Grace Parker saw William Carter when he was still running laps on the stadium track. From his staggering steps, it was clear that his stamina was already at its limit. Henry Bennett watched the young man in the distance with great interest and said meaningfully, “Exhaustion is the best way for him to relax!”

William Carter had already noticed his mother’s arrival, but he still insisted on running along the track until he reached her. The person standing next to his mother was unfamiliar to him, and he felt no need to interact.

A sudden, indescribable sorrow welled up in Grace Parker’s heart. If she hadn’t seen her son venting in this way with her own eyes, she would have thought William Carter was in his dorm playing cards and chatting with classmates. Maybe she really didn’t understand her son at all; the pain he harbored inside was far greater than she could have imagined.

“Yun-jie, what brings you here?” William Carter forced a faint smile onto his face. Grace Parker’s eyes grew moist. For so many years, she had been running from her past, even from the title of “mother.” But today, she suddenly realized how foolish and ignorant she had been.

“Xiao Yu... I have something very important... to tell you...” Grace Parker’s voice was weak and hoarse.

“I know. Actually, you didn’t have to come tell me in person!” William Carter’s tone was full of resistance.

Henry Bennett’s eyes shifted. In an instant, he grasped the rift between mother and son. He took off his gloves and extended his hand: “My name is Henry Bennett, I’m your father’s lawyer!” His introduction was brief, but it struck directly at William Carter’s heart.

All of William Carter’s attention was immediately drawn to him. It was the first time he had ever heard anyone mention his father. In his life up to now, the word “father” had always been a blank.

Grace Parker nodded vigorously, tears finally streaming down her face. For some reason, she suddenly felt that her son no longer belonged to her...

There weren’t many customers in the café. The room was very warm, and the orange-red lights softened all the outlines. William Carter held the scalding coffee cup in both hands, but his gaze remained fixed on Henry Bennett’s face.

Henry Bennett smiled slightly, took a sip of coffee, and began to explain everything: “Your father’s name was Xiao Dinghan, a businessman from Taiwan. Your mother can confirm all of this...” He turned to Grace Parker, who nodded in agreement.

“I’ve never met him!” William Carter’s voice was loud, his eyes full of dissatisfaction and hostility. Grace Parker’s eyes were already red. She bit her lower lip. “Because he... never even knew... you existed... I lost track of him when I was two months pregnant...”

“If that’s the case, why is he looking for me now?”

Henry Bennett interjected at the right moment: “Mr. Xiao passed away early yesterday morning. He only learned of your existence half a month ago!”

William Carter didn’t show much sadness. Indeed, to him, this father he had never met was a complete stranger. Henry Bennett continued, “Mr. Xiao was married twice, but never had any children. You are his only legal heir!”

William Carter shook his head, his expression very indifferent. “Sorry! I’m not interested in anything you’re saying!” Henry Bennett laughed and turned his laptop screen toward William Carter. “Do you know how much inheritance you’re about to receive?”

William Carter’s gaze was drawn to the number on the screen. He looked at Henry Bennett in disbelief. Henry Bennett nodded. “Don’t worry... I wouldn’t have braved the cold and transferred flights from Taipei to Beijing for something so boring!”

He then added, “If you’re willing to accept this father, we can leave for Taipei within two days. Mr. Xiao’s greatest wish was to have his biological son by his side for his funeral!” William Carter glanced at Grace Parker again, his lips pressed together stubbornly. “I can give you my answer right now. I’ll board the plane with you on time!”

It was as if an invisible force had struck Grace Parker hard. She slumped against the sofa cushion, feeling an indescribable sense of emptiness. She had never imagined that her son would feel no attachment to her at all.

This winter night in Beijing was exceptionally quiet. People had long since drifted into dreams with the swirling snowflakes. William Carter, however, couldn’t fall asleep. His gaze remained fixed outside the window, his mind racing with thoughts. He had never imagined his life would change so drastically. He wasn’t without attachment to this land where he was born and raised. But as he grew older, he increasingly wanted to escape his current life. Maybe a brief departure could really change his fate and everything else.

He vaguely heard the sound of quiet sobbing from the next room—it was his mother’s voice. His heart ached a little, and he was about to go over and offer some comfort when he heard a man’s voice. William Carter frowned in disgust; it seemed Richard Morgan, out of so-called concern, hadn’t left.

Everything soon returned to silence. Before long, a series of footsteps sounded, and William Carter’s door was politely knocked. Richard Morgan’s chubby head poked in through the crack: “Xiao Yu... can I come in?” “The door’s not locked!” William Carter didn’t even turn his head.