The thought sent a shiver down Tina's spine. If this child was really Anna's from years ago, and if Harry found out, she would be in deep trouble.
Harry despised deceit and betrayal more than anything. She needed to investigate quickly and find out who this brat really was!
Suppressing her doubts, Tina turned to George and said, "Dad, these are just rumors. This child is merely Shawn's classmate. You know how the media loves to fabricate stories."
George relaxed after hearing Tina's explanation. As long as Tina's status remained unchanged, the Ives family's wealth and prestige would be secure.
He put away his phone and, with a calm expression, glanced at Tina. "Make sure to keep the Luke family happy. Don't upset Mr. Luke."
Tina lowered her eyes and replied obediently, "I understand, Dad."
Once George left, Tina's facade crumbled.
She grabbed Linda's hand, her voice tense. "Mom, five years ago, Anna was pregnant with triplets. Could this child be one of them?"
Tina didn't want to think this way, but when she glanced at the photo earlier, she noticed the child resembled both Shawn and Harry!
"But didn't you have the doctor take care of it back then?" Linda frowned slightly.
Tina's face twisted with anxiety, her voice strained. "I never saw those two brats die with my own eyes. If they survived…"
Linda quickly reassured her. "Tina, don't overthink this. I'll get to the bottom of it."
"It's not just me overthinking, Mom. Anna just came back to the country, and suddenly there's news about Harry having a secret child. How can that be a coincidence?"
Seeing Tina grow more anxious, a fierce determination flashed in Linda's eyes.
She held Tina's hand tightly and said, "Don't worry, my dear. If that child really is Anna's offspring, I won't let them have a peaceful life."
Hearing Linda's ruthless words, Tina finally felt at ease.
At the Luke residence, Harry frowned as he looked at the trending news on his phone.
In the photos, there were two boys, one was his son, and the other was Anna's.
He had previously thought Anna's son looked somewhat familiar, but now, seeing them side by side, the resemblance was uncanny.
No wonder the media was spinning stories based on a single photo.
The news was climbing the charts even faster than when Shawn's identity was announced.
But who was behind this sudden surge of rumors?
The news broke during Marie's conference, and within hours, it shot to the top of the trending list with overwhelming engagement and discussion.
Before today's conference, he might have thought it was Anna's ploy to climb the social ladder.
But now, knowing Anna was an internationally acclaimed fashion designer, she clearly had the means to support a child without resorting to such tactics.
As Harry was deep in thought, his phone suddenly rang, breaking his concentration.
He glanced down and saw it was his assistant, Mr. Thompson.
Answering the call, he heard a slightly amused voice on the other end. "Mr. Luke, the rumors about your 'illegitimate child' have spread like wildfire. A lot of media outlets want to interview you, and they've already gathered outside the company. What do you plan to do?"
Media?
A sarcastic smile played on Harry's lips.
His long fingers tapped the table as a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. In a husky voice, he replied,
"Inform them that the Luke Corporation will hold a press conference tomorrow. I'll personally clear up this 'illegitimate child' matter!"
---
As soon as Anna got home, she hurriedly opened the door.
Seeing Kyle lounging on the couch, her anger boiled over, and she shouted through gritted teeth, "Kyle!"
Kyle jumped at the sound of her voice and quickly got up. Seeing Anna storming toward him, he put on an innocent face. "Mom, what's wrong?"
Anna narrowed her eyes and, without a word, grabbed his ear, demanding, "You little rascal! What's this trending topic about?"
Kyle winced, yelping, "Mom, Mom, it hurts! You're gonna pull my ear off!"
Anna knew she hadn't used much force, but hearing her son complain, she softened and let go, taking a deep breath. "Do you have any idea who Harry is? Of all people, why did you have to mess with him? If he finds out who did it, you'll be in big trouble."
Kyle rubbed his ear, looking pitiful. "It wasn't me who posted it. I just went grocery shopping with Grandma and that kid. How was I supposed to know someone would take a picture and post it online?"
As he spoke, his eyes darted around, wide and innocent. After a moment, he added, "People can say what they want. It's not like I can control that."
Shawn, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement and generously said, "Mom, don't blame big brother. If he wants, I can let him have Dad."
"There's no need for such politeness," Anna snapped, glaring at Kyle. "Don't think I don't know you're behind this. You must have orchestrated the whole thing."
Her son had been learning about tech and hacking from her since he was little.
If he didn't want this news to spread, he surely had the means to stop it.
Now it was trending at number one, and she suspected he had put in quite the effort.
Just as she finished speaking, there was a polite knock at the door. Anna had to put this matter aside and went to open it.
But when she saw who was standing there, she froze.
Perhaps because of the trending news, she felt a bit guilty. Her eyes couldn't help but dart away from Harry.
Stammering, Anna said, "Mr. Luke, what brings you here so late?"
Harry, no longer in his daytime suit, wore casual attire, a grayish long-sleeve shirt and pants, that gave him a calm, relaxed air.
He stepped in with long strides, his deep, magnetic voice filling the room.
"Have you seen today's trending topic, Ms. Ives?"
"Trending topic? What trending topic?" Anna asked nervously, touching her nose and forcing a couple of dry laughs.
"The one claiming your son is my illegitimate child." Harry's dark eyes fixed on Anna, his tone steady yet chilling, making her feel a creeping sense of dread.
Was this the consequence of a guilty conscience?
"It's a misunderstanding, definitely a misunderstanding!" Anna quickly raised her hands, swallowing hard before continuing. "As they say, good grain for good dogs. Someone like me could never match up to you, Mr. Luke."
Harry's smile deepened as he realized this woman was cleverly calling him a dog without saying it directly.
"The Luke Corporation will hold a press conference tomorrow to clear up this matter. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, I'll take Shawn home tonight."
"Of course, of course," Anna nodded vigorously, picking Shawn up from the couch and placing him into Harry's arms with a smile. "The young master has been with us for a while now, and it's time for him to go home with you, Mr. Luke."
Shawn wasn't having it. He clung to Anna's shirt, his voice full of protest. "Mom, I don't want to go with Dad. I want to stay with you."
Anna looked at Shawn's familiar face, feeling a pang of reluctance.
But to settle the issue, she swallowed her emotions. "Shawn, go with Mr. Luke for now. Once everything is sorted out, we'll see each other again soon, okay?"
Harry tried to leave with Shawn, but the boy stubbornly held onto Anna, refusing to let go, causing a scene at the doorway.
Suddenly, Anna felt herself lose balance, perhaps tripping over her own feet, and with Shawn still gripping her shirt, she uncontrollably fell forward.