Chapter 770 Didn''t You Come Here To Challenge...


    There was no father in sight.


    Earlier, Dustin had steered clear of asking about the child''s mother, hoping


    instead to uncover the boy''s father.


    Now, with that answer dangling inly between the lines, the truth felt even more probable-this little guy had


    to be Collin''s son.


    Still, the mystery deepened. Who had brought this boy into the world?


    Collin had insisted he had only ever been with Linsey.


    So then, where had this childe from?


    Pushing for answers now felt wrong. Collin made the conscious choice to stay quiet, realizing that bringing up something so sensitive could cut deeper than intended. The absence of a father was already a heavy weight for


    a child to carry.


    He didn''t want to add salt to that wound.


    Leaning in, Collin asked in a voice gentler than usual, “Did youe all the way here just to see me?"


    Chin held high and eyes zing with purpose, Zander replied, "You bet I did! I came to challenge you, you


    mean man!"


    Dustin tried to keep it in, but the boy''s fiery deration cracked hisposure. Laughter slipped out before he


    could stop it.


    Face flushed and fuming, Zander began to wriggle furiously. "Hey! You back there! Let me go! You''reughing at a kid! That makes you a terrible grown-up!"


    It dawned on Dustin-he never imagined he would be trading barbs with someone barely tall enough to reach


    the counter.


    "Oh, so you do know you''re just a kid?" Dustin arched an eyebrow, lips twitching with amusement. "Then act like one. Who told you it was smart toe pick fights with grown-ups?"


    Without much effort, he scooped Zander off the floor like a bag of groceries, prompting the boy to yelp twice in startled protest. "Look at that. One hand. I don''t even need both. Come back when you''ve got some height on you, little warrior."


    Zander couldn''t wriggle free. Every squirm only made it more obvious-he waspletely outmatched.


    Being so easily manhandled by Dustin made his chest burn with humiliation.


    Heat rushed to his cheeks as his emotions tangled-shame, fury, and helplessness all colliding at once. The 7


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    more he dwelled on his failure, the heavier the weight of disappointment became. He hadn''t even managed to stand up for his mom.


    A few tears betrayed him, slipping down his face andnding directly on Dustin''s hand.


    Startled, Dustin recoiled a little. "Hey, hey-what''s this now? Don''t cry! You win, okay? Just-stop with the


    waterworks. Kid tears give me a damn headache."


    With a helpless nce, he turned toward Collin, silently asking for backup.


    Rather than responding, Collin stood motionless, eyes narrowed and fixed on Zander as though he were


    decoding someplex equation.


    It seemed even Collin wasn''t equipped to deal with a sobbing child.


    That was what Dustin figured, still clueless that Collin''s thoughts had already wandered miles away.


    As he looked at Zander''s tear-streaked face and red eyes, Collin''s thoughts drifted to Linsey. Strange-why did


    this child remind him so much of her?


    That sudden realization jerked Collin back to the present.


    Without a word, he stepped forward and gently lifted Zander from Dustin''s arms.


    "I''ve got him," he said while adjusting the boy''s weight morefortably. "He must feel ufortable that


    way."


    Zander blinked, caught off guard by the shift. Before he could react, he found himself resting against Collin''s


    chest.


    A reflex had him wriggling in protest, but Collin''sposed tone halted his movement. "Didn''t youe here to challenge me?" he asked. "Let''s settle it, man to man."


    Zander stiffened, clearly startled by the offer. His wide eyes scanned Collin''s serious expression, and his voice softened as he responded, "I want that duel."