Please Take Me Home, Daddy

1.Chapter 1 The Illegitimate Daughter

The sharp voice of a woman pierced the air. "Vixen! I'm starving! Hurry up and fix me something to eat!"

In hurried strides, Laura Yale made her way over to the cupboard on her petite legs, rifling through its contents.

A few moments later, she stood before her mom with a timid expression and mumbled, "Mommy... there's no pasta left..."

Lilian Yale's response was swift and harsh as she yelled, "If there's no pasta, can't you just go out and buy some?"

Laura's ears rang from the loud noise, her face devoid of any emotion. "But I don't have any money," she managed to utter softly.

Lilian rolled her eyes, holding a cigarette between her teeth as she rummaged through her shabby red wallet in search of money. Her expression shifted as she flipped through the wallet's contents.

A frown formed as she stared at the paltry 1 dollar in her hand. In a dismissive gesture, she tossed the coin at Laura as if discarding trash. "Go on and buy it! All you ever talk about is money! When are you ever going to earn some money for me?"

Laura did not respond. She picked up the meager coin and silently made her way out to the door.

As the door closed behind her, her stomach protested with a series of grumbles.

She hurriedly massaged her belly in an attempt to appease its grumbling, softly reassuring, "Calm down; it'll be all right."

Maybe she could treat herself to a bowl of leftover mushroom soup if she made her mom some pasta.

The fragrance of warm dried pasta never failed to soothe her.

With delicate and cautious steps, Laura climbed the aging staircase with her petite legs.

Even at her young age, she had long known that her mother, Lilian, was far from virtuous.

Lilian went straight to prison shortly after Laura's birth. Laura had been raised within the confines of an orphanage, where the other children often taunted her as "the child of a criminal."

Nonetheless, her heart always held onto the fervent hope of one day meeting her mom.

And that day finally arrived when she turned four. She finally met Lilian and immediately recognized her.

The aura Lilian exuded was undeniably familiar, as her beauty was a mirror image of how Laura imagined her mother to be.

However, Lilian had a bad temper, in stark contrast to the tales others had spun about how kind and gentle mothers could be. Lilian would call Laura a vixen whenever she laid eyes on her, never sparing the latter from a torrent of curses ever since the day Lilian brought Laura away from the orphanage.

During the six months she spent under her mom's roof, Laura had heard the truth about her dad and another woman.

It was said that her father lived a good life, and was married with three sons. Laura, being the fourth child, was incessantly belittled to a position beneath anyone else.

She slept on the bare floor and ate whatever was left of her mom's meals. And because her features bore a striking resemblance to her dad's, her mom believed it was all right to mistreat her.

Nonetheless, Laura did not blame her mom.

After descending the stairs, Laura hastened to the mini-mart to buy the cheapest dried pasta available. Fearing her mom's wrath, she dashed back home without delay.

She knew too well the consequences of arriving late.

As she approached the corridor outside her home, her mom was there as well.

Laura was just about to call out to Lilian, yet her voice caught in her throat.

Lilian was seen pestering a greasy middle-aged man, her lips curving into a sugary smile as she pleaded, "Harry, please. I've run out of money, and the rent is long overdue! I'm on the brink of starving!"

The middle-aged man wore a grin on his face as he fished out his phone, but just as he was about to make a transfer, a robust woman unexpectedly burst forth from the background, accusing, "You shameless woman, trying to seduce my husband again!"

A scuffle ensued, leaving Laura wide-eyed as she witnessed the woman fiercely clutching her mother's hair.

An anguished groan escaped Lilian's lips.

Laura's instincts urged her to step in, but Lilian's warning to avoid her affairs with other men held her back.

She stood there, powerless and helpless, watching the tumultuous scene play out before her eyes. The struggle intensified, reaching a peak as her panicked mom managed to break free, dashing toward the edge of the residential area.

The woman pursuing Lilian remained unyielding, her voice slicing through the air. "Stop running, you shameless woman!"

Laura hurried after them, clutching the packet of dried pasta in her hand. She called out desperately, "Mommy! Mommy!"

However, Lilian paid no heed, her red dress billowing like a flower in full bloom as she rushed toward the road.

