Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 921

"Maybe we should just skip it. Who cares about him anyway? You look like you're dreading this, so why bother?" Nolan was genuinely puzzled.

Cherry started to falter, fidgeting with her tiny fingers, "Well, of course... it's because I miss him!"

What she didn't dare to say was that she had a mission of great importance.

The little one made her way along the path, stumbling as she went.

Ashton, with one hand in his pocket, nonchalantly lit a cigarette, squinting through the smoke.

Nolan couldn't help but interject, "I always feel like she's up to something."

"Up to what? She's just a kid, what are you imagining?" Ashton frowned, his affection for Cherry was evident, despite his rough exterior. At his age, the inexplicable desire to have a child of his own was growing stronger.

Nolan looked innocent, "She kept pulling my hair in the car. And when I talked to her, she seemed distracted, kept asking if my head hurt?"

"..." Ashton furrowed his brow, perplexed.

"I mean, come on! I've noticed Danny, Sammy, and this little Cherry, they're all kind of sneaky. Look at the big things Danny and Sammy did quietly in the past, they were instrumental in bringing Ludwik and Whitney closer together! Don't tell me Cherry isn't hiding something too..." Ashton chuckled, "Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

He was tired of Parker and Tiana's endless drama. If Tiana ended up marrying Barclay and became Parker's sister-in-law, it would be an utter mess. Nobody wanted that.

-

Cherry walked into the house, feeling uneasy. The spacious, bright hall was empty and silent.

From a side room came the sound of a housekeeper cleaning.

The air was filled with a faint scent of cleanliness. Cherry took a few steps, then stopped, hesitating to call out for Parker.

Her large eyes searched for the tall figure of the man.

Click-

The bathroom door opened.

The housekeeper, seeing Parker step out in a fresh shirt and trousers, buttoning up, discreetly left, "Young Master, the little friend is in the living room."

Parker's gaze drifted from the diamond cufflinks, his long eyelashes wet from the shower, adding a misty, slightly hungover laziness to his eyes, yet his gaze was deep and dark. Looking over, he indeed saw the little figure in the living room.

She was adorable, inheriting Tiana's round cheeks, with big, honest eyes and a sweet mouth that often brought him joy.

Seeing her was like seeing a mini Tiana, stirring complex feelings within him.

"Parker! Parker... Uncle," Cherry caught sight of him, her heart leaping to call him 'Daddy Parker,' but fear made her change her words.

She could sense the indifference and coldness in his look and didn't want to annoy him further.

"Mr. Doonan..." she tried again, nervously clutching her clothes, too scared to move.

Her cautious demeanor softened Parker's hard heart, casting a long shadow over Cherry as he approached. Despite this, she instinctively stepped back, "Don't be afraid, come here." "Parker... Daddy!" Cherry's voice broke, tears spilling over.

Hearing her call him 'daddy' tugged at Parker's heartstrings, a mixture of pain and reluctance. He had never found this insulting before, back when he and Tiana could have been possible. But now, knowing what had transpired, he felt the title was an insult.

He hesitated to correct her but seeing her teary, hopeful eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Are you hungry?"

Cherry shook her head, voice trembling, "Daddy Parker, are you still mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," he reassured, moving closer.

Immediately, the little one clung to his leg, "That's good. I thought Daddy hated me. You haven't visited me in so long. I know... I know you and mommy had a fight, maybe you broke up. But it wasn't mommy's fault! Please don't be mad at her, she's been really upset, getting sick often. And now with grandpa's trouble, she's even more exhausted. So, please, Daddy, don't be mad at mommy, okay?" Her explanation, though muddled, was earnest, her chubby hands gripping his trousers tightly.

Parker looked down at her, still somewhat dazed by her resemblance to Tiana.

He thought bitterly, why was she Barclay's daughter? What did he do to deserve such a considerate child? Why couldn't she be his? Disappointment overwhelmed him.

Perhaps life was mostly about disappointment, desiring a woman, a child, that weren't his, but belonged to the man he despised the most!

"I don't want you worrying about your mom and me. Our issues are not your concern," Parker said with a forced smile, which Cherry could tell wasn't genuine but more of a scoff.

Her eyes welled up again, sensing Parker was still upset with her mom, unwilling to forgive.

What could she do? Desperate, she pleaded, "Mommy is really hurt, Daddy. Someone's trying to hurt her, hurt our family!"

"Don't worry about those things."

Parker hesitated, then gently touched her soft curls, so much like Tiana's.

His heart softened, "Your grandpa should be fine."

"Really?" Cherry's eyes brightened, gripping his hand.

For that glimmer of hope, he nodded, "Yeah, I guess so."

"I believe in you, Daddy. You're strong, your words are always true!" Cherry's trust made his heart flutter.

Why couldn't Tiana trust him like her daughter did, fully and unconditionally, instead of chasing after someone like Barclay?

A cold smirk crossed Parker's heart as he snapped back to reality, his gaze cooling, "So, little one, what brings you here?"

"You don't call me Cherry anymore, and you say you're not mad at me. Daddy, do you not want to be close with me anymore?" Cherry pouted, her voice quivering on the verge of tears.

It felt like Parker was still kind to her, but there was a new distance between them.

Cherry didn't want to feel that gap. Seizing the moment as the tall man crouched down, she climbed onto his lap, looked him straight in the eyes, and confessed, "No matter what happens between you and Mommy, Daddy Parker, you'll always be my dad, my only dad! The first time I saw you, I just knew you were my Daddy!"

Parker was taken aback, his heart skipping a beat.

But the reality was...

"The affection you feel for me is because you truly are my niece."