Jerome didn't stop the little girl from seeking out her mother. He handed the tiny figure in his arms back to Kimberley.
The moment Kimberley took her, Candy leaned into her mother's ear and whispered something.
Kimberley paused. She shot Jerome a glance before carrying Candy into the bathroom.
Jerome didn't think much of it, assuming the little girl just needed to use the restroom.
Watching the mother and daughter disappear into the bathroom, he pulled out his phone and fired off two messages on WhatsApp, delegating a few tasks.
Just as he finished sending them, Kimberley led Candy back out. Jerome's eyes immediately locked onto them.
Candy looked up at Kimberley, and Kimberley offered her daughter an encouraging smile.
Candy then trotted over to Jerome, tilting her head up as she spoke.
"You can kiss me now, Daddy."
Jerome froze. He looked down at the little girl, noticing her face was clean and fresh, with a few damp strands of fine hair framing it.
It was obvious now. She had asked her mother to take her into the bathroom to wash her face.
So his daughter hadn't refused to let him kiss her. She had just been embarrassed, thinking her tear-streaked, snotty face made her look like a messy little kitten.
He had no idea where she got this delightfully fussy, awkward little streak from.
Jerome instantly bent down, swept his daughter up into his arms again, and planted a firm kiss on her soft, delicate cheek.
She was incredibly soft. Having a daughter felt better than anything else in the world; it felt like he was holding the universe's most precious treasure.
After kissing his daughter, Jerome looked up and caught sight of Kimberley standing a few steps away.
Carrying his daughter, he took a step forward. Spreading his long arm, he pulled Kimberley into his embrace as well.
Meeting Kimberley's stunned gaze, the man leaned down and pressed a kiss to the woman's cheek too.

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