Janey, despite only meeting Mitchel once at the airport, harbored a deep liking for him.
She stubbornly believed that Mitchel should be her daddy, drawn to him because his face resembled the one from her dreams.
As Mitchel held Janey in his arms, a sudden panic gripped Raegan, her face turning pale.
The unsettling idea that Mitchel might steal Janey away from her flashed through her mind, leaving her shocked.
But, to her knowledge, he wasnât Janeyâs biological father.
âJaney!â Raegan shouted anxiously as she swiftly snatched Janey out of Mitchelâs arms.
âDonât call him like that again!â
Janey was shocked by Raeganâs reaction, and her lips pursed as if on the verge of tears.
Observing this, Mitchel couldnât help but feel a pang of sympathy for Janey.
Just as Mitchel was about to say something, Raegan squatted down and met Janeyâs eyes, her tone notably softer but serious.
âJaney Foster, this man is not your father.
You canât just call a stranger âDaddyâ.
Understand?â
A stranger? Raeganâs words descended on Mitchel like an unanticipated cascade of icy water, causing him to recoil in surprise.
So that was what he was to her now.
A stranger.
Had their baby survived, she would likely have been just as adorable as Janey.
Regrettably, it was impossible.
Confused, Janey glanced between Mitchel and Raegan, feeling wronged and on the brink of tears.
She had chosen Mitchel as her daddy since their meeting at the airport.
Raegan let out a sigh, her voice gentle as she spoke to Janey.
âCome here, sweetheart.
I need you to understand something.
The man over there is not your father.
If you keep calling him âDaddy,â it might cause some problems for him.
Do you understand me?â
Janey, being still in her early years, couldnât fully comprehend everything.
Yet, she instinctively understood the importance of not causing trouble for other people.
So, the daddy she had chosen didnât wish to have a little girl like her? A wave of sadness engulfed her.
At that moment, Janey felt as if she had offered someone her favorite doll, only to have it callously discarded.
Janeyâs eyes welled up with disappointment as she responded, âOkay, I seeâ¦â
Upon witnessing Janeyâs emotional state, Raegan tenderly reached out, gently touching Janeyâs head.
âWell, say goodbye to him then.
â
At this time, Mitchel had already stepped out of his car, positioning himself in front of them.
He had overheard Raeganâs words to Janey, sensing the weight of the situation.
She said Janeyâs calling him that way would make him troubled.
Well, he didnât mind.
He was prepared to embrace every challenge willingly.
Reluctantly, Janey waved at Mitchel and uttered a soft, âGoodbye, sir.
â
Her voice carried a somber tone, on the brink of tears.
In an instant, a heavy force seemed to strike Mitchelâs heart.
The desire to wrap his arms around Janey and comfort her overwhelmed him.
A complex emotion flickered in Mitchelâs eyes, an uncertainty about why he felt such a profound connection to a little girl he just met.
As Mitchel continued to gaze at Janey, unblinking, Raeganâs unease intensified.
She was increasingly reluctant for Janey to be around Mitchel.
Unable to bear it any longer, Raegan firmly clasped Janeyâs hand, giving a nod to Mitchel, and began to walk away without glancing back.
âHold on a second!â Mitchel called out, abruptly halting her departure.
Raegan halted her steps and turned around to face Mitchel.