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.

as if I’ve been caught in

more women than men at the

did not press on, and she soon forgot all about it. She kicked her chubby little legs and struggled as she said, “Daddy, let me go. Mr. Roger

bad people. You haven’t been behaving yourself,

cold as he spanked his

Evander did

as she watched what happened on

His thin lips quirked into

did you think I

rhymes. Angeline could even feel it through the screen. “I hate

remarks. However, at the thought of

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

even though there was a

stunned that her mouth formed a

goodness. Angel is

anything else to say. After a while, she carefully asked in a small voice, “Daddy, how does it feel

woman!” Evander snapped. He snatched away Floretta’s phone and hung up

his mood completely that

away, her eyes filled with the sympathy that she felt for

Then he whisked the girl

his arm and said, “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll watch what I say from now on. Please don’t be mad at Angel. She told me she

Beer?

brow as his

was

answer 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 to have

“But Angel said⁠—”

blink her innocent eyes a few times. She bit her tongue and dare not