My mom kept hounding me to get married. With no other choice, I put on a meek and docile facade. I never expected that a remote blind date would get me noticed by a refined-looking, mixed-race guy studying abroad. He’d been living overseas for years and rarely came home. “I’ll give you a six hundred sixty thousand dollar bride price. No dowry needed. The condition is, you take care of my daughter back home.” He looked composed, yet he spoke so casually about having an illegitimate daughter. I feigned composure, but inside, my heart soared. Rich, a house, and instant motherhood with none of the pain. The marriage was settled immediately. From then on, I was back to my favorite games – Call of Duty, Apex Legends – and racing, with my little shadow in tow, living my best life. Until one day, my expat husband called, asking what talent our daughter could perform at her preschool parent-teacher conference. I looked at the keyboard in front of me: “Maybe… play the… keyboard?” He laughed heartily on the other end, then sent me a media video— A neon race car sped across the finish line. I opened the door, pulled off my helmet, tossed my hair, and flashed a wild grin. “Wife, are you a gentle, docile painter, or a rebellious, flamboyant race car driver?”
I froze first. Then I cleared my throat and said in a saccharine-sweet voice, “All I know is I’m your good wife!” I tried to laugh it off, brushing him away. As I spoke, my eyes darted around: the luxurious decor of the mansion, the top-of-the-line computer setup, and the cabinets full of snacks within reach. This life was pure bliss. I remembered ‘docile’ was one of Jax’s conditions for marriage. My head instantly throbbed. I quickly added, “Honey, you have no idea how scared I get when I drive. I just need your warm chest to comfort me.” “Instead of saying that, why don’t you just come home sooner and be with me?” I whined playfully, my throat constricting from the effort, and immediately hung up. I shook my head, trying to stay calm. This race was just a regional competition. How did Jax get news of it? Unless… I secretly glanced at my four-year-old daughter, who was playing house in a pile of toys. Then, I immediately dismissed the thought. That little girl listened to me more than anyone. If that was the case, how on earth did Jax find out?
A year ago. My mom was relentlessly pressuring me to marry, even going as far as showing up at my racing club, interrupting my regular training. With no other choice, I dyed my hair black, straightened it, put on a dress, and started going on blind dates. In the remote video call, Jax wore gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined and easy to handle. And from the pictures he’d sent, he was one of those guys who looked slim in clothes but muscular when stripped down. He was supposedly an American expat, making extra money working freelance on foreign film sets. His biggest quirk? He had an illegitimate daughter. She was notoriously quiet and had already scared off several nannies. But I was an expert at charming people, and lying didn’t make me bat an eye. I could be a perfect hostess and an amazing cook, not to mention great with kids. Jax was very satisfied with me. He immediately flew back to the States overnight to officially tie the knot. As for my mom, she’d already been blinded by the sheer amount of money. The first day I moved into the mansion, I was mentally prepared. I was afraid that the rumored little terror would jump out from somewhere and attack me. But before I could even knock, a soft, tiny little one walked out from inside.
The little girl’s hair was loose, and her innocent doe eyes stared straight at me. She was wearing loose, pink pajamas. It felt like she was… a little neglected. I frowned. “Chloe, Auntie will make you something delicious, okay?” With that very first sentence, I had the little girl hooked. Jax said she had a strange temper, but all I saw was this tiny pink bundle devouring her food, looking utterly adorable. I fed her meal after meal every day, completely winning her over. However, there was one exception. My thoughts spun back. Chloe had abandoned her toys at some point and stood in front of me, pouting innocently. I smiled, reaching out to pinch her cheek. How could Chloe be the one who leaked it? Jax must have found out from somewhere else. Looks like I need to pay attention to security cameras next time. “Sweetie, are you fussy about bedtime again? Auntie will tuck you in!” It was like a switch had been flipped. The child scurried around the house like a little mouse. She ran and yelled, “Oh no, the witch is coming!” I fought to keep my lips from twitching— “Chloe, why aren’t you being good!” After hearing me, she dug out the toy AK I’d bought her from the toy pile: “Look, a gun!” The little rascal must have loaded a fake bullet without me noticing. “Oof—” It stung when it hit me. I rubbed my forehead, speechless, looking at the way she held the gun. Isn’t this exactly how my Call of Duty trainees hold theirs? Great. If Jax found out I wasn’t just racing, but also teaching his daughter how to “fight” at home… Would he divorce me and demand the bride price back?!
