Chapter 164:

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Pierce’s POV

Kelly is sleeping on the long couch while I sit on the single couch across from her. I want to touch her. I want to kiss her, but every time I think about how she hid the truth from me, even after claiming she forgave me, it makes me furious. She made me believe that the child I had grown to love was another man’s. My own flesh and blood doesn’t even know I’m her real father. It breaks my heart.

I keep trying to convince myself that I deserve this—that I hurt her, so this is my punishment—but I can’t ignore the pain.

My daughter almost died. I can’t accept that my daughter had to go through a life-and-death situation before I learned the truth. Why did it have to be like this? She almost died, and I almost lost her without knowing she’s my own flesh and blood.

“Daddy Pierce…” That soft voice interrupted my thoughts.

I quickly walked to her bed and sat on the chair beside it. I caressed her cheek. “You’re awake.”

She looked at me. “Are you crying, Daddy Pierce?”

I touched my cheek and realized she was right. I quickly wiped it away and smiled at her. “No, princess. I’m not.”

She smiled and gently touched my fist. “Does your wound hurt, Daddy Pierce?”

My eyes fell on my bruised fist. I had been so angry and in pain that I punched the wall in the chapel of the hospital. I thought I had already released all my anger, pain, and disappointment, but I was wrong. Every time I look at Kelly, I remember the pain. Was this the same pain she felt when I hurt her? Is she just punishing me for what I did?

“Daddy Pierce…”

“Just Daddy,” I said, smiling at my daughter again. “Call me Daddy, princess. Just Daddy.”

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She smiled and nodded. “Yes, Daddy!”

I gently hugged her. I love my daughter so much. I had already loved her, even before the truth was revealed. And I will never accept it if she ever considers Klay to be her father. If that bastard hadn’t hurt Kelly, would she have allowed him to father my child? Just thinking about it breaks me. I can’t even picture it because the anger in my heart ruins everything before I can imagine it.

“Daddy, did you and mommy fight?”

My lips parted as I looked down at my daughter. “Why would you ask that?”

She looked at her mom, sad. “My mommy’s eyes are sad, Daddy.”

I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what to say. I can’t tell her about what happened when she was unconscious. She’s too young to understand it. Too young to hear about the complexities of the adult world.

“My mommy’s eyes are always sad before we came here, Daddy. But whenever we’re with you, she’s happy.”

I swallowed hard. Guilt was slowly eating me alive. Our daughter noticed it too. I’m sorry, baby. I’m always the reason for your mom’s sadness.

“Daddy, can I ask you something?”

I nodded and smiled at her. “Sure, sweetheart. What is it?”

She glanced at Kelly again before leaning closer to me and whispering. “Do you know my daddy? I mean my real daddy?”

My heart raced as my lips parted. I didn’t know what to say. I could tell her that I’m her real dad, but I didn’t want to confuse or scare her.

“I always see other kids with their mommy and daddy, but I don’t want to ask mommy.”

I looked at her with pain in my eyes. “Why didn’t you ask mommy?”

“Because I feel like my daddy hurt my mommy before.”

My heart ached. I couldn’t take my eyes off my daughter’s curious expression. She was too young and innocent for this.

“W-Why did you think that way?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“Mommy got sick one time, and I heard her crying. She said she regretted loving my daddy.”

I swallowed hard. “D-Did she mention a name in her sleep?”

“Yes!” She nodded. “She said Klay. Is Klay my daddy?”

Anger surged in my chest at her question. That bastard had traumatized Kelly. I clenched my jaw and shook my head, gently caressing her cheek as I looked into her eyes.

“Listen, princess. Klay is not your daddy.”

“But why is mommy angry at him?”

I shook my head. “He’s just someone in your mommy’s past, but he’s not your daddy.”

“D-Does my daddy hate me?”

“No!” I immediately answered, shaking my head. “No, princess. Of course not. Who would hate you?”

She sobbed. “Then why isn’t he visiting me? I don’t know my real daddy. I want to see him.”

I hugged her tightly, comforting her and trying to hide the tears rolling down my cheeks.

She was hiding pain and anger in her heart. I couldn’t help but blame myself for this. I should’ve known. I should’ve felt it the first time I saw her.

I was so stupid for not noticing it—the way she looked at me with that mix of hope and confusion. The happiness whenever she’s with me. I was so in love with Kelly that I failed to see that the strange feeling I had for Snow wasn’t because I was in love with her mother.

“I want to see my daddy! I want to meet him and ask him why he left me and mommy…” She continued crying in my arms.

I want to tell her the truth. I badly want to tell her that I’m her real father, but I don’t want to make that decision alone. She’s just a little kid, and she won’t understand the full situation.

“Shh, hush now, princess. You have a daddy. I am your daddy. I will always be your daddy.”

She looked at me with eyes full of tears. I gently wiped them away as she continued staring at my face.

“If only you were my real daddy, mommy and I would never be sad again.”

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