Chapter 3

"Don't forget to take Connor to the kindergarten tomorrow for registration," Giselle said.

She turned around when she was done speaking and stormed out of the house.

I dug my nails into my palms as I stared at the yellowed receipt from the orphanage. I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my old boss, Blake Hilton.

"I'd like to return to work, Mr. Hilton."

Blake replied instantly. "You're welcome to rejoin us any time. I've always left your spot vacant for you."

I also hired a private investigator. I snapped a picture of the yellowed receipt and sent it to him, saying, "Please look into this orphanage's records for the past three years. Focus on female babies."

…

The next morning, Giselle dropped Connor off at my house.

Connor immediately began wailing at the top of his lungs after he stepped through the door.

"I want my real Daddy! I don't want to be here!"

I looked down at Connor. He was wearing a new silver necklace around his neck. The words, "Daddy loves you" were engraved on the back of the necklace.

…

I took Connor to the kindergarten for his registration.

The kindergarten was packed that day with most parents standing in line while waiting for their turn.

When it was finally our turn, the staff member frowned as she scanned through the documents.

"The father's information that you submitted doesn't match what's on the child's birth certificate. We need the child's biological parents to be present to sign the confirmation letter."

The other parents shot glances at me and began whispering among themselves.

Just then, the sounds of leather shoes tapping against the ground echoed around the hall.

Vincent and Giselle appeared, their arms locked with one another.

Vincent was wearing a red shirt that day. "My apologies. I'm Connor's actual father," he said.

Connor broke free from my grasp and shouted, "Daddy!"

He then threw himself into Vincent's embrace.

Vincent shot a provoking look at me before he pulled out a pack of peanut butter cookies from his bag.

"Look what I brought for you, Connor. Your favorite snack."

Connor cheered and reached out to grab the pack of cookies.

I dashed over to them and knocked the pack of cookies to the floor, exclaiming, "Connor can't eat that. He's allergic to peanuts. He'll go into shock."

Connor was momentarily stunned as he stared at the broken cookies on the floor. He started wailing at the top of his lungs, screaming, "You evil man! You're jealous because Daddy bought something delicious for me! You poor man!"

Vincent hugged Connor with a pained expression. He turned to look at me before saying, "I know you can't afford these imported snacks, Hayden. Still, you shouldn't destroy Connor's things just because you're jealous. You're being too petty."

The other parents around us also began criticizing me. "What a despicable man. He won't even let the child have a little snack."

Giselle approached us and shoved me aside. She frowned and said, "Are you done causing trouble yet, Hayden? Why are you acting like a lunatic when Vincent just wanted to give Connor a snack out of the goodness of his heart?"

I stumbled back a few steps when Giselle pushed me. I bit my lip and retrieved a small, wooden dinosaur from my bag. I had stayed up for three nights carving it for Connor's birthday.

"A lunatic? When Connor was a year old, he got rashes all over his body after he ate a peanut butter cookie. I even had to take him to the emergency room. I was also the one who kept vigil by his bedside for three days and three nights."

Connor didn't spare a single glance at the wooden dinosaur. He snatched it out of my hands and hurled it into a muddy puddle nearby. Then he even stomped on it a couple of times.

"I don't want your trash! I only want my real Daddy."

The wooden dinosaur was covered in mud and filth. It was completely ruined.

I didn't shed a single tear as I looked at Vincent, Giselle, and Connor. I turned around and left the kindergarten.

I had just left the building when I received a message from the private investigator.

"I've found the information that you wanted, Mr. Sawyer. Ms. Lambert did secretly drop off a baby girl at Sunshine Orphanage three years ago. The orphanage is having a public charity drive today. Ms. Lambert is on their guest list."

My breath hitched in my throat. I hailed a cab and slipped inside.

"To Sunshine Orphanage in the suburbs. Hurry."