LOGINBecause I like Uncle Dante.That simple sentence left Dante speechless.Not because he didn't know how to answer.But because, for several seconds, he genuinely couldn't.Hazel was still sitting on the living room floor.Her small hands were stained with colorful paint.And that innocent smile remained on her face.There was no burden.No past.No mistakes.Only the sincerity of a child.Dante lowered his gaze for a moment.Then let out a soft laugh."I guess I'm pretty lucky."Hazel immediately nodded."Yes."Aurora watched him.And for a moment, she felt that something was different.Dante seemed calmer.More at peace.As though he hadn't come today to ask for anything.Not to fight for something.Not to change anything.Just to see.Just to make sure.Dante walked over and crouched in front of Hazel."I like Hazel too."The little girl's face instantly brightened."Really?""Really."Hazel looked completely satisfied with that answer.Then she returned to her paints and drawing pap
Aurora was still holding the drawing Hazel's teacher had given her as their car pulled into the driveway.Her mind hadn't fully settled.Because that simple drawing had proven one thing.Dante had already become part of Hazel's world.Even if only through gifts.Even if only through a name.Even if they had never met.As soon as the car stopped, Aurora watched Hazel jump out first.The little girl had learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels only a few weeks ago. Since then, the front yard had become her personal racetrack."I want to ride my bike first!"Aurora laughed softly."Only in the front yard.""Okay!"Hazel immediately climbed onto her pink bicycle.Aurora had just stepped out of the car when another vehicle pulled up not far from the main gate.She frowned.She didn't recognize it.The car door opened.A moment later, a man stepped out carrying a gift box.Aurora froze instantly.Dante.At the same moment, Darius, who had just gotten out of the car as well, spotted
Hazel's question hung in the air."...why has he never come to see me?"Aurora and Darius exchanged a glance.They had always known this conversation would happen.They just never knew when.And it turned out there was no way to truly prepare for it.Hazel was still waiting.Her small eyes moved from her mother to Darius.Because in a child's world, every question was supposed to have an answer.Aurora sat back down on the edge of the bed.Then gently brushed her daughter's hair."Sometimes adults make mistakes."Hazel blinked."Mistakes like spilling milk?"Aurora almost smiled."A little bigger than that."Hazel seemed to think about it."So Dante made a mistake?"Aurora nodded softly.Darius sat down on the other side of the bed."But making a mistake doesn't always make someone a bad person."Hazel looked at him."Like when I drew on the wall?"Darius immediately pointed at her."That's a very good example.""I said sorry.""You did.""And I helped clean it.""You did."Hazel look
Hazel's question seemed to make time slow down.Aurora looked at her daughter for several seconds.Meanwhile, Darius stood beside her, still holding the small card attached to the new bicycle."Why does that person always send me presents?"Hazel repeated her question.There was no suspicion in her voice.No fear.Just curiosity.The simple curiosity of a child who had finally begun noticing something she had always taken for granted.Aurora crouched down until she was eye level with her daughter."Hazel."The little girl immediately looked at her."Yes, Mama?"Aurora let out a quiet breath.Then glanced briefly at Darius.He gave a small nod.A reminder of the promise they had made long ago.No lies.No made-up stories.Only honesty, given when Hazel was old enough to understand it."That person sends you gifts because he cares about you."Hazel blinked."Like Daddy?"Aurora smiled faintly."Yes."Hazel seemed to think very hard about that.Then her eyes shifted toward Darius."Then
Time moved much faster than they had realized.The Harrington mansion, which had once felt far too large, was now almost never truly quiet.Not because of work.Not because of meetings.But because of one little girl whose energy seemed completely endless.Hazel was now almost five years old.And according to Aurora, she had become far too clever for her age.According to Darius, that was entirely Aurora's fault.According to Aurora, that was slander.And that small argument had been going on for months.That morning began, as usual, with a bit of chaos."Hazel.""Three more minutes."Aurora raised an eyebrow."You haven't even put your shoes on yet.""I'm thinking."Darius, who had just stepped out of the dining room, immediately nodded in agreement."That's a very reasonable excuse."Aurora turned toward him."Darius.""What?""You're not helping."He walked over and lifted Hazel off the sofa."I am helping."Hazel burst into laughter as he picked her up."Daddy!""Because if Mama k
Darius watched his wife for a few seconds.“You're planning to hide Hazel’s biological father from her until she’s grown up?”Aurora immediately shook her head.“Of course not.”The answer came so quickly that Darius almost smiled.Aurora leaned back against the sofa.“Hazel has the right to know who she is.”Her gaze drifted to their daughter, who was still busy dragging the giant teddy bear across the living room.“She deserves to know who her biological father is.”Darius nodded slowly.Because that was exactly the answer he had hoped to hear.“I’m just afraid.” Aurora let out a long breath. “Dante has changed too much.”Darius listened quietly.“He used to want to take Hazel away.”“Yes.”“He used to blame me.”“Yes.”“He used to refuse to accept reality.”Aurora fell silent for a moment.“And now, suddenly, everything has changed.”She looked back at Darius.“I’m afraid that one day he’ll change again.”For the first time that evening, Aurora voiced her real fear.It wasn’t about







