Chapter 307 My Mommy Said You Can't Be Too Honest
After dropping his abrupt instructions, Aaron hung up before Sam could even get a word in. He set the phone down and turned to Lillian, giving her chubby cheeks a gentle poke. "What's your mommy's name?"
"My mommy said I can't just tell anyone her name or her phone number," Lillian replied.
Aaron raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Why's that?"
"Because she has too many admirers, and she doesn't want to be disturbed."
Hearing this, Aaron's opinion of Lillian's mom took a nosedive. He figured she might be one of those attention-seekers. He swallowed hard. "What's your name then?"
"My name is Lillian Jones. I'm four years old, and I love ice cream, fruit candy, cotton candy, chocolate, and tiramisu!" Lillian chirped, her voice clear and bright.
Aaron raised an eyebrow and teased, "Aren't you supposed to keep secrets and not tell people?"
"But you're a good person," Lillian said earnestly.
Aaron felt like Lillian was dropping hints about her sweet tooth on purpose. He looked down at the clingy little girl beside him. Her round face was plump, and her dimples were just like Susanna's.
He pressed his lips together and asked, "Do you look like your mommy?"
Lillian shook her head. "No, I look like my daddy."
Aaron couldn't help but pinch her cheek. "Who taught you to lie?"
Lillian was quite the little fibber. Despite looking like Susanna, she insisted she was the spitting image of Sam!
To Aaron, she looked nothing like Sam. He started to wonder if the "daddy" Lillian was talking about was even Sam at all.
It was a big world; lots of people shared the same name.
Lillian's eyes darted around. "My mommy said that when you're out, you shouldn't be too honest, or bad people might take you away!"
"Your mommy taught you that?" Aaron was a bit taken aback.
"No, my mommy taught me to be honest. I figured this out on my own. If I talk nonsense, bad people won't know what to do."
Aaron chuckled, finding Lillian's logic pretty amusing.
He glanced at Tyler. "Get the hotel to send up some food, and make sure there are plenty of snacks."
Lillian's eyes lit up, and in her sweet, childlike voice, she looked at Aaron. "Thank you, Uncle. I'm just so hungry."
Before long, a hotel staff member rolled in a cart loaded with kid-friendly snacks. Lillian perked up, sitting up straight and eyeing the treats hungrily, maybe even drooling a bit.
Aaron's lips curled into a smile. "Go ahead and eat."
Lillian reached for a snack but hesitated. "Mister, I'll just have one piece."
"Eat as much as you want."
Lillian couldn't resist and grabbed a small cake, holding it in her hands and nibbling on it like a little squirrel.
Aaron lounged on the sofa, watching Lillian beside him, her small hands clutching the cake. Her hair was tied in messy little pigtails, with fluff floating around her ears.
He quietly watched Lillian eat, soon getting cream all over her nose and cheeks.
Aaron, who was usually a neat freak, couldn't stand the cream on her face. He casually handed her a wet wipe. "Wipe it off."
Lillian looked up at him, beaming a bright smile, her almond-shaped eyes curving into lines.
Aaron was momentarily stunned. Her smile made him feel a warmth, as if a piece of his cold heart had softened.
Lillian cautiously moved closer to him, turning her face towards him, hinting for him to help her clean up.
Normally composed, Aaron felt a tad flustered this time. He managed to blurt out awkwardly, "Do it yourself."
Lillian clumsily put down the cake box, took the wet wipe from his hand, and slowly wiped the cream off her face. But she couldn't see where it was, so she ended up smearing it all over her face without cleaning it properly.
Aaron frowned tightly, took another wet wipe, and cleaned her up himself.
At this moment, Sam finally pushed the door open and walked in. "Aaron, why did you call me up here in such a hurry? What's that little thing beside you?"
"You're the thing!" Hearing someone insult her, Lillian immediately turned her head angrily. But when she saw Sam, her eyes instantly turned red.
Seeing Lillian's expression, Aaron frowned and looked at Sam. "You better explain this."
At first, he thought it might be a misunderstanding. But now it seemed more likely that she was indeed looking for Sam.
Sam was confused. "What am I supposed to explain, Aaron? Is this your illegitimate daughter?"
But how could she look so much like Susanna! Wasn't she supposed to have died four years ago?
Hearing the words "illegitimate daughter," Lillian immediately became agitated. "I am not an illegitimate daughter!"
Aaron immediately gave Sam a cold look. "This child is here looking for you. What do you think you should explain?"
"Looking for me? That's impossible. She's more likely looking for you. Can't you see who she looks like?" Sam countered back.
Aaron's eyes darkened significantly as he looked down at Lillian. "He's Sam. Are you sure he's the one you're looking for?"
"He's my daddy!" Lillian exclaimed.
Sam, who was sitting beside them, was so shocked by this statement that he almost fell off the sofa. His expression was one of complete innocence. Finally finding his voice, Sam exclaimed, "Aaron, she's not my daughter. Absolutely not!"
"But she came looking for you. Could she be mistaken?" Aaron retorted.
"But she's really not mine."
As soon as Sam finished speaking, Lillian couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She anxiously and sadly said, "Daddy, is it because I'm not good that you don't want me? I'm very well-behaved!" Her previously sweet voice was now mixed with sobs.
Aaron felt a bit heartbroken upon hearing Sam's denial, and he fixed Sam with a cold stare. "Think it over carefully. A real man should be brave and responsible."
Sam was utterly perplexed. "This child isn't mine. What exactly am I supposed to take responsibility for?" Sam looked bewildered, casting a helpless glance at Lillian. "Little one, you shouldn't say things like that."
Lillian wiped her tears, looking genuinely pitiful. She choked out, her voice nasal, "You are my daddy!"
"Who the hell..."
Aaron retracted his foot and calmly said, "Don't use foul language in front of the child."
Sam changed his tone again, looking at Lillian gently. "Come on, tell me, who told you that I'm your daddy?"
"My mommy."
"Who's your mommy?"
