Samantha couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment in her heart as she turned around and walked into the kitchen.
Alexander held a grudge against Ethan for bullying Charlotte, spreading his arms to block his way, staring at him with resentment.
"Daddy, Charlotte is my sister. How can you treat her like this? Stay away from her in the future. If you bully her again, I won't recognize you as my daddy."
Noah also joined in, with a stern face, saying, "Alexander is right. We absolutely won't allow anyone to hurt Charlotte, and that includes you."
Watching his two sons protect Charlotte like this, Ethan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
In their eyes, he, as their father, was inferior to a sister without any blood relation.
It was truly a failure.
Samantha prepared dinner but didn't sit down to eat with them. Instead, she held Charlotte and was about to leave.
It felt like an invisible wall had been erected in front of him.
An unspoken distance had opened up between them.
Ethan's throat tightened, a inexplicable pain in his heart.
Alexander also sensed her distancing and nervously held her hand, "Mommy, you haven't eaten yet? Please eat before leaving."
Noah was also anxious, "Alexander is right. Eat first before leaving!"
Samantha shook her head, "No need. Charlotte is not a part of the Steele family. It's not suitable for her to stay here. I'll take her back, and I'll manage dinner for us later."
After saying this, disregarding Alexander and Noah's attempts to persuade her, she resolutely left.
Watching her retreating figure, Alexander's eyes turned red with distress.
Noah was also extremely uncomfortable. There were a thousand words he wanted to say, but in the end, he said nothing.
Ethan's thin lips pressed into a straight line, his fingers gripping the spoon turned slightly pale due to the force.
Alexander glared at Ethan fiercely, "You bullied Mommy and Charlotte. I hate you..."
After saying this, he ran upstairs.
Noah kept his head down, silent, and left.
Leaving only Ethan sitting alone in the dining room.
His icy eyes were tinged with a hint of red.
He was well aware that he shouldn't treat a child like this.
He was well aware that if he wanted to be with Samantha, he had to accept her daughter.
However, every time he saw her daughter, images of Samantha entangled with other men involuntarily surfaced in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel jealous.
This was a river that he could never cross between him and Samantha.
Unsolvable.
Unless...
...
The BMW drove smoothly on the road.
Charlotte lay on the back seat, covered with a thin jacket.
Samantha's eyes were slightly red with a sense of grievance, and she fought hard to hold back the tears.
Upon reaching the destination, Samantha parked the car, preparing to carry Charlotte out.
Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded behind her.
"Samantha..."
Samantha's body tensed, turning stiffly.
Not far away, Justin stood under a street lamp, his thin lips slightly raised, looking at her with tenderness, his eyes filled with concern and worry.
The dim street lamp cast a soft glow on him.
Making him look particularly gentle.
Just like the gentle and considerate brother from four years ago.
At this moment, the restraint that Samantha had been trying so hard to maintain crumbled, and the pent-up grievances surged uncontrollably.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Seeing her cry, Justin's heart tightened, and he hurriedly walked over, anxiously wiping away her tears, "Why are you crying? Did I startle you by speaking suddenly?"
Samantha shook her head as she sobbed.
No one could understand her current feelings.
After enduring so much mistreatment and disdain, Justin's concern felt exceptionally precious and heartwarming.
Over the years, she had endured countless grievances without caring.
But she couldn't tolerate her daughter being mistreated.
Especially by Ethan.
She didn't know why she felt this way.
When others gave Charlotte the cold shoulder, she didn't mind. But when it happened with Ethan, it felt particularly uncomfortable.
Justin hugged her, gently patting her back, "Don't cry, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side. I will always protect you."
His words intensified the grievances in Samantha's heart.
A ridiculous thought even crossed her mind: Why wasn't it Ethan saying these words to her?
Samantha pulled away from his embrace, creating some distance, and sniffed, "I'm fine! I've just been a bit low-spirited these past few days. I'll be fine in a couple of days."
She was about to bend down to pick up Charlotte, but Justin stopped her.
"Let me do it! I'm a man, I'm stronger than you."
Without waiting for Samantha's agreement, he picked up Charlotte on his own.
Charlotte was awakened by his movements. She opened her sleepy eyes, saw Justin, and smiled happily. She tightly hugged Justin's neck, laid her head on his shoulder, and mumbled, "Godfather, can you be my daddy?"
After saying that, she fell back into a deep sleep.
Unaware of the impact, her unconscious words caused a storm in Justin and Samantha's hearts.
Justin kissed her forehead gently and said tenderly, "Alright, I'll be your daddy!"
Samantha thought he was comforting Charlotte and laughed, "For these four years, her biggest wish has been to see her daddy. When she found out that Ethan wasn't her daddy, she cried a lot. She wants everyone she meets to be her daddy. Don't take it seriously."
Justin stared deeply into her small face and said solemnly, "Samantha, let me take care of you. I'm willing to be Charlotte's daddy. I promise you, I will love her like my own daughter. If you're worried that we might neglect her once we have our children, I can give up having my own children."
He only wanted to be with Samantha. This was the biggest wish of his life.
Faced with his sincere confession, Samantha's heart wavered.
Charlotte longed for a father, and Justin was genuinely good to her.
Perhaps marrying Justin could be a good choice.
However...
"No, you and Karen are about to get married. I can't ruin your relationship..."
"I've clarified everything with Karen! What happened between her and me was just a misunderstanding, and it was out of spite at that time. From the beginning to the end, I've only loved you."
Samantha looked at him in shock, "You've clarified everything?"
Now she finally understood why Karen's eyes were red and swollen when she woke up this morning.
It was for this reason.
Justin nodded and looked deeply at Samantha, "Samantha, let me take care of you and Charlotte, alright? We missed each other four years ago, and I don't want to miss it again. I don't care about the past; I only care about the future."
Samantha's feelings were indescribably complex. Facing Justin's affectionate gaze, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
But with her current relationship with Ethan, she dared not accept immediately.
"Let me think about it..."
Even if she wanted to be with Justin, she had to resolve her relationship with Ethan first.
Her answer ignited a glimmer of hope in Justin. His smile widened.
"Okay, I'll wait for you... no matter how long it takes, I'll wait..."
***