The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 2148

He intended to use Hector to threaten Donald.

Hector?

Hearing that name, Donald and Charlotte simultaneously looked toward the child.

The moment she saw Hector's face, Charlotte was absolutely certain this boy was a Gates.

He looked exactly like her brother.

Hector stared back at Donald, unblinking.

Daddy looked exactly like he did in the pictures.

Remembering his mother's instructions, Hector pulled out the small cloth pouch and tried to hand it to Donald.

Fearing it was some kind of weapon or trick, a guard viciously slapped the boy's hand, sending the pouch crashing to the floor.

The Personal Seal spilled out, revealing Donald's name engraved on the bottom.

It was the same one they had bought together at a street market back when they were madly in love.

Donald lowered his head, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Hector in absolute disbelief.

The little boy looked to be about three years old.

Doing the math, he would have been conceived four years ago.

And his name was Hector.

Hector... Gates.

Back when he and Tansy would talk about the future, they agreed that if they ever had a child, they would choose a name that symbolized peace and protection.

Hector. A prayer for safety.

Donald painfully tore his gaze away from his son and looked at Tansy, whose face was already streaked with tears.

The truth he had been blind to for so long was finally surfacing.

Perhaps there had never been a betrayal.

She had done everything just to keep him alive.

And what had he done?

He had abandoned this mother and son in this hellhole, not asking about them for four whole years.

If it hadn't been for this kidnapping, he might have gone his entire life without knowing he had a son.

She refused to let them bear the weight of such a massive crime.

"Fine."

Right then, Charlotte's calm voice cut through the tension. "Get a doctor in here to bandage my sister-in-law. We'll resume the collaboration immediately."

Sister-in-law?

Tansy was momentarily stunned by the title, but she quickly snapped back to reality. "No, Lottie. Don't agree to it."

"Go. Leave with Donald right now."

"I've always told Hector that his father is a patriotic hero. If he understands that, he definitely wouldn't want his dad doing these things either."

Her child was incredibly brave.

"Trust me. Even if you leave, my father won't actually do anything to us."

"Please, just go." Tansy looked pleadingly at Donald, her voice wrecked. "Do you remember your duty? There are some lines you can't cross, things you'd rather die than touch. That's what you told me back then."

"I didn't agree to it four years ago, and I absolutely refuse to agree to it today."

"Donald, take Lottie and get out of here right now."