Abruptly, the screech of tires shattered the moment; a car collided with Lilian's figure.

Amidst the cacophony, Laura's eyes widened in astonishment as she witnessed Lilian being hurled through the air before crashing down with a resounding thud.

Thump!

In a heartbeat, the scene erupted into chaos.

Some people pulled out their phones, hushed whispers spreading like wildfire, while others gathered around to observe with curiosity. The woman who had been in pursuit of Laura's mom paled, seized by fear. She quickly grabbed the greasy man and hastened to flee the scene.

Laura's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She approached her fallen mom, squatting down beside her in a daze. "Mommy... Are you okay?" she stammered softly.

Lilian lay in a pool of blood, eyes wide but vacant, body twitching involuntarily.

Laura felt utterly lost. She spoke hesitantly, her voice quivering. "I brought back the pasta. Can we go home now? We can have dinner."

Blood trickled from the corners of the woman's lips as she struggled to speak.

Laura leaned in, straining to hear her mom's feeble words. "What are you going to do... I've left you behind... What are you going to do?"

After uttering those words, the glimmer in her mom's eyes abruptly dimmed.

2.Chapter 2 Up For Adoption

Softly, Laura called out, "Mommy?"

There was no response.

The car's owner grew flustered as he said, "Your mom ran onto the road on her own! It wasn't my fault! Where is your dad? Let's talk this out calmly!"

Unperturbed by his words, Laura continued to shake Lilian repeatedly. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

Laura's pleas grew more desperate. "Mommy, please, wake up! Please yell at me like you usually do! Mommy, I brought the pasta back! Don't ignore me, Mommy!"

Yet, despite her frantic efforts, Lilian remained unresponsive.

Gradually, a crowd began to gather around, cautiously inquiring, "Kid, where is your dad?"

"I don't have a daddy." In haste, Laura lifted her tear-streaked face, her voice choked with sorrow. "I only have my mommy!"

Her words hung in the air, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.

A lady among the onlookers gazed at Laura with a mix of astonishment and sympathy.

Laura's sobs intensified. "Please save my mommy. Someone, please save her! She's ignoring me!"

After saying those words, she couldn't understand why, but many people regarded her with pity and even tears in their eyes.

Someone captured the scene and posted it directly on the internet, where it quickly became a trending topic under the headline: [Breaking news]

Laura's innate beauty was undeniable, and the sight of the dainty child weeping for her mom struck a chord in the hearts of those who beheld it.

In the sea of comments, a lone post stood out. It read: [I know this girl. Her mom has a history of imprisonment and the girl was subjected to daily mistreatment. Such a tragedy! Her name is Lala!]

Most of the comments were brimming with heartfelt concern: [Such a poor child, crying so miserably after her mother's passing! I really want to hold her close!]

[Lala, stop crying. I'll buy you all the candy in the world!]

Soon, a new trending topic emerged: [BringLalaHome]

In an office, a woman approached a man with her phone in hand. "Mr. Yale, I've found a potential business opportunity."

The handsome man languidly opened his eyes and took the phone from her.

As he played the video, the heart-wrenching sobs of a little girl reached his ears, causing his brows to furrow. "I hate kids."

The woman persisted, "This child is different. She's an orphan now. Her mother has just passed away, so she'll probably end up in an orphanage. If we are able to arrange for her adoption and give her a makeover, she could become an overnight online celebrity. And look at her."

She paused the video and zoomed in. "This child is an incredibly rare beauty, a one-in-a-million enchanting little girl. Her commercial value is exceedingly high!"

On the screen, Laura was holding a packet of dried pasta in one hand, her other hand held by a police officer. Her delicate face bore an expression of shock as she gazed at a pool of blood.

She appeared fragile and beautiful.

Louis Yale cast a casual glance at the screen before his gaze abruptly focused on the girl.

"This child!" he exclaimed inwardly.

He zoomed in on the photo until the girl's features were distinct, and a sudden wave of surprise washed over him, causing goosebumps to crawl all over his skin. "She's an orphan?"

