A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"It doesn't matter," Jacob replied. His voice had a cold and flat tone, so Emily couldn't tell whether he was angry or not. Instead of dragging the conversation, she decided not to say anything more.

Beryl's eyes were red and swollen. Clear watery snot streaked from her flaring nostrils, down her red mottled skin and to her open quivering lips. She stretched out her arms towards Jacob and said, "Handsome uncle, I need a hug."

Jacob's aching heart was relieved by her affection, as he moved closer and hugged the little cute girl in his arms. Surprisingly Emily didn't stop either of them, and just watched silently from the side. Perhaps she didn't say anything because she felt guilty for treating Jacob rudely, or maybe she felt very happy to see Jacob and Beryl getting along with each other so nicely.

Beryl wrapped her arms around Jacob's neck happily and whispered in his ears, "Sorry, handsome uncle. I made Mommy scold you."

Beryl thought that she was to blame for what had happened because if she had explained to her mother clearly, maybe Emily wouldn't have lashed out at Jacob like that. Burdened with a guilty conscience, Beryl lowered her head and waited for Jacob's forgiveness.

Jacob's heart melted like butter on hot toast at the sight of Beryl's apologetic face. Not only did he forgive her, he had long forgotten about the harsh words Emily had said to him.

With a warm smile on his face, Jacob brushed his hand through Beryl's hair and said, "It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Thank you, handsome uncle! You are so nice!" Beryl smiled at him happily and rested her head on his shoulders.

Beryl's words threw Jacob into deep thoughts. Was he really a nice man?

All he did was brought her outside to play for one day, and that was enough for her to think he was a good man? Beryl had no idea that, as her father, he should have been there by her side since the day she was born. He didn't fulfill his fatherly duties, nor did he give her the love she deserved to have as a child. He had left her with an incomplete childhood.

Moreover, he even tried to force her mother to give her up and take away her chance to see this world.

Was he really a good father? Not by any means. If anything, he was the most irresponsible father in the world.

Jacob eventually understood why Emily was so nervous and disapproving of him. It was because after all this time, even before Beryl was born, he had done nothing for the good of the child.

Jacob was overcome with grief when he realized that he had failed to be a good father to Beryl. While he was wallowing in self-pity, suddenly, a soft and tender kiss landed on his face. Stunned, he froze for a while before he realized that Beryl had kissed him and was staring at him with an innocent smile.

"Don't be sad," Beryl comforted him with her lovely voice. "It was not your fault," she pointed at Emily quietly and continued, "Mommy always overreacts to everything."

"Your Mommy was just worried about you." Jacob found her so adorable that he wanted to spoil her, but he knew that he had to perform his duty as a responsible father, so he turned his smile into a stern face and said, "You should try to be an obedient child, and you should always listen to your Mommy, okay?"

ever known had swept through her. For some inexplicable reason, she felt that

head on his shoulder

if she was leaning on her father's

intense feeling of love, that was albeit, foreign to her, and yet comforting in ways

said Jacob. Looking at Emily gently, he held Beryl in his arms and continued, "Now that we are in a hospital, I would like to have a paternity test

left them both in a moment of dreadful silence.

you see any need for it?" "I don't want to put Beryl through any of this, okay?" Emily refused.

should know, you didn't do anything wrong to me four years ago," Jacob explained, as his voice trembled. He felt helpless for not being able to explain

what happened four

the truth at that time, I would have still

shouted angrily at Jacob. She did not want to discuss such matters in front of Beryl, nor did she want the truth to

Jacob and stood up to leave,

air. His head hung low, as he helplessly watched them walk away and gradually disappear. The happiness in his eyes waned and gave way

the truth? Did she not

hit Emily hard. She agonized incessantly as she

wrong to me four years

took a deep breath and tried hard to control her emotion. She drove back home as quickly as she could with Beryl

them quickly and pretended to be very anxious. "Miss Cloris! Beryl! Oh, thank god you are back!

thoughts over Jacob's words, and she failed to notice Zoe's unusual

ready. I heated up the dishes again because they had gone cold," Zoe answered.

Emily

their way home, nor did she utter a word while they were having supper. She was furious at Jacob, but she was also disappointed with Beryl for going out with a stranger without telling her.

with her, so she just kept quiet and finished her meal on her own. Hoping to earn Emily's forgiveness,

down and broke the silence by asking Beryl to come and stand in front of her. She held Beryl's hands tenderly and

didn't mean to. I just...I just wanted to make handsome uncle buy me one more piece of

you say anything when I was so worried about you? Did you think it was funny to

the chance to explain, and you didn't even listen to handsome uncle. You just started yelling at the