Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
It seemed Ginger hadn’t spoken a single truthful word.
Despite her clear resemblance to her mother, she stubbornly insisted that she looked like her father!
In truth, she bore no resemblance to Caleb whatsoever.
Even Timothy started considering the possibility that Caleb might not be Ginger’s biological father after all
Moreover, there were cases where individuals shared the same name.
Ginger couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “My mommy says it’s not safe to be too honest outside, or bad people might snatch you!”
“Your mommy taught you that?”
“Not exactly. My mommy always taught me to tell the truth. I just sort of figured this out on my own. When I talk silly, it confuses the bad guys, like on TV.”
Timothy couldn’t suppress a chuckle: Ginger seemed quite intriguing.
He glanced at Heath. “Could you arrange for the hotel to send some food up? Oh, and some extra snacks too.”
Ginger’s eyes brightened, and she spoke in a sweet tone. “Thank you, kind mister, my tummy happens to be hungry.”
Before long, a hotel staff member rolled a small cart over, filled with snacks that children enjoyed.
Ginger sat up eagerly, her gaze fixed on the treats, even licking her lips in anticipation.
Timothy grinned. “Feel free to dig in.”
Ginger reached for a pastry but hesitated briefly. “Kind mister, I’ll just have one, okay?”
“Help yourself to as many as you’d like.”
Ginger couldn’t resist approaching and taking a slice of cake, holding it delicately as she nibbled obediently, reminiscent of a small squirrel.
Timothy sat back on the sofa with Ginger beside him, holding onto the cake box. Her neatly braided pigtails were slightly undone, with wisps of hair framing her small ears.
Timothy observed silently as she indulged in the cake, frosting quickly adorning her nose and cheeks, giving her a kitten¨Clike appearance.
As a bit of a neat freak, Timothy felt a bit uneasy seeing the frosting on her face.
He casually passed her a wet wipe. “Here, clean up a bic
Looking up at him, Ginger’s smile was radiant, her almond¨Cshaped eyes narrowing slightly into a line.
Timothy was briefly taken aback; Ginger’s smile seemed to penetrate through him, instantly melting his hardened heart.
Ginger approached him cautiously, her small face tilted toward him as though silently asking him to clean it for her.
Despite his usual composure, Timothy found himself oddly flustered at this moment.
He awkwardly uttered. “You can handle it yourself.”
Ginger clumsily placed the cake box down and reached for the wet wipes in his hand, slowly cleaning the vanilla cream from her face.
However, unable to see where the cream was, she unintentionally spread it further across her face.
Timothy furrowed his brow as he reached for another wet wipe, carefully cleaning her face.
Just then, Caleb barged in through the door. “Tim, why did you call me up here? Hey¨Cwhat’s this little thing doing by your side?”
“You’re the one who’s the ¡®thing¡® here!”
Upon hearing the reprimand, Ginger immediately pouted and turned away, her eyes filling with tears as she glanced at Caleb.
Observing Ginger’s tearful expression, Timothy frowned and turned to Caleb. “You have some explaining to do.”
Moments ago, Timothy had dismissed the similarity in their names as a mere coincidence.
But now, it seemed increasingly likely that Ginger was here specifically to find Caleb.
Caleb was utterly bewildered. “Explain what, Tim? Is this your secret daughter?”
Nonetheless, how could she bear such a striking resemblance to Mia?
Hadn’t Mia passed away four years ago?
At the mention of a “secret daughter”, Ginger grew flustered. “I’m not a hidden child!”.
Timothy shot Caleb a piercing glare. “She seems to be searching for you. Care to explain?”
“Searching for me? That can’t be. She must be looking for you. Can’t you see the resemblance?”
Timothy’s expression darkened as he looked at Ginger. “He’s Caleb, Are you sure he’s the person you’re looking for?”
“Yes, he’s my daddy!”
Ginger’s revelation left Caleb stunned, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the couch.
His expression resembled that of someone who had just discovered two lines on a pregnancy test. appearing utterly innocent.
After a brief moment, Caleb eventually composed himself. “Tim, she’s not my daughter. It’s impossible!”
“She’s here looking for you. How can it be a mistake?”
“But she isn’t mine, I assure you.”
Ginger couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.
She cried out, her voice a swirl of both anxiety and sadness, “Daddy, is it because I’ve been naughty that you don’t want me anymore? But I’m a good kid! Wah…
Her sweet voice was now tinged with sobs.
Timothy couldn’t help but sympathize with her. His gaze turned cold as he stared at Caleb. “You’d better think carefully before you speak. A real man takes responsibility.”
“Damn it, she’s not even my daughter. What responsibility should I take? Embrace fatherhood with open arms?” Caleb pondered to himself.
He was completely baffled, his gaze shifting helplessly toward Ginger. “Look, kid, you can’t just claim someone as your dad out of nowhere.”
Ginger wiped away her tears, looking pitiful with droplets forming near her eyelashes.
Her voice trembled with emotion, her words tinged with a hint of nasal tone, “But you’re my daddy!”
“Which bastard… oh, sorry.”
Timothy retracted his foot, his voice calm as he said, “Please don’t use inappropriate language in front of her.”
— at Ginger with a gentle expression. “Come on, sweetie, tell me, who told you that I’m your daddy?”
“My mommy.”
“And who is your mommy?”
Timothy, too, found himself somewhat taken aback as he glanced over, pondering who Ginger’s mother might be.
Did she bear a resemblance to Mia as well?
Ginger blinked innocently. “My mommy’s name is Little Fairy.”
A moment of silence enveloped the room.
Timothy’s lips curled into a faint smile, Ginger was indeed an unpredictable kid: you never knew what she would say next.
Feeling exasperated, Caleb pressed on, “I meant your mommy’s actual name.”
“That’s her real name,” Ginger insisted.
Caleb couldn’t help but sigh, casting a glance at Timothy. “What should we do?”
Who in their right mind would choose such an unusual name like “Little Fairy”?
Turning to Ginger, Timothy asked, “Did your mommy tell you to say this?”
Ginger nodded obediently.
Feeling somewhat helpless, Caleb added, “But if you don’t tell me your mommy’s real name, how am I supposed to find her?”
“But Daddy, don’t you remember mommy?”
Caleb gazed into Ginger’s teary, wide eyes and reluctantly responded. “If you don’t tell me her name. I won’t be able to remember.”
With a huff, Ginger muttered, “Meanie!”
Furious, she grabbed the half¨Ceaten cake nearby and forcefully smashed it onto Caleb’s face.
Caleb let out a startled shout, his vision obscured by the cake covering his eyes.