Spark stood dazed, staring at the little girl. She had twin-tailed golden hair, blue eyes, a small nose, and round cheeks—the little girl looked like a doll.
"I knew my son would bring me grandchildren," Spark's father praised, a proud gleam in his eyes.
"Who knew he secretly had a wife? Well, he is of age so that it would be normal," Spark's mother added with a nod.
"You should've told us sooner. Why did you hide it from us for so long?" Spark's father questioned, raising an eyebrow.
His parents kept talking, but Spark's gaze remained fixated on the little girl, lost in a stupor. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Say hi to your father," Spark's mother prompted, pointing at Spark.
Little Alice came forward, her tiny fingers fidgeting together. Gathering her courage, she raised her chin and said softly, "H-hello, Father."
Alice's voice brought Spark back to reality. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned to his parents.
"Is this some kind of prank?" he asked. "I know you two have been trying to get me to marry for a while, but this is too much."
"Why would you think that?" his mother replied, puzzled.
"How could I have a wife and a child this big? I've been single my whole life," Spark protested. "I'm still young; I have a life to enjoy."
"Why are you saying it like that?" his father gave him a sidelong glance.
"Who brought her here?" Spark asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"A month ago, her mother brought her here," Spark's mother said.
"So, where's her mother?" Spark wanted to see the woman who was trying to deceive his parents.
"She left a day after bringing Alice," Spark's mother replied. "It seems she wanted to meet you."
A brief moment later, he retracted his gaze, his brows furrowing.
"So, did you see it?" his father asked.
"Don't tell me you two secretly took my genes and implanted them into some woman," Spark said skeptically, his brows furrowed. "You know that's a capital crime, right?"
"Hey, how dare you accuse your father of such a thing?" retorted Spark's father. "She is your daughter; accept it."
Although Spark had traveled to many cities and kingdoms around the continent, he didn't remember having such a relationship with anyone.
He turned to Yuna and asked, "Did I ever...?"
She was the only person always walking beside him; it was natural for him to ask her.
Yuna shook her head.
"No. But it could have happened before I was by the young master's side." She continued, "Little Miss looks about ten."
"Is that so," Spark muttered. By the looks of her, Alice appeared to be around ten, and Yuna had only been by Spark's side for three years.
"I don't care what you say; she is now a member of our family," said his mother.
"Let's go, Alice." She took Alice with her. "We'll meet your father when he is calm."
The two, Alice and his mother, left the garden, leaving Spark deep in thought.
"Congratulations in advance, brat. You've got a wife now," his father said with a chuckle.
"Old man..." Spark could only smile wryly.
On the day he returned, he had gained a wife and a daughter. He didn't know where this unexpected wife and daughter had come from, but he knew his daily life wouldn't be the same again.