Chapter 325: Your Daughter?

Just as dawn broke the following morning, Brobbery was handed over to the police. With his court date already set and the mountain of evidence gathered against him, there was little chance he would ever walk free again.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Damian Hawthorne’s whereabouts continued. Captain Rico’s team was working to uncover every possible lead, determined to track the man down.

That same morning, Luca received a beautifully packaged gift from a store in San Fierro’s commercial district.

[Ding!]

[Host has spent money on Valerie! Critical Reward Triggered: Ownership of San Fierro News Agency!]

When visiting his girlfriend’s mother, bringing a gift was only proper. Although Valerie was wealthy enough to afford anything she wanted and lacked nothing in her daily life, Luca believed the gesture mattered more than the price.

After all, it wasn’t about how much the gift cost. It was about showing that he’d put some thought into it.

"Are you leaving already?"

Cecelia wrapped her arms around Luca’s waist, resting her head against his chest.

He gently smoothed her slightly messy hair and nodded. "Yes. Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?"

Getting enough rest was important during pregnancy, and he’d tried to move around quietly that morning so he wouldn’t disturb her. He’d taken his time washing and dressing, hoping to let her sleep for as long as she needed.

He hadn’t expected her to wake up so soon.

"You left without even giving me a kiss," Cecelia complained with a smile. "So I had to get up and come here myself to claim my good morning kiss."

Luca chuckled.

The Cecelia he knew now was quite different from the woman she had been before they met.

She’d spent much of her life standing on her own. Having grown up without much support, she’d endured a failed marriage and the harassment of her former in-laws, who continued trying to extort money from her even after her husband’s unexpected death.

Yet she’d never allowed those experiences to defeat her. She’d worked hard, pursued her studies, and gradually established herself within the group. She might not have become one of the wealthiest women in the world, but she’d earned enough to purchase a small apartment in New Orleans, a considerable achievement in its own right.

Everything she had was the result of her own determination.

Those years of hardship had shaped her into a resilient woman who rarely depended on others.

But meeting Luca had changed something in her.

For the first time, she’d discovered that she could be a little selfish with someone she loved. She could ask for affection, complain when she felt neglected, and openly admit that she wanted his attention.

Pregnancy had only made those feelings stronger. She was more sensitive than before, and sometimes she found herself worrying over things she would once have brushed aside.

More than anything, she wanted to spend as much time with Luca as possible.

Of course, she understood their circumstances. She wasn’t the only woman in his life, and Vivienne and the others undoubtedly wanted the same things she did. There were so many wonderful women around him, yet only one Luca. It was impossible for him to give everyone his undivided attention all the time.

Cecelia didn’t expect him to.

She simply treasured the moments when they were alone together. During those brief hours, she wanted to feel that she was the only person who mattered to him.

Hearing her request, Luca smiled affectionately.

He raised one hand to cradle the back of her head, then lowered his lips to her forehead.

He kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, and the tip of her nose before finally capturing her lips in a tender kiss.

Cecelia responded eagerly, her arms tightening around his waist.

After a while, Luca drew back. Noticing the faint moisture at the corner of her mouth, he gently wiped it away with his thumb before looking into her bright, watery eyes.

"I really have to go now, okay?"

"Go on, go on." Cecelia finally released him, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Luca laughed at her sudden change of attitude, gave her one last kiss, and headed out.

Once he left the villa, he drove toward Vivienne’s residence.

...

"Daddy, Auntie, where are we going to play today?"

Daisy knelt on the back seat, gripping the window frame as she peered outside with bright, curious eyes.

"Careful, sweetheart!" Trish quickly steadied the little girl, afraid she might lose her balance. "Don’t climb around like that. You could fall."

After making sure Daisy was sitting safely, she continued, "We’re going to visit Vivienne’s mom. So you have to be polite and call her Grandma, understand?"

"Okay!"

Daisy nodded enthusiastically.

At her age, she couldn’t quite understand why she had so many mothers. Still, one thing was clear to her: every one of them treated her kindly, showered her with affection, and made her feel loved.

And they were all beautiful!

As far as Daisy was concerned, having so many lovely mothers was a wonderful thing.

Of course, Sophie remained her favorite.

Daisy still remembered how Sophie had held her in her arms. Whenever Sophie visited the villa, Daisy would be the first to rush over and hug her legs, refusing to let go until she received enough attention.

