Her Precious Baby

“Ah, I don’t care.”

Floretta had always been quick to expose her father. She pulled up a small stool and said animatedly, “Daddy always looks cool and distant all right, but he behaves like a child when he’s drunk every time, and he’ll always do something that’ll surprise the people around him.”

Angeline was rendered speechless.

“Mr. Roger told me that Daddy got drunk once at a university gathering. Everyone was getting ready to leave when Daddy suddenly sang Three Little Pigs…”

Angeline was dumbstruck at the revelation. She could not even begin to imagine the usually restrained Evander singing nursery rhymes. After all, the image was a striking contrast to his usual self.

Amused, she let out a chuckle, and so did Floretta. “Oh, but Mr. Roger did also mention that it was the only time that he had seen Daddy get drunk.”

Angeline laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. Floretta’s little revelation had warmed her heart. “Thank you, Floretta.”

“Sharing is caring, and especially so when it’s some juicy gossip. Oh, right—”

Bang!

A loud noise of the door getting slammed against the wall ensued. Floretta was so taken aback that she had forgotten to turn off the video call as she hid underneath her chair.

Suddenly, a large hand with slender and bony fingers grabbed her collar. “Were you guys having a nice chat?”

Angeline gulped when she noticed Evander on the screen. She, too, felt a chill running down her spine.

Floretta sniffed his coat. Her face fell as she said, “Daddy, something’s not right with you. There’s woman’s perfume on you, and it’s not Ms. Sherrock’s!”

Evander raised a brow as he had not expected Floretta to have such a sharp nose. Then he looked at Angeline with a twinkle in his eyes.

Angeline, who was on the video call, shifted uncomfortably as she coughed lightly.

do I feel as if I’ve been caught in the

the party

all about it. She kicked her chubby little legs and struggled as she said, “Daddy, let me go. Mr. Roger told me

you not to talk with bad people.

as he

Floretta screamed. However, Evander did not

shuddered as she watched what happened on

was about to do so, Evander turned his attention to her. His thin lips quirked into half a smile as he mocked, “It seems that you have too much free time on your hand, Ms.

did you think I was the one who

became cold and distant right away at the mention of nursery rhymes. Angeline could even feel it through the screen. “I

remarks. However, at the thought of being

of having one too many drinks, she mustered all her courage and pounded her desk as she chided, “Mr. Golding, not every woman wants to throw themselves at you to gain something from you. No wonder your wife ran away. You’re such a

though there was a screen

her

Angel is

face and could not think of anything else to say. After a while, she carefully asked in a small voice, “Daddy, how does it

Floretta’s phone and hung up the video

completely that day.

filled with the sympathy that

Evander said in a frigid tone. Then he whisked the girl off her feet and placed her on the bed to put her to

what I say from now on. Please don’t be mad at Angel. She told me she had beer tonight because she was

Beer?

brow as his

she was so brazen

Floretta. He reached out to switch off the bedside lamp on her nightstand, tucked her in, and said in a much gentler tone, “Go to sleep now. Remember to stay away from alcohol in the future, all right? You’re not

“But Angel said⁠—”

a few times. She bit her tongue and dare not say