Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 922

Cherry shook her head, her resolve as firm as ever, "I can't be wrong, I love you so much, Daddy!"

Parker's heart felt as though it had been drenched in boiling water, catching him off guard, tingling and aching.

His eyes, usually so clear, started to mist over, as if the fog was about to swallow Cherry whole.

But that's just how life goes, full of cruel twists and turns. The ones you yearn for, you can't have.

And those you cherish, end up hurting you.

If there was anyone who could heal him, it had to be the little one before him.

He managed a poker face and playfully nudged her nose, "If you ever run into trouble again, you can come to me, Uncle Parker will help you out."

"Daddy!"

"Don't call me that anymore," Parker said sternly.

"Daddy, you're my Daddy," Cherry couldn't explain why, but she was adamant.

"Your mommy has already made her choice. You're going to have a sibling soon, and both of you will be Barclay's kids. He's your daddy," Parker coldly clarified.

"I don't want that, I don't want that," Cherry shook her head vigorously, clinging to his shirt sleeve.

Parker pursed his lips, "Let's not talk about this anymore. When are you going back?"

Going back?

Leaving this place?

Cherry remembered she hadn't completed her mission yet. Her eyes darted around in panic, like a cute little kitten, thinking Parker was unaware. But Parker saw right through her, raising an eyebrow, "What's wrong?" "I... I still want to talk to Daddy Parker."

"It's getting late, you shouldn't be staying here. Go back to your family."

"Wait... wait!" Cherry secretly looked up, staring at Parker's damp hair, and slowly stretched out her tiny hand, measuring the distance. She couldn't reach.

Her hands were too short. How could she possibly pull a strand of Daddy's hair?

"What else do you want?"

"I... my tummy hurts!" The little actress sprang into action, clutching her belly while sneakily glancing at Parker.

Parker eyed her antics but chose not to expose her.

The man frowned, "Then you should go to the bathroom."

"I want Daddy Parker to carry me. It hurts so much, I can't walk."

Little Cherry's plan was to climb onto Parker first, to seize the opportunity to act.

Parker lifted her up, a soft bundle in his arms, as adorable as ever, which made him momentarily distracted, his lips curving in a barely visible smile as he warned her, "Don't be such a brat next time. Just because I indulge you doesn't mean you can push the limits." "What are you talking about? It's too complicated, I don't understand. I just know I want to hang out with you again! Can I?"

Parker didn't respond.

Again? There would be no again. If Tiana dares to step into the Doonan family's doorway, he'd send them packing!

His eyes could no longer bear their new identities.

A harsh look flashed through his eyes as he carried the little one to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, recently filled with steam from a shower, a bath towel hung on the washbasin,

Cherry, thinking quickly, grabbed the large towel and changed her tune, "Oh, my tummy doesn't hurt anymore. Daddy Parker, I saw your hair is still wet. I want to help you dry it, then use the hairdryer, okay?"

"What are you really up to? Are you going to use the toilet or not?" Parker frowned, his voice deepening.

"No need! I just want to play with the hairdryer."

"Go back to your room."

"I won't. Just indulge me this once." Seeing her plan almost succeeding, the little one couldn't possibly give up now. She quickly squeezed out a tear, looking at him with a sobbing face, "You don't have to say it, I know you don't want to see me again. I'm not a fool, wuwuwu... You despise me now. Your eyes say you don't want me anymore. So, let me hug you one last time, Daddy. I want to do something for you.

This is how I help Mommy dry her hair at home.

I'm really good at it, and I'm not scared of the hairdryer noise. Let me show you!"

She wiggled her chubby body, trying to reach the hairdryer hanging over the washbasin.

Parker, fearing she might fall and also unable to bear her crying, coldly set her down on the washbasin, "Stand steady!"

He took down the hairdryer himself, switching it on. The whooshing sound started, and he asked her with a furrowed brow, "What's so fun about this?"

"I'm not playing; I want to help dry your hair. I want to take care of you," she said earnestly.

He had no choice but to let her.

Perhaps this was the last time he'd indulge her.

Parker handed her the hairdryer, and Cherry indeed handled the bulky device skillfully. She tiptoed, carefully aiming it at his hair, "Look, look, I really can dry hair."

Parker gently supported her short legs, bending down to cooperate, "A few seconds should do, my hair dries fast."

How could a few seconds be enough? Whitney said it takes a lot of pulling.

But how could she do it without him noticing the pain?

Cherry panicked, her eyes darting around until she suddenly widened her eyes at the hairdryer's nozzle, recalling Sammy's warning that the nozzle should never touch the hair, as it could get sucked in, the electricity and high heat could hurt the scalp. So... sorry, Daddy!

Cherry bit her lip, thinking of pressing the nozzle closer, but then she saw Parker staring at her through the mirror, her heart skipping a beat from his sharp gaze.

Her hand trembled, but she quickly thought of a cunning plan, "Daddy! There's a shadow outside the door, I'm scared!"

Parker, already finding the little one's behavior odd, turned sharply to look outside the bathroom. It was dark, and kids often get scared in unfamiliar places. He was about to check for anything suspicious-

His scalp suddenly stung! Then it quickly hurt four or five more times.

"What are you doing?" The man frowned, raising his hand, and just then, a jolt like an electric shock passed through his temple, sending a numbing pain!

"Little Cherry... it's on fire!" Parker saw in the mirror a singed patch on his temple.

And this silly little one had actually pressed the hairdryer's nozzle against his scalp, "Let go! Let go now!"

Fearing she might get electrocuted, he swiftly knocked the hairdryer away and quickly unplugged it.

"Get down from there." The man put the child on the floor, gripping her hands tightly as he asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, really..." Cherry noticed his handsome sideburns were singed just a tad, and it scared her. Seeing him so concerned about her only made her feel more guilty. "Oh no, I didn't mean to, Daddy! Let me put out the fire!" With that, she frantically wrapped a towel around Parker's head.

Parker was on the brink of losing it with her antics. Did she think he wasn't burnt enough?

Her carelessness was just so reminiscent of Tiana!

With a big hand, he gently unwrapped her small ones from around his head, stood up, and splashed some cold water on his face, saying in a calm voice, "Don't worry about me, just check if your fingers are hurt."

"I really don't feel any pain... Daddy Parker, what if your face is ruined?"

Cherry blinked back tears, "I didn't mean to harm your looks, I just wanted..."

She clutched at a lock of hair she had accidentally pulled from his head, too afraid to finish her sentence.