“Did you rush back to Nokocola Bay like this usually? Is it because of his return that you have to go in such a hurry?” Summer had always been confiding in Daisy. This time was no different. “Yeah.” “You have been divorced for four years. Why are you still avoiding him like a plague?” Daisy was a little puzzled at first. But then she seemed to think of something and guessed the reason out right. “Is it because of Charlotte?” “Yeah.” Summer nodded, holding a glass of water and sipping on it. Daisy knew it. Summer could be better than this, Daisy thought, raising her hand and poked Summer on the forehead. “Don’t be silly. You don’t have to do this because of Charlotte. You married him because you wanted the child, and this was something he promised you. Now that you two have divorced, Charlotte should rightly belong to you.” Her daughter had always been smart. But how could she be so confused about her own affair this time? Gently kneading her forehead with her hand, Sum
She could have held her head high and told him in no uncertain terms that Charlotte was hers. He had given up Charlotte and should not want her back. But why could she not do that? This was not her, not her temperament. “This is normal, because you love Charlotte so much. Besides, Charlotte has become a part of your life, or even a part of you. You could not help thinking when sensing the slightest sign of danger, and what would happen to you if you lost her. So you will not tolerate anyone taking her away. As time goes by, it has formed a conditioned reflex. So when he appeared, your first reaction was not how to face him but thinking about hiding Charlotte so that he won’t find out. Only in this way will you feel at ease.” Daisy let out a sigh before she continued. “All mothers think alike. I can understand that you love Charlotte and care about her so much. That’s why you put yourself in this situation, and even your sober sanity is now affected.” Upon hearing that, Summer sta
The next morning. Summer waited until Charlotte woke up naturally. They took their breakfast, after which Daisy took Charlotte to the park, watching her swing and feed the birds. The sense of urgency and fear in Summer’s heart vanished overnight. Daisy was relieved, but Summer was embarrassed by herself. “I won’t make you worry about me again, Mom. I can solve the problem by myself.” “Well then, when you can’t handle it, tell me and your dad, and we are all standing behind you.” “Okay, Mom.” By the time Summer and Charlotte arrived at the train station, it was 3:00 pm, and the tickets for the high-speed train had all been sold out. So she asked Charlotte whether she would like to take a plane or a slow train. Charlotte bit her finger and thought for a long time before she said that she had not taken a slow train before and did not know what a slow train looked like. Summer laughed. She bought two tickets for sleeping berths because the journey would take 12 hours, and
The president’s office on the top floor. Tall and well-built body, broad shoulders and long legs, muscular chest covered beneath a purple short-sleeve shirt outlined his nearly perfect figure. Purple contrasted nicely with the man’s sharp facial features, making him look tough, distinctive, and sharp. It turns out that men in purple could also look so mature, charming, and elegant. Harry gave the door a gentle knock. After getting a response, he pushed in and handed over the test report. “Here is the report, Mr. Valentine.” Mark reached across and took the sealed brown envelope, then opened it, and flipped through the pages. After he turned to the result page and his eyes scanned over the text, he put the report down to one side. His face was calm without a hint of emotional fluctuation. But his slightly raised lips still gave him away. But he was not surprised because the result was expected. He knew long before this that this would be the case. Even without this pater
Harry smiled. He did not know that the company president was such a daughter person. “I will first excuse myself, Mr. Valentine.” Mark nodded. Something came to mind, and he called out to Harry again, “Find out where Summer is.” “Yes, Mr. Valentine.” Harry pushed open the door and walked out. As expected, Harry was highly efficient. It did not take him too long before he came back in. ”Mr. Valentine, Ms. Hart is no longer in Santatabaca. She took the six o’clock train from Santatabaca to Nokocola Bay yesterday. Now she is in Nokocola Bay.” Mark squinted, a layer of gloom appearing on his bitter face. His deep eyes gradually darkened, and anger flickered and billowed inside them. Harry followed him for many years and could spot Mark’s mood changes. “Mr. Valentine, I will book the first flight to Nokocola Bay.” Mark’s eyes were moving, and after a while, he said, “No, get tomorrow’s flight.” “Yes, Mr. Valentine.” On the other side of the country. The next morning. Sum
Someone had picked her up?Instinct told Summer who did it. She did not panic, but looked at Charlotte’s teacher. “Ms. Bailey, what did the person tell you?” She could not think of anyone else other than Mark. Speaking of Mark, Ms. Bailey thought of the perfect, charming man, who seemed to possess all the gracefulness and dignity, whose gestures were indescribably elegant. She did not expect that Summer’s husband would be such a good-looking man. But then again, Summer was a beautiful and nice person, too. So they were a match made in heaven. “He is… he is your husband. He came to pick up Charlotte,” Nora said. “He showed me the marriage certificate. I only passed Charlotte to him after confirming his identity.” She could not believe that he even used the marriage certificate to bluff Nora. The fire of anger and cynicism consumed Summer. She frowned when she thought of Charlotte, who disliked Mark judging by her reaction that day. So why did she still agree to go with him?
Jazz’s brows were knitted together, his voice deepening involuntarily. “Are you looking for Mark?” “He took Charlotte away. I can’t find Charlotte now, and his phone is turned off. Could you please help me see if he is there? If he is not there, I would need you to help me go to his apartment.” Jazz eased up his brows. “Mark took away Charlotte? Didn’t he inform you about it?” “Do you think I would have let him take Charlotte away if he called me?” Summer asked back flatly. This was a simple question. Mark knew that if he made the call, she would be suspicious, and might not even let Charlotte see him. So he wisely chose not to inform her, but to pick up Charlotte directly. “Okay, I see. I will help you now. Don’t worry. Wait for my call.” Jazz hung up and went to Mark’s room. Summer put her cell phone back into her handbag, and then went to the supermarket across the street and bought a bottle of mineral water. She then sat on a bench, sipping a mouthful of water as she
But Charlotte still did not quite understand one thing: how could her mom’s belly fit a child the size of hers. But her teacher would not lie. She was definitely not fished out of the lake, but born out of her mom’s belly. She could never hide what was on her mind, and all her thoughts showed on her face. Mark’s heart softened, his deep but gentle eyes staring at her. His lips twitched as he spoke in a deep, awkward tone of voice. “I am indeed your dad.” He had never interacted with such a small human before. So much so that his expression was rigid. He just did not know how to interact with her. “Really?” Charlotte tilted her head, not believing what he said because her mom had never told her he was her dad. “Of course. What would you like to drink—juice or coke?” Charlotte shifted her body. “I don’t want any drink. Didn’t you say that Mommy will come? When will she come? I only want Mommy. I don’t want juice or coke.” She did not believe what Mark said. She wanted to