The woman's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Yes, not just an orphan, but one with a tragic fate. I checked quickly and discovered her mother's name is Lilian. She was sentenced to prison five years ago for intentional assault. Upon her release on parole, she took her daughter back home. It's been said that she frequently subjected her daughter to mistreatment. Anyone who seizes this opportunity could make a significant profit. Mr. Yale, I urge you to consider this!"

Louis was taken aback as his inner voice cried out, "Lilian? Isn't that my wicked little sister?"

He swiftly searched the internet on his phone and indeed stumbled upon an uncensored video of the accident.

The woman sprawled on the ground was his estranged sixth sister, whom he had disowned five years ago.

His blood-related biological sister.

The malicious woman had once climbed into Antonio Smith's bed while he was drunk, even going so far as to attempt to harm Louis' fifth sister.

After Lilian became pregnant, Antonio had given her money for an abortion.

"Did she not proceed with the abortion? Did she still give birth to the child after all?" Louis' thoughts raced.

Louis studied Laura's facial features intently.

She looked exactly like Antonio as if they were carved out of the same mold.

He quickly captured a screenshot and sent it to Antonio, accompanied by a message that read: [Do you know this is your daughter? You actually have a daughter! Lilian actually bore you a daughter! Holy crap!]

Their exchanges were usually succinct, and this marked the first longest message Louis had sent Antonio.

Before long, Antonio responded to Louis' message with a single question mark: [?]

3.Chapter 3 Illegitimate Daughter Of Antonio

Antonio Smith clicked on the message he received as soon as his meeting concluded and saw the picture of a girl.

Her facial features were almost identical to his, except for her mouth.

A grim look flashed past his eyes, and he clenched his fists.

He cursed inwardly. "Darn it! I can't believe that woman did something like this to mess with me after taking advantage of me back then!"

He asked: [Where is Lilian?]

Louis' response came quickly. It was a video.

In the video, Lilian was lying in a pool of blood. The little girl was howling sorrowfully beside her lifeless body.

Someone asked the girl, "Where is your daddy?"

The girl said without hesitation, "I don't have a daddy!"

Hearing the girl's words, Antonio frowned and thought to himself, 'No Daddy?

It's pretty obvious why Lilian gave birth to this child, but she actually told the girl she didn't have a daddy.

What was she thinking?'

His expression was gloomy. Just as he was about to put down his phone, he couldn't help clicking on the video and playing it again.

The girl in the video was crying her heart out, repeatedly calling out for her mother.

Alas, Lilian couldn't respond to her anymore.

His heart ached for no reason, and he tightened his grip on his phone.

He thought, 'Darn it!

I can't believe I have an illegitimate child!

How am I going to explain this to Winnie?'

Louis' message came in quickly. It read: [Winnie can't know about this! Back then, Winnie had a kidney removed because of Lilian and even became blind in one eye. She just had a corneal repair procedure. She will break down if she finds out about your illegitimate daughter!]

Naturally, Antonio knew he couldn't let Winnie know.

He got drunk that night because of certain reasons. Lilian seized the opportunity to climb into his bed by impersonating Winnie.

What happened that night left a stain on his life.

He didn't expect the stain to still be there.

Just as he was pondering, his phone rang again.

His three sons unanimously sent him pictures of Laura from various angles.

One of them questioned: [Dad, where'd you get an illegitimate daughter?]

Another asked: [I heard that you cheated on Mom once. Was this the child you had with another woman back then?]

The third son expressed his disappointment: [Dad, you've let us down.]

A deep frown marred Antonio's countenance.

His three children had inherited his and Winnie's high intelligence, so it was impossible to hide anything from them.

"But... Even though the girl looks like me, it's not necessarily my child," he thought.

Just then, Louis set up a group chat with Antonio and the latter's three sons.

Louis typed: [All three of them found out about it. I failed to hide it from them. Let's discuss what to do with this child. How about putting her up for adoption?]

Xander Smith: [If she's my father's biological daughter, she's related to us by blood. It is strange to send her out for adoption. She may come back to haunt us one day. So she might as well be left to fend for herself.]

Everett Smith: [She's still a kid. How can we do that? Let's send her abroad for adoption so she'll never find out about us.]

