chapter 6

A man in a white coat parted the crowd.

Victor's eyes lit up. He struggled on the gurney.

He urged anxiously, "Mr. Green! Teach your doctors! They didn’t even recognize me. They're trying to steal my marrow!"

But the hospital chairman Bale Green ignored him completely.

Instead, he turned and bowed respectfully.

A distinguished-looking couple, arm-in-arm, walked toward us.

I was confused, then Sean spoke calmly, "Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?"

Catherine Weston said to Sean gently, "We came to bring you what you needed. Stubborn boy, you’re too proud to ask your parents for help!"

Catherine then offered me a warm, knowing smile.

Arthur Weston turned to Bale and introduced solemnly, "This is my daughter-in-law. And that little girl is my granddaughter. Proceed with the surgery. Don't delay the child's treatment any longer."

Bale nodded profusely, barking orders. The medical team sprang into action, pushing a screaming, terrified Victor into the operating room despite his protests.

Hours later, the surgery was declared a success.

The doctors said that with careful recovery, Belle would make a full recovery.

A massive weight lifted from my heart.

A few days later, as color returned to Belle's cheeks, Sean, looking slightly flushed himself, handed me a small, red booklet and told me gently, "Belle would be discharged soon. Did the question you asked me still stand?"

I understood immediately and felt a blush of my own.

I muttered, "Of course, it does. It's just… I hadn't had a chance to talk to Belle about it yet…"

Belle was sitting on the bed reading a picture book when she looked up, grinned at me, and said, "It's okay, Mommy! I like this 'Warm Daddy'!"

Sean and Belle shared a conspiratorial glance.

I couldn't help but laugh. He had clearly been working on winning her over.

But with my daughter's blessing, I relaxed, happily changing into the beautiful dress Sean had ready for me.

Back at the house, looking for my household documents, I couldn't remember where my parents had stored them.

I called them, explaining everything that happened.

They were so angry that they almost booked the next flight back to personally deal with Victor.

But when I mentioned Sean's name, a strange silence fell on the line.

I thought they disapproved.

But then, they both sniffled and told me to take good care of him after we were married.

Puzzled, I hung up. Sean, impatient, whisked me off to the courthouse.

Right after we got the marriage certificate, we returned to the hospital.

But Victor was there, looming over Belle's bed with a malevolent expression.

My daughter, who was improving, now looked pale and frightened again.

I shoved him away and screamed, "What are you doing?!"

He was about to retort when he saw the bright marriage certificates in our hands.

His face crumbled instantly.

"Ivy! What are you doing with our marriage certificates with this rogue?"

"Uncle Sean isn't a rogue! He's my daddy now!" Belle yelled, her eyes filling with tears.

I let out a scornful laugh, holding the certificate open for him to see.

He yelled, "What?! Ivy, this is illegal! You can't do this!"

I retorted, "Illegal? I was divorced from you. Stop deluding yourself!"

As he stared in disbelief, I pulled up the copy of the divorce agreement and shoved it in his face.

There, clear as day, was his own flamboyant signature.