Chapter 306 Hug My Daughter
My mind was somewhere else, bogged down by a ton of unfinished work.
Skylar's cheers snapped me back. I looked over and saw a clown selling balloons, surrounded by a bunch of kids. The clown was decked out in bright, colorful clothes, with face paint and a big red nose, expertly handing out balloons.
The golden light of the setting sun cast a warm, beautiful glow over the scene. Skylar, mesmerized by the balloons, tugged at my hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Mommy, look at the clown's balloons! They're so pretty. I want one!" she exclaimed.
Before I could say anything, she was already bouncing towards the clown.
Seeing this, I smiled and hurried to catch up. By the time I reached them, Skylar was standing in front of the clown, her little face upturned, hands clasped, full of anticipation.
"Can I have a balloon too, please?" she asked.
The clown bent down with a smile, picked out a princess-shaped balloon, and handed it to Skylar with a wink. "Of course! This princess balloon is for you. Stay as happy as a princess!"
Skylar took the balloon, her voice clear and sweet. "Thank you! You're so nice!"
The clown gently patted Skylar's head, then pulled out a red balloon, tying the string into a neat bow around her wrist.
"Hold on tight, sweetheart, don't let it fly away," he said softly.
Seeing a stranger so close to Skylar, Wilmer, who had been watching from the crowd, tensed up, his hand instinctively moving to his waist.
I knew he had his gun there, always ready for any sudden situation.
"Wilmer, there's a preschool nearby. Let's not cause any unnecessary trouble," I whispered, noticing his movements.
Hearing this, Wilmer lowered his hand but kept his eyes fixed on Skylar.
Skylar, holding the red balloon, suddenly lit up and shouted, "Mommy, this is the clown who gave me a red balloon last time!"
She held up the balloon for me to see. "Look, it's just like the one before!"
Standing by, I forced a smile, but my thoughts were racing. Of course, I recognized the clown as Skylar's biological father, Edward. Was he here by chance, or was he waiting for us?
Edward seemed to sense my unease. His eyes occasionally flicked towards me, but I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on Skylar's balloon.
Edward's eyes were full of tenderness as he slowly opened his arms and softly said, "Sweetheart, let me give you a hug."
Just as Edward's hand was about to touch Skylar, Wilmer, who had been lurking in the shadows, sprang into action. He lunged forward, his strong arm swiftly grabbing Edward's and twisting it behind his back with a sharp crack.
Edward's smile froze, and he struggled instinctively, shouting, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"
But Wilmer, strong and unyielding, held him firmly, rendering him immobile.Edward stumbled and hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he looked at me.
The kids around us screamed and scattered. Parents quickly gathered their children, and the scene turned chaotic.
Some parents, faces pale with fear, instinctively shielded their kids, as if facing a wild beast. Whispers spread through the crowd.
"What's going on?"
"The balloon clown doesn't look like a bad guy."
The situation spiraled out of control, with the noise of shouting, car horns, and the clamor of the crowd blending together. Even the preschool security guard rushed over with a baton, shouting, "What's happening here? Why are you fighting in front of the preschool?"
Pinned to the ground, Edward stopped resisting and urgently called out, "Diana, don't misunderstand. I mean no harm. I just wanted to hug Skylar!"
His voice, tinged with helplessness, stood out in the chaotic scene.
"Mommy!" Skylar, frightened by the sudden turn of events, ran to me, crying, and clung to my clothes, her little hands gripping tightly, her knuckles white.
She cried out, "Wilmer, don't hurt the clown. He's a good person. He gave me a balloon."
Skylar held up her wrist to show Wilmer, but the balloon had already slipped from her hand and floated away.
Seeing the balloon disappear, Skylar cried even harder, her sobs tugging at my heart. I quickly hugged her tightly, gently patting her back to comfort her, while signaling to Wilmer.
I said, "Take him somewhere less crowded. Don't scare the kids."
Wilmer led Edward away, who struggled and angrily shouted, "Why are you holding me? I just wanted to hug my daughter!"
Yet Wilmer remained unmoved, coldly replying, "Until I confirm your identity and intentions, I can't let you near Skylar."
Edward, both angry and anxious, his eyes red, said, "I'm her father. How can you do this?"
Wilmer's expression remained stern. "My job is to protect Skylar. I'll sort everything out once I confirm the facts."
Holding the still-crying Skylar, I followed them, hearing Edward's words. I instinctively held Skylar tighter, as if my body could shield her from any harm.
At a quiet corner, I took a deep breath to calm myself and looked at Edward, speaking slowly, "This is our bodyguard. He restrained you to ensure Skylar's safety. I hope you understand. But you were too impulsive just now. I'm sorry if you got hurt."
Edward's face showed guilt as he quickly said, "I'm sorry. Skylar is so adorable. I couldn't help myself."
I sighed, knowing he probably meant no harm—just a father missing his daughter. But today's incident was too risky. I looked at him earnestly and said, "Please try not to be so impulsive in the future."
With that, I prepared to leave with the still-sniffling Skylar, feeling a mix of understanding for Edward's fatherly feelings but fear from the sudden incident.
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