I’m The Spoiled Princess With Three Dads Chapter 09

I’m The Spoiled Princess With Three Dads Chapter 09

The next day, I went to kindergarten.

I wore my little backpack and the new crown hair clip Big Dad bought me.

Dad Two sent two lawyer assistants to walk me to the gate.

Doc Dad drove me—got out at the entrance to smooth my dress three times. B

ig Dad didn’t come. He was in a meeting, but he did call the principal.

I don’t know what he said. All I know is, the moment I walked into class, Ms. Thompson greeted me like I was visiting royalty.

“Good morning, sweetheart!”

Tommy was cowering in the corner, shaking.

I walked over. I used to kick him in the butt. Not today. I crouched in front of him.

“Tommy.”

“I—I—I—”

“Did your mom talk to some woman again yesterday?”

Tommy’s eyes welled up. “My mom said not to play with you anymore—said your family—”

I clicked my tongue. Learned that from Doc Dad.

“Okay, okay.” I stood and brushed my skirt. “Don’t play with me then. I don’t have time to play with you anyway.”

I went back to my seat.

Every kid in the room stayed frozen. For the first time ever, nobody dared come near my crayons.

That afternoon, Sophie showed up outside the kindergarten gate.

She wore the same pale blue dress, same two braids. But her mom wasn’t with her.

Her mom had been sued by Michael last night.

She stood alone at the fence, calling for me.

“Lily!”

I walked over. I didn’t go out. I stayed inside the gate.

“What do you want?”

Sophie’s eyes were red. “Lily, I’m sorry.”

I watched her. Her bottom lip quivered.

“Mommy said if I became Mr. Hart’s daughter, I could go to private school. I could have my own room. At home we only have one bed. I share with Mommy. I thought—”

I listened. I’m five, but I understood.

“Sophie.” I cut her off. “I have one home too. What you wanted was a house and money. What I want is my dads. It’s not the same.”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open. Her tears fell.

I wanted to cry too. But I didn’t.

A car pulled up in the distance. Doc Dad coming to pick me up.

Daniel got out, saw Sophie, and frowned. “Lily, come here.”

I walked over. He lifted me into his arms.

He looked at Sophie for two quiet seconds. Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card. He passed it through the fence.

“Crescent Child & Family Services. Director Wells is a friend of mine.”

“After your mother’s legal issues are settled, if you want to come here, I’ll make sure you get meals.”

“I’m not going to be your dad. But I can be your doctor.”

Sophie stared at the card. She looked up, and cried again. But this time, it wasn’t like the living room.

Daniel carried me to the car. We drove a long way.

In the rearview mirror, I saw Sophie still standing there.

A tiny, lonely figure. Something in my chest felt heavy.

“Doc Dad.”

“Yeah?”

“She’s just a kid too.”

“Yeah.”

“She just wanted a dad too.”

Daniel was quiet for a long time.

“Lily,” he said, “she’s not evil. She was taught to be this way. What we can do is make the people who taught her pay.”

I nodded.

On the way home, I leaned my head against the window.

The text screen stayed still. But my tablet went ding. A new message.

[Task near completion. Remaining progress: 1%.]

What was that last one percent?