Chapter 5 Are You My Daddy?

• "Why can't I go in? I heard she brought her date to the company!" A sullen voice came from outside the second before a man in a white suit pushed the door open, and he flew into a rage when he saw an unfamiliar face inside Janice's office. "Who is he, Janice?!"
• Janice furrowed her brows a little and chided, "Fletcher, how many times have I told you to knock before entering my office?!"
• The man in white was Fletcher Doyle, the son of the Doyle Family from Goldshore's Four Waves Chamber of Commerce. When her company was on the verge of bankruptcy, he invested in it and became a shareholder, but who'd have thought he had actually come for her? To make things worse, he was becoming increasingly insatiable lately, and it pissed Janice off.
• "I can't believe you brought your date to the company, Janice. Do you not realize you're making me look bad?!"
• Hell, anyone in this company knew he became the shareholder of this sh*t of a company because of her!
• Daniel narrowed his eyes. He naturally sensed the hostility coming from Fletcher.
• "To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Doyle? You're usually MIA from the company," said Janice as frost enveloped her stunning face. If it weren't for the fact that he had saved her company, she'd have long flown into a rage.
• "How would I learn that you're bind dating behind my back if I hadn't come?!" With that, he turned to Daniel and cussed, "F*ck off while I'm still playing nice, punk."
• Daniel sharpened his gaze in response, and a bone-chilling aura emitted from within him.
• "Doyle, will you stop with the nonsense?!" Janice snapped, and her phone rang just when she was about to flip out.
• Seconds after she answered the call, horror enveloped her face, and she dashed out of her office, leaving the two men to themselves.
• "Janice, where are you going?!" Fletcher shouted toward her before turning to Daniel. "You're dead meat if you ever dare contact her again!"
• With that, he chased after Janice, leaving Daniel behind.
• Daniel furrowed his brows, not because he was bothered by Fletcher's words but was baffled as to why Janice would leave so suddenly.
• Just then, he got a text from Phantom. 'Denise has been kidnapped.'
• Instantly, Daniel's gaze turned sub-zero, and the temperature in the room suddenly dropped to the extreme.
• Very quickly, Daniel, too, left Davenport Trade Center. But he didn't head to the kindergarten and made his way to an abandoned factory outside the suburbs instead.
• He had learned from Phantom's message that the school had dismissed just now, and someone impersonated Janice's friend to kidnap Denise.
• Fortunately, he long had the phantom guards stationed there, and they wouldn't make a move unless it was absolutely dire.
• And now, the b*stards that kidnapped Denise were in the abandoned factory.
• To think someone would target this daughter just as he returned!
• Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!
• Malevolence surged beneath Daniel's raven-black eyes.
• Very quickly, he arrived near the abandoned factory, and he got out of the car at once, jogging in.
• Meanwhile, a van was parked right at the entrance.
• Daniel silent his steps and snuck to the side of a window. He peeked in to find a grubby girl sitting in the corner, wiping her tears away while stifling sobs.
• In an instant, his mind went blank. This is my daughter! She's Evelyn and my child!
• Mixed emotions surged within Daniel as he gawked at the little girl in the corner who looked so much like him until the three kidnappers' voices pulled him back to reality.
• "Chief, what if Tillman calls the cops?"
• "Relax. We'll just off the kid and run away if she dares call the cops."
• "But didn't Boss tell us to keep the kid alive and just put on a show?"
• As the three burly men discussed away, they kept eyeing Denise, who bit her lip in the corner. Tear droplets dangled on her trembling long lashes as she stuttered, "M-Mister, can you… can you please let me go?"
• One of them turned his head around and sneered, "Of course. But only after your mommy comes."
• Outside, Daniel felt his heart shattered, seeing Denise wiping her tears away aggrievedly, not daring to cry out loud, and his gaze at the three kidnappers turned emotionless and even filled with malevolence.
• Anyone who dares lay a finger on my daughter will have to pay the ultimate price!
• Out of the blue, the three kidnappers shuddered simultaneously, having no idea that their death day would be approaching.
• Just then, a ringtone sounded, and one of the kidnappers answered it only to hang up a few seconds later. With that, he got up. "Alright guys, Boss is bringing Tillman over. Get the props ready and bring the girl over."
