Adopted by the Billionaire✔️

[34]

Ellie's POV
Daddy had been gone for more than a week.
That felt like a really long time.
Me and Skyla did a lot together while he was away. I found out she was going to the same school as me, which made things better. She still didn't like her dad very much. Honestly, neither did I right now.
"Skyla, hurry!" I said. "School's about to start."
"I'm coming!" she called, struggling with her shoes.
Usually Daddy was the one rushing me.
We made it just in time. I waved goodbye to Edmen at the gate.
That's when a boy sneered, "You don't deserve to hang out with Eliana."
I felt my hands curl into fists.
"Hey," I snapped. "You don't get to be a bully."
I grabbed Skyla's hand and pulled her inside.
Raevynn had been worse lately.
She kept saying things like, Your dad left you, or He's not coming back.
Every time she said it, my chest burned.
"Skyla, go," I whispered when I saw Raevynn heading our way.
Skyla peeled off toward her class, and I went to Miss Poppy's room.
Aidan waved the second he saw me.
"Ellie!"
"Aidan!" I waved back.
Class started like normal.

---

By afternoon recess, I was tired but excited.
"Monkey bars!" Aidan yelled.
Before I could answer, Miss Poppy knelt beside me.
"Ellie," she said, smiling, "I have good news."
I blinked. "What?"
"Your father is here."
My heart jumped.
"Daddy?" I whispered. "He's really here?"
Then I heard his voice.
"Did you miss me?"
I didn't even answer. I just laughed as he picked me up and spun me around.
"Daddy!" I squealed.
I showed him Aidan. Daddy looked at him closely—not scary, just serious.
"So you're the one my daughter talks about," he said.
Aidan nodded. "Yes, sir."
Daddy kissed my head. "I'm stealing her back now."
"Bye, Aidan!" I waved as I rested my cheek on Daddy's shoulder.
In the car, I felt warm and safe again.
I fell asleep before we even got home.

---

Later, I woke up and wandered downstairs looking for Daddy.
Edmen was in the living room.
"Where's Daddy?" I asked.
"He had to return to work," Edmen said gently. "He'll be back before dinner."
I nodded. I went to the music room and tried the piano. I played Mary Had a Little Lamb until I got a paper cut.
Edmen cleaned it up carefully.
I wanted to play with Skyla, but she was studying for a test.
So I played hide‑and‑seek with Edmen on the main floor until the garage door opened.
Daddy was home.
I ran into his arms.
"I missed you," I said.
"I was only gone a few hours," he replied, smiling.
At dinner, Daddy sat me on his lap like he used to. Skyla joined us too, even though Edmen stayed back.
The food smelled amazing.
After dinner, Skyla and I colored for a bit, then watched a movie. We tried a scary one, but it was too scary, so we turned it off and laughed about it.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
So I went to Daddy's room.
He pulled me close without asking questions.
"Nightmare?" he murmured.
I nodded.
He kissed my hair, and I fell asleep right there.
Sometimes I don't need words.
Being close to Daddy is enough.

revision: 3.10.26