Chapter 6

Back then, I probably would have been moved to tears by such gestures from Vivian. Now, I only found them ridiculous.

She'd spent the entire day in Andrew's room, keeping her husband and daughter company.

Andrew had a luxury VIP suite. I only had a private room for some peace. The stew was probably made by a private chef she'd hired for Andrew, with an extra portion prepared for me.

"Jules, do you like kids?" she asked. "I feel like our home is a little too quiet. How about we adopt a child from an orphanage to keep you company? You've always loved kids. Don't you want to be a dad?"

Her words made my anger boil.

"Do you want one? If you do, we can adopt."

A week later, Vivian took me to the so-called orphanage.

After a long, winding drive, we finally arrived. As soon as the car door opened, a sweet voice called from a distance.

"Mommy! You're finally here! I missed you so much!"

"Cece, I miss you too."

Vivian helped me out of the car, then bent down and picked up the little girl.

After they exchanged a few words, Cece noticed me and asked curiously, "Mommy, who's this weird man? Why is he in a wheelchair? And why are his eyes covered?"

Vivian set her down and crouched beside me, taking my hand.

"Jules, don't get the wrong idea. I often come here to hang out with these children, so they all call me 'Mommy'."

I had no intention of exposing her. If she wanted to keep acting, I'd play along.

"I know," I said. "I'm not misunderstanding anything."

Her grip tightened slightly, as if she were trying to reassure me.

She took Celine's hand and placed it in mine. "Cece, how about this man becomes your daddy?"

Celine immediately pulled her hand away and burst into tears. "No! I don't want this weird man to be my daddy! I already have a dad! I want my real dad!"

She ran off in tears.

"Kids…" Vivian said with feigned annoyance as she pushed me toward the villa.

Once we stepped inside, I heard that familiar crying again.

"Daddy, Mommy said that man is going to be my new daddy! I don't want a new daddy! I only want you!"

"Cece, that's rude." A man sternly scolded her before having someone take her away.

"Mr. Reed, Mrs. Reed, you're here to adopt a child, right?"

"Yes. We'd like to adopt Cece," she replied.

"Honey, what do you think of her?" Vivian crouched down and asked me patiently.

"Do you like her?" I asked.

"I do. Whenever I came to the orphanage before, she was always the most excited to see me."

"If you like her, that's all that matters."

"You're the best, honey." Vivian happily threw her arms around me. I immediately sensed the man in front of us take two steps forward.

"Honey, wait here. I'll follow the director, Mr. Cole, to fill out the adoption paperwork."

"Okay. Go ahead."

Vivian visibly relaxed before leaving with the man.

I had known from the beginning that this wasn't an orphanage at all. It was the villa Vivian had bought for Andrew three years ago.

I grabbed my cane and tried to find a way out, but I accidentally wandered into a hallway where I overheard their conversation.

"You can relax now. He really is blind. Don't worry. Our daughter will have a good life. You've recovered completely. You can enter the design competition again."

Andrew hesitated. "Vivian, I… I could stay and…"

"Andy, you have a better future ahead of you. Becoming a renowned artist is your dream. You can't give up on it."