On Children’s Day, My Future Daughter Called—He Got Exposed Chapter 04

On Children’s Day, My Future Daughter Called—He Got Exposed Chapter 04

After I packed up my luggage and shipped it out, all the strength drained out of me, and I sank onto the couch.

I sent Annie Grant several messages, but she never replied.

It was not until that afternoon that Annie video-called me again.

I answered immediately, but the place she was in was painfully familiar.

It was the place where I had grown up.

It was my father’s office.

My mother had passed away when I was young, and my father had never remarried. He had raised me alone.

Afraid I would be bored at home by myself, he always brought me with him.

“Annie, why are you at Winters Group?”

Annie looked around.

“Ma’am, what are you talking about? This is my daddy’s office.”

“And this is Daddy’s company. Winters Group has been gone for a long time.”

It felt as if a needle had pierced my heart, leaving a dull ache behind.

“Annie, you’re the smartest girl. You know what happened, don’t you?”

The little girl could never resist praise, so she spilled everything.

“Of course! Daddy told me.”

“The grandpa who used to run Winters Group gave all the projects to Daddy.”

“Later, that grandpa did something wrong and got arrested. Not long after that, he died in jail.”

How was that possible?

My father was an upright man. He would never do anything against his conscience for profit.

He would never do anything illegal, either.

My voice shook uncontrollably. “What happened after that?”

“After that, this company became Daddy’s!”

“Ma’am, don’t you remember? You used to come downstairs to the company all the time and play games with Daddy. You kept saying he had to pay for what happened to your dad.”

I blinked, and tears fell onto the screen.

My father had never approved of Gavin. He had told me many times that Gavin was calculating.

He had even used extreme measures before, locking me in my room.

But for Gavin, I had jumped from a third-floor balcony and shattered my lower leg.

In the end, my father had softened.

I had never imagined that loving the wrong man would cost my father his life.

Crying, I went home. My father was just getting ready for dinner.

Several dishes sat on the table, and he was sitting there all alone.

The sight made my eyes sting.

When I walked closer, I saw that every dish was one of my favorites.

I clutched my chest, my throat tight and aching.

When my father looked up and saw me, his whole face lit up with joy.

“Sweetheart, you’re home.”

“Quick, Mrs. Miller, cook up a few more of Wendy’s favorite dishes.”

I sat down and looked at the food in front of me, guilt nearly crushing me.

As I picked up my fork, I asked with an aching heart, “Dad, why didn’t you make something you like? You don’t even like sweet food.”

My father rubbed his hands together awkwardly and smiled in that honest, almost eager-to-please way of his.

“I kept hoping you’d come home for dinner, but I never knew when you would.”

“So I made your favorites every day. That way, no matter which day you came back, you’d have something you liked.”

I lowered my head over my plate as huge tears rolled into my food, salty and bitter.

He had hoped and waited like that every day.

He had done it day after day.

I had no idea how long he had kept doing it.

“Dad, from now on, I’ll listen to you.”

“I won’t be reckless anymore.”

My father looked at me with heartache and kept putting food on my plate until it was piled high.

I reminded him again and again to be careful of Gavin.

Then I went back to that house to get my documents, preparing to leave the country the next day.

When I reached the door, movers were carrying boxes inside.

The moment Hailey saw me, she threw herself toward me.

“Wendy! I missed you so much!”

Gavin stood behind her, protecting her as if he was terrified she might fall.

Then he met my eyes and awkwardly let go.

“Wendy, I was just afraid she’d bump into you. You know how clumsy she is.”

Hailey laughed and punched him lightly.

Then she linked her arm through mine. “Good news, Wendy. I’m moving in with you.”

“That way, if Gavin dares to bully you again, I’ll beat him up and see if he still has the nerve.”

Gavin smiled at her with obvious affection. “Who beats up whom is still up for debate. Someone had better be careful, or I might send her back to the hospital again.”

The two of them started bickering like usual.

This time, I did not step in to smooth things over.

Watching them joke and play around, I felt my heart die completely.

I pulled my hand free, went inside to get my documents, and returned to the door.

In a flat voice, I said, “No need. You two can have this place.”

With that, I turned to leave.

Hailey grabbed me suddenly.

“No, Wendy. Don’t be mad. I won’t move in. Please don’t be like this.”

Just as I was about to pull away, Gavin shoved me aside.

He pulled Hailey through the door and said impatiently, “Ignore her. She’s grown, but she never stops throwing tantrums. Since she doesn’t want to live here, she can stop coming back.”

Then Gavin shut the door.

I stared at the closed door as the last trace of warmth in my heart vanished.

Of course I would never come back.

Tomorrow, I would report to the Vancouver branch.

The only pity was that I would not be there to see Gavin make a fool of himself when he failed to get the project at tomorrow’s bidding meeting.