Chapter 1

Vincent's POV

When she saw me buying the tickets, Eleanor's brow relaxed.

She ruffled Oliver's hair before coming over to take my hand. "Let's go buy swimsuits, then. Oliver and Gigi squeezed in a few surfing lessons recently. Once we get to Barrella Island, they can finally put them to use."

My daughter, Giselle, wrapped her arms around Oliver's leg and said in her sweetest voice, "Uncle Olly will definitely be the most handsome man on the beach."

It was rare for our daughter to say anything so sweet. She was always inexplicably distant with me, and her eyes often held a contempt I could never quite understand.

In an effort to grow closer to her, I tracked down the food blogger Giselle followed online and learned to cook the dishes she liked.

But every time I asked her, full of hope, whether the food was good, she would frown, spit it into the trash, and gag a few times.

"Dad's cooking is really gross."

The food tasted fine, so I had always assumed it simply did not suit Giselle's tastes.

But now I understood. She did not like me, so by extension, she hated everything I did.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and glanced in the rearview mirror.

Giselle lay quietly in Oliver's arms. When she noticed me watching, she pulled a face and spat in my direction.

Oliver found it amusing and could not resist commenting, "Bro, you and Gigi must have been enemies in a past life. She's the best-behaved kid I've ever seen, yet she just can't seem to get along with you."

Eleanor's eyes creased with amusement as she agreed. "Gigi really does like you more. Every year, her birthday wish is for her sunny, handsome uncle to be her dad."

The words had barely left her mouth when Oliver's face turned red.

He shot Eleanor a shy glance, then reached over and tickled Giselle. "Don't be silly. Your dad's going to be sad."

The car filled with laughter and cheer, and every sound stabbed into my heart like a needle.

I looked at the child I had cradled in my arms and raised since she was small. Ever since my brother moved into our home, she had never been close to me again.

A bitter taste rose in my mouth.

Eleanor leaned over and undid my seat belt for me. She seemed to sense my low spirits and kissed the corner of my mouth in reassurance. "It's just a kid's joke. Don't take it to heart."

Eleanor had been walking beside me, but once we entered the swimsuit shop, she gradually drifted closer to Oliver.

Oliver held Giselle's hand, while Giselle held Eleanor's.

The sales clerk greeted them warmly. "Sir, your family of three looks so happy."

No one noticed me trailing behind them. No one corrected her or told her that I was the one who actually belonged in that family of three.

I watched Giselle pick out swim trunks for Oliver, my eyes stinging.

Then, to my surprise, she suddenly walked over to me with a sea-blue swimsuit in her hands, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Dad, you'll definitely look handsome in this."

"Hurry up and try it on. Let's see if our daughter has good taste," Eleanor chimed in and ushered me toward the fitting room.

Warmth flooded through me. After changing into the swimsuit, I even took a moment to smooth out several wrinkles in front of the mirror.

I expected praise the moment I opened the door. Instead, the instant I stepped out, a camera flash went off.