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.

it, keeping you as my

to call you dad,

so silly, taking so long to recognize me? When I was still a baby, you didn't even come to see me. Daddy, you owe me so much, and I'm going

Her cries were heart-wrenching.

little one's heart. She had lived in such tough conditions, probably lacking friends her age, until Ludwik's sons came into her

was indeed lonely, trying to be strong at such a young

hit him, "It's all daddy's fault. I was foolish, letting my treasure suffer. Go on, hit me, let

sadness, looking cautiously at Tiana, still showing respect for her mom, "Mommy... can I really call him daddy? Won't you be upset?" The

daughter's question to gauge Tiana's feelings. He looked at her intently, waiting for her

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

her eye, quickly hidden as she smiled softly, "Mommy wants Cherry to be happy. There's nothing for mommy to

showering him with kisses, "I have a daddy now, I'm Daddy Parker's little princess. My daddy is

with tender eyes, his lips curving in a

the child held no

She had taught Cherry to be warm and open-hearted, even when

great mom, and she had been through

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

waking from a dream,

placed her back on the bed, immediately pressing the call button for the doctor, eyeing Tiana, "Don't worry, she

replied softly, her

Soon, several pediatricians arrived.

and in high spirits relieved them from Parker's intimidating presence. Thankfully,

are both normal. Her physical injuries need care, but

you're worried about ingestion of any substances, we'll conduct a gastrointestinal exam, though it might be uncomfortable for our