Chapter 18 His Daughter

Chapter 18 His Daughter

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Clyde couldn't believe his eyes.

He must be hallucinating.

She was sitting right in front of him, staring back at him.

No way!

Violet. 

Her face, her voice, and her overall demeanor.

It was she!

The woman sitting right in front of him was his ex-wife.

Clyde would never mistake her voice.

He'd never mistake anything about her no matter how many years had passed. 

Yet, she only stared at him, her wide eyes wet with tears.

She neither spoke a word nor answered his question.

Clyde had to confirm again.

He had to make sure it wasn't his imagination tricking him.

So he reached out again, to touch her face-

But rushed footsteps interrupted him.

Then suddenly, three men clad in black leather clothes barged into the room.

Their clothes were dripping wet with water, and their eyes darted across the room in fright as if searching for someone.

Then their gazes fell on Violet at once, and the fright in their eyes faded into relief.

“Thank goodness, you're here!”

“We thought you drowned!”

“Are you alright, Ms. Hayes?”

“Look, she found the girl!”

The bodyguards were literally jumping in joy.

One of them attempted to take Mimi, but Violet wrapped her arms around the girl protectively.

Ms. Hayes?

Who were they referring to as Ms. Hayes?

And who was Violet?

Most importantly, why did the little girl call her Mummy?

Why did she call him Daddy?

“Ah, Mr. Crawford!”

Finally noticing him, one of the bodyguards exclaimed. 

“We're sorry for intruding. We didn't know you're here.”

Their apologies fell on deaf ears as Clyde was lost in the confusing thoughts.

Not only was he confused, he was also shocked,

A shock that brought a strange wariness to his heart.

Violet-

“Violet!!!” An anxious voice, almost familiar, echoed from the hallway.

A second later, Asher Sydney strode into the room. 

The man literally pulled Violet from the floor and hugged her tightly,

Too tightly. 

A gesture that brought more discomfort to Clyde's heart.

What the hell was going on?

Who was he to Violet?

Why was he hugging her so Intimately?

Asher's expression shifted from desperation to relief as he went on hugging her.

He didn't let her go, his embrace, in fact, getting tighter. “You scared me, Vi.”

Then he turned to the little girl, giving her a playful flick on the forehead. “Look at you… what a little troublemaker you are. You've got your mother worried, Mimi.”

The girl pursed her lips. “Uncle Ash, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to hurt Mummy's feelings.”

Asher chuckled, giving her a doting look.

Still holding Violet in his arms, his gaze turned to the bodyguards. “What exactly happened?”

“Mr. Sydney…” One bodyguard looked down, throwing Clyde a hesitant look. “It seems Mr. Crawford saved Mimi.”

It was then that Asher looked at him.

Surprise flashed in his eyes as if he was just noticing his presence.

“Well, look who's here!” He exclaimed. “I thought you left already! Cora said there was an emergency!”

What emergency?

Clyde frowned.

But Asher went on, leaving Violet alone and approaching him. “Thanks a bunch, Buddy. I don't know how you saved Mimi. I'll forever be indebted!”

Asher extended his hand forward for a handshake.

Clyde took it distractedly, his gaze straying to Violet. “My pleasure.”

Seriously, he didn't know how to react.

She was the woman he'd been looking for since five years ago.

She was standing right in front of him, yet he was tongue-tied.

Clyde parted his lips but no other words came out.

Who was Violet to Asher?

Was she his wife?

Did they have Mimi together?

A feeling he'd never felt before clutched at his chest.

Betrayal.

Coupled with rage, Clyde found himself unable to even force a smile.

He didn't even know when they left.

He just stood there like a statue.

Then a thought came to his mind,

In the heat of the moment, Clyde had almost forgotten it.

Maybe it was due to the shock or confusion… or both!

Wasn't Asher getting engaged?

The little girl also called him Uncle, while she referred to him as Daddy,

Which meant…

Mimi was his daughter!

The little girl was his and Violet's daughter.

When?

How?