At sunrise in Sileria City, Adrian Desmond sat by the river. Watching the bright red sun gradually rise, he felt content for the first time in many years. After searching for so many years, he had finally found his wife and child; the heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart had finally lifted. So stingy. It’s just watching the sunrise, and she wouldn’t even accompany me, he muttered, his voice filled with deep affection. He turned his head and saw the black car parked by the river. Thinking of last night’s passionate affair, Adrian’s smile grew wider. When Sienna Johnson had left, she had been furious, looking as if she wanted to kill him. The mere thought of it made Adrian’s smile even brighter. Adrian was savoring his happiness and satisfaction when Owen Hunter called, abruptly interrupting him. Annoyed, Adrian asked impatiently, "What is it?" "What was with you yesterday? You left without even saying hello when you saw me." "I had something urgent!" Follow current novels on NoveI-Fire.ɴet Adrian took out a cigarette and lit it. He’d become addicted after years of heavy smoking and had to have several every morning after waking up. "My son has taken a liking to that little girl, Curly," Owen said. "I’ve been too busy lately to deal with it myself. You need to find a way to help George get her." Although Owen himself only had one wife, he didn’t mind his son marrying several. If Owen hadn’t reminded him, Adrian would have forgotten about this. He felt like he’d shot himself in the foot, "It’s enough if he likes her now. If he doesn’t like her later, we can just keep her at home. The Hunter family can certainly afford to support a few more daughters-in-law," Owen said, his I’m-so-rich tone clearly upsetting Adrian. "So what if you’re rich? Are you as rich as me?" "Adrian, you’re acting strange. Why are you being so evasive? Hey, hey, you haven’t fallen for that little girl, have you? Don’t tell me! You’re more than twenty years apart—talk about robbing the cradle! By the time she’s grown up, will your... ’thing’... still even work?" "Owen, shut the hell up!" Adrian roared. Owen heard the genuine anger in Adrian’s voice and stopped joking. "I was just kidding. Why are you so worked up?" he explained with a light laugh. "Owen, Curly is my daughter!" "Hmm..." It took a moment for Owen to process that. Then he yelled at a high pitch, "Adrian, what did you just say?" "I found my wife and my... no, my daughter. Sienna Johnson is Mai, and Curly is my daughter." This was a huge mess, Owen thought. If Curly was Adrian’s biological daughter, then his son had been kicked by her for nothing. Adrian was fiercely protective and completely unreasonable. He had no concept of right or wrong; in his eyes, whatever benefited him was right, and whatever didn’t was wrong. "No wonder that girl is so vicious! So she’s your flesh and blood!" Owen exclaimed, unsure how to describe his current emotions. Adrian, however, was beaming with pride. He completely forgot his previous displeasure and disgust for Curly when he thought George had been bullied by her. He changed his tune completely, saying, "Girls should be tough. Otherwise, they’ll get bullied easily!" "That’s not what you said before," Owen remarked helplessly. "I didn’t know she was my daughter back then." "Hey, even if she is your daughter, she can’t just go around bullying people!" "Owen, your son was acting like a hooligan. We haven’t even settled that score yet! But for the sake of our long-standing friendship, I won’t press the issue. Just tell that brat of yours to behave. If he dares to bully our Curly again, he’d better watch his back!" "Owen, tell your son to stay away from our daughter! Otherwise, next time it won’t just be a kick to his balls—they’ll be cut off!" "And... tell George to give up any ideas about marrying our Curly. How could that little fool possibly be worthy of her?" How could that boy ever be worthy of the child he and Sienna Johnson had? Adrian thought. In Adrian’s mind, probably no one born in this entire world was good enough for Curly. Hearing his precious son being disparaged , Owen, George’s father, couldn’t remain silent. "Hey, Adrian, that’s not what you said before! And you promised to help George marry Curly." "Ah, did I say something like that? Why don’t I remember? Could it be... I’ve lost my memory too?" Adrian feigned ignorance. Owen was speechless again. Adrian said arrogantly, "Well, things are different now. My daughter is too good for your son! Tell him to give up that foolish fantasy right now!" Owen was so angry he almost vomited blood. "So, having a daughter makes you all high and mighty, huh? Well, I have a son!" "That’s right, having a daughter *is* a big deal. And your son is still head over heels for mine, acting like a complete fool." "Adrian Desmond, just you wait! If my son doesn’t end up marrying Curly, I’ll take your surname!" "The Desmond family doesn’t want you!" Seeing the two adults arguing and his father about to ruin everything, George snatched the phone and shouted, "Father-in-law! So you’re Curly’s dad! I’m truly in love with Curly. Please, give us your blessing!" Adrian was so stunned by the "Father-in-law" that his mouth twitched. For the first time, he found this George Hunter to be utterly hilarious. "Hey, you brat! Don’t just spout nonsense! Who are you calling Father-in-law?!" "You’re Curly’s father, so of course, you’re my father-in-law. Father-in-law, I’m still young, so I’m not thinking about marrying Curly just yet. We can talk about marriage when we’re older. I just want to see her, but when I call, she won’t talk to me." Not only does she ignore me, she even calls me a hooligan! George lamented inwardly. My first impression is completely ruined. I’ll just have to work hard to earn her favor from now on. "Shut up! Who said I’m your father-in-law!" He had only just found his daughter, and now some little brat was already trying to snatch her away. Adrian’s good mood was completely ruined by this shameless father-son duo from the Hunter family. "I’m just practicing calling you that in advance. It’s fine," George said cheerfully. "Hey, brat, Curly doesn’t like you. Stay away from her. Otherwise, don’t blame me if your ’little bird’ disappears next time. I’m warning you." "Father-in-law, since you’re Curly’s dad, she must listen to whatever you say, right? She won’t come to the hospital to see me, so can I go to her house to see her?" Adrian felt a headache coming on. Although he was Curly’s biological father, he really didn’t know her well at all. In fact, they had never even met. Thinking of the girl’s face, which resembled his own, especially her eyes, Adrian felt for the first time that a daughter looking like him wasn’t entirely a good thing. "Father-in-law, please ask Curly for me if I can go to her house to visit. I’ll bring her lots of tasty treats and fun toys," George said enthusiastically. "We’ll talk about it later!"