Chapter 125
Amber’s POV
+15 BONUS
Alice tugged insistently on my hand. Knowing she would run straight to Julian, I finally let her go.
Despite all the problems Julian and I might have been facing, I couldn’t keep Alice from her father, especially not when she was so happy and excited to see him here.
To diminish my daughter’s joy would cause me great pain. I could only hope Julian felt the same. Though
he seemed to, smiling as brightly at Alice as she was smiling at him.
Once I released her hand, she darted forward, rushing to Julian as I expected. Only, before she could
reach, Olivia stepped in the way, she bent over, so that she was more on Alice’s level, though she still
towered over her somewhat.
Alice stopped in her tracks. I started forward, slowing when I realized Olivia was only introducing herself.
“Hello, ” Olivia said. “I’m Julian’s friend, Olivia p>
If Olivia was only being polite, I didn’t want to pull Alice away too quickly and teach her that it was okay
to be rude. Alice, not knowing Olivia, wouldn’t understand the reason for my rudeness.
“I’m Alice p>
Olivia smiled. Though I was certain she was trying for kind, the smile had a bit of an edge.
I wasn’t sure how Alice would react to Olivia. Not being able to see my daughter’s face as she was turned away from me, I still couldn’t be sure.
“Alice, ” Olivia said. “That’s a pretty name for a pretty little girl p>
Alice paused a moment. Then she said bluntly, “You have lipstick on your teeth p>
Olivia immediately straightened and covered her mouth with her hand. When she lowered it again, her smile had vanished and her brow was pulling together in clear annoyance.
“Well, your hair is full of knots, ” Olivia countered.
Close enough now, I placed my hands on Alice’s shoulders and eased her back.
At the same time, Julian over around Olivia to her side. “That’s enough. She’s only a child p>
Olivia made a “humph” sound, her glare still on my child. “Someone needs to teach that child some manners. Her mother certainly hasn’t p>
“Don’t talk about my mom!” Alice shouted.
“Olivia,” Julian said, more firmly. “That’s enough p>
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Chapter 126
+15 BONUS
His more forceful tone of voice seemed to snap Olivia out of whatever vindictive mood she was feeling for Alice. Her annoyance was gone in a flash, and in its place, she began to pout as she looked at Julian
with her most pathetic doe eyes.
“I was only teasing,” she said.
I didn’t believe her for a moment, but whether Julian did or not, I couldn’t be sure.
Alice looked up at me and then over at Julian. “Daddy p>
Olivia smartly positioned herself away, picking up a nearby conversation with Carla and one of the nurses. Before she turned away though, she made sure to spare a second to glare at me.
Though I only stared back, the feelings of dislike were mutual.
I still didn’t know what she was doing here. Did Julian invite her? But who invited him?
This evening had only begun and already it felt like a disaster. I couldn’t just walk out though, not with all
my employees here. It was my name on the door to the clinic. How would it look if I abandoned everyone who worked for me, when we were supposed to be celebrating?
Julian knelt down and opened his arms. Alice tugged away from me once more and flew into Julian’s
arms, and he hugged her tightly.
“I missed you,” Alice said, and my heart broke a little. If she missed him after only a couple of days, what
would it be like when he had left us for good?
“I missed you, too,” Julian told her. I had known Julian a long time. He could be difficult to read at the
best of times, but in this case, I swore he sounded so sincere that my heart broke twice.
When they pulled away, Anna distracted Alice by pointing out the nearby arcade games. Alice
immediately wanted to try the claw machine. After giving me a knowing look, Anna went with Alice to try her luck, leaving me with Julian.
Immediately, I wished that I had gone to play the claw game, because the first thing Julian said when
Alice was out of earshot was, “About the other night p>