Chapter 2: The Truth

As the man sucked up the entire bowl of noodles in one go, Gemma Bessemer pouted and rubbed her still-hungry little tummy.

To secure her place by his side, she endured!

Gemma Bessemer pitifully hugged the now nearly empty bowl, with only a few strands of noodles left, forcing herself to put on a brave smile. "Daddy, was it yummy~?"

Frederic Bessemer took out a handkerchief from his pocket and elegantly wiped his mouth. "Tasteless."

Inside, Gemma Bessemer screamed in frustration. *Tasteless, yet you ate so much!!*

Having only taken two small bites, Gemma Bessemer resignedly drank the last bit of soup and then, using a small stool, placed the bowl in the sink.

Frederic Bessemer looked up from his phone. "Are you full?"

"Y-Yes... I'm full..."

The little ball of fluff answered listlessly, her mouth drooping.

"Liar."

Frederic Bessemer's lips curled into a slight smile, feeling pleased, before he dove back into his work.

Gemma Bessemer obediently sat on the sofa next to the man, occasionally glancing curiously at the computer screen.

*Ring!*

The doorbell suddenly rang, and Frederic Bessemer closed his laptop, striding elegantly to open the door.

Gemma Bessemer peeked out, seeing several delivery people entering one after another.

Steaks, chicken wings, cakes, milk, pasta...

Plates of steaming food appeared on the dining table.

Gemma Bessemer couldn't help but swallow hard, her mouth watering.

Frederic Bessemer sat gracefully at the table and beckoned to the little ball of fluff. "Come here, let's eat."

"Woah~ Thank you, Daddy~ You're the best!"

With the delicious food in front of her, Gemma Bessemer forgot all about dignity and eagerly showered him with compliments, climbing onto his lap with the help of a small stool.

No man could resist the charm of a cute, cuddly daughter, even if he was the main antagonist in a book.

"Clingy little thing."

Frederic Bessemer gave the giggling little ball of fluff a disapproving look but didn't push her away.

If she tried this again, he would toss her off.

Seeing the little ball of fluff eating happily, Frederic Bessemer couldn't resist picking up his chopsticks as well.

After a satisfying meal, Frederic Bessemer pinched Gemma Bessemer's little ear, feeling content. "Full?"

"Y-Yes~ Daddy's food is so yummy!" Gemma Bessemer grinned mischievously, cupping his handsome face and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Frederic Bessemer wiped his cheek, looking annoyed. "Flatterer."

But the corners of his lips were secretly curling up, a change he didn't even notice.

"I'm going to work in the upstairs study. Don't come up and disturb me."

"Good luck, Daddy~"

Gemma Bessemer nestled cutely on the sofa, flashing him a dimpled smile.

"Mm."

Frederic Bessemer responded, picked up his laptop, and was about to leave. Remembering something, he returned to the sofa, grabbed the remote, and turned on a cartoon for her.

Once the man went upstairs, a sly smile spread across Gemma Bessemer's face.

She waddled over to grab the small backpack Frederic Bessemer had left by the door, but was suddenly knocked to the ground by a force.

Who walks around without looking where they're going?!

Gemma Bessemer was about to curse, but remembering her current identity, she swallowed her words, turning them into a whine.

Lifting her head, she saw a young man in a floral shirt with pink hair, staring at her in shock, a vape pen dangling from his mouth.

Judging by his non-mainstream appearance, it must be the fourth son, the genius doctor Winfred Bessemer, of the antagonist father!

"Winfred~"

Winfred Bessemer's throat tightened at the soft, adorable voice, and he instinctively hid the vape pen in his chest pocket.

He pointed hesitantly at the little ball of fluff, then at himself. "You... just called me Winfred?"

"Winfred, hi~ I'm your sister, Gemma Bessemer~"

Seeing the little ball of fluff extend her two pale, tender arms, Winfred Bessemer reflexively took a step back.

Damn, he was actually charmed by this little ball of fluff!

If his brothers found out, they'd laugh their heads off. He had just told them he hated cute things...

Not wanting to lose face, Winfred Bessemer forced a cold expression. "Has Dad acknowledged you? How old are you?"

"Daddy said he'll take care of An'an. I'm four and a half years old~"

Gemma Bessemer held up five fingers, then folded down her thumb to indicate the half.

Winfred Bessemer couldn't help but rub his heart, which had been struck by cuteness. "Tsk—Dad actually got a new flower blooming behind our backs."

"Brother, what does 'new flower blooming' mean?"

Gemma Bessemer innocently sucked on her finger.

"Uh... It means since our mom passed away during childbirth, there hasn't been anyone else."

Seeing the little ball of fluff listening intently, Winfred Bessemer quickly plucked a strand of her hair.

The little ball of fluff rolled her eyes, but then looked up with a cute, innocent expression.

"Winfred, are you doing a paternity test? I've already done one~"

Winfred Bessemer was surprised that a four-year-old could see through his thoughts. Instead of being embarrassed, he praised her, pinching her soft cheek.

"Not bad, you have the smart genes of the Xia family."

He squeezed too hard, and the little ball of fluff puffed up her cheeks, making Winfred Bessemer burst into laughter.

As they played and laughed on the sofa, a gentle, low voice interrupted.

"What? Winfred, you have a love child at such a young age?"

Gemma Bessemer looked up to see a man with gold-rimmed glasses, exuding a gentle and elegant demeanor, walking in with a black leather bag.

Unlike the flamboyant Winfred Bessemer, this man wore a simple black suit, with only a pure gold pocket watch in his breast pocket as decoration.

Winfred Bessemer rolled his eyes at the newcomer. "Channing, don't joke. This is Dad's long-lost little daughter!"

"Oh? Little daughter..."

The man adjusted his glasses, hiding the coldness in his eyes, and gently pinched the little ball of fluff's cheek.

"She is quite cute, but legally, you're not part of our family yet. You haven't been registered in our household."

Gemma Bessemer understood the underlying message: her cheap dad hadn't officially recognized her as part of the family.

Seeing the little ball of fluff lower her head, revealing only the top of her shiny black hair and two swaying pigtails, Winfred Bessemer spoke up for her. "Bro, she's just a kid. Using legal terms is a bit much, don't you think?"

He then used his finger to lift the little ball of fluff's chin.

"Alright, don't be sad. This is Channing Channing Bessemer."

Channing Bessemer smiled warmly. "It's an occupational habit, my apologies."

But there was no trace of regret in his eyes.

Gemma Bessemer lifted her face, looking on the verge of tears. "Does Channing dislike An'an?"

"Dislike?"

Channing Bessemer shook his head, smiling like a warm spring breeze, but Gemma Bessemer felt a chill.