Chapter 29
Chapter 28: Daddy
Daddy?
I stared at the child who ran to Liam Anderson. He was quite chubby and looked cute. He was wearing a dinosaur onesie, jumping up and down, cager to be carried by the one he called ‘daddy.
“Daddy! I miss you!” Liam Anderson picked him up effortlessly, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
“Why do you keep calling me Daddy, Dino?”
The little boy pouted. “Because you keep calling me Dino!”
“But you’re a dinosaur, right?”
“I am–no, I mean… I’m Toby! Not Dino!”
Toby?
I let go of the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding when I realized who he was.
The first baby I held before had already grown up.
“And I’m Uncle Liam, not Daddy.”
Toby grinned. “Ssshhhh! Don’t tell Daddy; he’ll be sulking again. He keeps saying he should be the only one I call Daddy.”
Liam Anderson laughed genuinely, something I knew only a few people got to see.
I could see how much he adored the kid he was carrying, and I felt a pang in my chest as I watched them.
I forced my gaze away, and the hunger I had earlier disappeared. I quietly walked to
my
desk.
“Where’s your dad?” I heard Liam ask.
48
“At my new school. I called Daddy Hunter and told him I wanted to see you–oh, you’re not alone here, Daddy? Who is she?” The kid, noticing my presence, jumped down from Liam’s hold and walked over to me.
He stopped before me, looked up at me with his innocent blue eyes, and smiled at me, his dimples showing.
How he smiled at me reminded me of my little girl, Rylie. I crouched down to match his level.
“Hi, Gorgeous! I’m Toby! You are?”
I took the little hand that he offered to me. “I’m Mia, handsome.”
His cheeks reddened, and I thought he was shy for a moment, but his following words were far from that.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “And if my answer is no?”
“You should date me. I can be your boyfriend.”
I pinched his adorable chubby cheeks. “Oh, you’re handsome, but I’m not dating someone younger than me. I’m sorry, baby boy.”
He frowned but quickly brightened up again as if the thought of me rejecting him was no big deal. “Oh, then you should date my daddy. You can be my mommy! You’re beautiful, and you look different from those girls my daddy-”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was already lifted in the air. Hunter carried him like a sack.
You and your little naughty mouth. Let’s go. You’ve already seen Liam. Your father must be looking for you.” Hunter’s voice was firm, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“What? No! I still want to talk to Mommy Mia!” he shouted, raising his hand as if he wanted to reach me.
“Wait!” I said, stopping them. Hunter continued walking until Liam called him.
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11:15 AM
Chapter 29
This man really only listens to Liam.
I grabbed the basket of pastries Liam bought. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I gave it to Toby.
“Here, Toby.
He eagerly reached out to grab it, his eyes sparkling with excitement, but Liam snatched the basket from my hands before he could take it
Too many sweets are bad for you, Dino. Three is enough.”
Toby pouted but still accepted it. His gaze met mine, and with a smile that could melt anyone’s heart, he asked, “You should meet my daddy. Can I have your number? Or you could come with me! My daddy’s handsome, I’m telling you.”
Before I could respond, Liam’s voice cut through the moment a bit too sharply.
“No, he’s not,” Liam said, which made the young boy frown at him.
“Don’t be such a liar, Uncle Liam.”
“Oh, now it’s ‘Uncle, Dino?”
“Yes! It’s ‘Uncle‘ now because you’re ruining my potential mommy—”
“She can’t be your mommy, Dino.”
The child looked about to cry at what Liam had said, so I glared at Liam.
I reached out and gently ruffled Toby’s hair. “We can meet again later, Toby. I’m sure of that. But for now, I have some work to do.”
Toby’s face brightened, and he looked up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “You’ll meet my daddy?”
*Sure.
“Bye–bye, Mommy Mia! See you soon!” he shouted, waving enthusiastically as Hunter took him away.
“Nice. And now you’re giving Toby some false hope, Miss Miller.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.
My smile faded instantly. I turned to face him, my brows knitting together. “False hope? What do you mean, Sir?”
“You told him you’re going to meet his father?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged. “I don’t see anything wrong with that, Sir.”
His brows furrowed. “You don’t see anything wrong with that?” he repeated as if he couldn’t believe what I had just said.
It was like this man was ready for another argument with me, and I was not up for that, so I quickly dropped the topic. I had no time for this.
Tll finish the workload you gave me, Sir. Excuse me.”
I was about to leave him when he continued talking about Toby’s father–James.
“James isn’t looking for a mother for his son, Toby. He’s still not over the death of his wife, Viancey.”
When I looked up at him, his gaze was searching, intense–like he was waiting for a reaction. A sign that I recognized the name he had just mentioned.
Viancey… is dead?
“Oh… I feel bad for Toby.”
“You feel bad for him, so you decided you’re going to meet his father and give him some false hope that you might actually become his stepmother?” he asked, looking furious.
I never said that, Sir. I just don’t want to upset Toby. Besides, I have my own kids, and they don’t need a new father. They already have one.”
His face darkened. He took a slow step forward, closing the space between us just enough to make his presence feel overwhelming. “Oh really? Are you referring to Gavin Winslow?”
Instead of answering, I smiled politely, bowed my head slightly, and walked away, ending yet another personal conversation with him.
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Chapter 29
Even as I left, I could feel his gaze burning into my back, as if he wasn’t quite ready to let this conversation go.
Fortunately, the phone on the table rang, and as I answered it, I resumed my work, leaving no room for further conversation with Liam Anderson.
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