Jasper Smith: [Even though she's abroad, she can still find out about us. Best to leave her be and let her fend for herself.]

Louis: [You guys are such "kind souls." She's your sister, for goodness' sake.]

[Ha-ha, what a joke. How decent can she be when she's raised by an evil woman? I won't acknowledge her as our sister. Uncle Louis, you don't want her either, do you?]

Louis: [You're right. I don't.]

Antonio's face was grim. After a while, he stood up and typed: [Find out where she is. I'm going to do a paternity test with her.]

He couldn't believe the girl was his child.

Laura curled up on a chair at the police station with snacks piled next to her.

The police stepped in to see this scene.

The four-year-old girl had long hair that cascaded down her back, resembling a delicate doll in a toy store. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Such a pretty child did not deserve such a horrible fate.

The female police, Angie, stepped forward. "Lala, why didn't you eat anything? Do you not like the snacks?" she asked, heartbroken.

Laura lifted her head timidly. "You left these snacks here. I can't eat them. They're not mine."

Angie was stunned. With tears brimming in her eyes, she said in a choked voice, "Go ahead and eat. I specially brought the snacks for you."

"Thank you, Madam, but I don't want it. I have dried pasta." Laura presented the packet of dried pasta she had been holding in her hand. "When Mommy is done eating the pasta, I will get to have some leftover mushroom soup. When will Mommy come back?"

For a moment, Angie was stumped by the question, not knowing how to answer.

"She will have the leftover soup after her mother finishes the pasta? What a devil her mother was!" Angie thought to herself.

4.Chapter 4 Daddy Does Not Like Me

Angie was furious and held the little girl in her arms. "Lala, your mother won't be coming back."

Laura's heart skipped a beat. "Why?"

"Because she is..." Angie paused for a moment, finding it hard to say the word "dead" to a child. Hence, she managed. "She's gone to heaven to become a superhero."

Laura tilted her head and asked, "What is a superhero?"

"Um... A superhero is one of those powerful adults you see on television."

"Like Queen Giselle?" Laura asked innocently.

Angie nodded and said, "Yes! She went to become Queen Giselle, so she can't take care of you anymore."

Laura hung her head in disappointment.

Angie was stunned. "Lala, don't you wonder why your mother didn't take you with her?"

The other police officers came out one by one and looked at the little girl.

Laura's face was filled with sorrow as she shook her head and said, "Mommy told me that if she has a good place to go in the future, she will not bring me along. Instead, she'll leave me at home to fend for myself."

Laura felt the urge to cry but pouted her lips, struggling to hold back her tears. "I know that Mommy will leave someday. When the time comes, I must be happy for Mommy and can't be sad."

However, sadness still overwhelmed Laura to the point that she felt like bawling her eyes out. She covered her eyes and said, "But I'd be alone again..."

All the officers looked at her sadly.

Even the elderly police chief, who was experienced in life, couldn't help feeling sorry for the pitiful girl.

She was still so young, yet she had suffered so much.

Antonio walked in to see this scene.

The little girl who looked almost identical to him was nestling in the arms of a policewoman, tearfully holding a packet of dried pasta. She was so adorable and tiny that he almost couldn't believe his eyes.

"She's ridiculously cute," he thought.

He felt slightly short of breath, and even the three young men's gaze darkened when they saw the child.

"This child... How can she be so cute?" they wondered.

However, they soon came to their senses.

They thought to themselves, "No. She is that woman's offspring, and that woman excelled at pretending to be innocent. Perhaps the girl also inherited her mother's ability and is now playing dumb to deceive us."

A whirlwind of emotions raged in Antonio's eyes.

The three young men were about to step forward, but Antonio stopped them. "Listen to what she has to say first."

The police chief noticed him and was about to say something when Antonio shook his head, gesturing for him to remain silent.

In response, the police chief shut his mouth in confusion.

He belatedly realized that the child resembled Antonio.

The police chief's eyes lit up in enthusiasm, eager for some juicy gossip. Similarly, Angie noticed Antonio, too. Startled, she looked at Laura with uncertainty. "Are you sure you don't have a daddy?"

Angie wondered, "If she doesn't have a daddy, then who is this handsome and charming man? Those three young men look so similar to her, too."

