When Josie woke up, it was already the afternoon. Grape wasn’t in the room, and faint sounds of laughter and playful commotion could be heard from downstairs.
It had been a while since the house had been this lively.
After Josie freshened up, she stepped out to see Lachlan wearing an apron, cooking in the kitchen as if it were his routine. Meanwhile, Grape was seated in her high chair, eating her meal and asking all sorts of peculiar questions.
“Mr. Lachlan, why don’t you ever come to visit me? Is it really more fun back home? More fun than Sumanthova?”
Grape pouted with a puzzled look on her face.
Lachlan responded in a childlike tone, “I was just busy with work, so don’t be upset, Grape. It’s only fun when you are around. Without you, it’s quite boring.”
“Really? What about mom? Do you like mom?”
Lachlan laughed. “Of course I like her.”
“Then why don’t you become my father, so I can see you every day?”
The more they discussed, the more absurd it sounded. Josie realized that the absence of a father figure from a young age made Grape desperate for companionship.
She descended the stairs. “Children speak without reservations, so don’t take it to heart.”
Lachlan was about to say something when Grape angrily interrupted, “That’s not true. I want Mr. Lachlan to be my dad!”
Josie’s face darkened. “Stop throwing a tantrum.”
She was usually busy, and coupled with the responsibility of caring for a child, she often didn’t have much patience. She generally gave Grape a lot of freedom, and fortunately, the latter was reasonably sensible.
“Why are you angry at a child?” Lachlan intervened, placing the pasta he had prepared in front of Josie.
Then, he squatted down in front of Grape and patiently explained, “Grape, you have your own father, a role that no one else can replace, not even me. However, Uncle can love and care for you just like a father would.”
Lachlan’s tone was particularly gentle.
He was already thirty years old that year, possessing the charm of a mature man. He was kind, patient, and in fact, quite suited to be a father.
Josie leaned to one side, lost in thought. Grape relaxed her pouted lips, saying indignantly, “Where is my father then? He doesn’t love me at all.”
For a moment, Lachlan was at a loss for words. He glanced at Josie, who responded by shaking her head.
“How many times have I told you that your daddy is busy? Once you turn eighteen, he will return.”
Grape lamented, “I’m only… a year and a half this year. It’s going to be a long, long time until I turn eighteen.”
Upon seeing her like this, Josie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Time will pass quickly.”
After soothing Grape, Lachlan asked in a low voice, “Grape is smart, and it will be impossible to hide it as she grows older. You can’t keep going on like this. Don’t you plan on returning home? Shouldn’t you tell him?”
He was careful with his words, yet in reality, even he didn’t know who the child’s father was. He had spent years in Rivodia, focused on his career and oblivious to many things. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to investigate Josie’s past, but all her records had been wiped clean, leaving no trace to be found.
An image of a person surfaced in Josie’s mind, someone who was perpetually aloof and proud. With the vestiges of her youthful spirit gone, she shook her head.
“It was my own decision to have the child, he is unaware. Two years have passed. It’s not right to disrupt his life anymore.”
“But this is his responsibility.”
“I can handle it myself.”
“Alice…”
“Alright, the opening ceremony of the Golden Key Awards is tomorrow. You’ll accompany me there, otherwise I won’t be able to manage with Grape. This isn’t too much to ask, is it, Mr. Keller?” She blinked her eyes.
Lachlan could only shake his head helplessly. “Only you could boss the boss around.”
