Chapter 3

Esther reassured Daisy, "Don't worry. Your daddy said he'll be here soon."

I didn't expose the lie. I only wanted Daisy to enjoy her birthday happily.

I said, "Daisy's art competition is next week, and I bet she'll win first place again."

Esther praised her, "Daisy is so talented! Connor's company needs a child art prodigy—why not let Daisy be the one?"

Never having received Connor's approval before, Daisy looked at me uncertainly. "Mommy, do you think I can do it?"

I encouraged her, "You can definitely do it, Daisy."

After dinner, Daisy needed to use the bathroom, and Esther went with her. But barely two minutes passed before I heard Daisy scream.

In her tiny, trembling voice, she shouted, "I'm Daddy's daughter! Not you!"

I rushed out immediately and saw Hazel, Faye's daughter, pushing Daisy. My maternal instincts kicked in, and I lunged forward to catch Daisy in my arms. I demanded, "Why did you push Daisy?"

Just when I turned to look, Hazel wiped at her eyes and started to cry, pointing straight at Daisy. She whined, "Daisy was mean to me first, so I pushed her. Daddy Connor, you need to help me!"

I stepped forward to lower Hazel's pointing finger. "You're already lying at your age? Daisy didn't say anything like that!"

When Daisy was three years old, Connor once took her to the supermarket but didn't change her diaper in time. She ended up crying for hours while strangers stared on. Ever since then, she hated being pointed at.

Daisy cowered in my arms. Sensing her fear, I glared at Hazel. "Put your hand down. Don't point at Daisy."

Hazel clearly understood, but she stubbornly raised her finger even higher. Just as I took a step forward, Connor brushed past me and stood in front of Hazel, shielding her.

"Averie Hudson, what are you doing?" he snapped.

Hazel clung to his shirt and burst into sobs. "Daddy Connor, I didn't do anything, but Daisy called me a bastard…"

Connor's eyes flashed with anger. He picked up Hazel and spoke in a gentle tone that Daisy and I had never heard from him before, "Hazel, you're not a bastard. I'll always be your Daddy Connor.

"Your mommy gave birth to you all alone overseas, and it's my fault I couldn't take care of you from the beginning."

I had only known that Hazel was born while Faye was living abroad. But now it was clear—Connor was Hazel's biological father. It finally made sense why he adored her so much.

His true love had endured hardship to give birth to his daughter, and it was only natural for him to cherish her.

Daisy heard everything and wriggled out of my arms. Her voice was shaky as she stared at the scene in front of her, whimpering, "Daddy, you're my daddy. Please don't be Hazel's daddy…"

For a brief moment, Connor fell silent, like Daisy's teary eyes had struck a nerve. Then, Hazel tucked her head into his neck for comfort, and he immediately snapped back.

His tone turned sharp and cold as he said, "Daisy, that's enough. Go home."

At that moment, I saw the light in Daisy's eyes go out. Right then, Esther walked out of the house. It was clear she and Faye had come to some sort of agreement. They linked arms like a picture-perfect pair of in-laws.

Faye saw Hazel crying but didn't take her from Connor's arms. Instead, she went over to comfort the little girl.

Connor and Faye spoke to Hazel in low, gentle voices, soothing her together. He even took a birthday hat from Faye's hand and placed it gently on Hazel's head.