Laura tearfully nodded and then shook her head again.

Antonio narrowed his eyes.

"What does that mean?" he mused.

Laura said, "I do have a daddy."

As soon as her adorable voice fell, everyone looked at Antonio.

Antonio's expression was dark.

The three brothers snorted and thought, "Here it comes. She's going to try to climb up the social ladder by using us as her stepping stones."

To their surprise, Laura sniffled and said softly, "But Mommy says Daddy doesn't want me anymore and doesn't like me at all. So, I don't want to look for him."

Her words were like a bolt from the blue, rendering everyone speechless.

Angie wondered where did that come from.

The corners of Angie's mouth twitched as she glanced at Antonio subconsciously. "But what if your daddy's here to pick you up?"

Laura shook her head and said, "Daddy won't come. Daddy doesn't know that I exist. Mommy said that Daddy once tried to kill me. If he sees me again, he will try to kill me again."

The police officers were shocked.

Antonio was confused.

The three brothers were puzzled as well.

Meanwhile, Louis thought to himself, "What kind of gory drama is this? Should I call the police?"

5.Chapter 5 I Am Dirty

In the deafeningly silent room, Laura wiped the tears on her face and gathered her strength to smile again, saying, "I can take care of myself. I can cook pasta."

After speaking, she hopped off Angie's lap and bowed to her, saying, "Thank you, Madam! I'll be going home now!"

"Wait!" Angie instinctively called out to her, "You've forgotten your snacks!"

The minute she uttered those words, she felt like banging her head against the wall in frustration.

"That's not the point!" thought Angie.

Hearing that, Laura looked at the snacks seriously, and with caution, she picked out the smallest lollipop. She said in an ingratiating tone, "Madam, I'll only take this. Mommy told me these things are expensive and she'll have to sleep on the streets after buying them. Thank you so much. Please keep the rest."

Then, she bowed to Angie, saying, "I'm going home to wait for Mommy."

Laura turned around and was taken aback to see a group of people at the entrance of the police station, appearing out of nowhere.

They wore formal suits and looked like those powerful adults she saw in television dramas.

Laura looked up and met a man's sharp gaze.

With one hand casually in his pocket, he exuded an undeniable air of authority as he gazed coldly at her in silence.

The atmosphere suddenly became so tense.

The onlookers couldn't help but swallow nervously as they watched the father and daughter reunite.

Laura widened her eyes in astonishment as she gazed at Antonio's features. Suddenly, tears began forming in her eyes, and she took small steps toward him. She continued to look up at him before glancing at the three young men behind him.

Antonio had mixed feelings.

His daughter was in front of him right now.

Surprisingly, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this young girl, possibly because she was his blood relative.

Yet, as this sensation intensified, his countenance grew increasingly grave, and he remained silent.

The stiff atmosphere continued until Laura held up the bag of dried pasta timidly. "This is for you, Sir."

Antonio was stunned. Looking at the unfamiliar and obviously cheap food, he furrowed his brows and asked, "What is this?"

"Pasta." The little girl smiled brightly as tears trickled down her face. "It's delicious!"

She recognized her dad, for he looked exactly like her.

Regrettably, she also recalled Lilian's words about how her dad would dislike her the moment he saw her.

However, Laura still yearned to be near her father, even if it was just for a single moment.

Laura mustered her courage and stuffed the dried pasta in Antonio's hand. She gently pinched his fingertips with her dainty hands and looked up at him with admiration, saying, "Sir, your hands are huge."

"Just like the other children's daddies. I've finally held my daddy's hand," she secretly added in her heart.

Satisfied, Laura took a step back and bowed to them. "Goodbye, Misters. Goodbye, Sir."

After speaking, she toddled away on her tiny legs, her departing figure exuding an air of premature innocence and vulnerability.

Antonio couldn't help but feel a trace of compassion for her. "Laura Yale."

Laura turned around and saw the man standing at the door with an air of elegance, his expression icy. "I suspect you are my daughter. Come with me for a paternity test. If you are..."

His gaze grew somber, and in the presence of everyone's attention, he said in a low voice, "I will take care of you."

