Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 822

Parker's glasses caught a gleam as he eyed the woman before him.

She was petite, and given his height, it was easy for him to look down on her soft, curly black hair that framed her cute face.

She was as adorable as... Cherry.

He pursed his lips, saying, "Cherry called me today, sobbing her heart out, thought I was gone for good. So, I figured I'd check in on her."

He was clearly seeking her opinion.

"Uh?" Tiana blinked, internally cursing.

How did Cherry end up contacting Parker? She had just visited her last night and hadn't brought up Parker at all.

It must have been Danny or Sammy passing the message along.

Her daughter was quite fond of Parker, clever too. But the little tyke had been down in the dumps ever since Parker's disappearance. She couldn't really say no, "Then... let's go see her together." "Alright, I'll drive. Just wait here for me," Parker gestured for her to stay put.

With firm steps and a lean figure, Parker's presence was filled with a masculine aura Tiana couldn't forget.

His departing figure was so captivating, she found herself staring long after he was gone, her heartbeat racing uncontrollably.

When he drove up, she quickly looked away.

The drive was mostly silent between them.

The stifling silence was shattered upon their return to Delight Mansion by Cherry's exuberant welcome.

"Ah! Daddy Parker, you're back. Cherry... Cherry thought you were gone forever, cried for so long, a whole month, daddy," she sobbed, throwing herself at him.

Waiting by the doorstep, wrapped up like a burrito by the nanny in a little red cape against the winter's first snowflakes, her tear-streaked, doughy face melted Parker's heart.

why, but he was so fond of

had brought her to Emperor

all, she was his brother's child,

me give you a hug," he said, squatting down with

it's daddy, daddy!" Cherry stubbornly corrected, climbing

frustration and embarrassment mingling in her expression, "How many times have I told you

just know he's my daddy. And I only want such a handsome man to be my

little piglet, her baby scent was too much for Parker to bear saying 'no' to. He glanced at Tiana with a smirk, "So, you mind her calling

couldn't decipher his intent.

even faster, dodging his gaze,

on her?

the good guy in front of

Cherry grows up, how is she supposed to explain this awkward relationship, that

you, an unmarried man, find it off-putting to be eagerly called daddy?"

don't mind," he replied softly, his gaze returning to her, direct and clear, "I like Cherry, and if being her daddy is

"What... do you mean?"

heart was in turmoil under his

with

that because he liked Cherry, he was willing to be

that what he

by me being her daddy, don't

plans you have for your future, Tiana. Didn't you say last night you

Tiana could delve deeper into her fluttering heart, a cold splash

wanted to marry

don't want to marry him?" Parker's eyes

like that, do I look like I have a masochistic streak?" Tiana retorted sharply, "In your eyes, am I just some resigned woman, ready to lower herself to marry

his heart, reached over Cherry to grasp her wrist, quickly explaining, "That's not what I meant. I just

right did he have to be upset? What did she have

the better of her, "And