My dance with Camilla went fine.

Why not great?

Because that fucker that calls himself my brother didn't practice enough and stepped in our place. Camilla cried. He laughed.

I'm gonna kill Easton.

"Dada, don't go," Camilla sniffles. I hug her closer to my chest, my heart breaking at her tears. She's so small and innocent, and she should never experience tears. I don't want her to ever cry.

I would do anything on this earth to get her smile back right now.

"Shh, it's okay," I soothe her, cradling the back of her head and feeling her tears go through my shirt. I rest our foreheads together. "It's okay. You danced so good, princess."

She sniffles again. The sound drags my heart through mud and steps on it again, making sure it's completely broken. "Are you proud of your dada to dance so well? Weren't we pretty when we danced?"

That makes a huge sob tremor through her body. "I-I don't know! T-they o-only took pictures when da-daddy was in the way!"

My jaw tightens in anger. The only reasons I'm not killing him right here and now is because one, Camilla gets upset when I even kill a spider and thus, the sight would get her upset. The second reason is the little boy Easton guided the wrong way in the dance. Seb has finally overcome his fear to talk more than two words to me, but losing my temper would scare him off again.

Later, I promise myself.

Daisy comes to us, smiling like the proud mother she is. She sees Camilla crying, however, and her smile drops. "Oh no. Princess, what happened? I don't see anything on your dress?"

She takes the toddler from my arms, comforting her daughter in the purest way I've seen. Camilla does well around me, but Daisy will always be her mom.

"Easton stood in our way at the dance. She's sad we don't have any pictures because of it."

Daisy gasps, overly dramatic to comfort Camilla. "Oh no! And you were wearing such a pretty dress!" Camilla sobs again, making Daisy pout.

My princess's face is now hidden in her mom's neck while she cries. Daisy tries to get her to look at her, but it's unsuccessful. "Camilla? Camilla. Look at mommy, come on."

Finally, she does. I love her brown eyes, they remind me so much of Daisy's it's crazy. They're only younger and far more innocent. 

"Mommy took pictures of you and dada. You want to see them?"

Camilla nods, but pettily stays on her mom's arm. Together, they watch the pictures Daisy took of us dancing together. I look along, feeling a huge relief in my chest as I see us laughing at each other.

I see myself differently. My eyes are twinkling with happiness. I'm dancing with my own daughter, who absolutely adores me. I can see that in her eyes. There are no secrets in the air, no dark pasts and no fear. I'm happy.

"Cake!" Camilla shouts, her mood the complete opposite of two minutes ago. Now that she's seen the pictures, she's bored with them and is searching something else to do. I help her onto the ground and bend next to her, rearranging her dress before pointing at Asher. He's getting cake for the two giggling boys behind him and if Camilla runs fast, she can get some too. 

She gasps and runs away, smiling wildly. I watch her, feeling a proud tug in my heart when I see she finally can run without falling. It's taken longer than Aiden needed, but she got there all by herself and I'm so proud of her for doing so.

Daisy smiles, wrapping an arm around my waist while we watch Asher sigh. Camilla asks him something again and when he doesn't answer, she sniffles and starts pouting. If he ignores her question one more time, she'll cry. 

And yes, ten seconds later, she bursts out wailing Oh, I know it's her manipulation trick. I know it very well. But that doesn't mean he has to ignore her crocodile tears and continue ordering the cake, right?

"I'm gonna kill him," I mutter a warning to Daisy before starting to take off. She's strong, though, and holds me. "Just keep watching. She's only doing it for attention, she'll be fine."

Daisy's right. The three kids, two still giggling and one sobbing, follow Asher with the three plates of chocolate cake. The boys sit down on their chair fast and get the cake, while Camilla stays at Ash's leg to whine.

Asher eventually sighs and picks her up. The second she gets the hugs and the chocolate cake, her tears magically disappear and she squeals in delight. Asher sighs even deeper.

She knows this doesn't work with anyone else. It's only her daddies that will swoon, while Daisy would just leave her screaming until she realizes no one is going to get her. Even the teacher does that.

I think it's heartless.

Talking about heartless, Easton walks by us. He grins and kisses Daisy's temple before wanting to walk off again, but I don't let him and yank him back by his collar. "Northon. Weston. Southon? I don't remember your name. A word."

He immediately scowls. I don't care even a little while I drag him outside. I want to close the door when Camilla finds me and giggles while hugging me. 

My eyes pin Easton on the spot as I pick Camilla up. "Hello, princess. Did you enjoy—North East, stay where you are—did you enjoy your cake?" She smiles and nods, giving me a fat kiss with chocolate all on her lips. I probably have it all over my cheek now too, but I couldn't care less.

"Why don't you go play with Ada a little? She was searching you," I lie, knowing Ada's not the smartest so she'll play with Cam anyway.

When my princess runs back inside, I turn to Easton. He grunts in displeasure. "My name is Easton, thank you very much, Sub-inic." I scowl.

"You made Camilla cry, you bastard." 

He groans and drags his hand over his face in annoyance. "Camilla cries twenty times a day! I'll admit, I should've practiced more, but Daisy has pictures. What's the damn problem? Everything is fine."

"The problem is that you ruined Camilla's dance and made her cry."

He sighs and visibly gives up, raising his hands in surrender. "You know what? I'm not doing this. No, I am going to search my kids and spend time with them while they can still laugh. Surprisingly, they stop that whenever they're around you."

And he's gone. I frown. Do my kids stop laughing around me? 

I'm just about to go back inside when I see something small move behind the entrance. Could it be a disoriented kid? I sigh. Ever since Daisy loves me, I have too much thoughts about whatever could go wrong ins someone else's life.

Hating myself for not being able to let it go, I jog over and look behind the wall. It's probably just a dog or something.

Until it isn't. No, it was Aiden, eating a lollipop and holding hands with a man who looks completely unfamiliar to me. "Aiden! Come here, boy," I call him.

He looks up, grinning at the sound of my voice. Take that, Northon.

He runs back to me and I immediately tighten my grip on him while he wraps his arms around my neck. I rise to my full size, scanning the man's face. "You're a dead man."

He pales, but I ignore it and go back in the school. He almost kidnapped our kid, what the fuck?

When I get back inside, it's chaos. I see Daisy in panic, Asher too, and Easton completely. Everyone is searching something or someone. I roll my eyes. "He's here."

Aiden claps in his hands, waving at everyone. He gets different when he's had too much sugar. Calmer, almost, but that's only when he's not being put to bed.

Daisy's tears start running as she takes Aiden from me. "That's one out of two, then. Do you know where Camilla is? She's not here."

What.

My panic starts to build in my veins because somehow, I know Camilla isn't safe. She's never gone too far from any of ours sides. Why would she now?

I try to stay reasonable, though. "Where have you looked? Where can she be?"

Daisy swallows. "Everywhere. She's gone, Dominic."