Laura's eyes widened in astonishment, tears instantly streaming down her face. She remained speechless for a long time.

"Mommy, you might not know this. After you turn into Queen Giselle, Daddy came to meet me. He's really handsome, just like a prince. He came to take me with him. Would you be happy for me?" Laura thought.

Following Antonio, Laura approached a stylish black car with a dazzling exterior.

Laura pursed her lips timidly.

Antonio got into the car first, followed by the three young men. The car felt a bit cramped with everyone inside.

After considerable hesitation, she finally lowered her gaze to her dirt-stained dress and shoes, which bore the marks of accumulated dirt from being unwashed.

This was the first time she felt self-conscious about being dirty.

Hesitating, Laura stood by the car door and remained silent.

Antonio gradually lost his patience. "Get in."

His annoyed tone caused her to shudder, and she looked down, tugging at her dress and saying hesitantly, "I'm dirty..."

The three boys looked at her in astonishment as she lowered her head even more.

Jasper sneered and said sarcastically, "Why don't you stay in the trunk then? It's the perfect place for you."

Hearing this, Laura looked at the trunk with a hint of interest and said, "Well, that works too."

Jasper was rendered speechless.

6.Chapter 6 Will We Meet Again?

He thought to himself, "Sure? What does that even mean?"

He got angry. "Don't try to act pitiful in front of us. You think we can't see through it?!"

Laura trembled, not understanding why he suddenly got angry. Her eyes turned red, and she shook her head helplessly. "I-I didn't mean to. My mom says I'm dirty, and she doesn't let me sleep on the bed. She says I'll dirty her bed. I didn't mean anything else. Mister, please don't be angry."

All four of them were taken aback.

Antonio's expression turned even uglier. "Your mom doesn't let you sleep on the bed?"

Laura nodded in fear.

He suddenly felt very angry.

Lilian took his money, didn't have an abortion, gave birth to his child, and she was mistreating the child?

Why did she have to give birth and cause trouble for him if she didn't like the child?

His tone became lower. "Get in here! Don't let me say it a second time!"

Laura hesitated for a moment and then hurriedly climbed into the car. Her steps were awkward and difficult, and she cautiously sat down on the seat.

Once she sat down, a sour stench filled the air.

Jasper wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ms. Yale, don't you take a bath? You smell terrible!"

Laura trembled, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "There's no hot water at home. I can only wash my face."

Her mom didn't care about her.

She only knew how to wash her face and hands.

Jasper sneered, "A person like you shouldn't even be alive! Your mom isn't a good person, and neither are you!"

The other two boys also smirked.

Laura felt a pang of sadness, but she was used to it. She clutched her dress nervously and didn't dare to speak, stealing glances at them.

Antonio, annoyed, picked up his phone. He felt her eyes on him, and he cast a cold glance her way.

Laura trembled under his gaze and quickly lowered her head, feeling like an unwanted little puppy.

His frustration grew.

Once they reached the hospital, the blood test was done swiftly. He didn't want to continue being with her, so he sent her directly to the orphanage where she had stayed before.

"When the results come out, I'll find you."

Laura felt anxious, looking up at the tall man.

Her intuition told her that her dad didn't like her.

Just like what her mom said, he would only dislike her, not like her, when he saw her.

Jasper looked even more annoyed with his arms crossed. He glanced down at her and said coldly, "Laura, don't get too proud now. Don't go around saying he's your dad just because you think he is. The results aren't out yet. Got it?"

Laura obediently nodded. "Got it."

She complied so easily that all four of them exchanged glances.

Did she have some tricks up her sleeve?

But Antonio was too fed up to bother with her. He turned and got back into the car.

Laura stood there in the fading light and suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Smith!"

All four of them turned to look at her. Their delicate features had an air of aloofness and coldness.

She stood under the dim street lamp, looking similar to them, but her worn dress was incompatible with their attire.

Between sophistication and destitution, an invisible chasm lay.

She gazed at him hopefully. "If I'm not your daughter, will I ever see you again? I want to give you a gift; is that okay?"

Antonio looked at her pleading eyes, didn't say anything, and got into the car.

The paternity test would take seven days.

