Grape fearlessly interacted with the butterflies that were lured into the yard by the flowers, filled with joy.
The butterflies eventually flew away, and Grape tried to keep them from leaving. In her attempt, she stumbled into a warm, broad embrace, catching a faint scent of sandalwood.
A pair of large hands steadied her, and she looked up to see a face as expressionless as an iceberg. With a playful smile, she reached out, hoping to coax a laugh from him.
“Mister, you’re quite intimidating,” she said. Mallory felt a chill run down her spine. “Maybe we should take her away. Leaving her here is too disruptive.”
Dexter’s gaze was heavy as he stared at the child in his arms. “A child barely over a year old can’t cause much trouble.”
“What’s your name?” he asked, holding her hand.
“My mommy said that my eyes resemble grapes, so she named me Grape,” she explained. How thoughtless… Dexter squinted slightly. “Where’s your mommy?”
“She’s working.”
“Did she abandon you?”
“Not at all! My mommy said she had to earn a lot of money so she could find a daddy for me. She’s doing it all for me, not neglecting me,” Grape said, tilting her head.
Mallory was amused and laughed. “Most children over a year old don’t speak fluently, but she’s already very logical. Quite intelligent.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Dexter’s mouth, as if he was thinking of someone. “Where is your daddy?”
“Mommy said that Daddy is in Clusia, but he’s very busy. He won’t be able to come back to see me until I turn eighteen. I’m only a year and a half old now!” Grape sighed heavily, deeply troubled. “There are so many years to go.”
The adults had already understood the situation. It seemed that the child’s father was likely no longer around, which would explain why the child’s mother was resorting to such desperate measures.
Dexter’s voice was somewhat hoarse. He coughed once, avoiding the child. Larry was on pins and needles. He took Helena’s hand. “Let me accompany you to go out and look around.”
Naturally, Helena didn’t want to delay things. Unable to wait for Michael’s response, she had no choice but to go out and look for him. “All right.”
After taking a few steps, she couldn’t help but worry about the child. “Grape…”
Dexter’s eyes were calm. “Go on.”
Grape was quite bold. She sat on the man’s long legs, unable to suppress her laughter. “Mister, you’re really handsome.”
The corner of Dexter’s mouth curved slightly. He had never been praised by a one-year-old child before.
“At such a tender age, how could you possibly know what handsome is?”
“Of course, I know. My mommy is very beautiful, and you’re very handsome. All the attractive people on TV end up together. They call it a match made in heaven!” Grape, the innocent child, loudly asked, “Can you be my daddy?”
Dexter was rendered speechless.
Mallory watched Dexter’s expression, always feeling that he was about to throw the child out any second.
“I’ve never even met your mommy. How could I possibly be your daddy?” Dexter was in an unusually good mood, probably because she was just too adorable.
“My mommy is quite beautiful and very intelligent. You won’t be at a disadvantage,” Grape said, waving her little hand. “I can take you to meet her!”
As she spoke, she was about to leap, clutching onto Dexter’s fingers.
He was uninterested, restless, and with a calm demeanor, he asked, “What if your mommy doesn’t like me?”
“That’s impossible. My mommy likes all handsome men.”
Dexter didn’t know what to say in response.
“But you are the most attractive person I’ve ever seen, so she’s bound to like you.”
Mallory couldn’t help but smile. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone going on a blind date on behalf of their mother. I must say, it’s truly adorable.”
Dexter absentmindedly toyed with her hair strands. The angle was somewhat tricky, giving him an illusion. He momentarily lost focus, his lips turning downward.
Grape winced in pain, looking up. “Mister, you hurt me. You owe me an apology.”
When Dexter lifted his gaze again, the look in his eyes had grown significantly colder.
