The Unveiled Rose

Her bedroom was spacious. It was decorated as if it had leaped straight out of a fairy tale pristine and lavish.

She was dressed in a princess gown with multiple layers, clutching a long-eared bunny plushie. She was sitting on the carpet with her back to the door, silent as night. Reuben was desperate to cheer her up. "Joyce, guess who's here?"

Joyce merely turned around, ignoring Reuben's presence and voice.

Reuben cast me a pleading look.

Though it was just my job, I'd always dreamed of having a daughter...

Joyce, with her doll-like appearance, was irresistibly adorable.

I couldn't help but grow fond of her, feigning distress. "Seems like Joyce doesn't want me here."

Hearing my voice, Joyce immediately spun around, her eyes lighting up at my sight. She scampered over.

She shook her head.

I squatted down to meet her gaze. "Why aren't you talking to me? Do you not like me? Is that it?"

Joyce started to shake her head again but paused, seemingly afraid I'd think she disliked me, and finally spoke, "No, I like you a lot."

"I like you too, Joyce," I said, taking her small hand. I love hearing you talk. Will you talk to me more from now on?"

Joyce heaved a grown-up sigh. "Okay."

Getting her to initiate conversation was clearly a challenge, so I had to lead. "I heard you've not been eating well lately. Are you hungry?"

Joyce glanced down, gently patting her belly. "Mhm!"

I smiled. "Shall we go have some lunch?"

Joyce nodded eagerly, then, worried I might disagree, she added emphatically, "Yes!"

Reuben visibly relaxed at this.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

As I was leading Joyce to the dining area, she suddenly halted, gazing up at me with big, hopeful eyes.

I was puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Mommy..." Joyce looked down shyly. "Can you carry me to the dining room?"

I was about to agree when Reuben interjected, "No, Joyce."

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Reuben scooped her up, the usually stern businessman softening remarkably in her presence. "Remember, Mommy just fell from a high place a few days ago and lost a lot of blood. Her body hasn't fully recovered yet, and you want her to carry you. That would hurt Mommy a lot, wouldn't it?"

I was surprised at Reuben's thoughtfulness.

Who would have thought the CEO of a business empire could show such care?

Joyce's tears started falling. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I was being rude and not thinking about your pain."

Her crying weakened my resolve. Walking behind Reuben, I took Joyce's hand, comforting her softly. "It's okay, Joyce. Don't worry."

Joyce looked at me. "But..."

I raised my other hand, wiping her tears. "Now that you know, you're being considerate by not asking me to carry you, right?" Joyce sobbed. "Yes."

"That's my girl." I gently ruffled her soft hair, watching Reuben place her beside the dining table.

"Let's eat."

Joyce was well-mannered and independent and didn't need coaxing or feeding. She quietly sat and ate her meal.

"This afternoon, she has to go to school," Reuben, now reassured, mentioned. "Would you mind taking her?"

My gaze returned from Joyce to him. "Of course."

"But Joyce and Nigel are at the same preschool." He was clearly worried, given my recent divorce from Leander... Facing Nigel at the preschool gates could indeed be awkward.