Men? No Kidding

Chapter 6

Daniel strode up to Chloe, his expression dark as he shot Susan a glare. "Chloe is this child's mother. If she wants to hold her, who gave you the right to say no?"

"Mr. Murphy…" Susan's voice quivered as her eyes welled with tears, her delicate face a picture of grievance.

Daniel's tone softened as he turned to Chloe. "Chloe, don't worry. I'll find a new nanny to replace her as soon as possible."

Madison scoffed, her eyes sharp as daggers. "I knew it! Letting that baby come back here so easily—you clearly had some ulterior motive! No one's begging you to like her, but if you dare harm her, Chloe, I swear, we're done!"

"Mom!" Daniel's voice dropped a degree, a warning edge creeping in. "Can you just not for once?"

Madison, undeterred, pressed on, her voice rising. "Have you even thought about where she would've taken the child if Susan hadn't stopped her? This baby is the one we've been waiting on for years! I won't let anyone lay a finger on her!"

Daniel hesitated, glancing between them. "Chloe, if you don't like having her around, I can send her somewhere else. You don't have to…"

Chloe stared at him, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Do you honestly think I would hurt your child?"

Her words cut through the tension, leaving Daniel momentarily stunned. Seeing the heartbreak in her eyes, he quickly backtracked, his voice laced with urgency. "Of course not. That's not what I meant."

Without another word, Chloe turned and walked back to their bedroom, slamming the door shut. She sat down, fumbling with a cigarette. It took her several tries before she finally got it lit.

The lingering pain from the accident still haunted her body, and smoking had become her only solace. Yet, no matter how many cigarettes she burned through, the emotional wound in her chest felt like it was splitting wider, raw and unrelenting.

The following day, Daniel took Chloe to an auction.

To kick things off, he spent a cool thirty million dollars on an antique vase for Robert. He then went on to bid for several high-end jewelry pieces. The onlookers couldn't hide their envy, their gazes flitting to Chloe as whispers buzzed through the room.

Daniel opened the jewelry boxes one by one, displaying their treasures before her.

"Do you like any of these?"

Chloe barely spared the sparkling pieces a glance before turning her eyes to the window. "Not really my thing."

Her indifferent tone made Daniel falter for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a smile as he closed the boxes. "That's fine. If nothing catches your eye today, there's always next time. I'll keep looking until I find something you love."

Soon enough, Robert's grand birthday banquet arrived. The event was held at Newbridge City's most luxurious hotel, a venue that screamed prestige and wealth.

The child had been fussing all morning, crying endlessly, so Chloe ended up going to the banquet ahead of the Murphy family.

As the banquet was about to begin, Elizabeth glanced at her daughter with a frown. "Where's Daniel? Call him and find out what's taking so long."

Before Chloe could respond, Madison swept into the hall, her face aglow with pride.

"Oh, in-laws, I'm so sorry for the delay! The little one wasn't feeling well, and it set us back a bit. I hope you'll understand." Madison cooed as she carried the baby in her arms, with Susan trailing closely behind.

The entire banquet hall went still, all eyes turning to Madison and the baby.

Moments later, Daniel entered the room, his expression grim as he approached Chloe.

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry for being late. The traffic was worse than I expected."

Robert and Elizabeth's faces remained cold, their silence unmistakable.

Everyone in their social circle knew Chloe couldn't have children. While the Bennett family hadn't outwardly opposed Daniel having a child, bringing the baby here so openly felt like a slap to their faces. Yet, with Chloe's condition, they had no choice but to swallow their pride.

Madison, however, seemed oblivious to the tension. She boldly carried the baby to the main table, claiming a seat with a triumphant air.

Underneath the table, Daniel reached out and held Chloe's hand tightly. Around them, the murmurs and curious glances continued—some mocking, others pitying, all invasive.

Chloe slowly pulled her hand back.

The festive air of the banquet grew heavy, the once-lively chatter fading into an awkward silence.

The baby in Madison's arms started to cry, her shrill wails cutting through the stillness. Susan immediately stepped forward, taking the baby into her arms with practiced ease.

Madison smiled warmly. "Susan, why don't you sit down here? It'll make it easier for you to take care of the little one."