Fake Daddy

Chapter 5 (I'm Not Your Daddy)

The media highlighted this shocking case. The news has gone viral, and in less than two hours, Neil's face has been plastered everywhere.

"Neil Georgino, a 30-year-old man, killed Jennifer, the wife of millionaire David Smith, owner of JDiamond, and kidnapped her daughter, Leah. Witness Roger said he tried to stop Neil, but was beaten up by him. According to him ...."

"Wait, what kind of news is this?" Neil was stunned after seeing the news on the television in a roadside shop when he stopped to buy drinks and food. The shop owner was old, and the man couldn't recognize Neil.

"You don't know this news? The media have been reporting it since the morning. That guy is such a jerk. After killing that poor woman, he also left with her child. What a pity. May God punish him soon."

"No, it's a trap. I-I didn't kill or kidnap Leah. And Roger... how could he do this to me?" muttered Neil. He was confused. Why was it like this?

Neil saw Roger being interviewed by a reporter. The man was at the police station to give a statement. He made it all up perfectly to cover up the real crime.

And Neil knew that Joe was a cop. For all Neil knew, Joe was the man who ordered Roger to kill Jennifer and Leah.

Not long after, a police siren sounded.

"No ...." Neil dropped what he was buying and ran to the car. "Leah, come out, we don't have time!" He picked Leah up and left the car just like that. Neil even forgot that he didn't have his cell phone with him.

The shopkeeper was silent as he watched Neil leave. "Hey, are you going to leave your car? Oh my gosh, he really left his car."

"Is something wrong, Dad?" Leah hugged Neil tightly who ran into a residential alley.

"Please be quiet. Now we have to run. Hold on tight, Leah."

Joe and his subordinates arrived at the place where Neil had stopped a few minutes ago. The man knew Neil was still around.

"Everyone, search until you find him. I'm sure he's still around. Split up!" After giving the order, Joe received a call from someone.

"Don't worry, I'll find him for you soon, brother."

The man was David.

***

They were all wearing police uniforms, and it was easy for Neil to recognize them. Those people were already so close to Neil. Running west, Joe's men were waiting; running in the other direction was the same.

"Oh, God, where else should I take her? Can't I give up?" Neil paused for a moment behind the wall of the busy restaurant building. He couldn't show his face to anyone right now because of the news.

Neil was on the verge of confusion.

"Daddy, I'm scared," Leah whispered.

Neil looked at Leah, feeling guilty.

"Just hold on a little longer, okay? I promise once we get away from this, we'll get some rest. You're hungry, right?"

The little girl nodded. Neil chuckled in annoyance when he remembered that he had dropped the sandwich he had bought a while ago.

"I'm sorry, Leah. I'll buy you another one later. But for now, can we work together? Keep quiet and don't make a sound, got it?" Neil pleaded.

Leah nodded in agreement without asking any questions.

Joe's two subordinates were getting closer and suspected that Neil was behind the wall. Neil's heart was beating wildly; he felt that his hiding place had been discovered. Neil stood up, but when he was about to leave, three other people appeared in the opposite direction. How could Neil escape at this rate?

At the same time, a strange woman appeared who put a hat on Neil. She also covered Leah with a small blanket.

"Have you been waiting long, Jack? Come on in, it's freezing outside."

The five men in police uniforms saw Neil and Leah leave, but they thought it was someone else.

"It's so crowded here, it's hard to find that bastard." One of them began to complain.

"Well, what can we do. We have to work harder. We're here, you guys split up again."

Everyone left.

Neil was saved thanks to a strange woman who took him into her private room inside the restaurant.

"Sit down, I'll bring him some food," the woman said as she looked at Leah.

"Thank you, but... why are you helping me? You know who I am, don't you?" Neil's question stopped her in her tracks. The woman smiled.

"My name is Milla, and I owner this restaurant. Now sit down, Sir, I know you haven't had breakfast yet."

The woman was about Neil's age. And from the look on her face, there was no hint of fear towards Neil, who had just been named a criminal.

Milla handed Leah a sandwich and told her to eat.

"You too, Neil, eat up."

"No, Leah... don't eat anything." Just as Leah was about to take a bite of her sandwich, Neil stopped the girl immediately.

Milla laughed. "I didn't poison her, Neil, for God's sake."

"How can I believe you when everyone knows that I'm...."

"I know you didn't. Luckily, we met at the right time, didn't we? Stop being suspicious and eat your breakfast. You should also have the energy to run away again after this because there will be more people looking for you."

Neil wondered, Who is this woman? Why is she like this? The man scrutinized Milla.

"Trust me. Sweatheart, eat it, it's okay." Milla told Leah to eat it, but the child looked at Neil instead.

"Daddy, can I...."

"Wait, daddy?" Milla was surprised.

"You can eat it. Sit here, I have to talk with Milla." After being allowed, Leah ate the sandwich, and she approached Milla, demanding that she explain the meaning of her behavior.

It turned out that Milla was the woman Neil had helped a year ago when he went on vacation and got lost in West Virginia. After seeing the news, Milla recognized Neil, and she was sure Neil wouldn't do such a thing.

"I know you're being set up."

God, Neil felt so relieved now. Of all people, at least there was Milla who understood his situation. However, when it came to telling the truth, Neil couldn't trust Milla completely.

"Alright, thanks, Milla. Can I borrow your cell phone? I want to call my mom."

"Sure."

Neil called his uncle, hoping to talk to his mom, but all he got was a diatribe.

"Neil, better turn yourself in to the police now and give the kid back. I can still afford your mom. Why would you do that for money?! You-"

Neil hung up the phone in disappointment. Even his family didn't believe him.

"Daddy, dad ...."

"STOP CALLING ME DADDY! I'M NOT YOUR DADDY!" Neil snapped. Leah was so shocked, and so was Milla.

"Keep your voice down! You're hurting his feelings!" Milla advised.

"Everything happened because of you, okay? I'm not your daddy, I'm just trying to save you, that's all. Just so you know, I'm not your daddy!"

"If you're not my daddy, who are you?" Leah's tears fell. Milla hugged her immediately.

"I'm-"

The door to the room was broken down. Joe and his men appeared with guns pointed at Neil.

"Put your hands up, hand Leah over right now!"

Milla tightened her embrace on Leah. The little girl was getting scared.

Then a man appeared from behind Joe.

"Leah, Leah! Daddy is so sorry for coming so late. Daddy's so sorry. Are you okay, sweetheart?"

The man was David. Neil finally met his old friend, but he didn't expect it to be in such a bad situation.