Chapter 26
FAR FROM ROYAL GARDEN VILLA, DENMARK
“Mom, Mom…” Seraphinaana murmured with tears in her eyes as she slept.
Kaelan, standing beside her bed, heard Seraphinaana and felt his breath tighten. A deep sadness flashed across his eyes, reminding him of the reality that Seraphinaana longed for her mother.
He leaned forward, lost in thought. It wasn’t that he had never considered finding a mother figure for Seraphinaana to compensate for her lack of maternal love. However, every woman he had introduced to Seraphinaana, including Emily, hadn’t gained her approval.
“Do I have to…”
“Wuuuu…” Seraphinaana let out a weak cry, abruptly interrupting Kaelan’s thoughts.
“Mom, I want mom,” Seraphinaana demanded, her voice filled with desperation.
Kaelan quickly lifted his daughter into his arms, comforting her, “You’re awake. Dad is here, don’t be
afraid.”
Seraphinaana raised her head and cried bitterly.
“Dad, I want mom. Go and find mom, okay? All the children in kindergarten have mothers, but I don’t.
Where is my mother? Why doesn’t she want me? Is it because I’m not a good girl?”
Kaelan looked at his daughter’s sorrowful and pitiful expression, his heart breaking. The pain he felt was
worse than anything else.
He hugged her tightly and gently patted her back, trying to console her.
“Who said Seraphinaana is not a good girl? Seraphinaana is the best,” Kaelan reassured her.
Seraphinaana shook her head and pushed Kaelan away, her sadness still overwhelming her, “You are lying!”
Kaelan’s heart raced with anxiety as he tried every possible means to placate Seraphinaana. Alas, no matter what he said, she sobbed relentlessly, clamoring for her mother.
Inescapably vexed, he found himself at wit’s end, bewildered and exasperated, incapable of resorting to scolding or yelling. He could only struggle in misery and utter confusion.
Overwhelmed by his daughter’s sobs, Kaelan’s heart ached with concern, worried for any possible
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Chapter 26
mishap. In a moment of desperation, he gave in to her demand, “Honey, please don’t cry. Dad promises to bring your mom back.”
The promise seemed to have an effect as Seraphinaana gradually stopped crying, her emotions slowly calming down. She questioned Kaclan, still skeptical.
“You’re lying because you always say that and never bring my mom,” Seraphinaana accused.
Kaelan clenched his teeth and insisted, “I’m not lying at all. I promise that I will bring your mom back, no matter what it takes.”
Seraphinaana wiped her tears and finally smiled, her trust in Kaelan evident.
“You’re the best dad in the world, and I believe in you,” Seraphinaana said, hugging him tightly.
Kaelan returned her embrace, whispering, “Yes, my sugar candy. Dad will keep his word this time.”
“But for now, you have to go back to sleep, or else you’ll become an ugly girl,” Kaelan playfully warned, shifting the mood from worry to joy.
“Alright, Dad,” Seraphinaana agreed. She jumped out of his arms and ran to a nearby open cupboard where her fairy tale books were kept. She grabbed one and returned to Kaelan.
“Recite this story tonight,” Seraphinaana requested, lying on top of him and handing him the book. She hugged him tightly, her small hands trying to envelop his large frame, and rested her head on his chest.
“Of course, my chocolate candy. I’ll recite it,” Kaelan responded with a smile. He opened the book, ready to read the story, and turned on the air conditioner.
AFTER A WHILE
“And then they both lived happily ever after,” Kaelan concluded the story. He closed the book, only to
realize that Seraphinaana had fallen asleep long ago, not responding to his words.
He gently placed the book on the nearby table and switched on the lights. Carefully, he covered Seraphinaana with her small–sized blanket, which was lying beside him on the bed.
As he settled himself with Seraphinaana peacefully resting on him, her words echoed in his mind. He
couldn’t shake off those thoughts.
After hesitating for a while, he reluctantly reached for his phone, which was nearby.
However, as he reached for his phone, he realized that he didn’t have Seraphina’s contact information saved. It struck him that he hadn’t paid attention to such details. If it hadn’t been for the divorce certificate, he might have almost forgotten that Seraphina was his ex–wife.
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mishap. In a moment of desperation, he gave in to her demand, “Honey, please don’t cry. Dad promises to bring your mom back.”
The promise seemed to have an effect as Seraphinaana gradually stopped crying, her emotions slowly calming down. She questioned Kaelan, still skeptical.
“You’re lying because you always say that and never bring my mom,” Seraphinaana accused.
Kaelan clenched his teeth and insisted, “I’m not lying at all. I promise that I will bring your mom back, no
matter what it takes.”
Seraphinaana wiped her tears and finally smiled, her trust in Kaelan evident.
“You’re the best dad in the world, and I believe in you,” Seraphinaana said, hugging him tightly.
Kaelan returned her embrace, whispering, “Yes, my sugar candy. Dad will keep his word this time.”
