Novel Full Chapter 141 - Understood
«Daddy, I'm still hungry,» Scarlet mumbled, observing the new wolf who appeared out of nowhere. He had asked her mommy if she was all right, and he had even laughed in front of Nate.
Who was he? Could he be dangerous? He didn't look like that, by the way, even with his bulky arms and trained physique. He seemed like a big, domesticated dog; not a savage beast... Someone with a lot of muscles and a stern face but the character of a golden retriever.
«What do you want, Scarlet?» Nate asked, turning his attention to her.
She shrugged, uncertain. She had just finished her dessert, so she should have been good. Yet... She wanted something more.
«You're growing up, aren't you?» her father chuckled, patting her head and ruffling her hair.
She pouted, unhappy he could laugh at her needs. It was his fault if she wasn't like her mommy: skinny and full with a few bites!
She was skinny, though. But her hunger never seemed to go away.
«I want more,» she said.
«Sure, let's go see what is left,» he sighed, offering her hand and walking away from the table.
He forgot about Bass trying to find out some news; and about Jaden glaring at him after filling his tummy. The pups were so nice to him when they were hungry, but they could turn back to being untreatable when they had their fill.
«Daddy, are you still angry?» Scarlet asked when they reached the line for desserts. «About before?»
Nate lifted his brows, wondering if his daughter had asked for food only to be alone and talk about the incident from the morning.
«Your mother is the one who should be angry, but, since she isn't, I will be. You put her in danger, Scarlet.»
«We were ready to go save her.»
«It would be better if she didn't need saving, don't you agree?»
He bent down and picked her up, as he usually did when they were having a heart-to-heart conversation.
«No matter how much you dislike me, you shouldn't allow anything to happen to Lara. Not even frightening her a little is acceptable.»
«Because she will be angry with me?»
«I doubt she can be angry with you, but not just that. Don't you love her?»
«Yes, I do.»
«Then, how can you stand hurting her?»
«I didn't want to hurt her!»
«I see... You know, our actions have consequences. You should think about it very well before putting someone in danger. You are too little to control all the variables, and you shouldn't ever do that without the other person's permission.»
She sobbed, her lips curling and her eyes becoming dim. At least, she was starting to realise.
«I don't want to hurt my mommy,» she said as tears started falling on her cheeks.
Seeing her imminent breakdown, Nate walked out and, nonchalantly, took one of the deserted hallways.
«I don't want her to feel bad!» she added, her tears turning into a loud cry. She wiped her eyes, but it didn't help much.
Nate took the napkin from the pocket on the front of the jacket, and he wiped her face and nose. Scarlet knew how to make him work even while being sorry.
He sighed, wiping her from the start since her tears hadn't stopped.
«It's fine, Scarlet. Now it's over,» he said. «It's in the past. Still, you should remember it for the future. Never again should you play such a prank.»
«I won't, daddy! I won't do it ever again!» she shouted, grabbing his shoulder and hugging it tightly.
«Okay,» he sighed.
He waited for her to calm down, for her crying to transform into a nervous sobbing. Then, he wiped her face for the last time and looked her in the eye.
«I'll believe you, Scarlet.»
«Will you?»
«I said so...»
«Am I still in punishment?»
«Yes, you are.»
«But I understood.»
«I want to be sure you will reflect and remember your conclusions.»
«Why are you so evil with me? Because I don't let you steal mommy?»
«No. It's for your good, Scarlet. I want you to become a good person when you grow up.»
«Like my mommy?»
«Exactly.»
«But I don't want to grow up,» she pointed out. «Mommy won't take care of me if I am grown up.»
«Oh, that's not true. She will take care of you forever. She won't stop just because you're an adult. If anything, you will ask her not to.»
«I won't.»
«Let's wait and see,» he chuckled, running his hand on her back and turning towards the canteen.
He moved a couple of steps, uncertain. What if Scarlet wasn't done with her tantrum? Her eyes were dry, but her expression was still nervous.
«I don't want to steal your mother away, Scarlet.»
«I don't believe you.»
«You don't need to.»
«What do you want then? If it's not for our mommy, what are you trying to do?»
«I want you, all three of you, to become my family. Wouldn't that be nice?»
«But why?»
«Because I don't have a family, Scarlet. And you don't have a father. If we accept each other, we'll have what we lack.»
«But what do I do with a father?»
«You let me help your mother. You and Jaden are growing up, and you will need more and more attention. You don't want your mother to suffer, to be exhausted because of you, do you?»
«We don't.»
«Then you should allow me to help.»
«You won't take away mommy?»
«No. I'll protect her so that no one else can take her away. I'm not looking only for a way to be with her.»
«Mommy spends less time with us since when you appeared,» she pointed out. «She goes out with you and ignores us!»
«Oh, goodness. You don't want her to overwork herself because of your brother and you!»
«No, but that doesn't mean she has to go on dates with you. She was our mommy first. You were late, daddy.»
Nate sighed. Why was his daughter so stubborn?