get any woman I want if I wanted some release, and that I would be embarrassing myself to make a move on you?"

Nidia's fingers flinched.

'I did say that, after all...' Her heart was now pounding as hard as thunder.

Nidia could feel her self esteem being crushed into pieces. However, to please Jackson, she decided to go against her morals. "I thought about it after I got home.

Who cares who you'd be doing that with? It's all the same with the lights off anyway."

She had seen this quote on the internet. Back then, she had despised the men who had posted this. She didn't expect herself to use it with Jackson now.

Jackson rested his arm on the sofa, visibly annoyed. "It's all the same when the lights are off? Did you forget that I like doing it with the light on, Miss South?"

Nidia didn't know what else to say.

Jackson narrowed his eyebrows and put on a gentlemanly act. "For your child, you wouldn't mind stripping and letting me have my way on you? Well then, Miss South.

If I really were to do you tonight, wouldn't that mean I'm using our child as an excuse in order to force you into this?"

Nidia was speechless. She knew that she had said these exact words back in the bathroom as well.

'Bubsy is my son, which I had to go through eight months of pregnancy to give birth to! I would miss him, and I would want to see him, all because I am his mother. I want to be a good mother, but this isn't an opportunity for you, Mr. Cunningham, to do whatever you want with me...' She had not expected him to remember every word that she had said back then.

Nidia felt as if both her mind and body were about to collapse. Her energy was draining by the second.

"No, that's not it. You aren't using our child as an excuse, Mr. Cunningham. I'm the one who stripped in front of you. I'm begging you..."