Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 962

Cherry's eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on the man's stunningly handsome face. Her not-quite-three-years-old brain whirred at high speed, and after a moment of thought, she ventured a guess, "You claim to be my daddy... Could it be, you and mommy actually got married?" "Yeah! At the wedding, you made mommy take an oath, but I know it's not official until there's a marriage license. Did you get one? Are you planning to adopt me as your stepdaughter?!"

Parker and Tiana nearly short-circuited, Parker's handsome face freezing over.

What in the world was she thinking, binge-watching soap operas?

The heartfelt confession Parker had intended to make got stuck in his throat, ruined by the little one's wild speculation.

Parker, trying to keep a straight face, pinched her little head, "You're quite set on being my stepdaughter, huh?"

"Well, since I'm not biologically yours, I've dreamed of being Daddy Parker's little princess," Cherry said with a pout, looking even more dejected.

"Cherry." Tiana, noticing Parker's darkening mood, finally intervened. She took her daughter's hand, her voice serious but soft, "Your dad is Parker, he's the daddy you've been longing for. Did you understand what mommy said?"

Cherry looked confusedly from her mom to the man's handsome face and back again.

After a long pause, her eyes widened in disbelief, "Mommy, what are you saying? Are you tricking me?"

"No trick, Cherry. I really am your dad. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you before," Parker said, his voice deep.

His eyes were deep and warm, like the ocean, seemingly ready to drown her in their depths!

Cherry's tears started to flow, and after a long silence, she threw herself onto Parker's shoulder, crying and hitting him with her little hands, "Is it true? Daddy, daddy... You're so mean. Didn't you see it? I told you when I first met you that I knew you were my dad. But you ignored me, and so did mommy.

Nobody believed my little heart.

saying it, keeping you as my dad in

I'd never get to call you dad, but now you

so silly, taking so long to recognize me? When I was still a baby, you didn't even

Her cries were heart-wrenching.

disappointment and grievances in the little one's heart. She had lived in such tough conditions, probably lacking friends her age, until

be strong

daddy's fault. I was foolish, letting my treasure suffer. Go on, hit me, let it

her round eyes brimming with tears yet radiating joy. She smiled through her sadness, looking cautiously at Tiana,

using his daughter's question to gauge Tiana's

the nights Cherry had clung to her neck from nightmares, calling for daddy to come save

"Mommy wants

a daddy now, I'm Daddy Parker's little princess. My daddy is super cool and tall, and I want to

with tender eyes, his lips curving in a soft

child held

grateful for her. She had taught Cherry to be warm and open-hearted, even when she mistakenly thought Barclay was Cherry's biological father, she didn't pass

was a great mom, and she had

Parker said, "Alright, Cherry, come down now. You just woke up, and mommy is worried

if waking from a dream,

pressing the call button for the doctor, eyeing Tiana, "Don't worry, she seems to be in

softly, her brow furrowed in

Soon, several pediatricians arrived.

Cherry awake and in high spirits relieved them from

after our examination, the child's consciousness and cognition are both normal. Her physical injuries need care, but her cheerful mood and lack of trauma are

worried about ingestion of any substances, we'll conduct a gastrointestinal