Ms. Escape Marrying to Run Fighting to Rise novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167 The Other Child

Most people at the table didn’t understand how big that moment was, but Irene did.

Finished

She’d been watching Curtis closely. And tonight, she saw it for what it was. He wasn’t pretending. He really loved Adriana. That truth hit her like sunlight breaking through clouds.

Curtis was usually the kind of man who froze a room with one glance. People knew better than to mess with him. Yet here he was, chatting, laughing, making small talk like a normal man. Maybe he wasn’t as untouchable as everyone believed.

Meanwhile, back in the fishing village.

When Matthew found Michael, the man was leaning on a crutch, helping a group of workers unload boxes from a seafood truck.

Michael’s left leg was gone, but the rest of him looked solid. His skin had the deep tan of someone who worked under the sun every day. His beard was rough, and his hair was graying at the edges. There was nothing left of the once–polished son of Harborton’s richest family.

“Hey, Mike!” one of the guys called out, grinning as he tossed a crate onto the bed of the truck. “Heard your kid crushed it again! They say the exam results came out. Looks like we’ve got another top scorer from our town!”

Michael gave a nod, smiling. “Yeah. He did real good this time.”

Matthew stood a short distance away beside his car. He didn’t move. He just watched.

Michael’s expression was full of pride. It was the kind of pride that came from simple things, not wealth or legacy. Matthew stared for a long moment, silent. Something twisted inside him. He felt pity for Curtis. It was quiet and bitter.

Even if he planned to take Adriana from Curtis, he couldn’t deny the ugliness of it all. A father who turned his back on his own son because of an arranged marriage. A man who ran away to this tiny village, remarried, and poured all his love into another child.

What a pathetic way to live.

“Dad, stop trying to lift those. I’ll help Tom.” The voice came from a tall boy walking out of the warehouse. He had to be six foot two, with broad shoulders and a tank top that clung to his back. His skin glowed under the afternoon sun, and sweat glistened across his arms.

Denton Lincoln looked like the picture of youth. Strong, bright–eyed, full of life. He picked up a heavy box of clams and tossed it onto the truck without breaking a sweat.

He looked so much like Michael that it was impossible to miss the resemblance. There was even

1/4

8:44 Sat, Jan 10

Chapter 167 The Other Child

a flicker of Curtis in him too, though he was younger.

Finished

“Dad, sit down for a minute,” Denton said, his tone protective. “Grab a Coke or something. You shouldn’t be out here with that leg. Mom’s already got lunch waiting. Once we’re done, we’ll go home for lunch.

Michael laughed softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He nodded, that simple smile holding more peace than any fortune could buy.

Matthew watched them in silence for a long time. Finally, he turned to his assistant. “He walked away from billions. From everything. And now he calls this happiness. Does he really think that’s worth it?”

He paused, his voice low. “Did he ever think about Curtis at all?”

It was an arranged marriage, sure–but that had still been his choice back then. Curtis hadn’t chosen any of it. He hadn’t even chosen to be born into that mess.

Matthew let out a dry laugh. The whole thing was ridiculous, almost like watching his own parents‘ mess play out again.

His father had spent years chasing women, leaving behind a trail of bastards. None of it ever got cleaned up.

“He doesn’t resent Curtis for who he is,” the assistant said quietly. “He resents him because he never cared about Curtis’s mother.”

Matthew didn’t answer. He pushed the door open and stepped out into the salt air.

“Mr. Lincoln.” Matthew flicked open a pack of cigarettes and held one out.

Michael looked at him, then at the sleek car parked nearby. After a pause, he took the cigarette and leaned in so Matthew could light it. Smoke curled up between them.

“You’re not the first person who’s come looking for me,” Michael said, his voice rough. “I don’t care who sent you. Go tell Harold. I’m fine. I’m never going back to the Lincolns.”

Matthew tilted his head. “You really mean that?” he asked, his tone light but sharp. “Even if that’s how

you feel, you should still think about your kid. Denton’s 19 now, right? College is coming up fast. You walked away from the Lincolns with nothing. I respect that. But life gets expensive. School, jobs, dating, a home… those things pile up.”

He smiled slightly, his words cutting like glass. “When he finds out his father’s a billionaire’s son, with more than a hundred billion waiting for him, you think he’ll still be happy hauling boxes in this village?”

Michael’s eyes hardened. “Don’t you dare drag my son into this.”

2/4

8:44 Sat, Jan TU

Chapter 167 The Other Child

B

99

Finished

Matthew’s smirk didn’t fade. “You clearly love him,” he said. “So why not tell him the truth? Let him decide for himself. Maybe he’s not as afraid of the Lincolns as you are.”

Michael stayed silent. The quiet stretched between them until it felt heavy enough to choke on.

Footsteps approached fast. Denton came jogging up, wiping his hands on his shirt, his smile wide and bright.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify