Looking at the name she had written, Cristofer asked, “Who taught you to spell this name? Is it your Mom?”
“No. I think it should be spelled like this.”
“You were mistaken. My name is Cristofer, spelled with a ‘Cr,’ not “Ch.”
Hearing his words, Christina turned to ask Estelle with her eyes full of expectation, “Mom, is that so? Is he really my Dad? I have the same father as Yohan and Yvonne, right?”
Looking at her innocent expression, Estelle couldn’t bear to make her disappointed, so she quickly nodded.
At this time, Cristofer gently caressed Christina’s head and said, “I didn’t lie to you. I’m your Dad.”
Looking into his eyes, Christina nodded. The next moment, she pouted and lowered her head, wanting to cry. “Why did Mom lie to me? Why did she say you are Yohan and Yvonne’s Dad but not my Dad…”
Seeing this, Estelle immediately squatted down and held Christina in her arms tightly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s all my fault. ”
“Mom…” Tears streamed down Christina’s cheeks.
“I’m here with you. Don’t cry, Christina. Don’t cry.”
“Mom, are you having trouble with Dad?” Christina asked with a choked voice. With her arms around Estelle’s neck, she leaned her head against Estelle’s shoulder with an aggrieved look. “Yohan and Yvonne were born when you and Dad loved each other very much, but I was born when you had trouble with Dad, right? Is it because you were angry with Dad that you don’t want me to know that he is my Dad?”
Hearing her words, Estelle couldn’t help but sigh and feel distressed, thinking, ‘Christina is only three years old, but she is more sensitive and mature than her peers. I should offer her more love and security in the future.’
“I’m sorry, Christina. It’s all my fault.” She didn’t know what to say except to apologize.
“It’s okay, Mom. You didn’t do anything wrong. You are the best Mom in the world!” Christina said, unable to hold back her tears anymore. “I have a Dad now. I finally saw my Dad!”
Her crying was so heartbreaking that Cristofer couldn’t help opening his arms and hugging the two of them.
“Dad,” Christina called Cristofer.
“I’m here. What’s the matter?”
“Could you make up with Mom?”
“Okay. I promise you that I will get along well with your mother in the future. We’ll live a happy life forever as a family from now on.”
Christina nodded vigorously, her sadness now replaced with tears of joy. After a while, her crying subsided, and Cristofer lifted her into his arms while Estelle gently wiped away Christina’s tears with her sleeves.
Concerned about Cristofer’s injured hand, Estelle softly expressed, “Christina, Dad’s hand is hurt. Can you come to my arms instead?”
“I’m fine. Please don’t worry,” Cristofer reassured, “I really want to hold her right now.”
“But your hand…”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s not heavy.”
“Thank you.”
While gently patting Christina’s back to comfort her, Cristofer turned to Estelle and asked, “What do you thank me for?”
Biting her lower lip, Estelle said softly, “You know what I’m thanking you for.”
Hearing this, Cristofer smiled. He certainly knew what she thanked him for.
“The one who should say thank you is me. Thank you for telling Christina that her father’s name is Cristofer. Thank you for letting me be her father.”
“Well, how will you explain Christina’s identity to Grandpa?” Estelle changed the topic.
“Just tell him that Christina is our child. He will be very happy,” Cristofer suggested.
“We’ve already acted in front of him. Are we going to…” ‘Are we going to lie to him again?’ Estelle thought helplessly.
Knowing what she was thinking about, Cristofer said with a reassuring smile, “It’s a white lie. You don’t have to feel guilty about it.”
****
The three of them didn’t set off to go back to the city until it was dark.
Cristofer said, “The surveillance cameras may not be able to record clear images at night. I’ll try to avoid the surveillance cameras and make a detour home.”
“Okay.”
Unlike when he went up the mountain, Cristofer rode the motorcycle slowly when going down the mountain.
“Mom.”
“What’s up?”
“Dad is so handsome,” Christina said smilingly.
Hearing this, Estelle was stunned for a moment and said with an uneasy look, “Yes.”
Christina then chuckled and asked, “Did you agree to be with him because he is very handsome?”
“Ahem,” Estelle cleared her throat to cover her embarrassment. “Why do you suddenly ask such a question?”
“I’m curious. I want to know the love story of you and Dad.”
“You may ask your Dad if you want to know that,” Estelle suggested.
Listening to their conversation, Cristofer couldn’t help chuckling. Before Christina could ask him any questions, he said, “Your Mom was very picky in choosing a boyfriend before. Many boys chased after her, but she liked none of them.”
“But Mom fell in love with you in the end. It means you are excellent!” Christina praised Cristofer in a sweet and childish voice as she gave him a thumbs up.
Hearing this, Cristofer thought of the past and said in a gentle voice, “It took me a lot of effort to make your Mom agree to date me. She was like a proud princess at that time.”
“Proud? Mom is not proud. She is very tender and kind,” Christina insisted.
“She has become more and more tender since she had children. Although she was a little proud at that time, she was also very cute. Estelle, do you still remember the wish list you made when you were twenty years old? Many of your wishes are difficult to fulfill. It’s not easy to marry you.”
Hearing this, Estelle was stunned and asked, “How did you know my wish list? I wrote it down in my diary and have never told anyone about it.”
Cristofer was also shocked.
“I…”
“Did you read my diary secretly?!”
“I got your diary from Gretchen before.”
“Gretchen?” As they hadn’t talked about Gretchen for a long time, Estelle felt strange when she heard this name.
“Back then, Gretchen lived in your house with Melody and occupied your room. She found your diary and took it to her apartment. I saw it by chance and put it away,” Cristofer explained to her.
“Then where is my diary now?” Estelle asked.
“It’s in my study. I locked it in a cabinet. Only I know where it is now.” Cristofer answered.
Suddenly remembering something, Estelle asked, “Is there anyone else who has read my diary except you?”
“Gretchen also read it. Besides the two of us, no one else ever read it. What’s the matter?”