"Well then, Mr. Monroe isn''t very brave, is he?"


    ir''s eyes sparkled with amusement. "That''s right, Uncle''s not as brave as Little Nina."


    "Mr. Monroe, you''re a grown-up! Losing to a kid is so embarrassing!" she teased, her nose scrunched in mock disapproval.


    ir nodded without hesitation, indulging her every whim. "You''re right, Uncle''s embarrassed. Little Nina is the best."


    "Of course I am! My daddy always says I''m his little princess-the best one!"


    ir pressed his lips together, hiding a smile.


    After a pause, he said gently, "You''re so sweet. I''m sure your dad loves you very much."


    "Obviously!" Little Nina puffed up with pride. "My daddy''s really tall and


    handsome! Way more handsome than Daisy''s dad. But he''s so busy all the time. He never has time to drop me off at preschool, and none of the other kids even know I have a super handsome dad!"


    It was a thought that had been weighing on her, a tiny knot in her heart.


    Just remembering how long it had been since she''dst seen her father made her chest ache.


    "Mr. Monroe, I really miss my daddy."


    Something flickered in ir''s eyes, a shadow of pain.


    He swallowed and spoke softly, "When your daddy finishes his work, he''lle home. You have to believe in him, Little Nina. Give him a little more time."


    "I do believe in him!" Little Nina looked up at ir, her big eyes blinking. "Mr. Monroe, even though I haven''t seen your face, you kind of remind me of my daddy."


    ir''s broad shoulders tensed at her words.


    "But I know you''re not him," she continued. "My daddy''s really, really handsome. And my mom and dad don''t get along. If you were my daddy, my mom would never let you be around her all the time!"


    ir managed a reply. "You''re right."


    Out in the hallway, Briony peered through the narrow opening of the door, watching the man sitting with Little Nina.


    She couldn''t see his face, but something in his voice, the way he spoke, made her think of Stewart.


    Briony quietly closed the door and stepped aside, pulling out her phone. She dialed Cedric rke''s number. "Do you have a moment?"


    "I''m in the middle of clinic hours," Cedric replied. "How''s Little Nina doing?"


    "Her fever''s down. She''s awake now. ir''s with her."


    Cedric paused. "ir''s with her? I didn''t realize Little Nina and ir were so close."


    Briony''s tone was neutral. "Neither did I. For some reason, she seems to trust him; and he seems to know exactly how to talk to her. If ir hadn''t been working with me for less than two weeks, I''d almost suspect they knew each other before."


    Cedric was momentarily lost for words.


    "Dr. rke, can you try to reach out to her dad? Let him know Little


    Nina''s sick and really misses him.


    Maybe he could record a short video for her-just to cheer her up."


    Cedric went silent on the other end. It was a long moment before he answered,


    "That might not be possible..."


    Briony pressed, "Is it not possible, or is he unable to?"


    Cedric hesitated, then said, “He''s not in great shape right now, still recovering. If


    he tried to record a video, I''m afraid Nina would notice something''s wrong."


    Briony fell silent.


    "For now, try tofort her as best you can," Cedric added hurriedly, sensing her questions weren''t over. "I''ve got other patients waiting, so please keep this confidential have to go!"


    The busy tone sounded in Briony''s ear. She lowered her phone slowly.


    Cedric''s evasiveness was in as day.


    It seemed her suspicions had just been confirmed.