“But for now, you have to go back to sleep, or else you’ll become an ugly girl,” Kaelan playfully warned, shifting the mood from worry to joy.
“Alright, Dad,” Seraphinaana agreed. She jumped out of his arms and ran to a nearby open cupboard where her fairy tale books were kept. She grabbed one and returned to Kaelan.
“Recite this story tonight,” Seraphinaana requested, lying on top of him and handing him the book. She hugged him tightly, her small hands trying to envelop his large frame, and rested her head on his chest.
“Of course, my chocolate candy. I’ll recite it,” Kaelan responded with a smile. He opened the book, ready to read the story, and turned on the air conditioner.
AFTER A WHILE
“And then they both lived happily ever after,” Kaelan concluded the story. He closed the book, only to realize that Seraphinaana had fallen asleep long ago, not responding to his words.
He gently placed the book on the nearby table and switched on the lights. Carefully, he covered Seraphinaana with her small–sized blanket, which was lying beside him on the bed.
As he settled himself with Seraphinaana peacefully resting on him, her words echoed in his mind. He couldn’t shake off those thoughts.
After hesitating for a while, he reluctantly reached for his phone, which was nearby.
However, as he reached for his phone, he realized that he didn’t have Seraphina’s contact information saved. It struck him that he hadn’t paid attention to such details. If it hadn’t been for the divorce certificate, he might have almost forgotten that Seraphina was his ex–wife.
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Kaelan closed his eyes, attempting to calm his overwhelming thoughts, and made a resolution to himself.
“Seraphina, for Seraphinaana’s sake, I’ll give you a chance.”
NEXT MORNING, NEW YORK CITY
When Seraphina woke up, her immediate thought was to call Kaelan. Now only Kaelan could tell her Seraphinaana’s condition. Granny Agatha had provided her with Kaelan’s number when she regained her senses after the incident.
Her heart skipped a beat as she dialed the number.
It was the first time she had called him since her release from prison. She couldn’t tell if she was nervous or scared.
With each passing second, waiting became torment. Seraphina held her breath and nervously pinched the corner of her clothes.
“Sorry, the person you dialed is not answering. Please try again later,” the automated voice announced.
Seraphina didn’t give up and called again, but there was still no answer.
“It’s alright, try again,” she reassured herself.
Finally, on the sixth attempt, the call connected.
“Hello, who are you looking for?” a tender and cute voice greeted her. The little girl on the other end was
well–mannered.
Seraphina was stunned. Her heart raced.
An electric current seemed to surge through her body, from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. It exploded within her, leaving her blood boiling.
It wasn’t Kaelan’s voice, but she knew who it was without having to guess.
“Seraphinaana…” Seraphina blurted out excitedly, her hands gripping the phone tightly.
But just as she called out her daughter’s name, the phone suddenly hung up.
Embarrassment flooded Seraphina’s face as she hurriedly redialed the number.
In the next moment, a message appeared on her screen: “I’m sorry, but the person you’re calling has turned off their phone.”
As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, Seraphina felt her heart freeze.
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She felt like collapsing, her eyes filled with anxiety, and tears welling up inside.
Why? Why did you hang up? Why did you turn off your phone?
Seraphina didn’t give up. She mechanically dialed the number repeatedly until her phone’s battery ran low. After charging her cellphone, she guarded it closely, fearing she might miss a call from her daughter.
Yet, from morning until night, she received no call from Kaelan. His phone remained turned off.
In despair, Seraphina slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at the pitch–black night sky outside the
window.
She refused to believe that Seraphinaana had hung up on her. It must have been Kaelan. Only someone with a cold heart like him would do something so cruel.
“Kaelan Winters!” She uttered angrily.
Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang. When she saw the familiar number flashing on the screen,
her heart skipped a beat.
“Seraphinaana…”
“Don’t call me again.” Kaelan’s voice was low and cold, not angry.
Seraphina felt a pang of disappointment, but quickly composed herself and got straight to the point. “How is Seraphinaana’s recovery? How is she doing?”
Kaelan’s eyes darkened as if he had anticipated her call. “How did you know Seraphinaana was injured? Did you go to my house?”
“Yes,” Seraphina admitted, not denying it.
“Seraphina!” Kaelan’s anger surged, his black eyes narrowing. He warned her in a dangerous tone, “If
you ever go to the Winters family to inquire about Seraphinaana again, I will immediately move away
with her. You won’t see her for the rest of your life.”
Seraphina’s heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She immediately relented, not wanting
Kaelan to take such drastic measures.
“No, please don’t leave with Seraphinaana. I promise I won’t interfere or inquire anymore. I will do
whatever you ask and comply with everything.”
Kaelan felt a slight sense of relief, but he didn’t soften his heart.
“Seraphina, I’ll give you a chance. If you want to see Seraphinaana, find a way to come to Denmark, Christopher Manor.”
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Chapter 26
With that, Kaelan ended the call, leaving Seraphina feeling a mix of hope and apprehension. She now had an opportunity, but she also knew it wouldn’t be easy.