I knelt in front of the little one. “Chloe, you can’t point a gun at your teammates. From today on, the gun is confiscated!” I rarely called her by her full name, and my usual smiling face was gone. The little girl froze, her innocent gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and confusion. I took the gun, but then cut her a small piece of cake. “Sweetie, you need to sleep! You’re still growing.” I patiently wiped the cream from her lips. This child had only one flaw: she hated sleeping. In the first few days I was at Jax’s house, she’d sway from exhaustion but refuse to get into bed. The discomfort of being sleepy made her wail. So, when Jax said the previous nannies couldn’t stand her crying, it wasn’t entirely Chloe’s fault. Because of this, I had to pull out all the stops to coax her to sleep. I read her fairy tales, and she’d say, “Why did the Little Mermaid have to die for the prince? Was he really that handsome?” I put on sleep-inducing cartoons, and she’d say, “Are they mute? Why aren’t they talking?” It wasn’t until I put on a classic old movie that she started to snore before she could even complain. This little one was… interesting. But even classic old movies eventually end, and Chloe wasn’t easy to fool, so I put on a long-running historical drama for her. She slept, alright, but then I started binge-watching shows all night. Everything from historical epics and family sagas to modern romances and thrillers. It was normal for me to love watching them, but as for Chloe— “I’m looking for my dad!” Jax? My expat husband, living it up overseas, how could he appear in a TV show? I pulled Chloe into my arms: “Sweetie, if you miss Daddy, we can FaceTime him.” The child shook her head. “Daddy has to go to heaven and earth, he doesn’t have time to answer the phone.” I raised an eyebrow, my lips twitching. Jax really could say anything, couldn’t he? He should be more realistic when coaxing a child. If he could go to heaven and earth, I’d be the Queen of the World. After that conversation, my gaze softened towards Chloe even more. Her mother was nowhere to be found, and her dad was full of empty promises. As her stepmom, I had to give it my all. My attention to Chloe became almost 24/7. But kids have their secrets too. “Why are you fiddling with your watch and hiding from me?” I teased Chloe, who was crouched in the corner. Her face was full of surprise, one hand covering her smartwatch, the other covering her mouth. She shook her head frantically. Thankfully, I wasn’t interested in uncovering a child’s secrets. It just made me feel even more anxious whenever Chloe left my sight.
My internal clock hadn’t adjusted yet, and by midday, my eyelids were already drooping. “Auntie, why don’t you go sleep?” I waved my hand. “No way. This mansion is too big to leave a kid alone.” “But Daddy said you’d become the biggest danger in the house if you kept getting so little sleep.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s got a sharp tongue, doesn’t he?” “Wait…” Chloe and I stared at each other, her eyes wide. She was clearly flustered. She avoided my gaze. “Daddy calls me sometimes.” “Good for him. He has a great daughter back home, he should call often.” I didn’t think much of it, my drowsiness at its peak. “Sweetie, time for a nap.” The two of us, one big, one small, squeezed onto the pink bed. I quickly drifted off to dreamland. So, I was completely unaware of the rustling sounds coming from the living room outside. Chloe, sleeping beside me, immediately opened her eyes and sat up. Her face was filled with wariness. Two years ago, she was still in a country full of foreigners. Her dad left early and came back late every day for filming. She lived in a big house with her nanny, Amy. One night, she was woken by sounds outside. Peeking through the door crack, she saw Amy and a tall man engaging in highly inappropriate behavior on the dining table. Just then, the front door opened. It was her exhausted father, home at last. Even if her dad could go to heaven and earth, in his fatigued state, he was quickly subdued by the man, who was much taller than him, and the large Amy. In the deep gloom of the night, Chloe, through the door crack, met her struggling father’s gaze. Her dad suddenly stopped resisting. Tears welled in his eyes, and his lips moved, soundlessly mouthing, “Don’t speak.” The two bad people dragged her dad into the garden outside. After a choked scream, hurried footsteps grew closer and closer. Chloe, terrified, scrambled back into bed. In the darkness, Amy and the burly man walked in. Chloe tightly shut her eyes. Only when the footsteps completely faded did Chloe dare to peek out. That night left Chloe with a nightmare, a deep imprint. From then on, she couldn’t sleep, or if she did, she couldn’t sleep deeply. The terror buried deep within her never truly faded. Chloe glanced at me, biting her lip. She tiptoed to the door and immediately locked it. During this time, Chloe’s feelings for me had grown increasingly