Chapter 9: Ch. 9 Genius Girl
Once the three of them were left, Richard and Kendrich wanted to take Lori back to the airport to find the child’s mother. It’s just... Richard couldn’t move a muscle because the girl was still holding his leg as if her life depended on it.
“Little princess, can you let go of my leg? The bad guy is gone, so you don’t have to act anymore. Hmm?” Richard asked patiently and in a soft tone as if he was seducing a girl making Kendrich shake his head in resignation.
Lori didn’t react or answer. The girl only smiled as she gave Richard an adoring look making the man chuckled a little.
“Well, what can I do? I’m extraordinarily good-looking even a small child can’t escape my charm.”
Kendrich felt his abdomen churn to hear his cousin’s narcissism. He wanted to throw up at Richard’s face.
“Now I understand why Aunt Meisya always nags you to be with me too much. You’re getting narcissistic. I should be dubbed the most narcissistic guy in this world, and it seems I have a rival.”
Richard laughed out loud at his cousin’s words. “Aiya, you know we are close because we have a lot in common.” Richard bent down to pick up the girl.
.....
The little girl happily let go of Richard’s leg and enjoyed the delicious scent of her new daddy.
They walked towards the arrival gate while looking for a confused female figure looking for something. Only they found no ladies who appeared to be lost.
“Little princess, where is your mother?”
Lori obediently glanced around for her mother. But she did not find her mother and returned her attention to her dad. “I don’t know. Mommy was here earlier.”
“We should hand her over to the authorities. Let them find their mother.” Kendrich spoke in Dutch.
He suspected this girl had already considered his cousin her father and doubted that the girl was willing to separate from Richard. That’s why he said it in Dutch so the girl wouldn’t understand their interaction.
“No! Papa, don’t leave me alone.”
Richard was astonished to hear that, as was Kendrich, who was too shocked to hear the girl speak the same language fluently.
“Little princess, how many languages ??do you speak?” this time Richard deliberately asked in Chinese.
“Dutch, German, French, British, Indian, Indonesian, and Chinese!”
What the hell!? This kid can speak seven languages?!?!
Even Richard and Kendrich couldn’t speak Indian or Indonesian. But they speak five other languages ??plus Japanese and Korean.
“Aren’t you still... how old are you?”
“I just had my third birthday last month.” replied the girl in a cheerful tone without leaving the two adult men stunned to hear it.
“What now? You’re still going to take her?” Kendrich asked in Japanese on purpose, which Lori certainly wouldn’t understand.
Hearing she didn’t understand anything Kendrich was saying, Lori pouted and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. She would rebel and vehemently oppose if her new handsome daddy left her here.
“I...” Richard glanced at the girl who was looking at him expectantly. For some reason, he was fascinated by these two different colored eyes. He felt something strange as if something bound his heart to this adorable genius little girl. “I’ll take her with me.” resumed Richard, using the common language, inviting a broad smile on the girl.
“You’re not serious, are you?”
“I’ve never been more serious than now. And besides, I gained benefit from her.”
Benefit?
Kendrich glanced around and realized that many girls looked at Richard with desirable eyes while Richard was throwing a flirting smile toward them.
It was unfortunate for Richard that his ‘daughter’ noticed his attitude of flirting with all the girls who passed them.
The girl cupped her father’s cheeks and forced him to look at her.
“Daddy, you can’t look at other women. You can only see mommy.” her adorable demand made Richard freeze at that moment. On the other hand, Kendrich burst out laughing as he watched his cousin become motionless.
Richard blinked a few times and then patiently obeyed the girl and didn’t glance at the other women. Later, after he was released from this girl, he could play outside as he pleased.
“But, little princess, I don’t even know what your mother looks like. How can I see your mother?”
“How could you never meet mama? Then how did I come into this world?”
“...” Richard wondered, is this baby really just a toddler? Why does it feel like he interacted with a teenage girl?
Kendrich couldn’t help but laugh again, seeing Richard was speechless in front of a small child. It seems that he would see an exciting drama in these father-daughter interactions.
Kendrich had officially considered Lori, his cousin’s daughter.
“What’s your name, little one?” Kendrich decided he wanted to get to know his future niece better, while Richard was already cold-blooded and didn’t want to talk anymore.
“My name is Loreinne Summer Richie.”
“Richie? It just so happens that your father’s nickname is Richie too, isn’t it, Richie?” Kendrich teased, patting his cousin on the shoulder.
Richard still refused to speak. He couldn’t wait to go home and hand this kid over to his assistant, so he would have a peaceful time without handling bickering, demanding little girls.
“Is that true? So you are my daddy!”
Richard’s steps halted hearing this while his brow furrowed. He started regretting saving this child. He should let the kidnapper take her.
“Little one, if you wish to stay with me, seal your lips this instant. Hmm?” his tone was gentle and caring, but his words sounded so frightening it made the little girl shut her mouth tightly.
Of the many men who approached her mother, Lori had never met a man as handsome and dangerous as her savior. There would be no man who could handle her mother’s temperament. But according to her, this man could definitely control her wild mother.
Therefore, she would shut her mouth tightly and not let her new daddy have any reason to abandon her.
Satisfied that he had managed to silence the little girl, Richard continued on his way and got into Kendrich’s car.
“You don’t have a baby seat?” asked Richard, raising Kendrich’s eyebrow.
“You think?” snorted Kendrich nonchalantly. “Just let her sit on your lap. I don’t care if I get a ticket.”
The problem was that Richard wanted to get away from this little fellow immediately. Getting the attention of the opposite sex was enjoyable. But if it’s too much and demands more attention, it’s pretty annoying.
Without warning, Richard handed Lori to Kendrich, making his cousin dumbfounded. He didn’t know how to handle a baby when two different eyes looked at him with great curiosity.
“I’ll drive,” added Richard, entering the driver seat.
Kendrich gaped and could only surrender as he sat beside the driver’s seat while holding the girl, who suddenly became as silent as the night.