During those seven days, Laura's situation garnered widespread attention. Many childless couples online wanted to adopt her. The buzz surrounding her only grew stronger.

But the orphanage indicated that given Laura's relationship with her potential father; they needed to wait for the results of the paternity test to determine whether or not she could be up for adoption.

Yet, she believed that the man was her dad.

She felt it strongly.

The orphanage nanny, Grace Mitchell, saw Laura doodling on a greeting card and couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like you really want to find your dad, Lala."

Laura used her worn-out crayons to draw, nodding emphatically. "Yeah! I like my dad! That man must be my dad! He's so tall and handsome!"

7.Chapter 7 He Does Not Want To Acknowledge

Engrossed in his book, the young boy who was sitting across her glanced up at her.

Grace planted a kiss on her cheek and said, "Laura, you'll have a better life ahead. Once the paternity test results are out, you can have a new home."

Any home would surely be better than her own mother, the murderer.

Grace got up and left to attend to other children, while Laura continued to obediently draw.

Suddenly, a chilly voice sounded from across. "They won't want you."

Laura paused and looked up in confusion.

She saw a young boy with excellent features, despite being only ten years old. He was slightly taller than his peers and already exhibited the potential for future handsomeness.

With one leg propped up and holding a storybook about Cinderella, his narrow eyes were cold. "Don't hold onto hope."

She pouted. "No. My dad will definitely come to pick me up. Don't make fun of me."

Zayn Graham arrived at the orphanage two years ago.

Rumors had it that he was the illegitimate child of some big wig. His mother had passed away due to illness, and since the big wig didn't acknowledge him, he was left in the orphanage.

Zayn was fierce and could fight. When he arrived, no one dared to speak to him. He was like a ferocious lion, ready to bite anyone who came near.

She used to get bullied in the orphanage because she was cute. Whenever Zayn saw her being mistreated, he would step in and fight on her behalf, teaching her to stand up for herself. He protected her too.

In the entire orphanage, Zayn was only close to her.

When Grace couldn't handle Zayn, Laura would help relay messages. He would listen impatiently only when Laura was involved.

Everyone teased her as a "Boss" pet.

On the day she was taken away by her mother, Zayn didn't appear. However, when she returned to the orphanage seven days ago, Zayn was the first to greet her.

She liked staying indoors and didn't enjoy playing outside.

Zayn used to prefer playing outside, but for these past seven days, he had been keeping her company, reading fairytales, and ridiculing the irrationality of princesses in those stories.

He was gentle yet not so gentle.

Zayn sat beside her, analyzing with a detached air, "You were taken away by your mother for a year. Did that man come to see you during that time? No, right? He thinks you're dirty and doesn't even want to acknowledge you. Even if you are his daughter, he wouldn't tell the truth."

A few boys who entered burst into laughter upon hearing his words. One of them yelled, "Boss, you don't want Laura to leave, do you? You're so happy since she came back. You didn't even eat when she was gone!"

Zayn's expression changed, and he grabbed the storybook, hurling it at them. "Get lost!"

Laura held her brush listlessly, looking at the figure on the greeting card. Her happiness had diminished even further.

"Would that happen? Even if the paternity test proves me right, would my father still not acknowledge me?" she thought.

Antonio stared at the paternity test results with a dark expression.

The test showed a 99.9991% likelihood of a paternal relationship.

Laura was his biological daughter.

The three sons had varying degrees of irritation upon seeing the report.

Jasper's reaction was the strongest. "I don't agree! Even if she's truly related to us, I still won't agree. She has no right to be part of our family! We can't accept her. With her mother's rotten genes, who knows if she'll end up harming our mom in the future?"

The other two brothers remained silent, looking at Antonio in silence.

Their expressions conveyed their sentiments. They also didn't want to acknowledge Laura.

They would cherish her if she was the daughter of their mother.

But Laura wasn't.

Her birth wasn't welcomed by their family.

She was Lilian's daughter.

Antonio pondered for a moment before discarding the paper into the bin.

For the past seven days, he had been incredibly busy. But whenever he had a moment to spare, he couldn't help but wonder. What if Laura really was his daughter?

Would he raise her or not?