Chapter 84

84 I Love You

“You really love my father?” Millie asked softly.

“Of course, I do. I’m dating him after all. Your father is a very kind man. I really love him and that’s why I want to do everything that I can to make him happy. When he told me about you, I really wish that we could get along because I didn’t want him to worry. I just want Adrian to be happy,” I said.

Millie looked at me and her face twisted as a frown formed between her brows. It seemed like she was deep in thought as she considered what I had just said.

“What about you? Do you want to make your father happy?” I asked brightly.

“Yes...I want father to be happy...” Millie mumbled in reply.

“I don’t want to replace your mother because I don’t think that I can, or that anyone can. So, can we just be friends? I’ll take care of you and...make sure that Adrian scolds you less. Want to work with me to make Adrian happier?” I suggested before smiling down at her.

Millie stared up at me with her round brown eyes and I prayed that my words got to her.

“Ok...” Millie replied softly and for the first time she smiled back at me genuinely.

“Thank you, Millie. I’ll work hard to be your good friend,” I said happily as I pulled her into a soft hug.

.....

If her father was so kind and honest, then there was no reason why Millie wouldn’t be kind at heart.

...

“I’m done. She’s feeling better now too,” I reported to Adrian when I opened the door.

Adrian was standing right outside the door just as he had said. I smiled at him reassuringly as I invited him back into the room.

“Please don’t scold her anymore. Everything will work out. So please...be nice to her...” I said as I placed a hand on his arm.

Adrian halted in his steps as he looked at me. His green eyes held mine for a moment before he nodded his head in agreement. By the time we headed back inside, Millie had stopped crying and her nanny had cleaned her face. Her eyes were still red from crying, but it was clear that she was in a much better mood than before.

“Millie, is there a place that you want to go? What about the zoo? We can go see the animals together,” I suggested brightly.

“Will daddy be happy if we go?” Millie mumbled.

Adrian looked at me with a confused look and I winked at him.

“Of course. Let’s all go to the zoo. I’m sure that you will enjoy it and Adrian will be happy about it too!” I said happily as I clapped my hands.

For a moment, it felt like I was the kid in the room and not Millie. Well, whatever works. In the end, somehow, we agreed to go to the zoo together. Adrian gave me a confused look and I reached for his hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Dinner passed by smoothly after that to my ultimate relief.

“Millie dear, it’s time for you to go to bed now...” the nanny said.

“Ok...” Millie mumbled as she stood up from her seat.

“Goodnight, Millie. I’ll drop by to take you to the zoo, ok?” I promised.

“Ok...goodnight,” Millie replied before leaving the room.

“What was that all about?” Adrian asked me when Millie and the nanny were gone.

“I’ll tell you all about it later. For now, why don’t you go and wish Millie goodnight? I’m sure that she’ll have a good night’s sleep if her daddy tucks her in,” I suggested before smiling up at Adrian.

“I’ll take your word for it. Can you wait here? I’ll be right back...to hear all about it,” Adrian said.

“Sure. I’ll wait for you,” I replied.

Adrian took my hand and brought me to the sofa in the living room before he took his leave to see Millie. I hoped that things would go well between those two.

...

A short while later, Adrian returned to the living room and judging from the smile on his face, it seemed like things went well between the two.

“How did it go?” I asked.

“She is sleeping now. Thank you for talking to her, I think she is feeling much better than before,” Adrian said as he sat down next to me on the sofa.

“That’s good to hear. Honestly, I didn’t quite know what to do when she started crying...” I admitted before turning to smile weakly at Adrian.

I found him staring intently at me and that was when I realized that we were quite close to each other on the sofa.

“What did you say to her? I’m very surprised at how fast you managed to turn her around,” Adrian said before chuckling softly.

“I told her that you love her a lot and that you want what is best for her. Then I asked her if she loves you as well. Of course, she told me that she does. Then I told her that I love you and I really want to make you happy. I asked her if she is willing to be my friend so that we can both work together to make you happy. Then she agreed,” I recapped the conversation that took place between Millie and me.

I smiled a little proudly at Adrian and I was slightly surprised that he was staring at my face. I blinked a couple of times as he kept on staring at me. It made me wonder if I had said something strange.

“Adrian?” I called his name softly and questioningly.

“Can you say that again?” he requested.

“Say...what?” I asked, not quite following what he was referring to.

“What did you tell Millie before you asked her to cooperate with you?” Adrian asked as his eyes stared deeply into mine.

Is it just me, or is his face getting closer and closer?

“Umm...I told her that I...love you...and that I...mhhmm...” I replied before the rest of my response was interrupted.

–To be continued...