4. I Am Sky's Daughter

The little girl chuckled. “Nobody, Sir. It was my own idea.”

Louis’ eyes widened. He was surprised that the toddler seemed honest.

“It's you who wanted to ruin my proposal? A four-year-old girl? Not anyone else?” he sighed in disbelief.

Summer pouted her lips. “Yes, Sir. Is it hard to believe me?”

“How did that come to your mind?” Louis asked curiously.

“Because I couldn’t stand seeing Mommy lonely and sad.” Summer's face dimmed. “Since the news about you and Grace Evans spread, Mommy had been a bit gloomy. I thought it broke her heart. But Mommy deserves to be happy like other women. Everyone deserves to be happy! That's why I want her to have a husband too. It's you!”

Louis fell silent for a moment. His brain was busy processing. “Who is your mother?” he asked doubtfully.

Summer blinked. Her lips pursed. “Do you still not know who Mommy is? People say I look exactly like her. You should remember right away. Besides, you two used to be so close.”

Louis was stunned. The image of Sky Hills, his old friend, crossed his mind.

Sky used to wear hoodies and jumpsuits. Her hair was curly. Her face was adorable. She also liked to carry a backpack decorated with many pins, just like the little girl in front of him.

However, Louis ignored his hunch. He didn't want to repeat the pain of the past. The toddler's resemblance to Sky might just be a coincidence.

"What's your name?" he asked.

The little girl stretched her neck, and answered excitedly. “Summer!”

“You were born in the summer?” Louis lowered an eyebrow.

“No. I was born in winter, but Mommy named me Summer because she said, I came to bring warmth into this world,” she said sweetly. Her smile captured Louis’ heart for a split second.

"How old are you?"

Summer raised her hand and folded her tiny thumb. “Four years old.”

"Where do you live?"

“We move around a lot, Sir. Mommy and I love to travel all over the world. But recently, we live in Canada.”

“I mean, in this city? Where do you live in this city? I’m going to call the police to pick up your mother. She needs to be questioned.”

Summer’s lips pursed. Her eyes blinked playfully. “We don’t have a house here. Actually, this is my first time coming to T City.”

Louis' face scrunched up in confusion. "Where do you stay while you're here?"

Summer shook her head. “I haven’t looked for a place to stay yet. I just arrived. From the airport, I rushed to the restaurant where you proposed to Miss Evans. Luckily, I wasn’t late.”

Louis snorted. “Do you think it’s that easy to fool me? You’re not even five yet. Who would believe you came all the way from Canada by yourself?”

Summer reached into her jumpsuit pocket. With a blank face, she pulled out a passport and opened it to the last page.

“So what if I’m not five yet? I’m a smart kid. I can travel by myself. Plus, I have my own bank account and my own phone now. Booking a plane ticket and flying alone is a piece of cake. And also arranging transportation. I’m an independent little adventurer.”

Louis was taken aback for a moment. But then, his laugh sounded thin and dismissive.

“Impossible. It must be your trick. There's no way such a great child exists.”

“If you still don’t believe me,” Summer jumped down from the couch. She reached for her backpack, taking a book out of it. “Look at this!”

Louis raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the book, which was full of pictures, writing, and scribbles. Again, he thought of Sky. She used to have that kind of book.

“This is my roadmap. It all started last week, when I heard about your proposal. Mommy seemed a bit down, so I decided to thwart it. I researched your location, planned my route, matched the timing with—”

“Wait,” Louis raised one hand. Summer stopped talking. “How did you know about my proposal plan?”

“Aunt Emily told Mommy about it.”

Louis froze for a moment. His eyes trembled faintly. “You know Emily?”

“Of course. She’s Mommy’s best friend. She always tells us everything. When she went on her honeymoon with Uncle Cayden, Mommy and I were the ones who guided them.”

Louis could no longer deny it. The lightning that struck his heart was too powerful. “You … are really Sky’s daughter? Sky already has a child?”

Summer smiled brightly. “That’s right! I’m Sky’s daughter. Finally, you remember Mommy. She missed you so much, Sir.”

Louis sighed in disbelief. His eyes darted around, looking for clues, but he found none. Unable to contain his confusion any longer, he finally called his twin sister.

“Hello, Louis? What's up? Do you want to tell me that Grace has accepted your proposal?”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that Sky had a child?” Louis snapped, without further ado.

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Even Summer was no longer making any sound.

“Emily? Answer me!”

“You never asked, Louis. Last time I wanted to tell you about Sky, you refused to listen. You said she wasn’t your best friend anymore. How did you know she had a child? And why did you sound so angry?”

Louis lowered his head, and closed his eyes, trying to control his emotions. He sighed, “Her daughter is with me. She claims she flew here by herself. Do you know what she did?”

Louis unconsciously gritted his teeth. His emotions were too hard to suppress.

“She suddenly appeared at the restaurant, forbidding me from marrying Ace. She wanted me to marry her mother and become her father. She ruined everything I had planned, Em. Therefore, send me Sky's contact! I need to talk to her directly and demand accountability!”

Looking at Louis' anger, Summer held her breath. Her cheeks puffed up, her hands tightly clenched.

She didn't know how Louis would talk and how Sky would react. She hoped her mother would not faint when she heard Louis' voice, because she wasn't there to help.