Chapter 180 Why Are You Here?
Riley had a habit of listening to the news while taking care of the kids during breakfast.
"The Wilder Group and the Sutton Group have been engaged for a hefty six years now. Recent intel suggests a formal wedding's on the horizon," a male voice narrated.
Riley briefly halted her serving routine, absorbing the update, then smoothly resumed, masking any distress. Landon and Winston, however, lost their appetite instantaneously, their young faces clouding over.
Abroad, they'd wondered about their father's character, eagerly anticipating his return. But back home, witnessing their father with another child, their discontent simmered, scorning his apparent abandonment of their mother.
Yet, as they spent time with him, their perceptions began to shift. Despite his obliviousness to their shared blood, the man showed them kindness, even bestowing gifts. Slowly, they started to warm up to him.
Now, upon hearing the impending nuptials, their resentment flared anew, reverting to their initial disdain for their long-lost father.
'Bad daddy, getting close to us while planning to marry another woman. It would have been better if he hadn't come to find us!' Landon and Winston thought.
Aware of this development, Finley's gaze dimmed subtly. She harbored no fondness for Hollis, yearning solely for Riley's exclusive maternal affection.
Earlier, her father had solemnly vowed to keep Hollis from usurping her mother's position. Yet now...
'Does Dad no longer care for me?' Finley pondered, her spirits deflating.
Observing Finley's sullen demeanor, Riley furrowed her brow. "What's up, Finley?"
Finley pouted, her big eyes full of sadness. "Not happy."
Thanks to Riley and the two boys' coaching, Finley had picked up a few phrases to articulate her feelings.
Perplexed, Riley probed gently, "Why so down? Talk to Auntie, okay?"
Fiddling with her fingers dejectedly, Finley longed for Riley's maternal embrace, sensing a divide between Riley and her father.
'Bad daddy, wanting to marry Hollis!' Finley thought to herself.
The gloom hung heavy as all three children wore mournful expressions, prompting a wave of concern from Riley.
Breakfast passed somberly. Post-meal, instead of their usual Lego session on the floor, the children retreated upstairs in tandem.
Riley vaguely guessed it was because of the news, but she wasn't sure why they were so downcast.
Meanwhile, her own mind churned frantically, reeling from the revelation of Donovan and Hollis's impending engagement after a lengthy six-year courtship.
Just as Riley was lost in thought, the doorbell of the villa rang. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and answered the door.
Seeing the person at the door, Riley was momentarily stunned. It took her a few seconds to react. "Why are you here?"
Standing before her, Donovan, the center of the news segment, clad casually in a light shirt, his usually slick hair slightly tousled, greeted her with a serious mien.
Since their last spat, he had avoided direct confrontations, making this unexpected visit their first encounter post-argument.
Tinged with the recent news and their strained past, Riley struggled to muster a fitting expression for the reunion.