• At that, one of the other two walked toward Denise, rendering her panic-stricken.
• Bam! The door suddenly came crashing down, sending a thick layer of dust up in the air.
• In the next second, a tall figure ambled in, and the temperature in the space suddenly plunged to the extreme, sending chills down the three kidnappers' spines.
• Very quickly, the kidnappers realized what was up, and they hurriedly grabbed their weapons, threatening the unwelcome guest coldly, "Who goes there? You—"
• Bam! Before the guy could even finish his words, a kick sent him flying, landing on the wall with a heavy slam, coughing out blood before he passed out.
• "Chief!" shouted the other two. They turned around only to find a pair of eyes so impassive that there was not even a sliver of emotion in them.
• It shook them to the core, for they had never seen such a terrifying gaze in their lives. However, just as they were still reeling, Daniel had already appeared before them like a ghost.
• Bam, bam! Following another two booming sounds, the remaining two kidnappers slammed onto the wall like cannonballs and fell to the ground, out cold.
• After dealing with the three, Daniel turned to the little girl still in the corner.
• The impassiveness dispersed immediately, replaced with unparalleled tenderness laced with a hint of panic.
• He, who was as ruthless as Hades a second ago, was now actually somewhat panicking. So much so that even his palms were beginning to sweat, unsure of how to greet his little one.
• Meanwhile, Denise gawked at the man in front of her, her big, round eyes still misty.
• At that, he took a deep breath and pulled the gentlest smile he could as he approached her. "Are you okay, Denise?"
• "A-Are you my daddy?" the child asked softly as she riveted her crystal-clear eyes at Daniel.
• Boom! Daniel jolted as a lump formed in his throat, and the emotions that he had pent up for so long surged wildly.
• Right then, Daniel was at a crossroads. He wanted to tell her he was indeed her father so badly, but he dared not do so, for he feared Denise hated him. He also worried that Janice would cut off his chances of being with Denise entirely if the former disagreed.
• Though he said nothing, Denise's eyes turned red-rimmed with oncoming tears.
• Perhaps it was the blood they shared; she was certain this man in front of her was her father.
• With a pout, she staggered into Daniel's arms and sobbed unrestrainedly. "Daddy… Daddy y-you've finally come looking for me… I'm so scared, Daddy… W-Why haven't you… you come to look for me…"
• She cried miserably, pouring all her grievances and longing out.
• Daniel's heart nearly shattered to bits as he listened to his baby girl's cry, and he held her close to him. He couldn't believe Denise had actually recognized him.
• Meanwhile, Denise buried her face in his shoulder while wrapping her arms around his neck, crying harder by the second.
• Just then, the sound of tires screeching came from outside, and a stunning figure lurched toward them. "Denise, Denise!"
• Janice was rendered stupefied when she saw Denise sobbing in Daniel's arms as soon as she came in.
• Meanwhile, Fletcher pretended to rush inside, only to be rendered stumped when he discovered the three kidnappers were out cold.
• "Mommy…" Denise sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks like a never-ending waterfall.
• At that, Janice hurriedly ran toward the two, but when she wanted to take Denise from Daniel, the child wrapped her arms tightly around Daniel's neck, unwilling to let go.
• "No! I want Daddy to carry me!" insisted Denise firmly, getting away from Janice's hands as she cried.
• Daddy?! Janice and Fletcher turned grim, and they looked toward Daniel with piercing gazes.
• Janice's face was even more so enveloped in frost.
• How had he suddenly become Denise's father when I hadn't said yes?! Could it be… Was the kidnapping his doing?
• Daniel hurriedly explained as he saw through Janice's thoughts. "I heard what your caller said. Plus, I have a bit of a connection after being in the army for so long. So I pulled some strings and located these guys here. I'm not the one behind this."
• Janice locked her brows into a deep furrow after hearing so, still somewhat doubtful.
• Seeing so, Daniel added, "You can ask Denise."
• To that, the little one attested while stifling sobs, "Mommy, it's Daddy… Daddy saved me…"
• It was only after hearing Denise's answer that Janice dispelled half of her doubts.
