?<strong>Chapter 346:</strong>


    In the evening, Aurora and Dunn settled into his study. Fred nced in as he passed by the room. “You kids can stay here, but leave the door open, okay?”


    Aurora asked, “Why?”


    Dunn nodded understandingly at his father. “Got it, Dad.”


    “Good.”


    After Fred moved on, Dunn turned back to hisptop. “Your dad responded to ourst email. He suggested a video call with you.”


    Aurora’s face lit up with excitement. They adjusted their headphones, and with a couple of clicks by Dunn, Rafael’s familiar features filled the screen.


    “Dad!” Aurora eximed, her voice a mix of joy and longing. Rafael’s face showed signs of weariness, but at the sight of his daughter, a strained smile appeared. “Hey, Aurora. I’m sorry.”


    “Dad, why are you away? Don’t you miss me?” Aurora’s voice trembled slightly, her eyes glossy with the onset of tears. Dunn handed her a tissue just in time as tears began to spill.


    “I’m really sorry, sweetheart. I’ve had to deal with some unexpected problems. It’s been hard.”


    Aurora’s voice was hopeful yet insistent. “Thene home soon!”


    “I can’te back yet,” Rafael admitted with a strained smile, the weight of his financial troubles pressing down on him. After Dalton’s passing, his inheritance had defaulted to his youngest daughter, who was unlikely to assist Rafael financially. He needed to secure his own funds before he could consider returning.


    “Dad, do you not want me anymore? Everyone says you’re not my real dad! Are you going to send me back to Mr. Miller?” Aurora’s voice quivered with vulnerability.


    Rafael was taken aback by her directness. He nced at Dunn, who sat supportively beside Aurora, and nodded slowly. “It seems you’ve heard some of the truth.”


    Dunn interjected, “Mr. Romero, I discovered that Aurora’s mother and Mr. Miller were married before she was with you.”


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    “Yes, that’s correct,” Rafael acknowledged, his hands sped tightly, masking his troubled expression. “Aurora, you’re not my real daughter. Your father is indeed Adrian.”


    Although Aurora had braced herself for this confirmation, the reality of the words stung. Yet, she looked up at Rafael with resolve. “Dad, you’ll always be my dad. I’ll never forget all the good you’ve done for me.”


    Rafael, moved by her words, felt a sense of peace wash over him despite the circumstances.


    Then, Dunn asked curiously, “Why did Aurora’s mom divorce Mr. Miller? Was he unkind to her?”


    Rafael sighed deeply. “Grown-up matters areplex, Dunn.” Dunn considered this for a moment before responding, “I guess there’s a lot I still don’t understand.” He showed his smartwatch to Rafael. “I saw something at the hospital that’s confusing me. They seem to be together again. If they still love each other, why did they split up in the first ce?”


    Rafael could see the faint outlines of Joelle and Adrian on the tiny screen. Dunn was a straightforward boy, unlikely to make up such a story. It appeared that in his absence, Joelle and Adrian had reconciled, possibly to provide the two children with a stable family environment. Rafael knew Joelle had held feelings for Adrian for many years.


    Rafael chuckled. “Dunn, why so curious about adult matters?”


    Dunn’s gaze was earnest. “I just don’t want Aurora to feel like she’s losing another father figure.”


    Noting the deep concern in Dunn’s expression, Rafael responded, “Alright, I’ll exin. Just understand that sometimes adults make mistakes.”


    “Okay.”


    Rafael proceeded to recount the history between Joelle and Adrian, focusing on the positives—like Joelle’s long-standing affection for Adrian and how Adrian had eventually recognized his faults and sought to rectify them.


    Later, Joelle picked up Aurora to go home. That night, Aurora was restless and hardly slept. The following day, during an announcement about an uing parent-child sports day at kindergarten, the teacher encouraged participation.


    Aurora was lost in thought until her ssmate, Chuck Barker, spoke up, causing her to snap out of her reverie. “Aurora can’t join!”


    Aurora, startled and a bit defensive, replied sharply, “Chuck Barker! What’s that supposed to mean? Of course, I can participate!”


    Chuck scrunched his nose, asserting, “It’s obvious, isn’t it? You don’t have a dad!”


    Aurora’s face flushed with anger. “I have a dad!”


    “You’re making it up! It’s always your mom or the nanny who picks you up. I’ve never seen your dad around!”


    Aurora’s voice rose, defiant. “I do have a dad!”


    “Then why isn’t he here? Prove it—have him pick you up today!”


    The teacher intervened, noticing the rising conflict. To diffuse the situation, the teacher paired Aurora and Chuck together as the students left the ssroom, hoping to foster some peace.


    Upon seeing Joelle approach, Chuck turned to Aurora with a triumphant sneer. “See? I told you it would just be your mom. You don’t have a dad!”


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