Chapter 11

"Anyway… I'm sorry," Mike murmured.I leaned back against the couch cushions, studying the man sitting across from me.He was well into his 40s, yet his posture resembled that of an elementary schooler. Forcing out the apology looked harder for him than being asked to jump off a building.Hannah and Alicia had enabled him to become a man-child."Mr. Bennett." I spoke up.He raised his head to look at me."If you want to head out in the future, just give Alicia a heads-up first. They worry when you run off like this."Mike blinked in surprise, then gave a slow nod.Alicia arrived ten minutes later.When she pushed through the lobby's glass doors, her forehead was beaded with sweat. Seeing Mike and me sitting across from each other in the lounge, she looked visibly relieved.Her tone was laced with exasperation as she walked over. "Dad, at least let someone know when you're leaving the house."Mike stood up and muttered, "I-I didn't mean to. I just wanted to give his things ba

Chapter 12

I couldn't help but chuckle. "A probationary period? What, do you think you're a new employee on probation?"Alicia laughed along, looking slightly self-conscious. "Well, I'm already sending you my daily updates anyway, and you're reading them, aren't you?"She packed up the takeout bag and stood. The sunlight caught her from behind. "I'll keep sending them, and you keep reading them. Whenever you feel like I've passed the test, you can make it official."I also got to my feet and brushed a few stray crumbs off my pants."Then you'd better do your best," I said.Alicia's eyes instantly lit up.And so, the days rolled on.It wasn't until late September that Connor suddenly let out a loud "Holy crap" next to me and shoved his phone in my face. "Your ex's family made the financial news again."I took the phone. It was an article with the headline, "Porter Group CEO Hannah Porter Announces Retirement; Daughter Alicia Bennett Appointed CEO".The piece mentioned that Hannah had deci

Chapter 13

"Mrs. Bennett," I said, nodding to Hannah. "Have a safe flight."Hannah nodded back, then turned her gaze toward Mike.Standing beside her, Mike suddenly reached into his duffel bag and pulled out a small paper bag before holding it out to me."Here…"His voice was barely a whisper. "I-I made them yesterday. You can try them at home."I took the paper bag and opened it up. Inside were a few homemade cookies. They were a little burnt around the edges and unevenly shaped, but I could tell that he had put real effort into making them."You made these?" I asked."Yeah." Mike looked down, rubbing the toe of his shoe against the floor tiles."The therapist said I should find a hobby, so I took up baking. These didn't turn out great. They're a bit burnt. If they taste terrible, you don't have to eat them…"As he spoke, his voice dwindled to a whisper, as though he wanted to disappear into his shell.I picked one up and took a bite. It was a little hard, and he had gone a bit heavy o

All Chapters of My Girlfriend's Dad Lives in Fairyland: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13