Chapter 8

Julia leaned over to take a look at Joe's laptop.

"You're amazing, sweetheart. You just helped Mommy solve a big problem," she said, beaming with pride.

She hugged Joseph and Stephen tightly, their warmth easing some of her tension.

No matter what, she couldn't let Henry find out about Joseph and Stephen.

Another ten minutes dragged by.

The neighboring table had already seen three or four customers come and go, waiting for their coffee.

Joseph looked up at Julia and asked, "Mommy, how much longer do we have to stay here?"

Julia glanced at Henry's car, still parked outside.

"We need to wait for your godmother," she said firmly.

"Okay," Joseph replied, settling back into his seat.

Meanwhile,  Henry sat on a couch in the lobby of the Azure Bay Hotel.

Next to him, his precious daughter Tiffany was playing with her doll.

His eyes were sharp and intense, carrying a hint of menace in the air.

"Until your background check is complete, I have every reason to suspect you approached my daughter with ulterior motives," he said, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

After reviewing Asher's latest investigation report, the sharpness in his expression softened slightly. "I apologize, Ms. Seymour. Thank you for finding my daughter. Since this was a misunderstanding, I'll take her and leave now. I won't take up any more of your time."

With that, he scooped Tiffany up with one arm.

Tiffany found a comfortable position, wrapping her small arms around Henry's neck and resting her head on his strong shoulder. She waved politely at Caroline.

Henry's stern yet loving voice filled the air, "Tiffany, no more running off like that."

Tiffany lowered her head slowly, pouting in disappointment.

Asher drove them home.

Henry never let go of his daughter, cradling her lovingly as they got into the car.

The door closed again.

Tiffany leaned against the window, staring out at something.

Henry gently pinched her cheek. "Is the outside world really better than home? You can't just run away whenever you feel like it, understand?"

Tiffany turned to look at Henry, her golden eyes, so much like his, welling up with tears.

She looked so pitiful.

The next second, she huffed and pushed Henry's hand away.

She ignored him.

Henry placed his hand on her again, only for Tiffany to push it off once more.

Their playful interaction filled the car with a sense of happiness that even Asher, the driver, could feel.

Henry was a force to be reckoned with outside, commanding respect and fear. But with Tiffany, he was gentle and tender.

Their back-and-forth made Henry laugh, unable to resist his little princess.

He stroked Tiffany's long hair.

Tiffany leaned back against the window, staring out. Suddenly, she saw a figure that looked a lot like Julia. She shook Henry's arm urgently, pointing it out to him.

Henry followed her gaze, a woman's image flashing through his mind.

Suddenly, he realized something.

"Tiffany, the person who found you wasn't the one just now, was it someone else?" he asked gently.

Tiffany nodded, then shook her head.

Henry didn't press further and instructed Asher, "Check the surveillance footage!"

"Yes, Mr. Hearst."

The car soon arrived back at the Hearst Mansion.

Henry carried Tiffany inside, greeted by Vivian's excited voice, "Tiffany!" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, as if she had been crying.

Vivian rushed over, taking Tiffany from Henry's arms and inspecting her from head to toe.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like Vivian was Tiffany's real mother.

"You can't just run off like that without a word. Do you know how worried your daddy and I were? There are so many bad people out there. What if something happened to you? How would we live?" Vivian's fake concern was whispered into Tiffany's ear.

Tiffany's eyes showed clear rejection, and she instinctively tried to push Vivian away.

Tiffany remembered clearly that it was Vivian who had told her that once she and Henry had another baby, he wouldn't love her anymore. She'd have to give up her room for the new baby!

That was why she had run away.

Tiffany didn't like Vivian at all.

She much preferred Julia, who had found her today.

Vivian, afraid Henry would notice her poor relationship with Tiffany, raised her voice, "Don't move, let me check you over. You have no idea how worried I was."

She squeezed Tiffany's arm too hard, causing Tiffany to struggle even more.

Vivian, with her back to Henry, let a malicious glint flash in her eyes.

Tiffany had been punished by Vivian before, forced to stand for hours without a word of complaint.

If Henry weren't here, Tiffany wouldn't dare act out like this!

But Tiffany's struggle was too intense. Vivian, fearing Henry would notice, came up with a plan.

Wearing high heels, she pretended to twist her ankle as she crouched down, successfully drawing Henry's attention.

Vivian choked up, "Tiffany, I've always treated you like my own daughter. I know you can't accept me yet, but I was really worried about you..."

Henry's brows furrowed as he helped Vivian up.

He then placed Tiffany on the couch, gently scolding, "Tiffany, you mustn't be rude, understand? If you're upset, you can take it out on Daddy, but not on anyone else."

Tiffany thought, 'Daddy always protected Vivian, the bad woman!'

She stubbornly held back her tears, pushed Henry away, and ran to her room, slamming the door shut with a click of the lock.

Vivian sighed, "I don't know why Tiffany doesn't like me. Please don't scold her because of me..."

Henry kept his eyes on Tiffany's bedroom door, not sparing Vivian a glance.

Vivian couldn't tell if he was even listening.

"You should go. Tiffany probably doesn't want you here right now," Henry said calmly.

Vivian was taken aback by Henry's bluntness.

After a moment, she nodded. "Alright, I'll leave. I'll come back when she's feeling better."

As soon as she left the Hearst Mansion, Vivian's carefully crafted gentle expression turned cold. She spat out, "That little brat! How is she still alive?"

Six years ago, Tiffany had been saved from the brink of death.

And now, she had survived again!