In the rented apartment.
Mia leaned back on the sofa, looking at the phone screen showing Michael busy in the kitchen. A cold smile played on her lips.
Back when they were together, no matter the time, even if it was two in the morning, as long as Michael said he was hungry, she would get up and cook for him.
He never cooked before, not even getting close to the kitchen.
But now, he was seriously cooking for Juliet, whom he had only just met less than a day ago.
She closed her eyes.
So, it wasn't that he couldn't cook; it was just that in his heart, she wasn't worth it.
But at least he was treating Juliet well.
At least he wouldn't be as cold and heartless to her as he was back then.
At Blue Bay Villa.
Sitting on a small chair, Juliet looked at the dreadful food on the table, quietly dragging the small plate of cookies Mia had baked for her in front of her. "Daddy, suddenly I'm not very hungry. I'll just eat this."
Michael frowned, looking at the tiny cookies on the plate, "Can you get full with that?"
Juliet pursed her lips, afraid he would force her to eat his dreadful cooking. She quickly covered the plate with her hands, "I'm a little kid, I have a small appetite. This is enough!"
She glanced at the charred food on the table, a flash of fear in her eyes.
All her small movements and expressions were noticed by Michael.
A trace of irritation flickered across his brows.
A few minutes later, the little girl had finished all the cookies on the plate.
Putting the plate down, she looked up at the tall man with a smile, "Daddy, I want to go upstairs for a nap now!"
Michael got up, scooped her up, and carried her upstairs.
"I want to hear the story of The Little Mermaid."
Lying on the pink bed, Juliet looked up at the man standing by her bed with her big, watery eyes, "Daddy, do you know how to tell stories?"
Michael flipped through the fairy tale book, "Maybe."
After a while, he started reading, "A long, long time ago, there was a sea, and in the sea lived a group of beautiful mermaids..."
"Daddy."
The little girl looked up at him, "Your tone is too harsh!"
Michael was momentarily stunned.
He had already tried to soften his usually cold and deep voice.
So, he tried again, making his tone even gentler, "One day, a little mermaid..."
"Daddy, don't you know how to tell stories?"
Juliet pouted, her voice full of grievance, "Daddy is so amazing, but he can't tell stories..."
Michael: "..."
The man took a deep breath, "How about you skip the story and just go to sleep, okay?"
"No."
The little princess's eyes started to well up with tears again, "If I don't hear a story, I'll have nightmares..."
Seeing the little girl on the verge of tears, Michael's heart melted completely.
He lovingly ruffled her hair, "I remember your mother didn't like crying."
"Where did you get this habit of crying at the drop of a hat?"
Juliet pouted, "Mommy doesn't dislike crying."
"When Juliet was little, every time I woke up in the middle of the night, I would see Mommy secretly wiping her tears."
The child's tender voice struck Michael's heart like a powerful blow.
He stared at her, his voice hoarse, "Did your mommy... cry often?"
"Yes."
Juliet pursed her lips, "But since Daddy said Mommy doesn't like to cry, then Daddy must be right."
"Maybe Juliet's habit of crying is inherited from you, Daddy."
Michael couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He sighed, "Daddy never cries."
Juliet leaned against the headboard, her small hands twisting together as if hesitating about something.
After a while, she looked up at the man with his cold, chiseled face, "When Mommy left you, did you cry, Daddy?"
The little girl's question made Michael freeze.
The man looked at Juliet with a deep, unreadable expression, but said nothing.
After a long pause, he stood up, "You sleep by yourself. Daddy has things to do."
Juliet pursed her lips, her small hands clutching the edge of the blanket, "But Daddy..."
"Be good."
The man opened the door without looking back, "Daddy will find the right person to take care of you."
With that, he strode out.
Juliet lay on the small bed, tossing and turning in distress.
What to do?
She seemed to have made Daddy angry again...
At noon, Mia made a simple meal for James. She had no appetite herself.
Even though Juliet kept sending messages to reassure her, Mia couldn't help but worry about her daughter being away from her for the first time.
After lunch, James slung his small backpack over his shoulder and headed out, "Mommy, Auntie Olivia is waiting for me downstairs. I'm going to class!"
Mia nodded and saw him off downstairs.
James had always been smart. Before returning to the country, he had enrolled himself in a children's programming interest class in Banyan City.
The class was near Olivia's hospital, so she would pick him up and take him to school.
With James in Olivia's care, Mia felt at ease.
After sending James off, Mia returned home and tidied up the lunch dishes.
She had just finished washing the dishes when the doorbell rang.
She had only moved in yesterday. Who could it be?
Had James forgotten something?
She sighed and opened the door, complaining, "When will you stop being so forgetful..."
The words got stuck in her throat as soon as she opened the door.
Standing outside was a tall, upright man.
Michael was dressed in a gray trench coat, exuding a cold and aloof demeanor.
"Hello."
Unlike his previous domineering manner at Blue Bay Villa, he was surprisingly calm this time, "Miss Larson, I'd like to talk to you."
Mia crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her gaze indifferent as she looked at his face, "Talk about what?"
The cramped and dark hallway of the rented apartment, along with the damp smell in the air, made Michael very uncomfortable.
He frowned slightly, "Can we talk inside?"
"No."
Mia shifted her position, completely blocking the doorway, "Whatever you have to say, say it here."
"I'm a single woman living alone. It's best if you don't come in, Mr. Kingsley, so you won't later accuse me of having ulterior motives."
Her words made Michael frown deeply.
She was the first woman to speak to him like this!
And this woman was supposed to be a maid applying to take care of his daughter!
Normally, Michael would have turned and left, making sure she felt the consequences of crossing him.
But today was different.
He hadn't forgotten that this woman was Juliet's favorite.
So, he spoke again coldly, "Mira Larson, you're hired."
"From now on, you'll be responsible for Juliet's daily care."