Chapter 412Daddy, You’re a Meanie!
“Liam, you should go to bed,” Arthur suggested to Liam, who had been quietly accompanying him throughout the evening.
Liam had always cared for the two brothers, having watched them grow up. To him, Arthur, and also Oliver, was like a grandson to him. As such, he decided to stay up until now.
After several attempts, Arthur finally convinced Liam to retire to his own room.
After a while, Arthur asked, “What about Flora?”
Oliver looked at him. "I’m not sure. She came on her own. We reviewed the surveillance footage outside the Windsor Group's premises but did not detect any suspicious individuals. Tina mentioned an aunt was responsible for her arrival."
It appeared that the individual who had brought the child had intentionally evaded the surveillance cameras.
A spark of hope ignited in Arthur's heart. Could it possibly be Flora who had arranged for the child's arrival? However, that seemed unlikely from what Arthur knew of Flora. However, what if Flora had another reason? If it was not Flora, then who was it? Was Flora aware of it?
"Are you certain the child is Flora’s?" Oliver inquired.
"Of course," Arthur replied.
Flora was the first woman in his life, and now, it seemed, she might also be his last.
Suddenly, Arthur covered his face, overcome with emotion as tears began to well in his eyes. One thought dominated his mind.
‘She’s alive! Flora is alive!’
Oliver observed his brother in silence. Although Arthur was quiet, he could see the tears glistening in his eyes. In his memory, this was the first instance he had seen Arthur shed tears since reaching maturity.
Even when the news of Flora's accident reached them, Arthur did not cry. Instead, he fell into a numbness borne from intense sorrow.
Oliver descended to the cellar and returned with several bottles of wine.
"Would you care for a drink?"
Arthur lowered his hand, revealing the slight redness around his eyes.
In a departure from his usual behavior, Oliver refrained from teasing Arthur, perhaps due to the solemnity of the matter.
"No, thank you," Arthur replied, regaining his calm, “I don’t think Tina will like it if she smells the alcohol on me tomorrow.”
After saying that, Arthur suddenly recalled an issue that had been bothering him and questioned his brother, "Why does my daughter call you a 'Daddy'?"
He gestured at the paternity test and said, “She’s my daughter.”
"Perhaps she likes me more," Oliver responded with a casual glance, adding, "Haven’t you noticed how much she dislikes you?"
Reflecting on his daughter's evident dislike for him, Arthur felt frustrated. He looked at his brother with a mix of jealousy and resentment, as if he was saying, “She’s my daughter, not yours!”
Despite his initial intentions to make a positive impression on his daughter, Arthur found himself reaching for the alcohol by the end of the night.
The revelations of the evening had profoundly affected him, driving him to seek some form of solace in drink.
…
The following morning, Tina woke up just ten minutes after Natalie had roused.
Emerging from the bathroom, Natalie found Tina sitting up in bed, looking a bit disheveled with her fluffy hair slightly tousled and a few adorable strands sticking out. Tina yawned widely, still groggy from sleep.
"Mommy? Mommy, where are you?" Tina called out.
Natalie approached and gently smoothed Tina’s stray here. "Tina, don’t you remember? Your mommy isn’t here."
After a moment of thought, Tina nestled closer into Natalie's embrace, wrapping her arms around Natalie's waist and laying her head against Natalie's chest.
"Mommy, prize…” Tina murmured softly to herself.
Feeling relieved that Tina did not burst into tears or become upset over her mother's absence, Natalie began dressing her, carefully putting on each article of clothing.
"Let’s go downstairs for breakfast," Natalie suggested, lifting Tina into her arms.
In response, the little one affectionately kissed her cheek before declaring happily, “Morning kiss!”
Natalie reciprocated with a tender kiss, causing Tina to shyly cover her face, her happiness evident.
…
Oliver and Arthur, known for their ability to hold their liquor, had spent the entire night on the sofa, drinking until the first light of dawn.
When Natalie descended the stairs, she was immediately greeted by the scent of alcohol, wafting through the air thanks to the morning breeze let in by the housekeeper.
Arthur's gaze fell upon his daughter as she approached.
Tina, surveying her surroundings, furrowed her brows and turned her head away, clinging to Natalie's neck. She complained, clearly displeased, "Stinky!"
Arthur was left questioning his decision to drink last night.
On the other hand, Oliver could not help but laugh at his brother.
Liam sighed and advised Oliver and Arthur to head upstairs for a shower and a change of clothes. He also instructed the household staff to air out the house.
By the time the two brothers had freshened up, Tina was contentedly drinking from her bottle.
Natalie caught Oliver's eye, seeking confirmation.
Oliver immediately understood Natalie's query and nodded affirmatively, silently communicating that Tina was indeed Arthur's child, and very likely Flora's as well.
It dawned on Natalie that despite her outward calmness throughout the night, she had been internally anxious. With the confirmation, she allowed herself a moment of relief, smiling genuinely for the first time.
Seeing the stark contrast between Tina's indifference toward Arthur and her warm affection for Oliver, especially with Tina persistently calling Oliver ‘Daddy’, Natalie felt compelled to explain the situation. She positioned Tina on her lap and pointed at Arthur, explaining, "Tina, he’s your real Daddy.”
She paused, gesturing to Oliver, before she said, “And he… is your uncle.”
Tina's gaze shifted back and forth between Arthur and Oliver, visibly comparing them. Arthur's change into casual attire, as opposed to the formal suits both men wore the day before, thankfully offered her a clearer distinction.
"Daddy?" Tina sought confirmation from Oliver.
Oliver, whose conscience had seemingly returned, shook his head and corrected her. “I’m your uncle.”
The sight of his daughter seeking validation from her uncle instead of recognizing him pierced Arthur’s heart anew.
Tina looked at Arthur and frowned. After a moment, she shouted, “Daddy, you’re a meanie!”
Regardless of who her father was, it seemed like her affection was only reserved for Arthur.
Oliver, unable to contain his amusement, laughed again.
However, no one knew the reason why Tina had suddenly called her father a meanie.
Despite acknowledging Arthur as her biological father, Tina’s preference for Oliver was unmistakable. Even after the clarification, she showed no desire to leave with Arthur, choosing instead to remain with ‘Mama Natalie’ until her mother came for her.
"I'll stay here then," Arthur proposed, seeking a solution to be near his daughter.
Oliver, quick to respond, denied the request without hesitation. Despite their familial ties, he was firm in his stance against Arthur overstaying his welcome.
Arthur, observing his daughter enjoying Natalie's company, lightly warned his brother with a teasing undertone, "Oh, then you have to be prepared to give up on your intimacy with Natalie at night."
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