Chapter 9

Standing on the side, my dad gazed at the photos.

His expression softened before he let out a quiet sigh and patted Elmer's shoulder. "Indeed. The children have their own destiny."

I lifted my eyes just in time to meet the gaze of Richard, who was surrounded by guests, toasting and laughing.

He raised his glass across the crowd, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at me. His eyes sparkled with a teasing light, as if saying, "See? We're meant to be together."

So, he had known all along.

...

Richard left the crowd and strolled over to me. He sat down beside me, his arm draped intimately over the back of the sofa behind me. He tilted his head and gave me those puppy dog eyes.

"Honey," he whispered, his voice tinged with a playful accusation that only the two of us could hear, "you're a heartless little devil."

He pointed subtly at the open baby album on the table and shot me another glance, this time with a dramatically pained look. "I was the first one here. We played together, thick a