I’m The Spoiled Princess With Three Dads Chapter 10

I’m The Spoiled Princess With Three Dads Chapter 10

That night, all three dads sat down for dinner together.

I picked up a piece of braised beef with my fork, hesitated, and then put one piece on each of their plates. One for each.

Three grown men froze.

“Lily, aren’t you going to eat?”

“There’s plenty.” I stuffed another piece in my mouth, cheeks bulging. “I’m treating you guys. You worked hard today.”

Michael nearly dropped his fork. “Daniel, look at this,” he wiped his eyes dramatically. “Our little princess is growing up.”

“Yeah,” Daniel said, turning back to his food. But I saw his eyes go red.

Jonathan set down his fork and looked at me seriously. “Lily.”

“Yeah?”

“Those text messages you saw that day,” he paused, “what exactly did they say?”

The meat stuck in my throat. I didn’t think he’d ask.

I’m five. I thought Grown-ups would not believe in “texts floating on a TV screen.”

I looked at Doc Dad, then Dad Two. All three were waiting.

“I—” I whispered, “—I saw people talking about me. Saying the dads would love a foster daughter more. Saying Lily would get sent away. Saying nobody would come to Lily’s funeral.”

My voice started cracking.

Daniel immediately passed me a tissue. “Sweetheart.”

Jonathan didn’t say anything at first. He stood up, walked around the table, and crouched in front of me. Eye level.

“Lily. Look at Big Dad.”

I did.

“No matter what anyone says, or does, or writes—Jonathan Hart has only one daughter. Lily Hart.”

I burst into tears. Loud ones.

Michael pulled his chair over. “I’ve only got one niece, you little menace.”

Daniel lifted me into his arms and rested his chin on my head. “If anyone says that again, Doc Dad will cut out their tongue.”

“Hey,” Michael shot him a look, “that’s illegal.”

“Then you defend me.”

“Fine. Eight hundred pages. I’ll draft them tonight.”

I laughed and cried at the same time.

That night, I had a dream. A woman whose face I couldn’t see smiled and touched my head.

“Lily,” she said, “Mommy’s sorry. But look, your three dads love you so much. Mommy’s at peace.”

I tried to reach for her hand, but she faded slowly.

Just before she disappeared, she said one last thing, “From now on, live the way you want. Don’t try to be someone else’s sister, someone else’s daughter.”

“Just be Lily Hart. Crescent City’s most spoiled five-year-old princess.”

I woke up with damp eyes.

It was still dark outside. I reached for my tablet on the nightstand.

The text screen glowed with one final line, fading letter by letter:

[Task complete. The Hart family is secure.]

[Your three dads are in position.]

[Enjoy your meal, little princess.]

The text disappeared. The screen went dark.

I put the tablet down and burrowed back under my blanket.

“Hmph.” I kicked off the covers.

Who wants to be a “good girl” anyway?

Tomorrow morning, I’m sleeping in till eight.

I’ll let the housekeeper feed me. I’ll have Frank carry me downstairs. I’ll spend Big Dad’s platinum card on a three-thousand-dollar Barbie castle.

At lunch, Dad Two’s bento box—I’m picking out all the broccoli and stuffing it into his suit pocket.

In the evening, I’m riding on Doc Dad’s shoulders through the mall, making him buy me twelve bunny plushies—one for every month of the year.

Because after all, I’m Crescent City’s most spoiled five-year-old princess.