Never Offend the Hidden Don Chapter 05

Never Offend the Hidden Don Chapter 05

When we reached the preschool, plenty of parents were already waiting outside.

I parked by the curb and got out with an umbrella.

Isabella followed behind me.

The dismissal bell rang.

Children poured out, laughing and bouncing with little backpacks on their shoulders.

I searched the crowd for the small figure I knew best.

“Daddy!”

A little girl with pigtails ran out from the gate, carrying a pink backpack. Her bright eyes lit up the second she

saw me.

She gave me a bright smile and ran toward me with her arms open.

I crouched and caught her steady. “Hey, baby. Were you good today?”

I brushed the damp wisps of hair from her forehead.

“Yes! My teacher gave me a red flower sticker.”

She pulled a wrinkled sticker from her pocket and held it up like treasure.

“Look, Daddy!”

“That’s amazing.” I lifted her into my arms and settled her against my side. “Did you say goodbye to your

teacher?”

“I did!” She wrapped her arms around my neck, her voice sweet and soft. “Daddy, I want your tomato meatball pasta today.”

“Then I’ll make it when we get home.”

“With cheese.”

“Double cheese.”

She was satisfied and rested her little head on my shoulder.

Only then did she notice Isabella standing beside me.

She blinked her big eyes and asked politely, “Daddy, who’s the pretty lady?”

Before I could answer, Isabella spoke softly, “I’m… an old friend of your dad’s.”

My daughter smiled sweetly. “Hi, ma’am.”

Isabella watched the two of us, her eyes losing focus for a moment.

Then she lowered her voice, “Enzo, I remember you used to say you didn’t like kids. Seven years ago, we even agreed we’d stay childfree forever.”

I smiled and adjusted my hold on my daughter. “You said it yourself. That was before.”

“What about now?”

“Now I think having a kid is pretty great.”

I looked down at my daughter.

She was playing with the zipper on my jacket and humming a song from school. It was off-key, but she sounded happy.

Isabella’s lips moved.

Whatever she wanted to say was cut off by a harsh honk.

A Porsche pulled up across the street from the preschool.

The window rolled down, revealing a face both familiar and strange.

Victor.

Victor wore a dark tailored suit. His hair was perfectly styled, and the watch on his wrist flashed with

expensive light.

Compared to the young man from seven years ago, he looked sharper and steadier now.

He looked like a man who had made it: successful, confident, and full of himself.

He opened the door and walked over under an umbrella.

His gaze landed on me first, then shifted to Isabella.

“Honey, what are you doing here?” His voice was gentle, but his eyes carried a quiet inspection. “I called you

and you didn’t answer. I thought you hadn’t gotten back to New York.”

Isabella looked uneasy. “I ran into Enzo on the way.”

“Oh?” Victor lifted an eyebrow.

Only then did he seem to notice me, and he put on a perfectly measured smile.

“Enzo. Long time no see.”

I nodded. “Long time no see.”

His gaze swept over my faded jacket and old jeans.

Then it settled on the little girl in my arms for two seconds.

“Your daughter?” His tone was normal, but I heard the subtle edge under it. “She’s cute. How old?”

“Three.”

“Three.” Victor nodded thoughtfully. “Time really flies. Just like that, you’re a father.”

He slid an arm around Isabella’s waist with easy familiarity.

“Bella, didn’t the driver go pick you up? Even if he was late, why didn’t you call me? It’s raining. You shouldn’t

be alone out here.”

Isabella said softly, “Weren’t you in a meeting?”

“What meeting is more important than you?”

Victor smiled and kissed her on the cheek.