• Just then, Fletcher strode to them, questioning, "Daddy? Janice, how can this guy be Denise's father?! Weren't you two having a blind date just now?!"
• There were hints of anger laced in his tone.
• He had painstakingly set up such a situation all so that Janice would finally fall for him, but who'd have thought this b*stard had taken the credit?!
• Janice reflexively wanted to deny Daniel's identity. But seeing how Denise cried breathlessly in the man's arms, calling him daddy non-stop, she knew the little one would be distraught if she denied it.
• Besides, Daniel's resume fitted her requirement perfectly. If there wasn't this episode, she would've likely hired him anyway.
• So why not use this opportunity to admit it and escape Fletcher's pestering?
• Thus, she took a deep breath and explained, "You've got it all wrong. He's not my date but Denise's father. He just retired from the army not long ago."
• Fletcher turned grim upon hearing so, his eyes filled with incredulity.
• Daniel, on the other hand, was joyous, for he hadn't expected this to be a done deal just like that.
• Meanwhile, fearing Fletcher would continue to blabber, she cooed to her daughter, "Denise, how about we take Daddy home now?"
• "Okay." Denise looked up, tear-ridden, and nodded with a pout.
• With that, Daniel followed Janice out of the factory with Denise in his arms, disregarding Fletcher.
• Janice had wanted Daniel to drive while she held Denise in her arms, but who'd have thought the little girl would oppose strongly?
• "No, no! I want Daddy!" she shouted while wriggling, reluctance written all over her face.
• Her arms shackled Daniel's neck, unwilling to let go as though her father would disappear again once she did so.
• At that, Janice glared at Daniel with resentment, feeling somewhat glum.
• She suddenly felt as though she had invited trouble to her doorstep, having second thoughts about her decision to hire this guy.
• Meanwhile, Daniel smiled in awkwardness, not daring to say a word.
• He was like a husband who had done wrong right then, not daring to talk back to his wife.
• Nothing about him told people he was the invincible, cold-hearted Hades.
• As Janice drove away, Fletcher stood rooted to the ground, livid with rage. He clenched his fists as he looked indifferently at the three passed-out kidnappers on the ground, fury surging beneath his eyes.
• By the time the 'family' arrived at Janice's apartment complex and parked the car, Denise, no longer wanting to cry, was already behaving unusually thrilled, completely forgetting about her frightening experience earlier.
• She was pretty active while being in Daniel's arms, humming an unknown tune, "Lalala, my daddy has come home, lalala…"
• Daniel, too, was joyous as he looked affectionately at his daughter.
• Janice, on the other hand, was glum as she followed behind the father and daughter.
• She'd be lying if she said she wasn't bothered by the fact that her daughter insisted on being in the arms of a man they both had just met for less than three hours.
• Right as they returned home, Denise immediately dragged Daniel away to play with her, never even sparing Janice a glance the entire time.
• Livid, Janice dove into the kitchen with gritted teeth, venting her frustrations through the kitchen knife.
• Why the hell did I admit his identity?!
• During dinner, Denise, sitting beside Daniel, scooped some food into her father's plate clumsily, making Daniel's heart melt.
• Sure enough, there was a reason people said a daughter was her father's lover from a past life.
• He really wanted to spoil her rotten.
• Meanwhile, Janice stabbed her food with exasperation as she sat across from the father and daughter.
• "What about me? Are you not going to scoop some food onto my plate?" She pouted slightly, her gaze filled with jealousy.
• Her words stumped Daniel, and he could tell she had gotten jealous.
• Then again, he thought she looked pretty adorable like this, rather interesting.
• Denise, on the other hand, hurriedly brought some food to Janice. "Here, Mommy, I'll feed you. Ah…"
• At that, Janice glanced triumphantly at Daniel as she ate from Denise's spoon, leading him to chuckle to himself.
• How has this suddenly become a competition?
• "Come, Daddy, you too. Ah…" Denise suddenly brought another spoonful of food to Daniel, gesturing for him to open wide.
• Stumped, he looked at the spoon, which had been in Janice's mouth a couple of seconds ago, then at the young woman.
• Janice, too, was taken aback, and a hint of hostility laced her face as threat surged beneath her eyes.