Charlotte slept through the night until the next morning.
When she woke up, her eyes were so swollen that she could barely open them. Samantha applied a cold compress for a while, and the situation improved.
Seeing her behaving as if nothing happened, Samantha still worried and asked, "Charlotte, are you okay?"
Charlotte sat at the dining table having breakfast, knowing what she was referring to. She replied nonchalantly, "Mom, don't worry! I'm fine! I've figured it out. Blood relations don't matter. As long as they like me, and our relationship doesn't change, I'm happy. Besides, I suddenly gained a brother who loves me; I consider it a win."
She had always been carefree.
Seeing that she had come to terms with it, Samantha sighed with relief.
While eating, Charlotte's eyes dimmed suddenly, "My brother has found his daddy, but my daddy hasn't come back. I miss daddy..."
Seeing her like this, Samantha felt an intense heartache. She sat beside her, hugged her, and asked softly, "Would you like Godfather to be your daddy?"
Charlotte didn't understand and looked at Samantha in confusion.
Samantha smiled, "If Mommy marries Godfather, he can be your daddy! Do you like Godfather? Do you want him to be your daddy?"
Hearing this, Charlotte's eyes sparkled.
"Can Godfather really be my daddy?"
Samantha nodded gently.
With her confirmation, Charlotte couldn't contain her joy. She nodded vigorously, banging her small head.
"I want it! Godfather is really good to me. He buys a lot of delicious things for me to eat. I like him the most. I want Godfather to be my daddy... This way, I'll be a child with a daddy too..."
Her greatest desire was for her daddy to always be by her side. Especially after seeing her brother find his daddy, this feeling became even stronger.
Seeing her eager to have a father, and not repelled by Justin, Samantha's heart began to waver.
Maybe, she could give Justin and herself a chance...
Little did they know, their conversation was overheard by Karen outside the door.
Karen tightly held the doorknob, her right hand turning pale due to excessive force.
Veins bulged on her forehead.
Her eyes burned with jealousy and anger.
Had Justin and Samantha gotten together so quickly? Samantha clearly told her that it was impossible between her and Justin.
But now they seemed to be changing their minds.
Heh...
....
Karen adjusted her emotions while standing outside the door before finally entering.
Seeing her come in, Samantha immediately smiled and said, "I didn't know you'd be back today, so I didn't prepare breakfast for you. What would you like to eat? I can make it for you."
Karen pretended to rub her neck, deliberately appearing tired.
"It's okay, I worked overnight last night, feeling a bit tired. I'll go rest in my room for a while. Today is the weekend, do you want to take Charlotte out to play?"
Samantha said, "I'm almost done with the necklace I designed for Miss Stanton! I finished the design this morning, and I plan to take Charlotte out for a walk in the afternoon."
Karen paused her neck-rubbing motion for a moment but quickly resumed.
"Okay! I'll go rest in my room then. Don't call me for lunch. I want to sleep a bit longer."
After saying that, she went back to her room.
After Samantha and Charlotte finished breakfast, Samantha took some toys to the study.
Charlotte obediently played with toys on the side, not making a sound.
Samantha worked attentively.
Working without distraction increased efficiency.
Just before lunch, the design draft was finally completed.
Samantha placed the design draft in the drawer of the room's desk, rubbed her sore eyes and neck, saw Charlotte playing attentively, decided not to disturb her, and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
After Samantha and Charlotte finished lunch, they held hands and went out.
Half an hour later.
The bedroom door opened.
Karen peeked out, looked around to make sure no one was there, walked to the main door, locked it, then went to the study, opened the drawer, and found Samantha's design draft.
The drawer wasn't locked.
The design draft was placed on top of the drawer.
Karen spotted it at a glance.
Taking out the design draft, confirming its correctness, she took out her phone and called Suzy, "Suzy, Samantha's design draft is done. Yes, she's out now."
...
Samantha had just entered the amusement park with Charlotte when her phone in her pocket rang.
The call was from Justin.
This time, she didn't refuse and answered, holding it to her ear.
"Hello!"
Justin asked softly, "Today is the weekend, and I'm off. Do you want to take Charlotte out to play together?"
Samantha looked down at Charlotte. Charlotte was looking at her with anticipation, she asked, "Is it Godfather?"
Samantha reluctantly handed her phone to Charlotte.
Charlotte excitedly said, "Godfather, Mommy and I are at the amusement park. Hurry up and come! I want to play with you."
Justin replied, "Okay! I'll be right there. You and Mommy wait for me!"
After saying that, without giving them a chance to change their minds, he immediately hung up.
"Mommy, Godfather said he's coming right away! That's great, every time we go to the amusement park, it's just Mommy and Brother accompanying me. Today, I finally have Daddy to accompany me."
Charlotte handed the phone back to Samantha, her face beaming with joy.
Her mood infected Samantha.
Samantha couldn't bear to blame her for acting on her own and gently rubbed her head, "Let's play for a while. Godfather will call me when he arrives."
Charlotte vigorously nodded her little head.
This was a children's amusement park.
All the attractions were designed for children.
Charlotte, sweeping away the gloom from the previous night, played happily.
In less than an hour, Justin arrived by car.
Charlotte, seeing him from a distance, was exceptionally happy. She ran over excitedly and hugged Justin's legs, acting spoiled, "Godfather, you finally came! I missed you so much."
Justin naturally bent down and lifted her up, gently wiping away the sweat on her face.
"As compensation, I will accompany you all day today!"
Charlotte experienced the joy of being with Daddy for the first time, happily kissing Justin on the face, "Yay! Godfather is the best!"
Justin gently kissed her soft little cheek.
He liked this little girl who looked exactly like Samantha extremely.
Pointing to a thrilling water ride ahead, Charlotte said, "Godfather, I want to play that. Will you take me there?"
Justin nodded without any hesitation.
With no reservations, he sat with Charlotte on the small and crowded rubber boat.
As the rubber boat slid down from a high point, water splashed everywhere. Justin tightly held Charlotte in his arms, and although his clothes got wet, Charlotte remained completely dry.
Samantha felt touched by his thoughtfulness.
At that moment, her pocketed phone rang.
The call was from Alexander.
She answered, "Alexander."
Alexander plaintively said, "Mommy, I miss you so much! I want to come and play with you and Charlotte. Are you guys at home?"
Samantha glanced at the two people playing joyfully not far away and said slowly, "Mommy and Charlotte are not at home today. You can come over tomorrow!"
Alexander immediately frowned in suspicion, "Not at home? Then where are you? Are you secretly taking Charlotte out to play without telling me?"
Samantha chuckled, "What do you mean by secretly? Do I have to report to you every time I take Charlotte out? Alright, don't be naughty. Be good and listen! I'm a bit busy here. I'll call you back later."
After saying that, she decisively hung up the phone.
Hearing the busy tone on the other end, Alexander threw her phone on the sofa in frustration, pouted his small mouth in grievance, and said angrily to the nearby Ethan, "It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, Mommy would definitely take me and Noah out to play. I hate you. She took Charlotte out to play alone, and I don't know if she'll lose Charlotte."
Ethan, inexplicably implicated. "...?"
***