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.

you as my

never get to call you dad,

a baby, you didn't even come to see me. Daddy, you owe me so much, and I'm going to hit

Her cries were heart-wrenching.

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

trying to be strong at such

hit him, "It's all daddy's fault. I was

midst of her tears, Cherry was suddenly laughing, her round eyes brimming with tears yet radiating joy. She smiled through her sadness, looking cautiously at Tiana,

felt anxious, using his daughter's question to gauge Tiana's feelings. He looked at

longing for a father, couldn't be clearer about the nights Cherry had

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

a daddy now, I'm

curving in

the child

glanced at the woman who had raised their daughter so well, 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 on any

was a great mom, and she had been

just woke up, and mommy

from a dream,

carefully placed her back on the bed, immediately pressing the call button for the doctor, eyeing Tiana, "Don't worry, she seems to be in good

replied softly, her brow furrowed

Soon, several pediatricians arrived.

Cherry awake and in high spirits relieved them from Parker's intimidating

our examination, the child's consciousness and cognition are both normal. Her physical injuries

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