complex. Her mother had died in childbirth, and the care I gave her was something she had never experienced since birth. My affection came with guidance and education. This time, she didn’t want to be a coward anymore. “Chloe.” A deep male voice sounded from outside the door. Chloe’s face lit up with surprise. She opened the door and threw herself into the man’s arms: “Daddy Jax!” Jax glanced into the room at the sleeping woman. He picked up Chloe and then carefully closed the door. They sat cross-legged on the sunny balcony. Jax carefully examined the little person in front of him. “You’ve put on a little weight, and your hair is tied up properly now!” Jax smiled fondly, feeding a peeled orange segment to Chloe. Chloe smiled sweetly: “Are you really planning on coming back to the States?” “I’m thinking about it.” Jax nodded with a smile. He was currently preparing for Director Alpha’s new film. As the only Asian face in it, and a mysterious character whose identity hadn’t been revealed yet. There was constant speculation about him. If he was lucky, this movie would be his breakthrough work to establish himself in Hollywood. But now… Jax’s gaze shifted to the nearby bedroom door. During these past days, Chloe had been sending him many pictures and videos of his new wife through her smartwatch. Chloe, usually quiet and highly cautious, had, through their daily interactions, been influenced by his new wife and gradually opened up. Compared to her initial dotting wife persona, her dashing and bold appearance on the race track made Jax even more curious. He had worked hard on foreign film sets for years, meeting countless people, but only his new wife’s vibrant energy completely captivated him. As for acting, Jax still had some confidence. “Auntie is very good.” Chloe wrinkled her nose at the sour orange but obediently swallowed it because Auntie said it was rude to waste food. Jax curved his lips into a smile. He nodded. “Yes, she truly is good.” A wave of emotion swelled in his chest. He pulled Chloe into his arms. “Chloe, did you think about the past again?” “Mm…” The little girl’s voice trembled slightly. Jax gently patted her back. “It’s safe at home. For the next week, I’ll be here, and Auntie will be with you too.” While Cassidy napped, Jax went back to the master bedroom to change out of his windbreaker jacket. The hot shower washed away the fatigue of a ten-hour flight and jet lag. As he stepped out of the bathroom, I happened to wake up and walk into the kitchen— “Sweetie, Mom will make you some afternoon snacks, okay?” Chloe, perhaps intentionally, smiled and said yes, without mentioning Jax at all.
After my nap, I felt completely refreshed. I was humming a tune, holding a rolling pin. Suddenly, a man’s low chuckle echoed in my ears. “CLANG—” All my expressions froze on my face. I looked upstairs, bewildered. I squinted, holding the rolling pin, and started walking upstairs. Chloe grabbed my hand. My nerves tightened as I turned to her. “Be a good girl, sweetie. Auntie’s just going to handle something. Don’t be scared!” The sound came from inside the master bedroom. I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and pushed open the door. The next second, what I saw— Dark skin, broad shoulders, a narrow waist. His massive pecs rose and fell with each breath, and below them, a sculpted eight-pack made my heart pound. I subconsciously swallowed hard. My hand holding the rolling pin went limp. All I wanted to do was yank off that short white towel around his waist. My gaze moved up— “Hon… honey?” Instantly, I felt myself flush crimson from head to toe. After two dry laughs, I turned to leave, but his large hand wrapped around me, pulling me into the bedroom. He held me from behind, his strong body enveloping me. I could clearly feel his heart thumping against my chest. For a moment, it felt like our hearts were beating in sync. “Let go first! Jax, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?” I was a little annoyed at being tricked. But he held me tighter, burying his head in my neck, his warm breath fanning against my collarbone. I couldn’t help but shrink my neck, but then I heard his soft chuckle. “Jax!” I snapped, trying to break free, but he held me in a vice-like grip. Without thinking, I lowered my head and bit Jax’s arm hard. Even his arm was pure muscle; it hurt my teeth. Jax laughed, his voice full of indulgence: “Alright, stop messing around! I just wanted to surprise you.” “Then where’s the gift?” The words popped out before I could stop myself, and I instantly regretted doing something so out of character. Jax smiled and nodded— “Of course, my dear Mrs. Cassidy.” His voice deepened, and he lowered his head, kissing my neck. I couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp. The temperature in the room instantly shot up. Jax exhaled raggedly, as if desperately suppressing something, and finally let go of me completely. His exposed skin was flushed crimson.
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