The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 811

"Mom!"

Just then, Kristin's voice rang out from a short distance behind them.

Natalie quickly looked over and saw Marico walking toward her with Kristin in his arms.

"Babe, you haven't said goodnight to our daughter yet."

Marico wore a smug, showy expression. As he walked past Hamilton, he let out a mocking scoff before heading straight for Natalie. Under her warning glare, he gave her a wicked, challenging raise of his eyebrows.

"Kristin, give Mom a big kiss."

Kristin immediately leaned over, wrapped her arms around Natalie's neck, and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. Then she said affectionately, "Mom, don't work too late. Go to sleep early, and remember to miss me."

Natalie rolled her eyes at Marico before hugging Kristin back, pressing a kiss to her small face. "Okay. You go to sleep early too. I'll make time to come home and see you."

"Okay."

Kristin nodded obediently, then nudged Marico.

"Marico, you have to say goodnight to Mom too."

Marico was more than happy to oblige. Mimicking Kristin's actions, he wrapped his arms around Natalie and leaned in. However, under her sharp, warning gaze, he only dared to press a quick kiss to her cheek.

"Babe, I'll miss you too."

Natalie's mouth twitched. "I know."

"Will you miss me?"

"...Yeah."

"Then why aren't you saying goodnight to me?"

"Goodnight."

"No, not like that."

Natalie gritted her teeth. If Hamilton hadn't been watching, she would have slapped Marico across the face again. She took a deep breath and kissed Marico on the cheek.

"Goodnight."

Kristin immediately wrapped her arms tighter around Marico's neck and called out sweetly, "Dad!"

Marico's smugness multiplied. "Mr. Amos, don't you think my daughter is absolutely adorable?"

Pushed past his breaking point by Marico's relentless provocations, Hamilton's temper exploded. He raised his fist and lunged at Marico.

"Don't you dare bully my dad, you big jerk!" Kristin shielded Marico, glaring fiercely at Hamilton.

Children were simple creatures; she loved whoever treated her well. Faced with Kristin's hateful glare, Hamilton felt his fist lose its strength. Kristin liked Marico, and she didn't like him.

Humming a cheerful tune, Marico walked away with Kristin, looking thoroughly triumphant.

On the way home, Marico asked Kristin to call him 'Dad' a few more times. The more he heard it, the more he loved it, eventually telling her to just call him Dad from now on.

"Dad! Dad! Dad!"

Kristin was overjoyed. She finally had a dad, and it was a dad she actually liked.

Kristin fell asleep on the drive back. Marico carried her into the house on his back, but the moment he opened the front door, the suffocating stench of smoke and cheap alcohol hit him, accompanied by a chaotic roar of laughter and shouting.