Calliope’s anticipation was clear in her milky voice, catching Leslie and Calix off guard. Staring at the little girl, their heads were blank before stars glimring in their eyes.
Calliope did cry begging Calix and Leslie to bring her along if they wanted to return ho. Yet, it happened when she was distressed emotionally.
Now Calliope was in a good mood, her turbulent emotions didn’t cloud her answer.
She really wanted to be with them – her birth parents.
"Poppy..."
Leslie’s breath hitched, unable to say anything more. Pursing her lips, she tried to control the sudden waves of emotions crashing onto the shore of her heart.
"Poppy, we’ll definitely care for you. We’re your papa and mama. Let’s be happy together."
Calix’s eyes had a hint of redness as he firmly made such a vow to Calliope. He held one of Leslie’s hands while saying so to the little one.
Calliope responded to Calix and Leslie with her brightest grin, "Hehehe~ Poppy will be Mama and Papa’s cute daughter~"
Calliope’s cheeky reply earned helpless laughter from Leslie and Calix. Director Li held back from laughing, thinking how easy for the little one to catch the spouses’ hearts.
"I’ll leave now," Director Li placed her gaze on Calix and Leslie, relieved to see the look of happiness on their countenances, "If you’re bored, why don’t you talk outdoors for a change of scenery? The backyard is in a ss tho."
The construction had just barely begun. The workers wouldn’t return until Monday. The involved area was barricaded well by the construction team for safety purposes.
At the sa ti, Director Li warned the children not to try to sneak into the area for their own good. Even though the workers didn’t leave their tools scattered around, it was better to be careful.
"We’ll take up the offer," answered Calix, understanding Director Li wanted to give them so privacy, "A walk outdoors sounds good."
Calix and Leslie wanted to give Calliope glimpses of her new life as a child of the Xu family. Aside from the change of surna, they had to talk about what kind of family theirs was.
Neither Calix nor Leslie wished to spoil Calliope rotten just to make it up for the lost ti. They wanted to raise their daughter to be a refined lady as how Andrian and Harper did to Calix and his siblings.
Despite coming from such a wealthy and influential family, Vernon, Calix and Evelyn didn’t grow up to be entitled and snobbish. Their perceptions on most matters might still differ from ordinary people but, their compassion taught them not to invalidate others’ struggles.
"I’ll be in my office if you want to see ," Director Li pushed the chair backward, rising to her feet, "May you have a good talk."
"Thank you, Director Li..."
"Thank you."
"Bye-bye, Granny~"
After Director Li left the dining room, Calix called for Mrs. An as Leslie wanted to go to the washroom. The private nurse swiftly appeared. She had lunch with the other staff in a room nearby.
Soon, Calix and Calliope were left alone. Looking down at the little one, he saw her playing with the crochet fox toy. Her short legs dangled above the floor.
"I’ll make you so toys later," Calix brought up the ti he told Calliope about his crocheting skills, "What do you want? A giant strawberry one?"
Abruptly looking at Calix, Calliope exclaid, "Want! A big big strawberry!"
Bursting out laughing, Calix’s gaze had a hint of helplessness. He nodded, "Alright, Papa will make a big strawberry toy for you. I’ll try getting it done as soon as I can."
Calix started thinking about how to accommodate his ti crocheting the big toy. He had to carry it from the office to ho if he wanted to make use of his free ti efficiently.
Well, if he was free for one entire day, he could surely finish the strawberry plush on the sa day.
A happy Calliope beca even happier, "Hehe, thank you, Papa~"
Calix swore his heart lted into a honey puddle as Calliope sweetly addressed him like that. At the sa ti, he was grateful because the little girl didn’t take too long to warm up to him.
Lifting his right arm, Calix placed his palm on Calliope’s head before he gently stroked it. The softness of her hair was a stark contrast against his rough palm.
’If only I could be with her from the day she was born. How much smaller her head was? Did her palm was even tinier than my finger?’
Calix tried not to get himself swallowed by guilt but, sotis he lost the battle. He knew how important and morable the birth of a child was to most parents.
Calix still rembered the day his niece Alia was born. Everyone including the busy Evelyn was present on that day.
Vernon cried while holding his newborn daughter. The forr special forces captain kept muttering how much Alia was a miracle in his life. He also didn’t stop thanking the exhausted Lucille.
Calix witnessed the scene through the windows just outside the ward as he and everyone else gave so privacy to Vernon and Lucille. That particular scene left a deep mark on his heart.
’I want to shield her from any bad things. But... I can’t shelter her forever. I have to raise her to be smart and resilient.’
Being in high society from a very young age allowed Calix to see past the glamor. He knew many backstabbing between family mbers occurred on a frequent basis because of overflowing greed.
Calix refused to taint Calliope with such darkness but, he was aware he couldn’t protect his daughter permanently.
’It’s okay. We’ll teach her together.’
Bringing his eyes away from Calliope, Calix looked at the open door of the dining room. Leslie had yet to return with Mrs. An.
Now that they got their daughter back with him, shouldn’t he try to win his wife’s heart next?
To make their marriage a real one.
Sensing heat rushing to his cheeks, Calix began thinking of ways to woo Leslie.
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