---- Chapter 4. Rising from my seat, I replied flatly, "Ask your wife about it." Preston turned to Tara. Before he could ask any questions, she had thrown herself into his arms with a pout. "Darling, you're finally here. That woman nearly ruined my face!" She raised her head to show him the scratches. "But don't worry-I taught that little seductress a lesson! I know it's not your fault, darling. These women just can't help themselves around you. You're simply perfect!" Even the policeman cringed at Tara's statement. He coughed softly to cut her off before getting Preston up to speed. Upon learning about the incident, Preston did not take a look at Tara. Instead, he set his tearful eyes on my daughter. ---- One step after another, he approached Emma with open arms. Each step he took was slow and deliberate, stretching the short distance for as long as possible. Inearly drowned in my worries. Stopping him, I warily studied him. "What are you gonna do to my daughter?" "Jeanine, please don't do this. I just wanted to take a look at our child." After he dropped a bombshell on me, I stammered, '"'W-What did you say?" "Jeanine, can't you tell? That's our daughter." I finally observed Emma's and Preston's faces carefully, and I saw him in Emma. After Preston admitted that Emma was his daughter, a panicked Tara tried to stop him from speaking, but he slapped her before she could interject. "Shut up." ---- Deflated, she kept her head low. Meanwhile, I grabbed Emma and shielded her from Preston's gaze. "What do you mean? Our child? Emma is mine and Victor's! What do you have to do with it?" "Jeanine, can't you tell? That's our little girl." Ignoring Preston, I addressed the policeman coldly, "I would like to file a police report against Preston Whitmore for illegal practice and fraud." Preston jumped to stop me. He frantically rambled, "Jeanine, how could you? I'm the father of your child! "T was wrong to lie to you, but I truly love you. It was love at first sight in high school, but I was just a poor kid. I didn't make a move to win your heart. You were so pretty, and you were at the top of the class... "This idea popped up in my mind when you came