Chapter 925 Where is my real Dada?

Chapter 925: Chapter 925 Where is my real Dada?

The next morning, Leo came downstairs in an unusually cheerful mood.

There was something almost suspiciously bright about his expression, especially for someone who normally looked as though smiling was an activity he had to schedule in advance and approve through several levels of management.

The sun streamed through the kitchen windows, casting warm golden streaks across the floor and Leo walked right through them like he owned the light itself. His steps were lighter than usual. There was a bounce in his stride that had no business being there on a regular Tuesday morning.

The moment he spotted Eli sitting at the kitchen island, picking at his breakfast with the kind of concentrated disinterest, his eyes lit up.

"Hey, Big Champ!"

Before Eli could even react, Leo walked over, scooped the little boy up into his arms, and lifted him easily into the air. He held him up like Simba in The Lion King.

Eli froze.

His tiny hands instinctively grabbed Leo’s shoulders as he stared at his father’s unusually happy face.

"Dada..."

His little legs dangled in the air and his eyes went wide, round as saucers.

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay?"

Leo blinked, his bright smile faltering just slightly.

"Why are you asking that?"

He smiled even wider.

Eli’s little body stiffened.

He stared at him suspiciously. His small brows furrowed together, forming a tiny crease between them that made him look like a miniature version of Leo in deep thought.

This was wrong.

Very wrong.

His Dada did not usually greet him like this.

His Dada usually had a serious face in the morning. Sometimes he would ruffle Eli’s hair as he passed by. Sometimes he would simply say good morning in that low, deep voice. And sometimes he would carry him without saying much at all.

But this? This smiling? This cheerful voice? This ridiculous lifting him up like a cartoon character thing?

Eli narrowed his eyes. His tiny fingers tightened on Leo’s shoulders.

"Are you an imposter?"

Leo’s smile froze. His expression went through several complicated phases in the span of a second. Confusion, Disbelief and finally, a kind of exhausted resignation.

"...What?"

Eli immediately tried to wiggle out of his arms, his little legs kicking.

"Put me down!"

Leo held him securely, his grip firm but gentle.

"Why?"

"You’re not my Dada!"

"I am literally your Dada."

"No!"

Eli pointed accusingly at his face, his tiny finger hovering inches from Leo’s nose.

"My Dada is scary."

Leo stared at him.

Bella, who had just walked into the room with a mug of coffee in her hand, immediately covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

She had to set the mug down on the counter before she spilled it.

Leo slowly turned his head toward her, his expression flat.

"Bella."

She shook her head quickly, biting the inside of her cheek. "I didn’t say anything."

Eli continued inspecting Leo suspiciously, tilting his head.

"My Dada doesn’t smile this much."

Leo’s eyebrow twitched. A muscle in his jaw jumped.

"I can smile."

He said it unhappily.

"Not like this." Eli shook his head.

"Like what?" Leo asked.

"Like..." Eli struggled to explain, his small face scrunching up with concentration. He waved his hands vaguely in the air, searching for the right words.

"Like you ate ten cupcakes."

Bella finally burst into laughter and she had to grip the counter to keep herself upright.

Leo looked at her with disbelief, his mouth opening and closing.

"You’re laughing at this?!"

"I can’t help it." She wheezed between laughs, wiping at the corner of her eye.

Eli looked between them, his little head swiveling. Then he leaned closer to Leo’s face and whispered seriously, his breath warm against Leo’s cheek.

"Where is my real Dada?"

Leo sighed. "He’s standing right here."

Eli continued staring at him, unconvinced. His eyes narrowed further, tiny slits of suspicion.

"...Prove it."

Leo raised an eyebrow, shifting Eli’s weight in his arms.

"How?"

Eli thought very hard. His little face contorted with the effort of coming up with a test, his brows knitting together and his lips pressing into a thin line. Then his eyes suddenly brightened with inspiration.

"Say something scary."

Bella immediately laughed harder, doubling over and clutching her stomach.

Leo looked at his son. His ridiculous, suspicious, painfully honest son.

"Go eat your breakfast."

The words came out flat. Low. The exact same tone he used when he was tired of a conversation and wanted it to end.

Eli gasped.

His eyes widened, sparkling with recognition and delight.

Then he pointed triumphantly at Leo, his whole body wiggling with excitement.

"That’s my Dada!"

Leo closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly through his nose.

Bella was practically crying with laughter now, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had slid down to lean against the counter, her hand pressed to her chest.

Eli happily wrapped his little arms around Leo’s neck, squeezing tight.

"I knew it!"

Leo sighed but a smile still tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"You’re a strange child."

Eli grinned proudly, his chest puffing up against Leo’s.

"I’m Big Champ."

"Apparently."

And from Bella’s laughter behind them, still going strong, Leo knew he was never going to hear the end of this.

"Finish your breakfast. I’ll tell you something. It’s good news," Leo said casually.

Eli’s little eyes widened.

"Good news?"

Leo nodded, keeping his expression carefully neutral. The corners of his mouth twitched.

"Mhm."

Eli looked at him suspiciously again, his tiny brows pulling together into that familiar crease. He studied Leo’s face the way he always did when he sensed something was off, like a small detective searching for clues. But curiosity was already winning. It always did with him. His little mind was probably spinning with possibilities. A new toy. A trip somewhere fun. Maybe a puppy. Maybe a really big puppy.

"What good news?"

Leo smiled. "If I tell you now, you won’t finish your breakfast."

"I will!" Elil said quickly.

"No, you won’t."

"I promise!"

Leo shook his head slowly.

"Finish everything first."

Eli stared at him for one more second, his little jaw set with determination. Then he quickly asked him to put him down and hurried to sit on his chair. He immediately picked up his spoon and started eating much faster.

He shoveled cereal into his mouth like it was a competition and the prize was whatever secret Leo was hiding. Milk dribbled down his chin. A few colorful loops of cereal escaped the bowl and landed on the table.