Chapter 41 Love It or Hate It?
"Spencer!"
Hearing Danielle's voice calling for him, Gabriel set down his cell phone just as the room door burst open.
With her head peeking through the door, Danielle's face was alight with excitement, "Mommy said we're having beef stew today! I went shopping with her at the supermarket, and we got loads of delicious stuff. Come join us."
Jessica went to kitchen joyfully, her footsteps light. She was clearly in a fantastic mood, which even managed to soften the annoyance that Nicholas's antics had stirred in Gabriel.
Danielle ran over, her little hands finding his larger ones. The other arm wrapped around his leg as she looked up and whispered, "Mommy's been so happy today. She was even humming a tune outside."
"Is that right?" Gabriel looked down at the little figure clinging to his leg, playfully tapping her head, "You sure like hanging on, don't you?"
Danielle giggled, tightening her grip, "I like you, Spencer. Have you decided to be my daddy?"
Gabriel gazed into her earnest face, bending down to meet her eyes. He wrapped his arms gently around her and said softly, "Danielle, you can't just call someone 'Daddy' on a whim."
The smile dropped slightly from Danielle's face, "Oh… but I like you."
"Liking someone is one thing, but being a daddy is another. That's an important role for you and your mom, and not Something to take lightly because it wouldn't be fair to you or your mom," Gabriel explained as he stroked her head. "But I promise to always care for and cherish you, and I'll be there whenever you need me."
Unbeknownst to Danielle, Gabriel's casual-sounding promise was akin to securing the most powerful support in all of Xyleria and even the entire domestic business community.
Her pouty little face was sulking, and her lips pursed. She grumbled, "You don't like my mommy."
Gabriel was helpless, replying, "That's not it."
Danielle's eyes instantly sparkled with joy as she asked eagerly, "So you do like my mommy?"
Gabriel tried to use words a little kid could understand, "How could I not like someone who saved me from the jaws of death? Both of you are like angels to me—I like you both very much."
Hearing this, the little one suddenly burst into a giggly chuckle, turned, and sprinted out of the room, leaving Gabriel to think his words had cheered her up. Standing up, he caught a glimpse of his cell phone on the table and remembered the nonsensical things Nicholas had said in front of Michael, which gave him a frustration.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Danielle raced to the kitchen, yelling, "Spencer just said you're an angel, Mommy!"
Washing the greens, a bewildered Jessica jerked her hands, "Huh?"
Danielle, batting her large eyes at her mom, continued in her clear, bright voice, "Gabriel also said he likes you!"
Jessica was dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Gabriel, just emerging from the bedroom, stood speechless.
The water boiled as Jessica added the greens, avoiding Gabriel’s gaze. She also put in some slices of beef and stirred them gently with the stewpot.
"I made beef stew with vegetables—you can eat it all."
Seeing the pot nearly brimming with veggies and meat and no one had started eating, she quickly served up some onto his plate, accidentally meeting his gaze. As she averted her eyes calmly, she continued to avoid his gaze and instead started serving Danielle some meat.
Gabriel remained composed, glancing at Danielle, the little troublemaker, eagerly stuffing slices of beef into her mouth.
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