Chapter 38
csmall voice wake me up from addream-
When I opened my eyes, they started to the bed where my daughter, Hylie, lay. I abruptly sat up, surprised to find myself lying on the couch. I topembered falling asleep while holding her hand in the chair beside her bed.
I touched my head when I felt a liute dizzy from sining up too quickly.
“Mommy, are you okay?” Rylie’s concerned voice pulled me back.
inhaled deeply, exhaled a sigh, then stood and walked toward her.
“OL course, baliy. How about you! Are you feeling any better?” I asked as I caressed her check.
She nodded. “Yes, Mommy. I’m feeling better compareil to yesterday. My head doesn’t ouch now, and I can breathe easier?” She beamed, smiling
I smiled. “That’s good. Mommy’s happy to know that,” I said, relieved when I noticed her complexion had improved. She was no longer pale, and
her rashes had subsided
“Mommy, I had a good dream”
“You did? What dream did my baby have?”
Her lips curled into an excited grin. “Daddy!”
My smile faltered, but I quickly composed myself when I remembered who she was referring to. “Oh, your Daddy Cavin?”
“Oh no, not Daddy Gavin,” she said, shaking her head.
“What‘ But he’s your daddy-
“He’s not, right? That’s what you told us, Mommy, and Ryker always tells me Hąt,
**K–right, but you still called him Daddy, right?”
She nodded, giggling. “Yes But he’s not the one I dreamt about. It was my daddy, my real daddy!“
My breath hitched, and my chest tightened with what she just said.
Her real daddy!
“Your real daddy?” I repeated, barely above a whisper.
“Yes, my tral daddy! I dreamt of him holding my hand and saying he was already here. That Daddy’s here. Her eyes shone with excitement as she touched her forehead. “He even kissed me here!”
I was speechless. I don’t k
know what to say, so I just smiled mul caressed her hair.
That wasn’t a dream, Hylie.
That man was here last night, holding you, telling you those words. And that only made me hate him even more–because he has no right to hold Yps or say that he’s here.
“But I don’t remember his face, Mominy. It’s blurry. Hylic continued, her small fingers rubbing her forehead as if trying to recall the details. “Do you have a picture of my real daddy! Wheir is he?”
Her innocent, relentless questions made my breath hitch. I wasn’t prepared for this.
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Chapter 36
Hylar was always curious about afrost everything, but I couldn’t remember the last time she asked me about her father. Maybe it was because Glavin was enough for her. She already had someone to call Dadly.
“Mommy?” she called, growing impatient as I remained silent.
Ledence know how to answer her. Telling the truth was the right choice, but how could I tell my little
Il my little girl that it someone who wanted them gone, who ruined my life! Who made me lose those people I love!
I that the man the dreamt about was
The my healey whares longing for her father how could I be that cruels
Good morning. Kyliet”
The sudden voice shattered the moment, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see Rylie’s doctor entering the room, her warm unile instantly relieving me.
Lexhaled silently, grateful for the interruption
For now.
Are you sure you don’t have any plans for today, Gavin“”
Instead of answering, Gavin touched my shoulders and led me to his car.
e
were on our way to my house. I needed some clothes, and Ryle had been asking for her favorite blanket and
Aunt Grace was the one who was taking care of the twins now with Anna.
d pillows.
“How many times do you have to ask me that, Mia? I already told you–I have no work today. And even if I did, Juliana would take care of it. She’s on cloud nine after I gave her the contract Liam Anderson signed”
Right. The contract.
I remembered asking Liam Anderson to leave after Rylic fell asleep. I thought he would try to continue our conversation before Rylie woke up, but surprisingly, he left.
What puzzled me was the contract I found with his signature on it the next morning. I didn’t remember seeing him sign it, so I assumed he had returned while I was sleeping.
“Daddy’s here…
My fits clenched, and I closed my eyes as Liam’s voice echoed in my mind, those words haunting me.
How could he have the audacity to say that
It was his fault Kylie had been bugging me about her real daddy!
“Mat Are you listening to me?”
Gavin’s voice pulled ane out of my thoughts.
“Hub! I’m sorry – what did you say, Gavin!”
He sighed. “I said Winslow’s anniversary party is coming up, and I want you my
- date.”
I opened my mouth to agree out of habit, but an idea struck me. Smirking, I leaned back against the seat.
“Veali, sure of course trailed off, eigning indifference before casually adding, “On second thought, why don’t you take Rachel as your date?”
“What? There’s no way I would date that girl”
Humed to him, my smirk widening. “Oh, this is something new, huh?”
He shot me a glance before returning his focus to the road. “What are you talking about?”
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Chapter 35
“You hating a girl. I don’t remember ever seeing you like this with anyone.”
“Like what?”
Irritated bothered. hating” I said, dragging out the words teasingly, watching as his fingers twitched against the steering wheel.
He wcoded. Because she’s incompetent. I don’t like her.”
“Then you should fire her. I overheard some executives talking about her in the elevator. One of them wants her to be his secretary—”
“Who the f*ck is that executive?” he cut me off, his sudden outburst making me laugh.
Interesting
I was just bluffing, but this man actually fell for it.
Rachel and him?
Gavin’s expression was priceless, his irritation lingering until we reached my house
“Stop teasing me. Mia. You know my preference!”
smarked as I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the car, but I kept my hand on the door, leaning in slightly. Giving him a pointed look. I forced my expression to stay serious, though laughter threatened to escape.
“Know what, Gavin””
He frowned. “What?”
I tilted my head. “Denial is a river in Egypt”
His glare was instant. “Mia“”
I shut the door before he could say anything else, my laughter echoing as I walked away.
But that amusement vanished when I saw the woman stepping out of a car parked in front of my house.
What is the doing here!
That Camille—the one Liam Anderson almost killed in his office.
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