His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.-Chapter 603 Manipulative

Archer’s expression cooled almost imperceptibly. "What about it?"

"The director called again. They still want to capture the baby. Just a few photos. Very tasteful. Nothing exploitative."

"No."

"Archer—"

"No." His voice was firm but not angry. Just final. "My son is not content. He’s not a prop for your career. He’s a person."

"They wouldn’t use his name. Just—"

"No."

Alexa pressed her lips together. "The pregnancy shoot went well. The fans are invested. They want to see—"

"I don’t care what the fans want." Archer looked up at her, his eyes dark. "I care about protecting him. That’s my job. His father. Not yours, not the director’s, not anyone else’s."

The silence stretched between them.

Alexa wanted to argue. Wanted to point out all the opportunities, all the money, all the carefully built momentum that would be lost. But something in Archer’s expression stopped her.

He wasn’t going to budge.

Not on this.

"Fine," she said quietly. "But when he’s older—"

"We’ll discuss it when he’s older. Not now."

She nodded slowly, accepting defeat. For now.

Archer turned back to Adrian, his expression softening immediately. "You’re safe, little one," he whispered to the baby. "Daddy’s got you."

Alexa watched them for another moment, then quietly slipped out of the room.

In the nursery, Archer kept rocking.

"Adrian," he murmured, testing the name again. "My little Adrian. You and me. We’re going to be just fine."

Archer’s eyes drifted toward the door where Alexa had just disappeared. The soft click of it closing seemed to echo in the quiet nursery.

His expression shifted. The warmth did not disappear completely, but it banked, becoming something more calculating and more guarded.

"She thinks I’ve given her a chance," he murmured to the baby in his arms, his voice low and deep. "She thinks we’re starting fresh."

Adrian blinked up at him, those beautiful blue eyes so trusting, so innocent.

"But the moment she makes a mistake, the moment she tries to go back to Leonardo or does anything to put you at risk, I won’t hesitate." Archer’s jaw tightened. "I’ll file for divorce so fast her head will spin."

He adjusted the baby gently, cradling him closer.

"I already got her signature on some papers without her knowing what they really were. Just in case. If she can manipulate me, use me for her own selfish reasons, then I can be manipulative too. For you."

Adrian made a tiny sound, and Archer smiled, soft and genuine, completely different from the coldness in his voice moments ago.

"I’m worried, little one," he admitted quietly. "I’m worried she’ll do something crazy. Use you as a prop, or a weapon, or—" He stopped, swallowing hard. "I don’t want you to have trauma. Not like I did."

He pressed a kiss to Adrian’s forehead.

"Even if you don’t have a mother who truly loves you, even if it’s just me, I’ll give you all the love in the world. I’ll protect you from everything. Her, the world, anyone who tries to hurt you."

He rocked gently, the chair swaying in the warm morning light.

"You’re my son, Adi. My priority. My everything."

Adrian’s eyes fluttered closed, content and safe in his father’s arms.

Archer watched him sleep, his heart so full it hurt.

"Sleep well, my boy. Daddy’s got you."

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

"I would love to stay here, but I want to live alone, to be honest," Hazel said, setting down her coffee cup. She was sitting across from Leo at the large breakfast table, the morning sun streaming through the windows of the estate’s dining room. The rest of the household was scattered around. Bella sat beside Leo, Dom and Jason were shoveling food like they had not eaten in days, and Jay and Jace were quietly eating at the other end.

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Alone?"

"Yes. I’ve spent years hiding behind walls and masks. I need to figure out who I am without all of that." She paused, then added with a small smile, "And if you’re worried about security, Sun High has your security. I’ll be fine."

Leo studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. There was pride in his eyes, the kind he rarely showed but could not quite hide.

"Sun High is a good building," he said. "Secure. Private."

"Penthouse level," Hazel added. "Great view. No neighbors above me."

Across the table, Dom’s fork stopped halfway to his mouth.

"Penthouse?" he repeated. "You have a penthouse in Sun High?"

Hazel glanced at him, amused by his reaction. "Yeah. Bought it years ago. Never really stayed there much, but it’s mine."

Dom’s eyes lit up like a kid who had just discovered an amusement park was opening next door. He turned to Jason so fast he nearly knocked over his orange juice.

"Jason! Isn’t that building like, isn’t it just one block away from our place?"

Jason, mid chew, nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, it is. Like, a five minute walk. Maybe less."

"A five minute walk!" Dom’s voice rose with excitement. "That’s basically next door! That’s—" He caught himself, trying to play it cool. He cleared his throat, picked up his coffee, and took a very casual sip. "I mean. That’s convenient. For visiting. You know. If you ever need anything."

Jason snorted into his cereal.

Jay, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, slowly narrowed his gaze at Dom. His eyes moved from Dom’s too casual expression to Hazel’s barely hidden smile, then back to Dom.

He said nothing.

But his look said everything.

I see you, Dominique. I see exactly what you’re doing.

Dom pretended not to notice, but a faint flush crept up his neck.

Hazel, completely unbothered, picked up her coffee again. "Well, if I’m ever in need of sugar or questionable life advice, I’ll know where to go."

"Excellent life advice," Dom corrected. "I give excellent life advice."

Jason choked on cereal.

"Cough! Dom, you shouldn’t—" He made exaggerated pouting faces, eyes darting meaningfully toward Hazel, then back to Dom.

Dom stared at him. "What?"

Jason leaned in and whispered loudly, "You’re being too obvious."

"I’m not being obvious."

"You’re being very obvious."

Hazel watched them both, one eyebrow raised, clearly amused.

Jay snorted into his coffee.

Bella bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

Leo just watched, saying nothing.

Dom straightened in his chair. "I’m just saying, if Hazel ever needs anything, I’m around."

Jason muttered something under his breath that sounded like "smooth."

Hazel’s lips curved. "I’ll keep that in mind."

"It’s a pity. I would have loved to give you advice too, but I’m leaving next week," Jason said sadly, though excitement flashed in his eyes.