Chapter 4 Where’s My Doll, Papa?

Archer had many reasons to feel uncomfortable in his own home. One of them was what had just happened. Felly always had her way to come up with a retort. They even always fought whenever they saw each other. Archer was exhausted.

The only reason he still came home was Kimberly.

Thinking of Kimberly made him feel guilty because he had left her for too long.

Archer walked upstairs with a heavy heart. His steps halted when he caught a glimpse of the pictures of Felly and another man on the dining table.

Archer turned around and took the pictures. His jaw clenched. He did not like seeing another man carrying his child. Especially Felly’s side piece.

He scrunched up both pieces of the pictures to a small crumpled ball. He then threw it into the trash can.

Thirty minutes later, Archer had cleaned up and changed his clothes. He went down to the second floor and entered Kimberly’s room. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a yellow night lamp that hit the ceilings in the shape of stars and a moon.

Archer smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed, and kissed her daughter’s forehead for quite some time.

Kimberly’s sleep was disturbed. She squirmed and opened her eyes slowly. She smiled as she mumbled, “Papa, you’re home?”

“Yes. Papa’s home.”

Archer patted Kimberly’s back gently until she fell back asleep with her arms around his neck.

Archer was stunned.

He did not dare to move, too worried he would wake her up again.

***

That morning Felly woke up late. Her insomnia had struck her again last night.

After doing her morning routines, she quickly went to check on Kimberly. She paid no attention to her pounding headache caused by poor quality of sleep.

“Mamaaaa…!”

The cheerful call immediately made her smile. She had just gotten out of her room, but Kimberly already greeted her.

Felly knelt and hugged her daughter who smelled like soap and fruits. She pinched Kimberly’s chubby cheeks out of cuteness aggression.

“My child, how are you smelling so good in the early morning?”

“Papa bathed me, Mama.”

Felly was surprised. She had thought Kimberly was bathed by Zoe—her baby sitter since her infancy.

That must have been why Kimberly looked happier than before. Felly was relieved because Archer treated their child well. At least, Kimberly did not lose her father figure just because her parents were not on good terms.

“Kimmy, are you happy that Papa’s home?”

“Mhm!” Kimberly nodded frantically. “Mama, let’s make breakfast for Papa.”

Felly sighed helplessly as Kimberly pulled her hand. Kimberly was copying her. Because every time Archer was home, Felly always made him breakfast. It was not for nothing. Felly and Archer had committed to look like a happy couple in front of their daughter.

Maybe this was also the reason for Archer’s reluctance to be home. That man must have been fed up with pretending when he did not even want to look in Felly’s direction.

“Mama! Me! Let me do it!”

Kimberly jumped up and down, wanting to take the knife and a carrot from Felly’s hands.

Felly smiled. “Do you want to chop off the carrot, Kimmy?”

“Yes! I want to make a meal for Papa!”

“This is Mama’s knife, darling. Where did you save yours, hm?”

“Oh right, I forgot.” Kimberly facepalmed. “Mama, wait!” Then, the girl ran to the living room to take her plastic knife.

Felly chuckled at seeing her daughter’s cute actions. The girl had always been a comfort for her whenever she felt upset. She was also her best friend every time Felly felt lonely.

As Kimberly took her knife, Felly continued her chopping.

“The wound on your knee, Kimmy, what happened?”

Archer’s sudden appearance made the knife almost slice Felly’s finger. Felly turned to Archer. He was already showered, but still in his homewear.

“She fell.”

“Where?”

“At the boutique. Yesterday.”

Archer clicked his tongue. He crossed his arms on his chest as he gave Felly a suspecting glare. “So, you were too busy with that Ryan? You did not pay attention to Kimmy and she fell?”

Felly stopped her hands, sighed, and replied, “Since you had already settled your mind on what I did, let’s just consider it as the reality.”

Even if Felly had tried to argue and explain what had actually happened, that Kimberly fell before Ryan came into the boutique, Archer would have never believed her.

Archer clenched his jaw. He was just about to open his mouth to reply to her, when a set of tiny feet came running towards them, stopping him.

“Mama, where’s my carrot?”

Felly smiled, then handed a carrot to her daughter.

“Yeah! Chopping carrot for Papa!” Kimberly jumped up and down excitedly, she brought the knife and carrot to the dining table.

Archer followed and sat next to her. His gaze was worriedly supervising, concerned that her light skin would be scarred by the toy knife.

“Why did you work for so long yesterday, Papa?” Kimberly asked abruptly, making Archer almost choked on his own spit.

“Papa worked far away, darling.” Archer ruffled Kimberly’s long, straight hair. “So, Papa could not go home like usual.”

“Oh, aren’t you tired, Papa?”

“Of course not. I do this for you, I don’t get tired working for the sake of my beautiful daughter.”

Kimberly giggled while covering her mouth. The girl loved it whenever her father teased her.

On the other side, Felly took a deep breath to loosen her tight chest. She could not imagine how disappointed Kimberly would have been if she knew her father’s long absence was for another woman.

Felly turned to the dining table, looking at their close father-daughter interaction. They laughed together. Their laughter echoed through the open kitchen and the dining room.

In any situation and any type of clothing, Archer had always been handsome. His upturned nose, his charming smile could warm anyone who laid eyes on him, and his tall and muscular figure always provided comfort and security to those near him.

Unfortunately, Felly never had his embrace. Felly did not know how it felt to be hugged and laid on top of her own husband’s wide chest.

She was reminded of Bella. Curiosity filled her heart. Did Archer always hug Bella every time they saw each other? Aside from hugging, what else did they do behind their back? How far had they been in their relationship?

The light in Felly’s eyes dimmed.

She had no right to feel jealous, right? From the start, Felly was the other woman in Archer and Bella’s relationship.

“Papa?” Kimberly called him as she chopped the carrot with all her strength.

“Yes, darling? Need any help?”

“No! I can do this.”

Archer smiled. “That’s right. I have a wonderful daughter,” he complimented. “Then? What did you call me for?”

Kimberly stopped her hands, and her eyes stared at Archer with an innocent gaze. “Where’s my pony doll, Papa? You bought me a pony doll, right?”

***