Chapter 207
At Flirty, Josiah had found it odd, Joyce frequently mentioned her mom, but she never talked about her dad. Today, Joyce asked him a strange question,
“Joyer…” Josiah began, intending to dig a little deeper.
“Joyce!” A sudden, thunderous shout cut him off. Itwas Tra
Tara had been keeping a watchful eye on Joyce nearby, unwilling to let her out of sight for even a moment. So, when she saw a strange man talking to Joyce, she panicked.
“Hey!” Tara ran over, breathless. She scooped Joyce up in her arms and glared at Josiah like he was some kind of dangerous predator.
“Who are you? What were you saying to Joyce? Are you crazy?” she barked, not giving Josiah a chance to explain.
Then, clutching Joyce tightly, she turned on her heel and walked away, or more accurately, fled, as if Josiah were some kind of monster.
As she hurried off. Tara comforted Joyce. “Don’t worry, Joyce. I’m here Remember, you can’t talk to strangers, okay? Good thing I got there in
time.”
She sighed heavily and added, Tm not worried about losing my job, but if you were taken away, your mom would be devastated… Tara’s voice cracked, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “You’re your mom’s whole world. You know that?”
“Don’t be sad, Tara Joyce lifted her chubby little hand to wipe Thra’s tears. Her soft voice was full of concern. “Tara, don’t cry. That sir isn’t a bad person. I’ve seen him before”
“You” Tara frowned skeptically. “Where did you see him? What’s his name?”
Joyce opened her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn’t answer.
“Oh, your” Tara shook her head, convinced that Joyce was mistaken. “You’re too little, so you must’ve gotten mixed up. Never mind. From now on. Tll keep an even closer eye on you”
Meanwhile, Josiah was still standing where Tara had left him, utterly dumbfounded.
Did she seriously just mistake me for a kidnapper he thought, feeling both helpless and exasperated.
Joyce’s earlier comments lingered in his mind. ‘Are her parents estranged” Josiah wondered,
He speculated that maybe her father had abandoned her and her mother.
“How could
anyone walk
away from such an adorable daughter? Josiah mused, unable to fathom the idea.
Watching Joyce bring whisked away left him with a pang of disappointment. He didn’t even get the chance to buy her the strawberry milk she liked
When Sienna returned to the apartment, she immediately noticed that Joyce seemed unusually subdued, her spirits visibly low
After checking Joyor’s temperature and confirming she didn’t have a fever, Sienna let out a studl sigh of relief
Before she could relax, Tara pulled her aside to explain what had happened with the strange man earlier,
> “Tmpo sorry” Tara apologized sincerely. Don’t worry From now on, I’ll never leave Joyce’s side, not even for a second
i came straight from the heart, blic was still shaken
The very thought of Joyer going missing was enough to arid a hills down her spine. Even giving her life wouldn’t be enough to make up for such a
“Tare” Sienna said gently, feeling a little indarrassed. “This isn’t your fault?
No one could predict unexpected
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Chapter 207
“And besides, you handled it well. Joyce is Alright.” Sienna reassured her.
“Alright! No, no Thra gestured toward Joyce, who still seemed out of sorts. “She’s not sick. She’s scared!”
Sienna noticed the redness in Tara’s eyes and realized how deeply rattled she was.
a offered.
“Tara, why don’t you take a break? I’ll take care of Joyce. I’ll comfort her and help her forget about it. Sienna
“Alright,” Tara nodded reluctantly. “Joyce is closest to you. A little cuddle time with you should make her forget all the bad stuff”
“You’re probably right.” Sienna agreed with a small smile.
Later that evening, when Sienna was giving Joyce a bath, the bathroom was warm and cozy.
She even brought in Joyce’s favorite little rubber duck, but Joyce didn’t giggle the way she usually did.
That was when Sienna realized something was seriously wrong. “Joyce,” she asked softly, “are you feeling upset about something today?” “Mommy-“Joyce ulted her liule face up to her, her big eyes blinking as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite get the words out. “Hey!” Sienna couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Joyce, what’s wrong? Is there something you can’t tell me!”
“No, that’s not it” Joyce shook her head.
Although she was small, she had a faint sense that her question might upset her mom. So since they’d come home, she’d been hesitant to bring it
But now, with her mom staring at her and pressing for an answer, Joyce couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Mommy, every kid has a mom and a dad, right? Moms and dads have to be together to have a baby, right?” Joyce asked.
Sienna froze, her mind momentarily going blank..
She had never imagined that this would be the question troubling Joyce.
From the day Joyce was born, Sienna had known that one day her daughter would ask about her father.
But Joyce wasn’t born out of love between her parents.
Her father unterly despised and hated her mother.
Over the years, Sienna had carefully avoided this topic, never mentioning Joyce’s father,
But some things could not be avoided forever.
The inevitable had arrived.
“Mommy” Joyce’s Lig, glistening eyes stared up at her as she tugged on her mom’s sleeve. “Do I have a dad too?
Sienna’s chest tightened, and she had no choice but to nod. “Yes, of course”
“Then “Joyer’s eyes lin up. “Mommy, where’s my dad? Why hasn’t he ever come to see me? Does he not like me?”
Sienna’s heart shattered. “No, no,
that’s not i
Her eyes burned as tears threatened to spill. “How could that be? Your dad adored you. When you were little, he spent time with you When y
you were still in my belly. Even if it was only for a short while. Sienna thought to herself
“Really?” Joguce furned her brow. I don’t remember that, 1 must’ve been too little back then. But why doesn’t Daddy come to see me now!
“Because “Siruna’s throat tightened painfully, but she forced herself to comfort her daughter. “Your dad
“Oh” Juyor looked half convinced. “So when he’s not busy anymore, he’ll come are ine, riglur
Seeing the hopeful look in her daughter’s eyes, Sienna reluctantly tousled, “Yes?
very busy. Heluper busy?
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Chapter 207
“Then, Mommy.” Joyce’s spirits lifted a bit compared to earlier. “Why doesn’t Daddy call me?”
Even when Sienna used to live alone in Jelacrity, she always found time to call Joyce.
Sienna felt as if her heart had stopped beating from the pain.
She choked out. “Your dad’s work is… very special. He can’t just make phone calls whenever he wants.”
The lie came so easily.
But Sienna would rather lie than let Joyce know what kind of cruel and irresponsible man her father was.
Sienna would bear her hatred for Josiah alone.
Joyce didn’t need to know who her father was. She would live in the blissful illusion of a loving father.
Joyce had suffered enough. She didn’t need more sadness in her life.
“I see,” Joyce said, nodding obediently. I’ll be good and wait at home for Daddy,”
“Such a good girl” For a brief moment, Sienna felt as if her heart had been wrung out. She didn’t even dare look into her daughter’s eyes.
Joyce, you won’t be able to wait for him. You’ll never see your daddy. Sienna thought.
Joyce, just like Sienna once was, was a child abandoned by her father.
Sienna had once begged. “Daddy, please. I’m begging you.”
“Daddy, please take me with you. I promise I’ll behave. I won’t eat much, and I’ll take care of my lile brothers and sisters..
