Not One, But Two!

Chapter 31

Valerie huffed and puffed. "What am I doing? Teaching you a lesson, you brat! Her girl's already four years old, and you only know that now? And you're telling me about it now? You must have treated her badly! And yet she still saved my life! Thank heavens she did, but you think this is an achievement? Did you do your job as a father ever since she got pregnant with the child? And you talk about it like it's something to be proud of? Apologize to her!" Still angry, Valerie hurled her plate at him. "Don't just stand there, you idiot!"

Greg felt miffed. "Mom, you have to get one thing straight. I'm the one who got taken advantage of, so why should I apologize to her? I'm the one who got the short end of the stick. I don't even know what my daughter looked like when she was a baby."

"That's a stupid argument! You are a man. She couldn't have taken advantage of you!"

"But she did. She f*cked my five years ago in the alleyway, and she left right away. For five years! I couldn't even find her!" Greg was pitying himself. Is she really my mother?

Valerie stopped in disbelief, but when she noticed how stupid her son was looking, it lit her flames of fury. "And you call yourself a man? A woman got the better of you? I'm getting second-hand embarrassment here. Get out! I don't want to see you. And apologize to Dr. Kain. It's your fault no matter what!"

"How is it my fault?" Greg thought his mother was being a little weird. Did Abigail switch her brains out?

Valerie turned away. "Well, it's your fault for looking so handsome. If you're ugly, she wouldn't have done that to you."

Greg knew whatever he said would be used against him, so he gave up. "Fine, it's my fault. I'll leave. You seem to be in good health. See you around. Hope you'll be in a better mood next time." And then he left.

"Hold on." Valerie stopped him. "Take the girl to me next time. And where is Dr. Kain? I want to thank her."

"No idea. I'm not her keeper." Greg left, ignoring the murderous look his mother was giving him. Heck, I want to know where she is too. With the Kains hounding her, she might be at their place right now, settling a score. He realized he was being concerned about her, and he was reminded of her look of disdain. "I must be mad. Me, concerned about her? She's the last person in the world who would bow down to any kind of intimidation." He went straight back to Alissa's room.

Alissa had just finished video calling Arianna and came back from her little shopping trip when he came back. She fidgeted and grinned at her father.

"What's wrong?" Greg didn't feel angry anymore when he saw his daughter. Ah, my own bundle of joy. And then he hugged the girl.

Alissa felt delighted, but when she thought about the fact that she would leave him soon, she felt sad. "Daddy." She hugged his neck, and her lovely voice melted his heart.

"What is it?"

"I love you, Daddy."

Greg felt warm and fuzzy. In fact, he felt happier than getting a confession from any other girl. "I love you too."

"I have a present for you."

"What is it?" Greg didn't expect her to give him a present, and he looked forward to it.

Alissa slowly took a tie pin out of her pocket and handed it to him. "I've never bought anything for a guy before. I hope you like this."

Greg grinned. "Of course I like it. You're the cutest, smartest girl in the world." Greg kissed her on the cheek. He had a lot of similar tie pins, but he loved this one the most. "Help me wear it?"

"Sure." Alissa felt happy that Greg liked her gift, and her smile melted his heart. She helped her father wear the pin, though clumsily so, and she grinned.

"I'll get someone to make you a meal. Then it's bedtime."

Alissa loved it that her father was caring for her so much, but when she thought of her sister, that happiness was doused a little bit. She puffed her cheeks. "Will you be staying for the night, Daddy?"

"Yeah. You might be scared if I leave you alone. Or I can take you back to Allie's Garden."

Alissa shook her head. "It's fine. I'm used to being alone. Mommy would work through the night sometimes, so I always sleep alone, but not before I finish a few matches. You can leave if you have something to do. I'll be fine." Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Alissa waved him off, but Greg felt sad for the little girl. "Does your mother always work at night?"

"Yeah. Sometimes the ER would call, and she would leave right away." Alissa didn't mind. Even if her mother wasn't around, Arianna was. Moreover, she didn't find anything to be frightful enough. However, it was different for Greg, who did not know that Arianna existed.

He imagined Alissa being all alone in a big house, and he felt heartbroken. "That won't happen again. I'll stay with you no matter what."

Alissa was touched, but she could not have him stay for the night this time. Arianna might come over at midnight, and we have to switch places. She forced a smile. "I'm not used to someone staying with me, Daddy. You should go back after I fall asleep. There's a caretaker here to help me out, and Mommy will come over at night."

Greg was upset that Alissa was rejecting him, but then he knew that he had never been in contact for years, so it was normal that she would feel a bit distant. Well, I do have time with her though. He smiled. "I'll go back after you have your dinner. I'll get your mother to come back, so don't worry."

"Thank you, Daddy." She heaved a sigh of relief. She wasn't someone who was great at hiding her emotions, and it hurt Greg a little. So she doesn't need me.

Greg felt sad that his daughter was acting so mature, and he blamed Abigail for it. What is she doing? Is her work more important than her kid? How can she raise her like this? He tried to call her, but she hung up the moment it went through. She hung up on me? Nobody hangs up on me! She crossed another line! His face fell.

Alissa noticed her parents' silent argument again, and she sighed. "Daddy, can't you just take a step back? She's a lady. It's hard for me to see you guys fight."

Greg paused. "It's hard for you? Why?"

"You are my Daddy, but she's my Mommy. She gave me life, and life has been hard on her, but she has never neglected me. I do want a daddy, but if you can't live in peace with her, she might not like you, and I can't stay with you. You still have Grandma, but she only has me now."

Greg felt saddened all of a sudden. He was reminded of the scene he saw a while ago. Yeah. She only has Alissa left. Her parents and stepsister are monsters. They are no family. How did she even

survive? Greg's gaze became a lot gentler. "I won't argue with her. I'm a gentleman. Besides, she gave birth to you. I have to thank her for this."

"Really?" Alissa didn't believe it. Do adults think kids are stupid enough to believe everything they say?

Greg felt embarrassed that his daughter saw through him. "Ahem, I promise I'll try my best to not argue with her, but you should tell her not to take advantage of me. She keeps a scalpel on her all the time. What if she ends up hurting me? You won't have a Daddy anymore then."

Abigail came in and blurted, "I can get her another one."

Greg was infuriated. See? I wanted to be nice to her, but she just keeps getting on my nerves. Greg wanted to keep his promise to Alissa, so he held his anger down and smiled angrily at her. "What did you say, Abigail?"

"Your hearing is already that bad? Turn right when you leave the room. The otorhinolaryngology department's right there." She put the food on the table.

Oh no. They're gonna fight again. Alissa quickly asked, "What did you bring me, Mommy?"

"Porridge and two eggs."

"What? That's all?" Alissa's face scrunched up. This is just sad.

Abigail crossed her arms. "You have the energy to fight and get yourself hospitalized on just porridge and eggs. If I get you anything better, you're going to get into bigger fights, aren't you?"

Alissa shut up. Abigail might be smiling at her, but for some reason, she felt a chill running up her spine.

"Don't you scare her. If she hadn't saved herself, she would have been taken away. I think it's very brave of her." Greg came to her defense. He thought his daughter did nothing wrong.

Abigail ignored him. Just when she was going to pour the porridge out into a bowl, her phone rang. When she saw who was calling, the look in her eyes changed.