Chapter 27 Chapter 27
Lucien's POV
They ran away.
The fools.
They actually believed that changing cities would stop me from reaching my child.
I gave them fifteen days.
I allowed them two weeks to settle and breathe, cultivating a false sense of safety. But now I am back to give them a surprise.
They deserve it.
"Thank you, uncle!" A child’s chirpy voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I offered a curt nod but my mind and eyes were still on my hunt. There were dozens of children playing in the playground, yet my eyes were looking for only one.
Aurora.
My daughter.
My heart flushed at the mere thought of it.
I have been living alone for so many years now. The thought of someone belonging to me gives me relief I haven't felt in such a long time.
But where is she?
I had funded this entire toy distribution just to at least see her once. I knew she had to be here. She was present today.
I huffed.
Then, I spotted a small girl.
She was sitting alone in a far corner, hunched over something without caring about the world. Even with her back turned, I could tell it was Aurora.
After all, she was my blood.
I approached quietly and found her engrossed in a drawing. She was meticulously filling in colors just as she had unknowingly started filling in the gray spaces of my life.
Dropping to my knees, I gently tapped her shoulder, but she shrugged me off instantly.
Focused and dedicated. Just like her mother.
I tapped again.
"What?" she snapped, spinning around.
And short-tempered, too.
"Mr. Stranger? You?"
Her jaw dropped in disbelief. My entire world seemed to ignite when she looked up at me with those eyes that were a perfect mirror of my own.
I nodded and gave her a wide smile.
"Yes, Ms. Strawberry"
"My name is Aurora" she giggled.
"And my name is Lucien" I told her.
"Loo... Shein?" She asked innocently.
I never liked it when people butchered my name, but coming from her, it sounded like music. She could call me whatever she wanted.
Hell, I could change my name for her sake.
"It’s Mr. Stranger for me," she announced with a playful bossiness.
"And it’s Ms. Strawberry for me," I countered.
She was exactly like a strawberry, cute and sweet.
"Why are you sitting here all alone?" I questioned, glancing at the empty space around her.
"Mumma changed my school," she pouted, "No friends here."
Don't worry baby. Your mumma will pay for everything she has done wrong with you.
"Only you," she added softly.
It took me a moment to understand what she meant.
She busied herself with her coloring again. I noted the cheap, waxy crayons in her hands.
Trash.
I’d buy her the finest art supplies. She deserves the best.
She hummed a rhyme and continued colouring, but I wanted her attention.
Full attention.
"Why aren't you taking any toys?" I probed.
She glanced up at me, then toward the long line of children waiting for their gifts.
Her nose scrunched up, and her lips formed a small pout.
"I lost my favourite one," she said with sad eyes. "Mumma said the Boogeyman took it. I only want that one."
Okay!
So her mumma is now portraying me as a devil.
I wouldn't let her succeed with her pathetic little smear campaign.
"What if I told you I could give it back?" I challenged.
She looked up at me with a furrowed forehead and squinted eyebrows. Reaching back, I pulled out the toy tucked in my belt.
Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and her tiny hands pressed against her cheeks in pure shock.
"My froggy!" She exclaimed "Where did you find it? AD can't"
I ignored her last words.
Her original toy is still with me. This is the duplicate to make her happy, because of course, it was her favourite one.
"I fought that Boogeyman and won your toy back," I lied smoothly.
She snatched it from my hands, showering it with a hundred tiny kisses before hugging it against her chest.
Oh, how I envied that toy.
I really wanted to hold my daughter the way she was holding that stuffed animal. I couldn't remember the last time anyone hugged me without an agenda.
But suddenly, she stiffened and pulled away from the toy.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I can't take it," she whispered sadly.
"Why not?"
"If Mumma sees..."
"Keep it a secret," I suggested, leaning in close.
"A secret?"
"A top secret." I mimed locking my lips and throwing away the key.
She thought for a second before mimicking the gesture.
"Top secret,"
A wide, triumphant smile broke across my face.
"You know, Mr. Stranger? You’re the best!" she squealed.
"I want to be your best friend," I murmured.
Slowly, her smile faded. I hated the sight of it vanishing.
"You can only have one best friend," she pouted. "And I already have one."
"Who?" I demanded.
"AD," she replied, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world.
My jaw clenched as I felt something sharp tug my heart.
The mention of Adrian boils my blood. I need to do something to fix it.
I inhaled a deep breath.
'All in due time' I reminded myself.
"I gave you a gift now don't you think I deserve something too?"
She looked at me, confused.
"Return gift?" I blinked, expectantly.
Give me a hug please
"But I don't have anything to give to you,"
"But I want something as a token of our friendship"
She rubbed her chin, "okay"
And then she reached out in her hair and pulled out the pin tucked in her hair.
"It’s my favorite one," she said, eyeing the plastic trinket.
Before I could react, she pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and tucked the pin into my hair.
I froze.
My eyes widened as she pulled back, giggling into her palms.
"You look cute!" she announced.
I felt a strange warmth creeping up my neck.
"Do I?" I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Umm-hmm!" she nodded with full confidence and assurance.
I looked down at the blank screen of my mobile. My cheeks have already turned red, matching the color of the hairpin.
Is this what it feels like to be a father?
Suddenly, the bell rang
"Ok, Mr. Stranger bye. Take care of my belongings"
I chuckled internally.
She is equally possessive and protective of her possessions.
I wanted to hold her for once, but before I could do that, she was already running towards her class.
I let out a deep sigh, stood up, and walked out of the school, straight to my car.
The moment I climbed into the back seat, I caught the driver staring at me in the rear-view mirror with an expression of pure bewilderment.
"What?" I roared "Just drive!"
He flinched before following my order while I set my clip.
My strawberry's clip.