?<strong>Chapter 199:</strong>


    Pa’s voice wavered, a sinking feeling settling in her gut as the situation spiraled out of her control. She nced over at Adrian, silently pleading for his support. But his attention was solely on the little girl. She was the one who had called him over!


    The policeman continued, “What’s your rtionship with the owner of this house?”


    Pa hesitated, then answered candidly, “We don’t have any rtionship at all.”


    “Do you know the owner or this child?”


    “Yes! Yes!” Pa smiled as she looked at Aurora, trying to swallow her bitterness. “Little girl, we know each other, don’t we? Go on, tell the police the truth. I won’t be upset about your little prank!”


    Aurora, though young, was no fool. She caught the flicker of unease in Pa’s eyes. “Ma’am, do you know my name?”


    Pa froze at the question, her mind scrambling. She had barged in here without even knowing the girl’s name. Of course, she’d be suspected.


    “Officer, please let me exin. This is all just a big misunderstanding! I’m no human trafficker!”


    “Come back with us to the station,” the officer ordered. Before she could fully process what was happening, Pa found herself being escorted out. She clung to the wall in desperation, her voice rising in panic. “Adrian! Adrian! Say something! You know I’m not a human trafficker!”


    The policeman paused, turning to Adrian. “What’s your rtionship with her?”


    Adrian’s gaze flicked to Pa, cold and detached. “I don’t know her.”


    Pa’s heart shattered at his betrayal. “Adrian!” With Pa out of the picture, Aurora timidly took refuge behind Gina, her young mind trying to make sense of the chaos. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian’s eyes had been on her the entire time.


    Gina, holding Rnd close, felt the weight of the situation. Adrian was Aurora’s father. She couldn’t ask him to leave. Summoning her courage, Gina finally spoke. “Mr. Miller, would you like some coffee?”


    Visit gal????v??ls for updates


    Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable. “Please, have a seat. I’ll make some for you,” Gina offered, retreating to the bedroom where she gently ced Rnd back in his crib with Aurora trailing behind her.


    “Gina, who is that strange man? Is he a friend of Mom’s?”


    Gina’s heart twisted at the question. Adrian was Aurora’s father. But, of course, Gina couldn’t tell her. “I’m not sure, dear. Why don’t you ask her when shees back?”


    Aurora nodded. Adrian sat on the sofa, his heart heavy. Aurora had the chance to be alone with him, but she had run away, following Gina. Her refusal to have any contact with him was a painful blow. How should he make her know how he felt?


    Every time he looked at Aurora, he longed to say something, to bridge the gap between them. Several times, he had almost blurted out his feelings, but his reason had always held him back.


    “Mr. Miller, here’s your coffee,” Gina said, cing the brewed coffee on the table in front of him.


    “I want to be alone with Aurora for a while,” Adrian replied.


    Gina was visibly startled by his request. Her hand trembled, causing the coffee to spill all over his trousers, right on his most sensitive area.


    “I’m so sorry!” Gina eximed, grabbing a towel and squatting down to clean up the mess. Her posture was awkward, and she looked up at him with embarrassment.


    “You can leave now. Ask her toe here,” Adrian said, his voice filled with frustration. Of course, he was referring to Aurora.


    “Mr. Miller, she’s ying with her brother. She might not want toe.”


    Just as she finished, Aurora appeared, holding the box he had given her.


    “Sir, is this from you?” she asked.


    “Yes, it is.”


    Sensing the change in atmosphere, Gina quietly exited the room.


    Aurora approached cautiously, her little dress flouncing with each step, a picture of innocence.


    “Why did you give me this? Mom said it’s a very precious gift. Do you know me?”


    Adrian patted the space beside him on the sofa, a smile ying on his lips. “Come sit here, and I’ll exin.”


    Aurora hesitated. Her mother had always warned her to keep her distance from men, whether they were strangers or friends. But this man, with his handsome face and kind demeanor, didn’t seem threatening.


    He wasn’t like the others. Both Joelle and Rafael knew him, and he hadn’t sided with the woman she disliked. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.


    Even so, she chose to sit on a separate sofa, her legs swinging slightly as she settled in, looking at him with wide, curious eyes.


    “Okay, tell me now. Did you know me a long time ago? But why don’t I remember you at all?”


    Her words hit Adrian like a punch to the gut. Every time he looked at Aurora, he saw so much of himself in her—too much. He had always believed that blood ties were insignificant. In his world, family meant nothing but betrayal and maniption.


    Yet here was someone who shared his blood, someone real and vibrant and utterly innocent. He swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. “Then let’s get to know each other again. My name is Adrian Miller, and I’m your mom’s…”


    The memory of Joelle’s words echoed in his mind. “Do you want Aurora to know her father as someone who doesn’t care, or would you rather she remain happily unaware of who you really are? Think carefully about whether your actions are truly out of love for her before you try to take her from me!”


    “I’m your mom’s friend,” he finally replied.


    .


    .


    .