Free Web NovelChapter 474: Chapter 474: From This Moment On, I’ll Say I Love You (74)
"I know." Before Mika could explain, Archie Lockwood cut her off sharply.
"Archie, I just want you to be happy..."
"..." Archie Lockwood said nothing, a cold smile just touching the corners of his lips. It seemed happiness was a word that would always be out of his reach.
"Archie, I know she wronged you in the past, and I know you’ve always been wary of her. But really, sometimes, if we just take a moment to look back, we can discover a different truth." ’It was just like me, all those years ago. If I had only been willing to look back, even for just a single glance, I wouldn’t have lost so much time with Tristan Grayson. From start to finish, the two of us never had a chance to sit down calmly, face-to-face, and have a real heart-to-heart talk.’
"Mika, what’s between her and me is different from your situation. Anyway, I have to run. I’ll be back for Rory in a little while."
"Mm..." Mika didn’t press him any further.
As Rory watched Archie Lockwood leave, she stood inside the room, her eyes red, staring blankly into space.
’First, Mommy didn’t want her, and now Daddy doesn’t want her either?’
Rory clutched her clothes tightly, struggling to hold back her tears.
When Mika turned and saw Rory’s state, her heart ached. "Rory, come here," she said gently. "Come to Auntie." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Still clutching her clothes, Rory walked to Mika’s side and stared up at her with wide, tear-filled eyes.
When Kiki saw Rory go to his mom, he trotted along right behind her.
Mika knelt and hugged Rory, comforting her softly. "Daddy just has something important to do, so he can’t take you with him right now. How about you stay here with Kiki for a little while, okay?"
"Mm..." With her eyes still red, Rory nodded.
Kiki dug around in his pocket for a long time before finally pulling out a piece of candy. He held out his little hand, offering the candy to Rory, and said with the air of a miniature adult, "Daddy says when you feel like crying, you should eat some candy. That makes life sweet, so you won’t want to cry anymore."
Hearing Kiki’s words, Rory couldn’t hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face. She took the candy from Kiki’s hand and nodded, her voice choked with sobs. "Mm, it’s sweet... so Rory won’t cry anymore." ’Daddy said his daughter has to be strong, so I can’t cry. I have to be strong so I can go find Mommy...’
Mika watched the two children and sighed softly, Kiki’s words echoing in her mind. ’When you feel like crying, you should eat some candy. That makes life sweet, so you won’t want to cry anymore.’
The thought made her own heart ache...
’Just what kind of circumstances could have led Tristan Grayson to teach Kiki something like that...?’
When Tristan Grayson returned home that evening, he didn’t see Mika in the living room, so he went upstairs.
Upon reaching Kiki’s room, he found Mika holding a book, dozing on the bed. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
He frowned slightly and walked over to Mika. As he drew near, he noticed a little girl lying beside Kiki. His frown deepened, and he bent down, scooping Mika right into his arms.
Mika woke the moment Tristan Grayson lifted her. She looked at him in surprise, her voice tinged with annoyance. "What are you doing?"
"Shh!" Tristan raised an eyebrow, his voice a low hush.
Mika immediately remembered the two children were in the room. She quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, but her eyes shot daggers at Tristan.
Tristan lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Darling, looks like there’s no room for you here tonight."
