From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 188: The Man From the Past

Sophia's defiance evaporated in an instant.

She went limp, bracing herself against the cold wall just to stay upright—because Jeremy really was Harvey's son. That secret had always been her deepest, most guarded nightmare.

Back then, she'd been a celebrated film star at the peak of her career. But Hollywood was relentless—new faces kept emerging, and she could feel her agency slowly shifting its resources toward younger actresses they were pushing.

Her boss, Brandon Edwards, cared only about the bottom line. Sophia knew it was only a matter of time before she'd be replaced.

A creeping sense of desperation kept her awake night after night.

So she began to scheme. Playing the victim to win sympathy, she reached out to Lucas again, hoping to rekindle their old romance and secure her future by marrying into his wealthy family.

The plan worked smoothly—Lucas still had feelings for her. They quickly grew close again.

But their relationship remained hidden, like something scurrying in the shadows.

Lucas feared his controlling grandfather, Caleb, would tear them apart if he found out, so they kept it quiet. They rarely spent real time together.

Most days, Sophia found herself alone in her lavish, empty condo, drowning in loneliness and frustration.

That was when Harvey entered the picture.

He was the driver and security detail her agency had assigned her—quiet, efficient, and capable. Unlike other men around her, whose eyes held hunger and calculation, Harvey was steady and loyal, like a silent sentinel.

Maybe it was the loneliness wearing her down. Maybe it was the wine. One stormy night, she showed up at his door.

After that, they began sleeping together behind Lucas' back. Harvey's solid presence filled a hollow space in her life she hadn't even fully acknowledged.

Then she got pregnant.

The moment she found out, Sophia didn't hesitate. She decided this child would be her ticket into high society. She lied and told Lucas the baby was his, believing it would force him to marry her.

But even after Lucas agreed to let her keep the child and even filed a marriage license with her, he still hired that woman—Riley—to act as his public wife, all to protect his position as heir to Ashford Group.

Around the same time, Harvey got into a drunken brawl, seriously injured a man, and was sent to prison for ten years.

Everything felt scripted by fate. Everyone who knew her secret had vanished from her world.

And now, the man she thought was still locked up had been released early—and the first thing he did was track her down.

Harvey watched Sophia's panicked, desperate expression, and his last shred of doubt disappeared.

He'd come today because a few days earlier, he'd accidentally seen a photo of Sophia out with her son. Something in the boy's face reminded him of his own childhood pictures.

So he'd bribed a server at the restaurant to slip hazelnut powder into the pudding specially prepared for Jeremy.

It was just a test—he never really believed it would confirm the boy was his own flesh and blood.

But within seconds, Sophia forced her fear down. She couldn't run. Denying it was pointless now.

This man was like a thorn she couldn't pull out. If she couldn't remove him, she'd have to turn him into a weapon.

She suddenly lifted her head and met Harvey's gaze squarely.

"Yes. Jeremy is your son. But what does that change?"

Her blunt admission caught Harvey off guard. All the threats he'd prepared died in his throat. He faltered, just for a moment.

Sophia seized on his hesitation. Her eyes softened, and her voice took on a low, coaxing tone.

"Think about it, Harvey.

"Right now, Jeremy is recognized as the Ashford family's first grandson. He's in line to inherit part of the Ashford empire. Once he wins over Caleb, his future is set—wealth, status, a life of privilege.

"Are you really going to take that from him? Make him give up being a rich heir just to call you—a man fresh out of prison—his father?

"So he can end up like you? Working security or driving for someone else? Living at the mercy of people who look down on him?"

Harvey's hardened expression wavered. He'd never known he was a father—and now, a buried sense of protectiveness stirred inside him.

Of course he wanted his son to have a good life. A life he himself could never provide.

But then his focus sharpened.

He frowned, zeroing in on the flaw in her argument. "You make it sound perfect. But doesn't Lucas have a wife now? It's all over the press. You're not even his real wife in the eyes of the public. That means your son is still just a bastard with no real standing."