But, to her shock, a child's bubbly voice answered, "Daddy?"

She had anticipated a woman, not a child.

Sadie was caught off guard, the voice like a bucket of cold water drenching her anger. Her heart raced; she felt a mix of confusion and rising panic.

Had Holden kept a secret child hidden from her?

“Daddy? Why are you silent?" The innocence in the child's voice was evident.

Struggling to hold back her turbulent emotions, Sadie steadied herself and, with an effort at calm, inquired, "Who might you be?"

The young boy, Melon, was equally puzzled. He double-checked the caller ID, confirming it was indeed his father. But this voice was unfamiliar, and it definitely wasn't his dad's.

Brows furrowing in confusion, Melon finally responded, "Who are you, miss? Why are you using my dad's phone?"

"Whom are you calling your dad, you little bastard?" Sadie's voice had an icy chill.

Hearing the insult, a wave of rage surged through Melon. He shouted, “I'm not a bastard! This is my dad's number! Who are you, and why do you have my dad's phone?"

Sadie's face broke into a mocking smile as her laughter intensified.

“What's wrong with me having my husband's phone? And seriously, how dare you call Holden your dad?"

Melon's anger ebbed, replaced by panic. His initial thought was that his dad was having an affair.

He had seen on TV how devastated wifes would become when their husbands cheated.

And what about the child born from that affair? Condemned to a life of solitude, scorned by their own kin.

Melon's lips quivered as he found his voice, shaky but resolute.

“Don't deceive yourself. My father isn't your husband. My mother is the only woman he's ever wed. You... you must be the other woman, trying to tear their marriage apart. You're wicked!"

Sadie seethed with anger, unable to tolerate this audacious child.

She needed to uncover his true identity.

"Who exactly are you?" she demanded.