Chapter 5 Reunion After Six Years

Adeline gazed into Lauren's teary eyes, feeling her heart melt. How could she ever blame her own kid?

Lauren sniffled, tugging at her sleeve and whispered, "Bennett said I could help you, so I came. Was I wrong, Mommy?"

Adeline couldn't resist hugging her little girl tightly. "No, sweetie, you weren't wrong. But from now on, you need to be obedient and be Mommy's most considerate baby, okay?"

Lauren nodded eagerly.

Adeline added, "And remember, you can't call me Mommy in front of others, got it?"

"Okay!" Lauren rubbed her cheek against Adeline's. "I'll always listen to you, tell you everything, and never make you sad!"

They snuggled together, feeling the warmth of their bond. Meanwhile, outside the gates of Blue Bay, Jasper, who usually came home on time, stepped out of his car earlier than usual and walked in with mixed emotions.

The issues at work weren't fully resolved, but when Ryan called to say Lauren had picked a maid she liked, he felt a weird sense of worry.

Why was he feeling this way? Was it because Lauren mentioned that maids might bully kids when the owners weren't home, making him uneasy?

Ever since Lauren showed up, he seemed to worry about the most unlikely things. He tried to chalk it up to the fact that Lauren was his and Adeline's daughter, and Adeline was his wife who had come back to life. Precious things always made people worry, afraid they might get hurt easily.

Entering the hall, his eyes scanned the room but didn't see Lauren's small, soft figure. Jasper was a bit annoyed and asked, "Where's Lauren?"

The maid beside him immediately lowered her head. "She's in the room with the maid she chose."

Jasper nodded and headed upstairs. He wanted to see what kind of maid could satisfy Lauren. If she seemed unreliable, he wouldn't hesitate to find another one for her.

When he reached the door, it was closed. Jasper couldn't tell what they were doing inside, so he knocked. "Lauren. It's Daddy. Can I come in?"

Jasper recalled Lauren's behavior today, thinking she was well taken care of and had some of her own little temper, so he didn't just barge in.

Inside the room, the mother and daughter, who were watching cartoons together, looked up and quickly exchanged glances.

Adeline nodded, and Lauren took a deep breath before responding, "Okay, Daddy, come in!"

The door creaked open, and Jasper walked in slowly. He gently picked Lauren up, her small body as light as a feather in his arms. He frowned and sat down cross-legged.

Lauren snuggled into his warm embrace, thinking dreamily, 'Is this Daddy? Warm and broad shoulders, giving a sense of security. If Blake and Bennett were here, it would be even better.'

She gently rubbed against him. "Daddy, I'm watching cartoons!"

Jasper responded lightly, his gaze casually sweeping over the woman beside him, then his eyes deepened.

This angle, this profile, this little gesture of brushing her hair—everything was exactly like Adeline! Could it be her?

"Look up," Jasper suddenly said, his sharp gaze directed at Adeline beside him.

Adeline's fingers on the other side clenched until they turned white. She took a breath and raised her head with a puzzled expression. "Is there something you need?"

But just one look, and Adeline felt it hard to breathe. The Jasper in front of her seemed particularly favored by time, not much different from six years ago, just more stern and manly.

When he looked at her with that cold gaze, it was as if they were back six years ago when she still loved him deeply. But it wasn't six years ago anymore.

Adeline saw her reflection in Jasper's eyes—this face that had to be reconstructed after a severe infection from a car accident and falling into the sea. It was beautiful and delicate, but vastly different from the past.

Back then, right after the surgery, she wasn't even sure if the person under this skin was Adeline, let alone Jasper, who never loved her.

Sure enough, Jasper just frowned. "I heard my daughter found herself a maid, is that you?"

Adeline nodded calmly. "Yes."

Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing why he felt like sighing. 'Different, completely different. Not her face, not her voice, not even her personality!' Jasper thought.

Adeline was gentle and obedient, her eyes filled with love when she looked at him, never with such a strange look, and never spoke like this.

Lauren looked around and finally spoke seriously to Jasper, "Daddy, she's a very, very good person. You have to get along well with her and not bully her, okay?"

Jasper looked down at Lauren in his arms, raising an eyebrow slightly. His daughter had learned to speak up for others so quickly. This woman seemed not simple.