Thinking about Sophie made the little girl smile to herself.

...

"You’re here already?" Vivienne greeted them at the door, dressed casually. "I haven’t even bought the groceries yet."

"We can go shopping together later," Luca replied. "We might as well take Daisy out for a walk while we’re at it."

"Good morning, Mummy Vivienne!" Daisy chirped.

"Good morning, Vivienne!" Trish added.

Hearing Daisy address her as Mom still felt a little strange to Vivienne, but in the sweetest possible way. Her smile widened as she crouched down to the little girl’s level.

"Good morning, Daisy. Mom Vivienne will take you out to play later, all right?"

She gently pinched Daisy’s chubby cheeks, unable to resist how adorable she was.

Then her thoughts drifted to the child growing inside her.

’Our baby will probably be just as cute as Daisy.’

With Luca’s looks and her own, surely their child would be both beautiful and clever.

The thought alone filled her with anticipation.

Just then, a beautiful woman wearing an elegant beige dress appeared in the entrance hall.

"Vivienne, Luca, come inside and sit down. Why are you all standing at the door?"

This was Valerie, Vivienne’s stepmother. Although she wasn’t Vivienne’s biological mother, the two were close, and there was only about a decade between them in age.

Thanks to her naturally beautiful features and excellent skincare, Valerie, who wasn’t yet forty, looked several years younger. Her fair, radiant complexion and gentle expression made her seem more like an elegant older sister than a mother.

Trish stared at her for a moment, visibly impressed.

"Aunt Valerie, you’re so beautiful!"

Valerie laughed softly at the compliment.

Admittedly, she wasn’t quite as striking as Vivienne, but she possessed a refined, noble air that immediately reminded Trish of Victoria Windsor, Arabella’s mother, whom she’d met in the capital.

There was, however, a difference between the two women.

Victoria’s position and years of experience in the business world gave her a commanding presence that few could match. Valerie’s elegance was gentler, her beauty carrying a quiet, almost ethereal quality.

Luca stepped forward with a polite smile and bowed his head slightly.

"Valerie, I’m sorry I haven’t visited you in so long."

As he spoke, he handed her the gift he’d brought.

"This is just a small token of appreciation. I hope you like it."

"You’re Vivienne’s man. There’s no need to be so formal with me."

Despite her words, Valerie accepted the gift with a pleased smile.

When she saw the cosmetics set, her eyes lit up. These were precisely the products she usually used, and she’d nearly run out of them. She’d been planning to purchase another set soon.

Of course, she suspected Vivienne had given Luca a few hints about her preferences.

Still, that only made her happier. It showed that the young couple paid attention to one another and cared enough to remember the little things.

Before Valerie could say anything more, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out.

"Grandma, you’re so beautiful!"

A little girl with two pigtails hurried over to her, tilting her head back to admire her face.

Only then did Valerie notice that Luca had brought a child along.

But it was the word Grandma that truly caught her off guard.

She blinked, then turned toward Luca in bewilderment.

"Luca, who’s this little girl?"

Luca crouched down and lifted Daisy into his arms.

"This is my daughter."

"Your daughter?"

Valerie stared at him.

Then she looked toward Vivienne, clearly expecting an explanation. When Vivienne nodded, confirming that Luca wasn’t joking, Valerie fell silent for several seconds.

She looked back at Luca, then at Daisy, who was happily nestled in his arms.

’He’s still so young. How did he end up with a daughter this old already?’

A ridiculous possibility suddenly crossed her mind.

’Could this be one of those tragic love stories? Perhaps he fell in love with a girl when they were young, she became pregnant, and then she fell seriously ill. She endured everything to give birth to their daughter before...’

Valerie’s imagination ran wild.

She’d recently developed a fondness for tragic romance novels featuring the so-called white moonlight, the idealized first love who remained unforgettable even after years of separation.

Apparently, her reading had begun to influence her imagination.

She looked at Daisy again, her expression growing complicated as she silently pieced together an entire heartbreaking romance that had never happened.

Meanwhile, Vivienne had noticed her stepmother’s increasingly peculiar expression.

She covered her mouth, struggling to suppress a laugh.

’Oh, Valerie. What on earth are you imagining now?’