Chapter 6 Is That Daddy?

After leaving Emerald City years ago, Emily had gone to Eldoria with the help of her best friend, Elodie Garcia. When she discovered she was pregnant, there was no doubt whose child it was—that man's.

Elodie had urged her to terminate the pregnancy, insisting there was no reason to sacrifice her future for a man whose intentions were unknown. But when the doctor told Emily she was carrying triplets, she couldn't bear to let them go. As days passed, she gradually felt the movements inside her womb.

Emily was profoundly grateful she had kept her three children.

Jasper looked up, his small face showing no trace of anxiety, speaking calmly, "Mom, don't worry. Elodie took Ethan with her a little while ago."

Emily's tense nerves relaxed slightly, though confusion lingered. "Elodie was here? Why didn't she wait for me? And why take just Ethan?"

What kind of inexplicable behavior was this from Elodie?

"Elodie had an emergency and had to leave. She bought lots of snacks, and Ethan was hungry, so he insisted on going with her," Jasper explained.

"I see. Did Elodie say when she'd be back?"

"She said we should go home first, and she'll bring Ethan back after she finishes her business." Jasper showed no sign of discomfort as he confidently fabricated this non-existent arrangement.

He wasn't lying—merely concealing the truth for a good cause.

In their family, he and his brother Ethan were the pillars, tasked with eliminating all threats and protecting their mother and sister.

Jasper's little-adult demeanor made Emily smile.

Though only five years old, Jasper had always been mature and responsible, quietly shouldering his duties as the eldest brother, which relieved Emily of many worries.

Because of this, Emily had always trusted Jasper's words.

To have been blessed with three such adorable little angels—perhaps she should thank that man from six years ago. But she would never allow him to discover the children's existence.

No one would take her children from her.

Emma, unaware that Emily's thoughts had drifted, looked at Jasper in surprise. She was about to reveal the truth—that Ethan had actually wandered off on his own and Elodie hadn't been there at all.

Before she could speak, a lollipop was promptly stuffed into her mouth.

As Emma savored the sweet candy, her allegiance shifted instantly.

Fine, she wouldn't expose her brother's lie.

With Emma successfully bribed, Jasper sighed with relief. The plan he and Ethan had devised couldn't be derailed now.

Just moments ago, his watch had vibrated with a message from Ethan: [Found suspicious person. Might be dad.]

This had sparked Jasper's curiosity.

All these years, their mother had never mentioned anything about their father. Afraid of hurting her, they hadn't asked, turning instead to Elodie for answers.

But Elodie had treated them like children, deflecting their questions. When pressed, she would dismiss the subject with a curt "Who cares where that jerk went?"

So, had the jerk finally surfaced?

Jasper needed to understand why this man had abandoned their mother. Why had Emily fled Emerald City? Why did she still wake up crying in the middle of the night?

The triplets had sworn an oath: anyone who had hurt their mother would face consequences.

Emily, not doubting Jasper's story, led the two children to a nearby seating area. The ride-share she'd booked would take a few more minutes to arrive.

Meanwhile, Jasper appeared to be playing games with Emma on his tablet, but his fingers were actually moving swiftly, pulling up information.

On the screen appeared Charles's profile—CEO of the Windsor Group, a legendary figure in the business world known for his decisive actions and ruthless methods. What caught Jasper's attention most was that Charles was listed as Aunt Clara's boyfriend.

Jasper's brow furrowed slightly.

Elodie had mentioned that Emily and Clara had a deep-seated grudge against each other. If Charles was Clara's boyfriend, he probably wasn't a good person either.

But Jasper had seen Charles's photo, and the resemblance between them was undeniable. Charles looked so much like him and Ethan that Jasper couldn't help but suspect this man was their father.

So, had their father abandoned their mother because he'd been unfaithful?

Jasper silently speculated.

He sent the information to Ethan, instructing him to try to obtain a strand of Charles's hair for a paternity test.

At that moment, Ethan was sitting in the Windsor family car. His watch flashed a faint red light. He knew it was Jasper replying to his message, but he couldn't check now. Charles was too sharp, too perceptive, and Ethan didn't want to be sent away so soon.

Ethan glanced up at Charles, who sat in front of him reviewing documents.

Was this man truly his father? Whether he was or wasn't, Ethan would uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Emily's ride-share arrived quickly.

Emily first took Jasper and Emma to Starlight Manor, the house Elodie had helped her purchase. The rooms had been prepared in advance, and the nanny had been carefully selected by Elodie.

After settling the children, Emily left to attend to an important matter.

Emily stood at the street corner, gazing at the familiar glass doors, her heart clenched by an invisible hand.

In her memories, Mirage Fashion had always been bustling with customers. Now, the entrance stood empty, with a few dead leaves swirling across the steps in the wind.

How could just a few years transform it into such a desolate place?

She took a deep breath and pushed open the revolving glass door. The hinges made a dull sound that echoed conspicuously in the empty store.

The young woman behind the reception desk was absorbed in her phone. Behind her, an LED screen played a cheap, synthesized fashion show video on loop. The cold white lighting cast a lifeless, grayish-blue hue over the marble floor.

An indescribable sadness welled up in Emily's heart.

This was the place Scarlett had built with a lifetime of dedication. Here, Emily had learned to select fabrics and master the art of tailoring. Now it had become this deserted, dispirited shell of its former self.

The handcrafted sketches of Scarlett's "Starry Night" collection that once adorned the walls had been replaced with poorly printed posters of trendy dresses. How could this be the same Mirage Fashion once renowned for its craftsmanship and premium materials?

It had become nothing more than an ordinary shop in a wholesale clothing market!