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Chapter 10. Shocker

10. Shocker

Sabrina's POV

I poked her sides, and she giggled with delight. "Daddy!!" she squealed, chasing after me, laughter bubbling from her.

I stood up, determined to give that man a piece of my mind. How could he leave such a small child to fend for herself? And then have the audacity to send that woman to fetch her?

I turned to scold him, but my blood ran cold at the sight before me.

Standing there was "My Angel"—Nio—holding Wynter, who was clinging to his legs.

"You had me worried, you know that, little princess?" he said, playfully pinching Wynter's nose.

"Sorry, Daddy! I was just playing, but Aunt Helen came and started scolding me," Wynter replied, her voice trembling on the brink of tears.

Then the truth hit me hard—he already had a daughter. Fear coursed through me, a chilling dread of losing him.

Strange, right? I was terrified of losing someone who wasn't even mine. I glanced at the woman Wynter called Aunt Helen as she stepped in front of "My Angel," kissing him right in front of me.

If my heart hadn’t already been shattered, it broke into a million pieces at that moment. The pain was excruciating as I watched him respond eagerly to her kiss.

I wanted to flee, to find a dark corner and cry my heart out, but it felt like my feet were glued to the ground. So, she really was his daughter, and he already had a girlfriend. I couldn’t be a homewrecker.

Just as I was about to escape, I heard Wynter calling for me. Nio tugged at my arm, forcing me to face him before I could leave.


**** Travis's POV:***

I was engrossed in a meeting while I left my three-year-old daughter, Wynter, in the care of her nannies. Yes, I had to bring her with me; I can't leave her alone—she's just a child.

I've always made it a priority to carve out time for her, no matter how hectic my schedule gets. After all, she's my sole reason for pushing forward.

Wynter is the best daughter anyone could ask for, but I worry because she doesn’t seem to socialize with others. She often remains silent. I've tried encouraging her to bond with my girlfriend, Helen.

If you think she struggles to get along with others, you should know that her behavior towards Helen is particularly rude. She genuinely dislikes her. I've attempted to convince her multiple times to show some respect, but to no avail.

On the flip side, she treats everyone else with kindness, but she has a strong aversion to Helen.

Many of Wynter's beautiful traits come from my late wife, Dennissa. At times, she reminds me so much of her, yet I've had to build a wall around those memories.

I don't want to dwell on the circumstances that led to my loss; that's a story for another time. After losing Dennissa, I constructed a barrier around myself and buried those feelings deep within.

That old version of Travis is gone. The man you see before you now is a cold-hearted CEO who often overlooks others' feelings.

Yet, even a heart as hardened as mine beats for someone, and for me, that someone is my "Princess," Wynter. She is the highlight of my day. I've spoiled her completely, and there isn't a single thing she asks for that I would deny her. She has me wrapped around her little finger.

My Wynter, my reason to live. Everything I do is for her.

I was deep into revising those files—that's my escape. Losing myself in work helps me forget about everything else.

Suddenly, Helen barged into my room without knocking. How many times have I told her not to invade my privacy? Just today, and by tomorrow, I’ll make sure she remembers what happened yesterday.

"Helen, what do you want?" I asked in a flat tone, feeling she didn’t deserve my attention after yesterday's incident.

"Your brat of a daughter is clinging to some stranger," she said. How dare she call my princess a brat? I was seething at her remark.

"Watch your words, Helen. I won’t hold back when it comes to my daughter," I warned her firmly.

Then she did what she does best—manipulating everyone with a shift in her tone. "Honey, I was just worried about her. You know how cruel this world can be. She's just a toddler, and she's clinging to some ugly woman," she said, as she always did.

"You could’ve asked her to come along; I’m sure she wouldn’t have made a fuss," I replied matter-of-factly.

"I tried, but she wouldn’t budge, no matter what I said," Helen said, feigning concern. I knew I had to go and sort everything out.


Helen led me to the pool area and pointed out where Wynter was. I buttoned up my blazer and headed to get my princess.

When I reached the pool, I was shocked to see Wynter playing with some stranger, giggling happily. It's a rare sight for me; she usually doesn't warm up to anyone quickly, not even her nannies.

I figured she must've escaped from her nanny's watch again. No matter how good I hire them, she just won’t stay with them. She prefers her time alone or with me. Seeing her so comfortable with a stranger hit me hard. I made a mental note to thank that woman later; she had long, shiny hair that touched the ground as she crouched down to Wynter's level.

When Wynter spotted me, she rushed over and hugged my legs. "Where have you been, baby? You know you got Daddy worried!" I picked her up and playfully pinched her tiny button nose.

But I could feel someone’s eyes on me from the side. Still, my daughter needed my full attention.

"I wanted to play in the water, but Nanny Ann won’t let me! So when she went for pee-pee, I came to play in the pool," she said in her adorable baby voice.

That made me worry. The pool was at least 7 feet deep, and she had just started her swimming lessons. She can manage in shallow water, but what if she had jumped in? My heart raced at the thought.

"Baby, it’s not safe! You should have taken Nanny Ann or asked me; I could have taken you. Promise me you won’t do it again." I extended my little finger, which she intertwined with hers, a gesture she does every time she makes a promise.

"I promise, Daddy, I would never do that again! But you know, before I could go in the water, Mamma Iris pulled me and asked me not to do it too," she said, pouting adorably.

Wait, what did she just say? 'Mamma who'? Who is this lady my daughter is calling 'Mamma' after just meeting? Wynter usually doesn’t open up to strangers, and calling someone 'Mamma' is a huge deal.

Before I could ask Wynter more about that woman, Helen approached us.

"See, honey, she was speaking to some stranger," she said.

"Daddy!! Aunt Hell scolded me and hurt my hand!" Wynter pointed at her delicate wrist, looking like she was about to cry.

"How many times have I asked you not to hurt my daughter, Helen?" I said, my annoyance bubbling to the surface.

"Honey, I was just worried about her."

"She has her Dad to do that, and dare you hurt my daughter physically or mentally, I will make sure it will be your last day in this world," I warned her, my seriousness evident. Nobody hurts my daughter and gets to live.

"Oh honey, let the bygones be bygones," she said, leaning in to kiss me. I wanted to push her away, but I had to play along until I got the truth out of her mouth, so I kissed her back.

Helen excused herself to take a call, and I turned my attention back to Wynter, eager to learn more about that woman.

"So, Princess, who is this Mamma of yours?" I asked.

"She my Mamma Iris, Daddy! She is beautiful like Mommy (her birth mother), and she loves me too! She said we are friends now," Wynter chimed happily.

"So where is this Mamma Iris of yours?" I pressed, and she pointed towards a woman who had just turned away from us, her brunette hair partially hiding her face as she twirled.

I rushed towards her just as she was about to leave. I grabbed her wrist with one hand and lifted Wynter into my other arm.

As I turned her around, her body collided with my rock-hard chest. She looked up, and I was stunned to find those innocent dark eyes staring back at me—eyes that had been haunting my thoughts for the past two days.

"You!!!"


Author's Note

Well, that was a shocker wasnt it? I would love to know your opinions so far.

Are you enjoying the book? Let me know in the comments.

More excitig things yet to come... Stay Tuned... I love you all


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