Duke parked the car and stepped out. He had come five minutes earlier, hoping he could fetch the two children before Adina did. However, just as he went out of his car, he could feel a cold gaze fixated on him. He looked in that direction and from afar, he saw a slender person slowly approaching him. “Mr. Winters, why are you here?”Adina asked with a slight frown as she looked at him. Duke smiled. “Didn’t I tell you not to call me Mr. Winters?”Adina froze. ‘I used to call him Duke just to play along when I pretended to be his girlfriend. ‘But there’s no need for such pretenses anymore.’She said plainly, “I will pick Al and Mel up. You can go on with whatever it is you need to do.”“I’m their biological father. This is my duty,” Duke said in a low voice; it sounded as low as the tune of a cello. “You’ve worked hard for the past four years. From now on, I’ll help you out.”Adina’s heart skipped a beat. She could only suppress that strange emotion after she dug her n
Melody lowered her head, feeling embarrassed. It was as if she was aware of her teacher complimenting her. The two dimples on her cheek deepened as she smiled. “Come here, let Daddy hug you.”Duke knelt down and stretched out his arms. “Daddy!”Melody ran over to him quickly. Duke carried her and spun her around.Ava was stunned. ‘Didn’t Alden and Melody call another man “Father” two days ago? Why did their father change to another man again…?’“Miss Jones, he is Al’s and Mel’s biological father. You can hand over them whenever he comes and fetches them,” Adina said gently with a smile. Ava nodded, still feeling stunned. She only returned to her senses when the family left the preschool. ‘Alden’s father is so handsome and charismatic. It’s no wonder why the children could not stop looking at him. Even I couldn’t take my eyes off him…’Two cars were parked at the entrance of the preschool. Adina and Duke opened their car doors. Hers was on the left, and he was on th
“Mommy, don’t worry. I will never leave you,” said Alden, who was sitting at the back.Adina was holding onto the steering wheel as she relaxed and smiled, “Al, you don’t have to look at him like he’s your enemy. Duke is your biological father. You should get to know him a little better, and there’s nothing to lose.” “But you’ll be sad.” Al hid the emotion in his gaze as he clenched his fist. “Al, I won’t be. Where do you want to go?” Adina smiled helplessly. When they were at the traffic light, she turned and looked at her as she said gently, “Duke is your and Melody’s father. I’m really happy that he’s decided to protect and look after both of you with me. How can I be sad?” Alden lowered his gaze and did not say anything. ‘If Duke truly loves Mommy, I will accept him into our lives as well.‘But if he were to hurt her in any way, I will never let the Winters family off the hook!’They drove to the Winters family’s mansion. Harold had been waiting at the entrance for a l
Harold recognized the car at the front. Before it stopped, he ran over and opened the backseat door. “Melody, I’ve missed you so much!”He instantly went for a hug. His embrace tightened as the figure was soft and smelled really good. However, he quickly heard an angry voice say, “Harold Winters, let go!”Alden, who was embraced in Harold’s arms, was very upset. Harold instantly let go. “Eh, Alden. Why are you here? Where’s Melody?”At that moment, he heard cute giggles from behind him. He turned and saw Melody coming out of the second car. George had given her a toy rabbit, and she was overjoyed. Harold swiftly ran over and took out the toy cat that he had been carrying. He then said, as if he was giving her a treasure, “Melody, this cat is much cuter than the rabbit. Look, it even makes sounds…”The toy cat meowed when he gave it a little squeeze. Melody giggled even louder. Duke, who had just come out of the car, smiled. He had not heard cheerful laughter like this in
George shifted his cold gaze to Harold. His gaze was so cold that Harold, who had been fake-crying, became overwhelmed and instantly stopped. “Didn’t Melody give you a present before?”When he heard George’s words, Harold quickly replied, “Oh, yes! Melody gave me a present before. It was a drawing by her. I’m the only one who has ever received a present from her. Nobody else got anything from her! I’m the luckiest boy ever! Melody, I love you so much!”Harold was so happy that he gave Melody’s cheek a peck. Duke frowned and pulled Harold back by his collar. He then said coldly, “Don’t kiss Mel ever again.”Harold felt aggrieved as he pouted. “Why?”‘What is life if I can’t even kiss my sister?’Duke said, “You’re a boy, and Mel’s a girl. Boys shouldn’t simply kiss girls.”Harold became speechless. ‘The teacher at school said this before, too. Does that mean I can never kiss Mel from now on?’George did not utter a word. ‘I’ve never kissed her. Does that mean I wouldn’t
Adina unexpectedly bumped into Duke, who was washing the peas. The oil splashed on the back of her hand. She grimaced in pain. Duke hurriedly turned down the fire on the stove, looking extremely worried. “Where did the oil hit you? Are you hurt?” “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”Adina ran the tap water over her hand. After cooking for a long time, she was used to oil splashes. These little burns were nothing to her. However, all of a sudden, a huge, rough hand grabbed her fingertips. “I’ll put on some lotion for you.”She hurriedly pulled her hand back, but she could not break free from his grasp. She said helplessly, “I really don’t need it. Besides, can you even find where I got burnt?”There had been a small red spot when she was burnt. But after running it in the water, it was no longer visible. Duke looked down at the back of her hand. After looking at it carefully and not seeing any wounds, he let go of her hand. Adina was blushing just because he held her fingertips.
Adina stood in front of the tap and washed her hands. The kitchen was filled with the sound of running water. She lowered her gaze and looked at her hand before she spoke again, “I won’t let go of the four children, and I won’t marry into the Winters family because of them.”Duke looked at the side of her face. Her eyelashes cast a shadow over her eyes and hid her emotions away. He could not figure out what was on her mind. He pursed his lips and asked softly, “Why?”Adina wiped her hands. She slowly looked up. Her lips were downturned, making her look fierce.‘There are some things that I just don’t want to bring up. ‘But he almost kissed me just now. There was a strong sense of predation in his gaze. ‘It reminds me of what happened that night five years ago…‘At first, I resisted and struggled with all my strength, but it was all in vain. In the end, I was ruthlessly plowed by him. ‘It was the most depressing night I’ve ever had. ‘I still feel disgusted every time
This was the trauma left by the incident five years ago. Duke said in a low voice, “If I had a choice, I wish our first night together had not caused so much damage.” Adina lowered her head. The corners of her mouth stretched into a bitter smile. How much did she wish that night had not happened? How much did she wish she had gotten married and had children like everyone else? How much did she wish her four children were born into this world normally? How much did she wish they were born into a complete and happy family? “Daddy, Mommy, what are you doing?” Harold’s voice suddenly came from beside them. Adina snapped out of her thoughts. She turned around and saw the children and their fluffy heads peeking through the kitchen door. Each child’s face was filled with bemusement. She quickly took a step back and curled her lips up into a smile. “Dinner is ready. Come in and help serve the food and set the table.” George led his three siblings in, and each child took a p