The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine

Not long afterward, Sienna and Zachary had changed into comfortable clothes suitable for spending the day at home.

They walked toward the bedroom door together; Zachary reached for the handle. However, before he could open it, someone knocked softly from the other side.

”Dad? Mom?” came Skylar’s sleepy little voice. ”Can I come in?”

Zachary couldn’t help laughing. He turned toward Sienna and shook his head. ”Our little boss is really impatient.”

Sienna smiled warmly before opening the door.

Standing outside was Skylar, still wearing his pajamas. His hair was adorably messy, and his sleepy eyes made it obvious he had only just climbed out of bed. The moment he saw her, his face immediately brightened.

”Good morning, Mommy!” He greeted her cheerfully. Without waiting for permission, he threw himself at her.

Sienna bent down and wrapped him in a warm hug. ”Good morning, sweetheart. I was just about to go to your room.”

Skylar hugged her back tightly.

”Sorry, Mom...” he admitted. ”I couldn’t wait. I was worried you’d leave me.”

Sienna gently stroked his hair before loosening the embrace enough to look into his eyes.

”I’m here,” she said softly. ”See? I kept my promise.”

Skylar smiled with obvious relief.

”But someone forgot to change his pajamas and comb his hair.”

Skylar immediately reached up and touched his messy hair. ”It’s that bad?”

She laughed. ”It’s very... artistic.”

He looked at Zachary for help. ”Dad, is my hair really that messy?”

Zachary pretended to study him seriously. ”Hmm...” he said, folding his arms. ”If a bird decided to build a nest there, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

”Really?” Skylar’s eyes widened.

Sienna burst into laughter. ”Oh, sweetheart, your dad is teasing you.”

Skylar puffed out his cheeks and looked at Zachary with exaggerated disappointment. ”Daddy...”

”What?” Zachary said innocently. ”I was only giving an expert opinion.”

”There are no birds in my hair!”

”I suppose we’ll never know unless we check.”

”Dad!”

The room filled with laughter.

Sienna reached for Skylar’s hand. ”Come on,” she said. ”Let’s go upstairs so I can help you get dressed.”

”Yes!”

Skylar happily grabbed her hand and immediately led her toward the stairs, chatting excitedly about what clothes he wanted to wear today. In his excitement, he completely forgot that his father was still standing in the bedroom doorway.

Watching Sienna and Skylar walk away hand in hand, Zachary could only shake his head with an amused smile.

”So this is what it feels like to be ignored.”

Neither of them looked back.

Chuckling to himself, Zachary raised his voice just enough for them to hear.

”I’ll be waiting at the dining table!”

”Okay, Dad...” Skylar answered without turning around.

”And, buddy, don’t steal all of Mommy’s attention!” Zachary called after him.

Skylar finally glanced over his shoulder and grinned. ”No promises, Dad!”

Sienna laughed as the two of them continued upstairs, leaving Zachary smiling to himself before he headed downstairs to wait for them at the dining table.

...

When Zachary arrived on the ground floor, Arthur Ashford was already waiting for him at the bottom of the staircase.

”Good morning, Master,” the butler greeted politely, lowering his head in his usual professional manner.

Zachary acknowledged the greeting with a slight nod and continued toward the dining room without slowing his pace. Arthur quietly followed a few steps behind, knowing his master well enough to remain silent unless spoken to.

The dining room had already been prepared for breakfast. Freshly brewed coffee filled the air with its rich aroma. At the same time, several dishes were neatly arranged across the long dining table.

Zachary briefly glanced at the meal but made no move to sit down. Instead, he turned to Arthur with a serious expression.

”Have you informed everyone?”

He wanted the key members of the household staff to meet Sienna after breakfast. But before Sienna met them, he needed to speak with them first.

Arthur checked his wristwatch before looking back at him.

”Yes, sir. They should be here any—” Arthur couldn’t finish speaking; several members of the household staff entered the dining room together.

One by one, they respectfully greeted Zachary before lining up neatly near the wall, waiting quietly for his instructions.

Zachary looked at each of them in turn.

His gaze first settled on Gordon, the head chef who had worked for him for years. Next was Samantha, the senior housemaid responsible for managing the household staff. Ryan, the head of the security team, stood beside her, followed by several other trusted employees who handled the estate’s daily operations.

Only after looking at every face did Zachary finally speak.

”You all know why I asked you to come here this morning?”

”Yes, sir,” Gordon answered respectfully. ”Arthur has already informed us that you’ve gotten married.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Zachary folded his hands behind his back as he addressed them.

”I’ll only say this once.”

His calm voice immediately drew everyone’s full attention.

”From today onward, you will treat my wife with the same respect you show me. She is the mistress of this house, and her words carry the same authority as mine.”

No one interrupted him.

”If I ever learn that someone has spoken disrespectfully about her behind her back or treated her unfairly in any way, that person will no longer have a place in this house.”

Arthur and the others lowered their heads.

”Yes, sir.”

Every one of them understood exactly what Zachary meant.

He was known for generously rewarding loyalty, but he was equally uncompromising when it came to betrayal. Anyone who deliberately violated his trust would never be allowed to work for him again.

Even so, none of them feared him without reason.

Throughout the years, Zachary had treated his employees fairly. He paid them well, looked after their families when necessary, and never hesitated to help them during difficult times. That was why the people who worked for him respected him not only for his authority but also for who he was.

After seeing their sincere expressions, Zachary continued.

”There’s one more thing all of you should know.”

The staff raised their heads again.

”My wife is also my son’s biological mother.”

Silence instantly filled the room.

Several pairs of eyes widened in disbelief.