Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
TESSA
48
+10 Free Coins
Noelle looked at me sheepishly. She definitely knew she was in trouble and was already preparing her excuses. Sol, on the other hand, just… looked away.
I massaged the bridge of my nose. “You’re blind, for god’s sake,” I hissed under my breath, unable to stop myself. “What exactly are you looking away from?”
He scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat.
Before I could decide which of them deserved my wrath first, Ca came running up to me, her small hands pressing against my thighs as she wrapped her little arms around me. My heart softened instantly, but then she peeked past me, her curious little eyesnding on Cade and Arden.
“Ooh! Pretty!” she squealed, her voice filled with delight as she looked at the two of them back and forth.
Before I could move, Ca’s wide, innocent gaze went to Cade. She tilted her head and then said the single word that shattered the silence in the room.
“Daddy?”
Cade’s eyes widened, appearing like his eyeballs might actually fall out of his head. He stood there for a moment, staring at Ca, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.
I reacted before anyone else could, my body moving on pure instinct. “Nope!” I said loudly and quickly. I bent down, grabbed Ca, and gently yanked her little mask back over her mouth and nose.
“Noelle!” I snapped, spinning to where she had been.
But of course, she was gone. So was Sol. Those cowards!
I bit my tongue, feeling Carden’s and Arden’s eyes on me, more specifically, on Ca.
Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
<b>48 </b>
+10 Free Coins
When I finally gathered the courage to look at them, my breath caught in the back of my throat.
Arden’s face had gonepletely soft, her eyes wide with awe. Cade’s hand had reached for hers without him even realizing, and she had taken it, both of them holding onto each other.
At that moment, I knew it was toote.
I could see the realization and recognition written all over their faces. The resemnce was impossible to miss.
I tightened my hold on Ca, who tilted her head up at me with big, questioning eyes.
“Mommy, friends?” she asked, voice muffled by the mask, still unaware of the storm she had just unleashed in this room.
I blew out a breath, closing my eyes for a split second. There was no undoing this now. I couldn’t just pretend she was some random child.
With that, I turned her toward Cade and Arden. I could feel my own heart hammering in my chest as I reached up, undoing the little strings of her mask.
She giggled as it came loose, grinning like she knew she was about to get away with something.
I hesitated for a second. Then I pulled off her cap too, letting her hair spill free.
Ca beamed.
I swore, at that moment, I saw them melt. Arden’s hand flew to her mouth. Cade’s grip on her tightened, and a small smile appeared on his lips.
“Arden. Cade.”
“This is Ca.”
I kissed the top of her head before setting her down on her own two feet.
…
<b>48 </b>
Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
+10 Free Coins
“Ca,” I said gently, brushing her hair back. “These are your aunt and uncle.”
Ca wiggled out of my arms andnded on the floor with a little bounce, her hair falling into her face. She brushed it back with both hands, her wide smile already lighting up the whole room.
“Hi! I’m Ca!” she chirped, vibrating with excitement as she looked between Cade and Arden. “You’re really pretty,” she said to Arden.
My heart tugged a little at the sweetness of her voice. My little baby really sounded innocent. She always made an effort to get to know the people around her.
Just then, Ca suddenly gasped, pping her tiny hands together. “You have a baby in your stomach!”
My eyes widened.
What?
She could… feel that?
Arden wasn’t even showing yet, so there was no way Ca could’ve seen anything. I’d known Ca had a strange sensitivity about her, but this was something I never expected.
Arden’s lips trembled before she slowly knelt down so she was eye level with her. “You’re so precious,” she whispered. “Can you give your aunt a hug?”
Ca nodded enthusiastically and ran right into her arms. Arden caught her, holding her tightly, her eyes squeezed shut.
I stood there silently, feeling strangely emotional as I watched them. I guess seeing the newest, most important person in my life with the one I considered had that title in the past was just too much. It felt like this would have been a normal view if everything had turned out all right back then.
Ca pulled back just slightly, but not enough to leave Arden’s embrace. “Do you like candy?” she asked seriously.
Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
:
Ardenughed softly, her tears spilling over. “Yes. I like candy very much.”
“Good!” Ca said, nodding with approval. “Do you like puppies?”
“I love puppies,” Arden said, smiling through her tears.
Ca gasped dramatically. “Me too!”
<b>48 </b>
+10 Free Coins
Beside them, Cade crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees. “You like puppies, huh?” he asked, his tone soft.
“Yes!” Ca said, spinning toward him. “Do you?”
“Of course,” he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair gently. “I think you’d be very good at taking care of them.”
“I am!” Ca said proudly. “I take care of my dolly every day. Wanna see?”
And just like that, she plopped herself on the floor, pulling the tiny stuffed doll from her pocket and showing it to Cade like it was the most important thing in the world.
Cade yed along perfectly, asking all the right questions about the doll’s name and favorite food. I found myself smiling as I watched them.
For a moment, I could already imagine how they’d be as parents. The soft way Cade’s voice dropped when he spoke to her, how Arden’s hands kept brushing Ca’s hair out of her face so gently.
They were going to be good at this.
Really good.
Arden’s smile wobbled again, and then the tears came harder, her shoulders shaking.
Ca noticed immediately and reached out with both little hands, touching Arden’s cheeks. “Tears are pretty,” she said solemnly. “But pretty must not have
tears.”
17:01 Sun<b>, </b>Sep 7 B…
Chapter 216 Ca, Cade, And Arden
<b>48 </b>
+10 Free Coins
I had no idea where Ca got half the things she said, but they always hit like an arrow straight to the heart.
Arden ced her hand over her chest, sobbing softly. “How are you <i>so </i>sweet?” she asked hoarsely. “How are you so sweet, my love?”
“Seriously,” she muttered, looking up at me with watery eyes. “I love her already. I want a Ca. I want her to be with me.”
Cade chuckled softly, putting a hand on Arden’s back. “We’ll have a little one of our own, too, soon,” he said.
Then, his gaze flicked to me. “Is she Row-”
I cleared my throat loudly, cutting him off before he could finish. “She doesn’t know,” I said quickly.
Arden’s eyes widened a little as realization hit her, while Cade just smirked and shook his head like he’d just confirmed something for himself.
“Daddy?” Ca said suddenly, looking up at Cade again with those big, curious eyes. “You know my dad?”
Cade pursed his lips, fighting back a smile. “You didn’t tell me she had such quick sense,” he said <i>to </i>me.
I sighed, walking over and picking her up before she could ask anything else. I hugged her close <i>to </i>my chest, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Anyway,” I said quietly, “don’t tell him… or anyone. I don’t want anyone to find out.”
“But is she his?” Arden asked softly.
I pursed my lips and slowly turned Ca toward them again.
“From the eyes to the hair,” I said carefully, “it’s already obvious, right?”