Evelyn’s POV
I was completely absorbed in my work at the Ravenshade temporary laboratory, my focus razor-sharp as I collaborated with the team studying the newly erged virus from abroad. We’d been working through the night, and by the ti I erged from the lab, dawn was already breaking over the horizon.
Worry about my children imdiately flooded my mind. After completing the final tasks as quickly as possible, I rushed ho.
The mont I stepped through the door, I t a pair of unreadable eyes. My heart skipped a beat as I suddenly wondered if Calvin had seen the DNA test results. When I’d left ho, I thought I’d spotted a Wolfe Haven International car hurrying into the neighborhood.
"You’re back," Calvin said, his deep voice filling the space between us.
He sat on the couch in casual loungewear and turned his head when he heard co in. The whole scene felt strangely dostic, like a husband waiting for his busy wife to co ho. It was unsettling how normal it seed.
I looked away, offering only a cold "Mmm" out of basic courtesy.
After changing my shoes, I intended to find my daughter and sons, but Calvin stood up and blocked my path.
"Eve," he said, his voice strained with emotion. "Is Alex my daughter? I need to hear it from you."
I stared at him, puzzled. Hadn’t the DNA test results co back yet?
A thousand possible responses whirled through my mind, but in the end, I gave him only one cold sentence.
"No, she’s not."
I turned and walked away without hesitation, his intense gaze burning into my back until I entered the playroom and finally escaped his scrutiny.
After spending so ti with all three children, my mind began to wander as I recalled the flash of dejection that had crossed his face. Alexis, sensitive to the change in my mood, imdiately gave a big hug.
Looking at my daughter’s fluffy little head, I couldn’t resist stroking her hair gently. She pressed her chubby pink cheek against mine, her voice soft but her words startling.
"Mommy, Alex doesn’t want daddy. Only wants mommy."
"...Alex?"
I was shocked! I had no idea my three-year-old could be so aware of everything going on. I looked over at the boys playing with their toy cars, then carried Alexis to the window seat.
I looked at my obedient daughter with complicated emotions, lowering my voice. "Alex knows about daddy?"
Alexis nodded. "Uncle Calvin is daddy."
Any lingering hope vanished, leaving only an overwhelming tsunami of guilt that washed away all my other thoughts.
Of course—Calvin couldn’t detect Alex’s scent, couldn’t know she was his child. But Alex had recognized her father all along and had pretended not to know for my sake.
I stared into my daughter’s clear eyes. She leaned forward and planted a firm kiss on my cheek.
She opened her little candy pouch and pulled out a black-wrapped candy, offering it to .
"Mommy, Alex took dicine like good girl."
I glanced at my watch, confirming it was ti for her dication.
I unwrapped the black covering and gave her the pill inside, my eyes filled with love and compassion. "Alex is such a good girl."
These were the dications I had specially formulated for her. My little one didn’t like taking powdered dicine, so I’d found ways to transform them into sothing she could accept, improving the taste until she no longer resisted taking them.
Alexis kept the pill disguised as candy in her mouth without any resistance. She even pulled out a pink candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into my mouth.
She comforted , her voice childish and sweet. "Mommy, candy makes not bitter anymore."
Her thoughtfulness only made feel like I’d failed her even more.
I hugged my little girl tightly, making a firm decision. "If Alex wants to know her daddy, Mommy can..."
Alex shook her head against my chest. "Alex loves Mommy forever."
She tugged at my clothes, adding, "Brothers good, uncle good, but Mommy best."
Though she adored her brothers and had grown fond of her "uncle," if forced to choose between us, she would always choose without hesitation.
Realizing my daughter had known everything all along, I looked at her with even more tenderness.
This was my daughter...
Calvin’s POV
This morning, my Beta Zeon urgently delivered a file I hadn’t dared to open. I was terrified of facing the truth. What if Alex wasn’t mine? How would I handle that? But if she was my daughter, Evelyn definitely wouldn’t let have Alex, and we’d end up fighting. Just like when she first ca back and kept trying to get custody of the twins.
I felt scared.
I sat motionless until the living room door opened.
Alexis appeared, clutching her toy, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she ca looking for .
She wore a onesie pajama, her hair adorably tousled from sleep, making her look impossibly soft and vulnerable. She walked straight to where I sat on the couch and climbed into my lap, using both hands and feet to scramble up.
The nanny who accompanied Alexis explained, "Alpha Calvin, Miss Evelyn received an ergency call and had to leave. The little miss woke up, couldn’t find her mother, and ca looking for you."
Alexis’s eyes were red as she spoke. "Find Mommy."
My eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night.
I gently patted her back, speaking with unprecedented gentleness.
Without looking up, I calmly told the nanny, "Prepare her breakfast."
Alexis remained quiet in my arms, her unrested eyes reddened. She pouted sadly, "Want to find Mommy."
Evelyn wouldn’t suddenly leave ho without the children; most likely sothing had happened at the lab.
"Be good, Alex. Mommy went to work and will return when she’s finished," I said softly. "Will you let uncle stay with you?"
Just then, the nanny finished preparing the milk, but it was the male house manager who brought it into the guest room, quickly retreating after handing it to .
I noticed the clear boundaries and discretion shown by Evelyn’s household staff.
Alexis was remarkably obedient. Hearing my words, she rubbed her eyes and nodded. "Alex wait for Mommy at ho."
I smiled. "Good girl."
Still tired from insufficient sleep, Alexis didn’t even finish her milk before drifting off to my low, soothing voice.
I carefully removed the bottle from her hand and carried her to the bed.
Sitting at the bedside, I continued gently patting her arm.
Perhaps it was the blood connection...
Perhaps it was because the answer to what troubled no longer mattered...
Or maybe it was simply from not having closed my eyes all night...
I ended up falling asleep with Alex too.
When I woke up, it was already afternoon. I still hadn’t dared to open that envelope.
Evelyn returned ho from work, I asked her again. I wanted her to be honest with . But she still said no.
I sat in the living room, watching the mother and daughter by the window in the playroom from a distance.
Evelyn bent her head, speaking tenderly to our daughter.
I couldn’t hear what Alexis said, but whatever it was made Evelyn’s eyes redden with emotion.
Rembering how Alexis had lain in my arms this morning, my mind returned to the envelope. If Alex really was my daughter, I had to bring her back to my side.
I had finally opened without hesitation.
It contained just a few thin pages.
I had turned directly to the last page.
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