The twins were having a great time in Paris with their friends. Even though they'd been to this city many times in the past with their family, their experience now was completely different from what they had before. Going here with friends was apparently the best.
They smiled a lot when they saw how their friends were in awe most of the time at what they saw here and there. In three days, they would continue their trip to Bordeaux and they couldn't wait to see another city.
Meanwhile, apparently Nicolae found a little girl on his way home from Amarylis Hotel on a boat by the River Seine. He rescued her from two criminals who seemed to have abducted her from her parents.
Nicolae took her in and tried to find clues about her identity, but unfortunately, it was more difficult than he expected. She only knew her name was Summer and couldn't remember her parents' names nor her address.
Marion even helped Nicolae questioned the kidnappers, but when she got there they were already killed. What was worse, Nicolae couldn't find any clues about who killed them and why they kidnapped Summer in the first place.
"Hey, kids... I am sorry, I can't meet you at your hotel tonight. Can you come here instead? I would like you to meet Summer." Nicolae called the twins after lunch and explained his situation.
"Okay, Dad. We will talk to Monsieur Rhieu," Altair responded. Vega widened her eyes when she heard Nicolae still had Summer with him.
How hard is it to find her parents? Wasn't Daddy Nic a great hacker? Why couldn't he track her down? she thought in irritation.
She didn't like the idea of having to share her daddy with another girl.
***
In the evening, Altair and Vega, who managed to get permission from Mr. Rhieu to leave their group at the hotel, came to visit Nicolae.
Altair seemed very happy to see Summer. The little girl was the cutest little girl he had ever seen in his life, after his little cousin Lily, London Schneider's daughter. Summer was five years old and had half Asian look with small peach-shaped eyes with purplish irises, long brown hair, beautiful face and full red lips. She looked really unique.
He repeatedly teased the child and played with her, while Vega appeared to be a little jealous. While Summer played with Altair, Vega was latching on Nicolae and didn't want to let go.
"Why haven't you returned this child to her parents? It's been several days already." Vega asked many times. Nicolae quickly realized Vega was jealous to see another girl looking so close to Nicolae. The man could only shake his head while smiling.
"Geez ... you're a big kid. There is no need to feel jealous of a younger child. I am still trying to find her family. It's not easy," Nicolae said patiently.
"Why isn't this easy? Aren't you really good at finding information and things like this?" Vega asked, not understanding.
"To find information about ordinary people, I am indeed an expert. But it is very difficult to find people who do not want to be found, especially if they also have abilities like me," Nicolae answered. "It looks like her parents are very good at hiding their tracks."
"Oh .. you mean, like that Goose guy?..." Vega asked again. "He is a hacker that is being hunted by so many people, but no one has managed to find his tracks."
Nicolae nodded. "Right, like that Goose guy. Ah ... I don't know whether I could find him or not, because suddenly my attention is diverted by this problem. But yeah... if Summer's mother is like Goose, who is very skilled at removing his tracks, I can't find her easily."
"But ... after you find her parents, you will send her back, right? She won't stay with Daddy all the time?" Vega asked in an urgent tone. She felt slightly threatened because she had been the only daughter in her family and in Nicolae's life. She was loved by everyone.
Now, when she saw another child looking so close to her father, she felt upset. Daddy Nic was hers and Altair's only.
"Yes, of course, I will send her home," Nicolae replied. "If you let go of my hand, I can make tea for us."
Vega obeyed and released her grip from Nicolae's hand. She followed the man into the kitchen and watched him boil water and make tea for them. Vega suddenly thought of other possibilities.
"What if you couldn't find her family? Will ... you raise her?" she asked suddenly. Nicolae frowned at Vega's question.
"Don't say such things," he said. "What if Summer hears you?"
"I was only thinking of the worst possible scenario," Vega said, shrugging. "What if her parents have died? Normal people would certainly try to find their missing child, right? Why hasn't she reported it to the police? Did something happen to them so they couldn't look for Summer? We have to think about that possibility."
Nicolae was stunned to hear Vega's words. He did not want to think about that possibility because he could not imagine a child as small as Summer losing her mother. The five-year-old child had already lost her father.
Finally, he just touched Vega's shoulder and patted it softly. "Vega, dear, could you please do me a favor? Don't talk about such things in front of Summer. Your actions today make me sad."
He then went into the living room with a tray filled with teapot and a few cups for them, leaving Vega, who stood transfixed in the kitchen. Slowly, Vega was overcome by guilt. She knew she was too jealous, that's why she said such things. She was sorry when she saw Nicolae looking at her with a disappointed look.
Summer realized that Vega didn't really like her, and didn't want to come any closer to the girl when the four of them gather in the living room to play. Summer only smiled and played with Altair, but she seemed to withdraw when Vega came closer.
***
"Summer doesn't like you," Altair commented as he and Vega descended from the penthouse into the lobby. They were going home to their own hotel after meeting Nicolae and Summer and having dinner together.
Vega only shrugged when she heard her brother's words. She realized that her attitude towards Summer was cold, and it made her feel ashamed of herself. But she could not hold back her own feelings. She loved Nicolae and didn't like it if Daddy Nic shared his love with other girls, especially if it was just a stranger who had nothing to do with them.