Chapter 21: Chapter 21

“Angel.” Floretta’s voice pulled Angeline back to the real world.

Bending down, Angeline patted the girl’s head and spoke softly. “First off, I’m thankful that you helped me. Nonetheless, I’m not your mother, so please don’t call me that in the future, okay? It’ll cause misunderstandings.”

If the girl didn’t call her “Mommy” last time in the parking lot, Evander wouldn’t have misunderstood anything. After all, it would make anyone suspicious if their child suddenly got close to an unknown woman.

“Besides, you don’t know who I am. What if I’m a bad guy? I would’ve taken you away if that was the case. Isn’t that right?”

“No way.” Floretta shook her head vigorously. “You’re not a bad guy. You’re my idol.”

Angeline smiled. “Thank you for liking me, but I have to go. Can you find your way back to an adult whom you know?”

“Huh? You’re leaving?” That made the girl panickily grab the corner of Angeline’s dress. “No.”

Just as Angeline was about to explain that she had work to do, she saw Floretta’s knee injury at the periphery of her sight. It was still bleeding, which was why she immediately crouched in front of the girl.

“What happened? How did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine. I accidentally tripped when I exited the car to find you.”

The first time they met, Floretta tripped and hurt her knee. Before the bruise was even gone, the same knee was hurt again. The addition of a new wound on top of the old one made it stand out on her pink, tender skin.

“Does it hurt?” Angeline asked.

“It doesn’t.” The girl shook her head. Staring at Angeline’s worried expression, her gaze flickered before she spoke aggrievedly. “But I do feel sad because I accidentally ruined my birthday cake.”

“Birthday cake?” Raising her head, Angeline stared at the girl. “Is it your birthday today?”

“Mhm.” With a nod, Floretta asked, “Can you celebrate my birthday with me, Angel?”

A troubled look appeared on Angeline’s face.

The girl’s eyes immediately turned red as she lowered her head aggrievedly and fiddled with her finger.

“Daddy wants to marry a new mommy, so he doesn’t want me anymore and doesn’t want to celebrate my birthday with me.”

“Doesn’t your daddy know today is your birthday?” Angeline was surprised.

However, as she thought about the time when she saw Evander having a meal with a woman at the mall, it suddenly became plausible to her that maybe he didn’t care about his child.

Floretta sniffed and uttered chokingly, “Daddy never remembers my birthday and never bought me a birthday cake before. Franny’s the one who bought the cake for me. No one has ever celebrated my birthday with me before…” She began sobbing.

“Don’t cry.” Seeing that, Angeline panicked. She couldn’t stand the sight of a crying child. “I’ll celebrate your birthday with you, all right? Don’t cry.”

The moment she finished speaking, Floretta immediately ceased her sobbing and stared at Angeline with teary eyes. “Really? You promise? No takebacks, okay?”

Aside from the girl’s red-rimmed eyes, there wasn’t any sign of crying on her face at all.

Angeline sighed silently. If this girl is an actress, she’ll definitely be lauded as a prodigy. Maybe she may even win an award at the Oscars at such a young age.

After patting the girl’s head, she agreed, “Mhm, I won’t.”

She couldn’t bear to leave Floretta because she was the reason the girl was hurt and the birthday cake was ruined. “Your cake is destroyed, right? I’ll ask someone to buy one for you.”

Nonetheless, Floretta blinked and asked, “Do you know how to bake cakes, Angel?”

“Huh?”