Chapter 962 Mia Did Not See Darcy
Mia's eyes widened as she stared at Jeremy's incredibly handsome face. Her three-year-old mind raced, and after a long moment, she made a logical guess, "You say you're my daddy... does that mean you and Mommy are really married?"
"Yeah! At the wedding, you made Mommy take vows. But I know you have to get a marriage certificate to be a real couple. Are you married? Are you going to accept me as your stepdaughter?!"
Jeremy and Olivia were at a loss for words, and Jeremy's handsome face grew even more rigid.
What was Mia thinking? Had she been watching too many soap operas?
The words Jeremy was about to say got stuck in his throat. What was supposed to be a touching moment was completely ruined by Mia's antics.
Jeremy could only scowl as he pinched her little hair. "Do you really want to be my stepdaughter that badly?"
"Well, since I'm not your biological child, I dream of being your stepdaughter," Mia said with infinite sorrow, her spirits visibly low.
"Mia," Olivia said, glancing at Jeremy's darkening expression. She finally stepped in to save the situation. Holding Mia's small hand, she looked at her seriously and said softly, "Your daddy is Jeremy. He's the father you've been longing for. Do you understand what Mommy is saying?"
Mia's eyes darted back and forth between her mommy and Jeremy's handsome face, confused.
After a long moment, her eyes widened, and she was stunned. "Mommy, what are you saying? Are you lying to me?"
"I'm not lying. I really am your biological father, Mia. I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you earlier," Jeremy said in a deep voice.
His eyes were so deep, like an ocean, warm enough to drown in.
Mia's tears started to fall, and after a long silence, she threw herself onto Jeremy's shoulder, crying and hitting him with her small fists. "Really? Daddy, Daddy... you're so bad. I knew you were my daddy the first time I saw you, but you ignored me. Mommy didn't believe me either. No one believed me. So I stopped saying it and just thought of you as my daddy in my heart. I thought I'd never get to call you Daddy. But now you know. Why did it take you so long to recognize me? You didn't even come to see me when I was a baby. Daddy, you owe me so much. I'm going to hit you..."
Her clear, heart-wrenching cries were heartbreaking.
Jeremy's eyes turned red. He knew how disappointed and wronged Mia felt. She had grown up in such a difficult environment, without even a single friend her age to play with.
Of course, she was lonely, always pretending to be strong.
Jeremy swallowed hard, catching her excited little hands and guiding them to hit his face. "It's my fault, all my fault. I'm so stupid. I made my precious girl suffer. Hit me, hit me hard, let out your anger."
Mia, who had been crying hysterically, was amused by him and started to laugh.
Her round eyes, like two pools of water, were endearing and cute. She smiled through her tears, her heart aching yet joyful. She looked at Olivia cautiously and asked timidly, "Mommy... can I call Daddy my daddy? Will you be upset?"
Jeremy's heart was pounding. He wanted to use Mia's question to gauge Olivia's feelings. He looked at her, waiting silently for her answer.
Olivia understood Mia's longing for a father. She knew all too well how many nights Mia had clung to her neck, having nightmares and calling out for Daddy to come and protect her.
Her eyes glistened with tears, which she quickly hid, and she smiled gently. "I want Mia to be happy. I'm not upset."
"That's awesome!" Mia beamed, hugging Jeremy and showering him with kisses. "I have a daddy now. I have a daddy! My daddy is amazing, so handsome and tall. I'm going to tell the whole world!"
Jeremy's eyes were full of tenderness, his thin lips curved up as he endured Mia's enthusiastic 'attack.'
It was wonderful that Mia didn't resent him.
He glanced at Olivia, grateful. She had raised their child well, making her warm and cheerful. Even when she mistakenly thought Sam was the biological father, she hadn't passed on any negative feelings or hatred towards the father.
She was a great mom, and she had worked so hard.
Jeremy's heart was deeply moved.
"Alright, Mia, you need to lie down. You just woke up, and I'm worried you might have other injuries. Don't move around too much," Olivia said hoarsely, calling Mia back to bed.
Jeremy, as if waking from a dream, remembered Mia had just woken up. He carefully placed her back on the bed and immediately pressed the call button, glancing at Olivia. "Don't worry. She seems to be in good spirits. I'll call the doctors to check on her."
"Okay," Olivia replied softly, frowning.
Soon, several doctors arrived.
Seeing Mia awake and happy, the doctors relaxed a bit under Jeremy's intense gaze. At least the child seemed alert and responsive.
"Mr. DeRoss, Ms. Smith, after our examination, the child's consciousness and thinking are normal. Her external injuries need care, but she seems cheerful and not traumatized, which is the best outcome. If you're worried she ingested something harmful, we can conduct a digestive tract examination, though it might be uncomfortable for her."
Olivia, cautious and protective, asked Mia carefully, "Did they make you eat anything last night?"
Mia recalled the previous night, her big eyes still a bit scared.
She clutched Jeremy's big hand, her small mouth pale. "Those two men made me drink water while they ate, probably so I wouldn't die of thirst. After that... I didn't eat anything else."
"And what about the woman you met? What did she do to you in that neighborhood?" Olivia asked, referring to Darcy.
But Mia was confused. She shook her head, puzzled. "There was no woman, only men."
Olivia was perplexed. How could Mia not remember Darcy?
In this kidnapping, Darcy was definitely the villain. She must have secretly moved Mia and staged a rescue. Olivia and Winnie had no doubt about that!
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