Chapter 53: Hug! Hug!

"So they found out anyway, huh?" Jean asked. She had calmed down somewhat after Kai remained by her side for several minutes, assuring her that he was here and that no one would trouble them.

It was strange. Until recently, she had found herself in one situation after another where she was on the verge of being discovered. Somehow, every time, she had managed to brave her way through the trouble and slip from their grasp before they could corner her.

Today had been different.

She had been safely behind a door, with the person outside doing nothing more than hammering against it, yet she had been terrified. Was she beginning to rely too much on Kai? Or was it because she had come to cherish the life they had built together so deeply that even the slightest threat of losing it frightened her more than it should?

The thought was too heavy to dwell on right now. For the moment, she wanted to hear his answer.

"I was informed by a certain man that someone would come to confirm your involvement in this incident, as well as your connection to the Scarlette family," Kai replied softly as he gently wiped his daughter’s neck.

He had purchased wet wipes specifically for children through an online store, along with light, breathable clothes that would not rub against her sensitive skin.

"What should we do now, then?" Jean asked, unable to keep the nervousness from her voice. "We’re supposed to move tomorrow. If they’ve already become suspicious, what if they track us down in Blue Mountain too?"

Kai shook his head.

"You don’t need to worry about that, Jean. I know exactly how to deal with it." He paused before turning to look at her. "You and Elli will be safe in Blue Mountain. I promise."

Jean knew that finally letting herself relax after so long had probably contributed to how frightened she had become whenever trouble found her. Perhaps the constant tension had kept her going until now, and with Kai beside her, she had finally allowed herself to feel just how exhausted she truly was.

Once again, his reassurance was enough.

The tension slowly left her shoulders, and she released a quiet breath she had not realized she was holding.

"Baa... baaa..."

Elara kicked her little feet beneath the blanket, clearly eager to be lifted by her father. Her tiny fists repeatedly reached toward him, grasping at nothing but air.

Kai could not help but sigh, his stern expression softening as he looked down at her.

"Not now, baby. You need to rest and let it heal."

Thanks to the passive skill Medical Monarch, he had already confirmed that the rashes were caused by sweat and moisture. The redness had subsided considerably by now, which reassured him that there was nothing serious to worry about.

Even so, he had chosen clothes that were exceptionally soft against her skin and decided to pay closer attention to her sleeping habits from now on. He would rather be overly cautious than allow something so minor to become a problem.

"She really wants to be picked up," Jean said with a small shake of her head, watching her daughter stubbornly reach for her father.

Before Kai could answer, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen before saying, "I need to take this."

Jean nodded and sat down on the bed beside Elara while Kai stepped a little farther away to take the call.

He had called Benjamin a minute ago, but the man had not picked up. Now, however, Benjamin’s name was flashing across Kai’s screen.

"Hey, Ben. Did I disturb you?"

{Not at all, sir. I was at the gas station, so I couldn’t pick up your call. Is something the matter?}

Kai hummed before getting straight to the point and discussing his plans for the move. Naturally, he would have to reconsider everything now that there was a possibility those people had gotten a whiff of what he intended to do.

He could not trust Adam either.

There was always a chance the man himself had sent someone to approach Kai and informed him later to gain his trust. Some might call it paranoia, but Kai had grown up in an environment where people could kill one another over a slice of bread. Suspicion had not merely become a habit for him. It had become a means of survival.

So, no. He would not be moving tomorrow as originally planned.

Tug.

"Hmm?"

Kai abruptly paused when he felt a small tug at his pant leg.

Looking down, he was startled to find Elara there on her knees, her tiny fists clutching the fabric of his pants as she looked up at him.

Kai glanced toward Jean and found her watching them with a fond smile.

{Sir?}

"Ah, yes. I’ll text you the details."

He ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket before bending down to pick up his daughter.

As he turned toward Jean, she explained, "I looked away from her for just a moment, and she was already at the edge of the bed. That’s why I put her down so she could reach you."

She shook her head, an amused smile tugging at her lips.

"She’s so desperate for her father’s hug."

Kai could only smile helplessly as he looked down at his beloved daughter. Elara was now nestled comfortably against his chest, her tiny fingers gently clutching his shirt as she breathed with quiet contentment.

Somehow, the little girl seemed to know exactly what he needed.

The tension that had been weighing on him since earlier began to ease, little by little, simply from having her in his arms.

Hugging her gently he muttered, "Thank you, baby."

...

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Their character sketch is in my head but it will take some time for me to create them. Please drop a review to help the future readers and next month would be a mass release probably.