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    Fakes were fakes. Emma might be able to act for a while, but Olivia wanted to see if she could maintain the charade for a lifetime.


    One day, Ethan would discover that Emma, whom he believed never lied, was vicious to her core.


    His debt to Lily was far greater than he imagined. How could he have the audacity to ask for reconciliation? Victoria was guilty of


    heinous crimes, but Ethan was equally unforgivable. The person who should apologize with death was not only Victoria but also


    Ethan.


    Ethan sped to Rosewood Haven, his tires screeching as he pulled into the driveway. He rushed inside and took the stairs two at a


    time to the second floor.


    Victoria, hearing his arrival, called out to Emma. "Your Daddy''s here, Emmy! Wake up, sweetheart!"


    Ethan found Victoria sitting by Emma''s bed, her face streaked with tears, her attention focused solely on the distressed pup.


    Emma, hearing her Daddy''s name, opened her swollen eyes.


    "Daddy?" she whimpered, her voice small and uncertain. "Is that really you? Am I dreaming?"


    Ethan moved to her bedside, his expression softening. "It''s really me, Emmy. You''re not dreaming."


    Emma threw herself into his arms, clinging to him desperately. "Daddy! I''m so sorry I made you angry today. I promise I''ll never


    lie again. Please don''t hate me!"


    Ethan stroked her hair gently. "I''m not angry, Emmy. Don''t worry about that now."


    Victoria added softly, “She''s been so upset, Ethan. She felt guilty about lying and was afraid she''d lost your trust."


    Ethan''s face remained impassive as he looked at Victoria, his animosity evident in his amber eyes. He focused his attention back


    on Emma, deliberately ignoring Victoria''s attempt to engage him.


    Victoria, desperate for his attention, caught Emma''s eye and gave her a subtle signal, reminding her of their n. Emma


    immediately understood.


    "Daddy," she said, rubbing her stomach. "I''m hungry."


    Victoria eagerly seized the opportunity. "I''ll have Martha warm up some food right away."


    She struggled to move into her wheelchair, wincing slightly, hoping Ethan would notice and offer assistance. But he remained by


    Emma''s side, not sparing Victoria a nce.


    Victoria''s face fell, but she quickly masked her disappointment. She was confident she could win him back. It was just a matter of


    time and strategy.


    Following Victoria''s earlier instructions, Emma clung to Ethan''s arm. "Daddy,


    please stay and have dinner with me," she begged,


    looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Please?"


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    Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, Emmy. I did promise to have dinner with you earlier."


    He worried that she hadn''t eaten properly since they returned from the mall. She needed to eat well to maintain her strength,


    especially after her recent health issues.


    Ethan retrieved a coat for Emma from her closet and helped her put it on. He escorted her downstairs while Victoria took the


    elevator.


    Once in the dining room, Emma immediately went to pour Ethan a ss of water.


    "Be careful, Emmy," Victoria cautioned, watching her closely. "Don''t spill."


    Ethan waited at the table, his posture stiff and ufortable. Emma brought him the water with both hands, careful not to spill


    a drop.


    “Thank you, Emmy,” he said, taking the ss and drinking deeply.


    Emma sat beside him, visibly relieved that he had drunk the water. Victoria had instructed her to make sure he drank it, though


    Emma didn''t understand why.


    "Mommy, what kind of water was that?" Emma asked innocently.


    Victoria gave her a cold look. "Emmy, don''t you want your Daddy to always be with us? Don''t you want to make sure Olivia Winters doesn''t snatch him away?"


    Emma nodded eagerly. "Yes, of course!"


    "Then trust me," Victoria said, her voice softening. "As long as your Daddy drinks that water, he''ll forgive me. We can go back to the way we were before. Daddy will mark me, be good to me, and even better to you. We can be a real pack."


    The temptation was too great for Emma to resist. She desperately wanted Victoria''s words toe true, for them to be a real family. She unhesitatingly believed Victoria, dreaming of the day her words would be reality.


    Emma, genuinely hungry after the emotional day, began eating the dishes Martha Wilson had prepared. Ethan, though not hungry himself, patiently kept herpany.