Chapter 446
Chapter 446
Listening to Neil’s response, I was left speechless.
This was my home, but I seemed to have lost all authority in an instant.
Neil strolled into the living room, while Russel was busy in the kitchen with groceries.
Norah was trying to soothe Serena and Brandon. Seeing what was happening, she looked just as bewildered.
“Let’s go to our room,” I suggested to Norah. We each picked up a child and retreated to our bedroom. Staring at Neil would just be too awkward.
At this point, I couldn’t muster a pleasant expression for him. After he insisted that it was Hiram who had messaged Mitch, I had nothing left to say to him.
However, Serena started crying as soon as we entered the room. She was usually a very obedient child, but every time Neil appeared, she would make a fuss.
Sometimes I couldn’t help but believe in the power of blood relations.
“I’ll take her for a walk in the garden,” I proposed to Norah, picking up Serena.
Norah nodded and stayed in the room to look after Brandon.
In the living room, Neil sat comfortably on the couch, his long legs elegantly crossed. One hand held his phone, the other a cup of coffee. He sipped occasionally, looking completely at ease, showing no signs of discomfort.
I rolled my eyes silently.
This man was really looking for trouble. What was he doing here for dinner?
I estimated I wouldn’t be able to eat anything with him around!
“Wow…” Serena started crying again. Her little face turned red, and sweat broke out on her delicate skin. It was clear she was unhappy.
I walked around the garden with her, even tried gently swaying her, but nothing worked.
Even the presence of Daisy and Boomer, our pets, didn’t help. Serena usually loved their barking and enjoyed watching them run around.
I felt heartbroken listening to Serena cry. What would happen if such a small child cried too much?
I considered passing Serena to Russel since she usually enjoyed being held by him. But Russel was busy cooking in the kitchen, and I didn’t want to disturb him.
Luckily, Russel came out when he heard Serena crying non-stop. He dried his hands and looked worriedly at Serena in my arms, softly asking, “What’s wrong? Is she not feeling well?”
“I don’t know. She just keeps crying, but I’ve checked her diaper, and there are no insect bites on her body,” I sighed, feeling the weight of parenthood for the first time.
“Let me try,” Russel extended his arms towards me.
I handed Serena over to him. She looked like a precious pearl in his large embrace, round and delicate.
Usually, Serena would stop crying as soon as Russel held her, but not today. She continued to cry non- stop, which made Russel look even more worried. It seemed like he was more protective of Serena than of Brandon.
Was this a common trait among fathers?
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. How about daddy lifts you up high?” Russel lifted Serena a bit higher, gently rocking her.
As I heard him calling himself my child’s father, I felt an awkward sensation. I couldn’t deceive myself. After all, the child’s biological father was sitting in the living room, watching us soothe the child with a stern look.
As soon as Neil noticed my gaze, he stood up and walked towards us, asking impatiently, “Are you two the parents of this child? Can’t you even soothe her?”
“If we’re not, are you implying you are?” Russel’s expression turned cold when he faced Neil.
As soon as the topic of the children’s father came up, Neil would grow agitated. His gaze turned icy as he looked at Serena, as if she was the source of
his shame.
I didn’t like the way Neil was looking at Serena. As the mother, I could feel the indifference and disgust in his eyes.
My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately tried to take Serena from Russel.
But Neil was quicker. He reached out and grabbed Serena’s little hand.
“What are you doing?!” I cried out, attempting to slap his hand away.
“Let go!” Russel shouted, but he was holding Serena and had to be careful not to hurt hér.
However, I quickly realized that Serena stopped crying when Neil held her hand, As soon as he let go, she started crying again.
Russel and I exchanged glances, realizing how complicated our situation had become.
“Interesting, Neil mused, his previous disgust replaced by a hint of amusement. “Russel, it seems your daughter prefers me.”
His words darkened Russel’s mood. Russel immediately moved Serena away from Neil.
But Serena seemed to prefer Neil and cried even harder when she was moved away. Russel was reluctant to let Neil touch Serena, but he couldn’t bear to see her cry.
“Let me try?” Neil offered, stretching out his arms as if to take Serena, his tone almost taunting.
The sight of the two men gave me a headache.
“Maybe I should take her out for a walk,” I suggested, reaching out for Serena. But Neil took her from Russel before I could intervene. He was far less careful than Russel and I, as he didn’t see Serena as his own daughter.
Little Serena was cradled in Neil’s arms, her wide, dewy eyes as glossy as two ripe olives. Fresh from a bout of crying, her eyes shimmered with residual tears. Her rosy lips pouted, as if she was deciding whether to launch into another sob, making her look all the more pitiful.
Neil bent his head, looking at the tiny girl nestled against him.
I couldn’t quite make out the expression in his eyes, but the chill that usually clung to him seemed to be gradually fading away.
This sight twisted a knot in my stomach. If life hadn’t dealt us such a cruel hand, this scene would have been my idea of pure bliss.
Russel’s gaze fell on me, his brow furrowing slightly. In his usually stoic face, a faint trace of melancholy swept over his features.
He treated Serena and Brandon just as well as Neil did, never falling short. But he knew deep down that who the children’s biological father truly was.
