Adopted by the Billionaire✔️

[29]

Ellie's POV
When Daddy left to go back to work, it felt quiet again.
But not the sad kind of quiet.
The noticed kind.
Suddenly, kids who barely talked to me before were everywhere.
"Ellie, your daddy is handsome!" said a girl who used to be mean to me in gym.
"I'm jealous—you have a really good dad," another girl added.
"Your dad looks rich," a boy from music class said.
I crossed my arms.
He is.
Before I could say anything back, Miss Poppy clapped her hands and told us to go inside.
After Daddy showed up, everyone suddenly decided to be nice.
Everyone except Raevynn.
"Why does such a handsome daddy have you as a daughter?" she whispered with a smirk.
"My daddy loves me," I said firmly.
Miss Poppy shot us a warning look, and Raevynn went quiet—for once.
Later, Miss Poppy announced it was Career Day. I raised my hand so fast my arm almost hurt.
"Well, Ellie," she said, smiling, "I look forward to hearing about your father's career."
More like looking forward to drooling over him, I thought.
School flew by after that.
At pickup, I saw Daddy leaning against his car with sunglasses on. I giggled. He said famous people have to keep their identities low.
All the parents stared like he was some kind of movie star.
I skipped over to him.
I fell asleep on the ride home. I woke up later and saw Daddy sitting on the couch, thinking really hard.
"Daddy?" I asked.
"Yes, baby?" he replied.
I wanted to ask him something—but he looked busy.
"Uh... nothing," I said, sliding off the couch.
I grabbed a snack and colored Princess Sofia while Daddy put on my favorite show.
"Daddy?" I tried again.
"Yes?"
"...Never mind."
He didn't push.
Later, Daddy went upstairs. I noticed he left his phone on the couch.
I frowned at it.
Curiosity won.
I tried his birthday. Nope.
Then I tried mine.
Unlocked.
His wallpaper was a picture of me when I was five, sleeping on his chest.
I giggled.
Okay. I was ready.
I marched upstairs. Each step made me a little less brave—but I made it to his room and sat on his bed.
He came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist, hair dripping.
He looked—
NOPE.
That is your FATHER.
I stared at my hands until he noticed me.
"Princess," he asked gently, "what's wrong?"
I shook my head.
He rubbed his temple. "Ellie."
I blurted it out too fast. He asked me to slow down.
"We're having Career Day," I said properly. "And I was picked to go first. I wanted to know if you'd come."
He smiled.
"I'll be there."
I jumped and kissed his face. He tickled me until I couldn't breathe from laughing.
"Daddy, I love youuuu!"
"I love you more."
Later, I laid on his bed, rolling around in his blankets.
"It smells like you," I said.
He laughed. "Do you love the blanket more than me?"
"Nooo!" I jumped on his lap. "Daddy, do you love me?"
"Until the world ends."
I told him about my friend Aidan—how he stood up for me when Raevynn broke my bracelet.
His face went serious.
"I'll need to meet him," Daddy said.
I nodded fast. "He's really nice!"
At dinner, he was strict again.
"Manners."
"Yes, Father," I said, sitting straight.
He asked about homework. I told him about coloring a turkey.
Then I asked, "Daddy, am I pretty?"
"No," he said casually. "You've gotten wider."
My jaw dropped.
"You're uglier!" I shot back.
He gave me an offended look.
"Hmph," I said proudly.
I won.
After dinner, I went to my room while Daddy worked—probably making a slideshow for Career Day.
I smiled into my pillow.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

revision: 3.10.26