Chapter 353

Josiah frowned, his gaze icy. “You just let her walk away alone! What if something happened to her? Is that your responsibility?”

“No! She wasn’t alone!” the nurse exclaimed, shaking her head vehemently. “Cedric came to collect her!”

Josiah’s eyes widened. Cedric arrived at the Sunshine Neighborhood and parked beneath Sienna’s apartment building. As he stepped out with Sienna, unease gnawed at him. “Once you’re inside, I’ll leave,” he said. Sienna had only just been discharged; caution was best.

“Okay,” Sienna nodded, smiling. As she turned to enter, a child’s voice called from the roadside. “Mommy!”

Sienna spun around to see Joyer, who had leaped from Tara’s arms and was running toward her. Her face lit up. “Mommy! It’s Mommy! Tara said it wasn’t, but I have good eyes! It’s Mommy!”

Sienna bent down, arms outstretched. To her surprise, Joyce pounced on Cedric, wrapping her arms around his leg. “Mommy, hold me!”

Sienna’s eyes widened. “Joyce!”

Tara, following behind, laughed. “Joyce, you said you had good eyesight. Look, is this your mommy you’re hanging onto?”

Joyce looked up, puzzled. Her gaze shifted to Cedric. Blinking innocently, she declared, “Not Mommy,” but still clung to Cedric’s leg.

Cedric felt a surge of anxiety; this was his first experience being clung to by such a small child. He dared not move, fearing he might hurt her.

Peering down at Joyce, he realized she was Sienna’s daughter. Smiling warmly, he greeted, “Hello, Joyce.”

“Hello!” Joyce replied cheerfully.

Cedric swallowed. “Be careful not to fall; shall I lift you up?”

“Okay!” Joyce nodded eagerly, reaching out her arms.

Cedric gently lifted Joyce; her small form was utterly enchanting.

As he stood, slightly stiff with nervousness, Sienna suppressed a laugh and extended her hand. “Joyce, come here to Mommy.”

“Mommy!” Joyce obediently leaped into Sienna’s embrace.

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief. He had never felt such apprehension. Sienna giggled, gesturing to Cedric. “This is my friend, Cedric.”

Cedric felt marginally more at ease, though a touch of awkwardness lingered. He’d arrived empty-handed. “I arrived in a hurry and didn’t bring you a present. May I make it up to you next time?”

“Okay! Thank you, Cedric.”

Sienna playfully patted Joyer’s nose. Joyer shyly nestled into her mother’s embrace. Smiling, Sienna turned to Cedric. “Goodbye, Cedric.”

“Goodbye,” Cedric replied.

“Let’s go,” Sienna held Joyer’s hand. “Joyce, say goodbye to Cedric.”

“Goodbye, Cedric.”

Cedric stood grinning as they entered the building. Not far away, Josiah gripped his steering wheel, his dark eyes fixed forward. He had witnessed everything. He couldn’t hear their words, yet the image of Sienna embracing Joyce, playfully interacting with Cedric, was seared into his mind.

It didn’t matter what they were talking about. Josiah chuckled coldly. He thought, “What is Sienna thinking? Does she really intend to repay her debt of gratitude by being with Cedric and dragging my daughter into this?!”

Josiah’s grip tightened. He wouldn’t allow his daughter to have another father, not while he was alive.

Meanwhile, Cedric turned to his car. As his eyes lifted, he froze. He saw Josiah’s car idling at the intersection. That Bentley could belong to no one else. Cedric’s brow furrowed; he wondered if Josiah was planning to confront Sienna again.

Inside the car, Josiah sensed Cedric’s gaze. With a cold smile, he revved the engine, turned, and departed.

That night, some found peaceful slumber, while others lay awake.

The next morning, Sienna was washing up when her phone chimed. It was a message from Josiah: [I’m downstairs; I need to talk to you.]

Furrowing her brow, Sienna dialed Josiah directly. “Hello,” he answered instantly.

“What do you want now?!” Sienna’s impatience was palpable. “I will not meet with you, Josiah. Don’t think you can act without consequence. If you don’t leave, I will call security. Even if you are Mr. Flynn, you cannot disregard the rules.”

“Calm down,” Josiah’s tone was surprisingly amiable. “Didn’t I say I have something to discuss?”

“There’s nothing left to say! Everything has been said a thousand times!”

“It’s about Joyce.”

“What?” Sienna halted. “What do you mean? Haven’t we already come to an agreement regarding Joyce?” She bit her lip anxiously. “Are you having second thoughts?”

Josiah remained noncommittal. “I can’t explain everything over the phone; we need to meet.”

Sienna gripped her phone, frustration mounting. Glancing at blissfully sleeping Joyce, she reluctantly agreed. “Fine!”

Downstairs, Sienna climbed into the car. “It’s not convenient to talk here,” Josiah said softly. “Let’s find somewhere to sit down properly.”

Sienna said nothing. Josiah took her to Soup Bowls. “You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? I recall you like their food.”

Leading her to a private booth, Josiah’s politeness felt overwhelming. Sienna, impatient, pressed, “Now that we’re here, let’s talk about Joyce…”

Suddenly, he stood, walked before Sienna, and knelt on one knee.