Hearing that, just a second before the boy ended the call, the man found his voice and said, "It is me. your father."

Melon caught the word “father” clearly and stopped his movement midway. Now, it was he who was stunned and couldn't find words to respond.

As the shock washed over him, the boy subconsciously turned away and cried out, "Mommy, some scoundrel is on the phone!"

Having heard her son's distress, Ariana swiftly closed the door and rushed over. She took the phone from his hand and asked, "What scoundrel, dear?"

Melon looked at her blankly.

"He says he's my father. But I won't be fooled!" He gave a nonchalant shrug before scratching his head, clearly baffled.

"It is strange, the number of men claiming to be my father lately."

At her son's charming comment, Ariana couldn't help laughing at him.

Over the years, she had met a lot of men who tried to approach her, trying to gain her affection. But she had refused all of them politely, without wavering even the slightest.

When they couldn't win Ariana over, they often tried cozying up to Melon instead, saying, “Let me be your father!"

But her son, as intelligent as he had ever been, would politely and yet firmly decline each time. Even if the men used tricks, such as buying toys and snacks for Melon, the boy would insist on saying, "I already have a father even though he's not here now."

Thinking little of it, Ariana promptly redialed the mysterious number, assuming that it was her online friend.

The phone was soon connected.

Melon was still around and saw his mother's action. When the person answered, Melon realized she was calling the man just now back and looked at his mother in surprise.

“Mommy, why are you calling the scoundrel back?"

Flustered, Ariana cleared her throat and said quickly, “Oh, I was just checking on a delivery."

Gently stroking Melon's hair, she ventured, "Would you Like to speak to your father, dear? I know you miss him."

Melon's eyes went wide, disbelief evident on his face. Half-eager, half-doubtful, he exclaimed, "Is he truly my father?"

With a warm smile, Ariana pinched his chubby cheek affectionately and set the call to speaker mode.

"Your son would like to talk," she told the man before she handed the phone in air.