In the end, the little girl held the hands of both her ‘fathers’ and left. She took a few steps before she turned her head back with tears flowing down her cheeks and bade Sophia farewell. “We’re leaving now, Miss.”
Cooper decided to come over from the other room only after they had left. He frowned as Sophia stared at the empty seat whilst her mind wandered.
Cooper consoled his daughter as he said, “It’s okay, darling. Even though this didn’t work out for you, I will find a better one for you!”
This was Sophia’s first attempt at matchmaking. Although she did not feel good for having failed the first time, she replied to her father, “It’s okay, dad. Don’t get mad. I didn’t really expect much from this anyway. I was only trying to have a feel of what matchmaking is like. Come and sit down, dad. Let’s eat.”
In a shopping complex nearby at that very moment, Stanley, the so-called ‘gay conman’, was pacing along the complex with Sean carrying his clothes and bag. He had the little girl sitting on his shoulders with her legs around his neck.
The little girl was still in tears.
Stanley asked with a frown, “Why are you still crying?”
“I was too deep into my act…” she answered chokingly.
Sean wiped her tears and gently consoled her, “Alright, darling. Don’t cry. It was all a show just now! Aren’t we supposed to be getting your present ready for daddy? We won’t make it if you’re still crying.”
Stanley was invited to a matchmaking arrangement the day before by a peer in the industry. While he was reluctant to attend the matchmaking, he could not decline his business partner’s offer, so he got the little girl to put on a show to scare the match-making partner away.
She was only supposed to be acting as his daughter, but the little girl went far too deep into her character, and she turned him into a malicious gay man who was trying to con Sophia into marriage. She’s so dramatic!
With a little bit of coaxing from Sean, the little girl, who was initially pouting, finally chuckled. It was already midday by the time the three of them shared a meal and headed back home.
Their car soon arrived in front of The Imperial Villa No.8. Stanley got out with the girl in his arms before he swiped the door lock with his access card, while Sean parked the car.
The little girl was giggling and chuckling while she chatted with Stanley.
“Hello, pretty girl. What’s your daddy’s name?”
“Mackie Patcher!” she replied.
Stanley corrected her on the spot. “It’s Michael Fletcher!”
“Mackie Patcher!” she said again.
Stanley then asked her, “What about you? What’s your name?”
She answered, “Carmen Patcher!”
After they closed the door behind them, Stanley put her on the floor and rectified her pronunciation once again. “It’s Carmen Fletcher! Fletcher! Not Patcher!”
“Carmen Patcher!”
He was speechless. “Alright, then. Carmen, let’s get ready. Your daddy’s coming back very soon!”
Carmen hurried off to prepare her new year’s present for her beloved daddy. Stanley sighed as he observed her cheerfully skipping off into the room. She’s growing up so fast…
As a token of love and appreciation for her father, who spotted a crown of white hair from bringing her up, Carmen had specially prepared a play for him this new year, titled ‘Snow White’. The other actors would be arriving shortly—those included Sarah and Harry, who lived next door, Stanley and Sean, and not to forget, her brother, Nathan.
Nathan was no longer the little boy he used to be. He was already a thirteen-year-old with strong hints of puberty for his tall stature and hoarse voice evidently showed. After completing his junior year at Bayside University, he enrolled in a computer science course. During holidays, he would return to the Fletcher Residence for his military training. Nathan had grown up from a quiet little boy to a quiet teenager.
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