Lyndon shifted his focus entirely toward Tilda. Should he bear all the blame?

Everything had stemmed from that night five years ago when he had shared a passionate evening with her.

But was she truly free of blame?

She had known the truth about their son, yet chose to keep it hidden. In doing so, she allowed the child to carry the label of illegitimacy in silence.

Therefore, shouldn't Tilda also take responsibility for her actions and apologize?

"Dad, say sorry to Mom already," Sheldon said, tugging gently at Lyndon's hand.

"I did apologize to her earlier," Lyndon responded.

Once the truth had come out about that night, he had already told her how sorry he was.

"Mom, did you ever forgive Dad?" asked Sheldon, looking at Tilda.

Tilda started to respond, but Lyndon cut in before a single word left her mouth.

"I don't need your forgiveness, Tilda," he said. "But don't you owe me an apology?"

Rising from her seat, Tilda met his gaze without hesitation. "Apologize to you? No. If there's someone I owe anything to, it's Sheldon—not you."

Lyndon's jaw tensed, and his expression turned grim. "Sheldon is my flesh and blood. You kept that from me for years. Do you really believe I don't deserve an apology from you? That I should be okay with being made a fool?"

Her lips drew into a tight line. "I just hadn't made up my mind about whether to tell you the truth."

Had she shown a trace of softness, Lyndon might have cooled down.

Instead, her unapologetic tone only deepened the fire inside him.

He hissed, "Tilda, is Sheldon only yours to claim? How can you be so heartless?"

Heartless?

Wasn't it simply because he had never truly earned her full trust?

Tilda spoke in a resolute, yet subdued tone. "For nine months, I was the one who carried Sheldon. I was the one who endured the labor, alone. You missed the sleepless nights, the fevers, his first words. He's turned out well, hasn't he? So why does he need a father at this point?"

"You..." Lyndon furrowed his brows.

Sheldon's unease grew as he sensed another argument brewing between his parents.

What was causing his dad to act so irrationally? Why was he starting another fight with Mom? His dad should be more considerate toward his mother.

Just then, the hospital room door swung open, and Brea walked in, having just finished a phone call.