Chapter 10 Good Girl
For the first time ever, Daniel didn’t defend Zoe.
Her pretty face went stiff, then darkened with fury. Without even glancing at him, she spun around and stormed off.
Instinctively, Daniel took two steps to follow her.
But before he could take a third, Nina started squirming and fussing in his arms.
“She bad! No see she!”
Her tiny voice rang out loud and clear-loud enough for Zoe to hear.
Zoe didn’t look back, but her fists clenched, knuckles whitening. Hatred flickered in her eyes. She silently burned Nina’s face-and voice-into memory.
“Sweetheart, hold still. I can’t carry you if you keep wiggling,” Daniel murmured.
But Nina kept twisting her chubby body, squirming like she wanted to physically stop him from going after Zoe.
Daniel had no choice-he halted.
He bent down, picked up the little water bottle Nina had thrown earlier, wiped it clean, and hung it back around her neck.
“I’m not chasing her. I’m staying with you, okay?” he said softly.
He knew Nina wasn’t being bratty-she was fiercely protective of him. In her tiny toddler mind, Zoe was the mean lady who upset her “Un-coo Dan’el.”
Even though Daniel’s mind still lingered on Zoe, between her and the little girl who trusted him, clung to him, and even tried to protect him… he chose Nina.
Everyone who witnessed him spoiling the toddler in his arms was stunned-especially Mabel.
“Daniel, are you out of your mind? How can you treat Zoe like this?” she snapped. “First you defend that bitch-then you defend-”
She didn’t finish, because Daniel turned and leveled a freezing glare at her.
“Mabel, have you completely lost it? You can’t control your own man, so now you’re bullying the woman your man harassed? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
His voice cut like ice.
Mabel’s face collapsed. She didn’t dare curse at Daniel, so she jabbed a trembling finger at Amelia instead. “Amelia, wow… You really know how to play men, don’t you? No wonder Daniel defended you instead of
Zoe! What tricks are you using, huh? What dirty moves did you-”
Bonk!
A cartoon water bottle hit Mabel square in the face.
Nina had thrown it again.
Seeing someone yell at her mom, the tiny girl went full toddler berserker mode-round cheeks flushed, eyes blazing with righteous baby fury.
And this time, she wasn’t done.
She leaned forward, clearly planning to headbutt Mabel.
“Sweetheart! You still have a bump on your forehead-don’t hit her with your head!” Daniel yelped, heart in his throat. “I’ll deal with her! Sweetheart, be good!”
He gently but frantically held her back, soothing her, while shooting Mabel a cold, lethal look.
“Mabel. Apologize to Amelia.”
Mabel went rigid, refusing. But Daniel lowered his voice, each word dropping like a threat:
“I’ll give you two seconds. If you don’t apologize—and Amelia doesn’t forgive you-I swear everyone tonight will hear every ugly thing about you and your mother.”
Mabel froze.
Mentioning her mother changed her expression instantly.
Her mother wasn’t the Harrison family’s legal wife at first-she was once the mistress. And after Mabel’s engagement to Bob, she herself had been involved with several men. Very few people knew these secrets.
Daniel knowing them? That’s terrifying!
Under Daniel’s icy stare, she bit her lip, swallowed her pride, and finally turned to Amelia.
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