Chapter 9 What Spell Did She Cast?

• By the time Shaun returned home, it was already the next morning.
• Having gone without sleep the entire night, he didn't look too good.
• Pamela Medina, the housekeeper, took his coat with a concerned expression on her face.
• "Mr. Shaun, you've worked through another night, haven't you? I've made some grits. You should eat some before you go to bed."
• Shaun responded with a nod. He headed toward the dining room as he asked, "Where's Bianca? Has she eaten breakfast?"
• Pamela sighed deeply at the mention of Bianca.
• "I was just about to tell you. Miss Bianca woke up early, refused to eat breakfast, and locked herself in her room. No matter what I said, she wouldn't come out. I'm not sure if she fell back asleep or is just sulking in there."
• Shaun stopped in his tracks.
• He asked, "She didn't eat breakfast?"
• "No. She didn't drink her milk last night either. If she skips breakfast again, she'll be starving."
• Shaun frowned and turned around to head upstairs.
• When he reached Bianca's door, he knocked, then he tried the handle.
• It was locked.
• Shaun found the situation tricky. He knocked again.
• "Bianca, open the door. Daddy's home."
• No response.
• He waited briefly, and his frown deepened.
• "Bianca, be a good girl and open the door. I heard you didn't drink your milk last night or eat breakfast this morning. Daddy's worried about you."
• Still, silence.
• Shaun started to panic.
• "Don't do this to me, Bianca. At least let Daddy know you're safe."
• After a while, the soft bleating sound came from inside—a sheep toy's squeak.
• It was Bianca's favorite plush.
• Shaun figured the little girl didn't want to talk to him but also didn't want him to worry, so she squeezed the toy as a response.
• Shaun relaxed a little, but he still found the situation troublesome.
• Does that mean his daughter was still upset with her?
• Massaging the center of his brows, he spoke again, this time with a tone laced with fatigue and resignation.
• "It's been a whole night. Are you still upset?"
• He'd spent the entire night at the company, only to come home and face this little girl's tantrum. It was wearing on him.
• Once again, silence greeted him. Bianca wasn't in the mood to respond.
• Shaun was at a loss for words.
• When this little girl got mad, nothing could get through to her.
• He suddenly recalled the last time she'd thrown a fit. She had sulked for an entire month and ignored him completely.
• Then one day, she snuck out of the house unnoticed. It started raining, and she got soaked.
• Rather than come home, she huddled in the pavilion in the garden and fell asleep on the bench.
• By the time Shaun found her, she had a high fever.
• Before she recovered from her feverish haze, the entire estate was in chaos for three days.
• Just remembering that incident made Shaun's heart race with fear, like a warning bell ringing in his head. He couldn't let something like that happen again. Shaun started to soften his stance.
• "Bianca, are you upset because of what happened yesterday? Daddy already apologized. Isn't that enough? At least talk to me and tell me what I should do, okay?"
• Inside the room, Bianca sat on her bed, hugging her stuffed lamb. Finally, she glanced toward the door.
• After hesitating for a moment, she slowly slid off the bed and dragged herself to the door, cracking it open just slightly.
• When Shaun saw her unhappy little face, he asked gently, "Bianca, tell me. What can I do to make you feel better?"
• Bianca looked down, her lips stubbornly pressing together. It was difficult to tell what was going through her mind.
• All of Shaun's patience had been spent on this precious daughter of his. He coaxed her tirelessly.
• "Are you upset because of that, lady? I promise to be nicer to her from now on, okay?"
• Bianca's expression shifted slightly, and she finally spared him a glance.
• She lifted her eyes, moved her mouth, and squeezed out a few words.
• "Go apologize."
• Shaun's expression froze.
• Apologize to that woman? No way!
• After a brief silence, his voice became slightly more rigid, and he said, "Pick something else. Anything but that."
• Bianca's face darkened. Her mood soured, and she tried to shut the door again.
• She was making it very clear: if he disagreed, she would rather starve herself!
• Shaun found the situation trickier to handle. He quickly caught the door before she could close it. Shaun called out, "Bianca!"
• Bianca wasn't listening. She used all her little strength to push the door shut, determined to have her way.
• Shaun knew his daughter was stubborn, but he had never seen her this stubborn.
• Everyone says you can't win against your own child. In Shaun's case, there was nothing that could stand against his daughter.
• In the end, he surrendered once again.
• "Alright, alright! Daddy will apologize to her, okay?"
• Bianca paused. She looked up to check if he was serious.
• Shaun sighed in defeat.
• "She should be visiting Great-Grandfather to treat him later this morning. I'll apologize then, alright?"
• Bianca's gloomy expression instantly brightened; her eyes lit up with a sudden sparkle.
• She didn't say anything, but she lifted her pinky and signaled to Shaun to engage in a pinky swear.
• Shaun was overcome with complicated emotions.
• Was she worried that he would go back on his word?
• His temple throbbed as he reluctantly hooked his pinky with hers, sealing the promise.
• "Can we eat now? Daddy worked all night and hasn't had anything. Will you keep me company?"
• Bianca nodded and finally stepped out of the room.
• Shaun scooped her up in his arms and carried her downstairs, reflecting as he went.
• It seemed like he would be wrapped around this little girl's finger for the rest of his life.
• After breakfast, Bianca couldn't sit still. She tugged on Shaun's finger, pulling him toward the second-floor collection room.
• Shaun smiled knowingly. She was looking for a gift for Whitney.
• Watching his daughter excitedly scan through the shelves, Shaun couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt.
• Had that woman put some sort of spell on his daughter?
• They had only spent a few hours together yesterday, so why was Bianca so protective of her? Could it be natural chemistry?
• A trace of absurdity and irony flickered in Shaun's eyes. His eyes grew silently cold.
• Bianca was treating her so kindly, yet that woman was so heartless to the little girl!
• ...
• "Achoo!"
• As soon as Whitney stepped out of the dining room, she sneezed.
• The boys looked at her with concern and asked, "Mommy, are you catching a cold?"
• Whitney rubbed her nose and said, "Not really, but my nose just got itchy all of a sudden."
• She glanced at the time and said, "Mommy's going to get ready. I need to go treat Caden. Do you want to come with me or stay home?"
• The two little boys answered right away in unison. "We're coming with you!"
• They were Whitney's little helpers, as well as bodyguards.
• Especially in this dangerous Marshall household, they had to be on guard, making sure no one bullied their mother.
• After changing her clothes, Whitney and her two cool little bodyguards headed straight for the main house where Caden lived.