Whatever Marcellus had been denied in his own childhood, he poured back into little Aurora ten-fold.

Who could have guessed that the once-feared "Little Demon King" of the capital—the man everyone avoided—would turn into a total softie after marriage? And once he became a father, he evolved into a full-blown, "my-daughter-is-the-center-of-the-universe" devotee.

He had actually converted half of his corporate office into a nursery, leaving only a cramped corner for his actual work.

Time slipped by, and under a canopy of constant love, Aurora blossomed.

One afternoon, Marcellus was deep in a board meeting. The department heads were taking turns presenting their quarterly results, project milestones, market feedback, and their strategic vision for the second half of the year. Marcellus sat back in his chair, eyes half-closed, perfectly poised and detached.

"Daddy~"

The sweet, milky voice sliced right through the middle of the presentation.

Under the collective, stunned gaze of the entire executive board, Marcellus stood up, opened the boardroom door, and scooped a tiny toddler with messy, adorable pigtails into his arms.

He pressed an affectionate kiss to her cheek. "What are you doing here, Aurora?"

"I missed you, Daddy."

"My little heart-stealer. You’re such a good girl. Why don't you stay right here and keep Daddy company, hmm?"

"Okay~"

The jaws of the board members practically hit the floor.

"Continue." Marcellus didn't even blink as he turned his attention back to the department head.

The man, Stefan Hall, was so paralyzed by shock that he stood there, gaping, for several seconds before his brain could reboot.

"Mr. Hall? Are we continuing, or are we finished?"

With his daughter in his arms, Marcellus’s voice was uncharacteristically soft, bordering on melodic. But to the executives, that contrast was chilling. The man was a glacier, and the sudden warmth felt more like a prelude to a storm than a kind gesture.

*Mr. President,* the executives thought in unison, *please, just finish us off. The psychological warfare is worse than a firing squad.*

The little girl tilted her chubby, flushed face up to look at him. "Daddy, I'm bored."

"Meeting adjourned."

He cut the session short without a moment’s hesitation. Before anyone could even blink, their CEO had already walked out of the room, cradling his little princess.

"Did he just… leave?"

"Man, that fake, icy smile he was wearing? Terrifying."

"Tell me about it. My skin is still crawling."

Back in the president's office, Evangeline was lounging on the sofa, scrolling through her phone while sipping an iced caramel latte.

"Mommy~"

Little Aurora wiggled out of her father's arms and trotted over to her mother, her little legs moving with rhythmic excitement. Evangeline effortlessly scooped her up.

"Was Daddy handsome while he was working?"

"Yes! Daddy is the most handsome person ever!"

The sweet, innocent praise made Marcellus’s heart liquefy. He couldn't resist wrapping his arms around both of them. "My two sweet treasures. I truly don't know how I got so lucky."

Evangeline laughed, leaning in to kiss his cheek, and Aurora followed suit, planting a messy kiss on his other side. Marcellus found himself the filling in the happiest sandwich on earth.

"Daddy, I cried at school today."

"Why, my little treasure?"

Aurora pouted, her large, glassy eyes shimmering with hurt as she gazed up at him. "I don't like kindergarten. I don't get to see you or Mommy all day."

Marcellus stroked her soft hair. "Then don't go. How about I just hire you a private tutor?"

Evangeline shot him a mock-stern look. "Marcellus, are you really going to spoil her like that? It’s her first day. Isn't it normal for her to be a little homesick?"

Marcellus immediately retreated, shooting his daughter a look that clearly said: *Sorry, kid, Mommy is still the one in charge around here.*

Aurora, an expert at reading the room, quickly chimed in. "Never mind! I’ll go to school."

She was such a clever little thing, already learning how to navigate the social dynamics of the adults around her with a winning smile.

Evangeline patted her head, her eyes filled with gentle resolve. "Be a good girl at school, Aurora. I’ll pick you up and drop you off every day, okay?"

"Yay!"

Aurora dove into her mother’s arms, her tiny lips puckered up, waiting for a kiss.

*Mwah!*

The sound of the kiss echoed through the office. Aurora clung to her mother, rubbing her face against her like a happy kitten.

The way she acted was a mirror image of Evangeline. As Marcellus watched, fragments of memories flickered through his mind—their past, their journey, and the path that brought them here.

Noticing his gaze turn distant, Evangeline leaned into his chest. "What are you thinking about?"

Marcellus pulled them both closer, inhaling her scent like he was addicted to it. "Nothing. I’m just a little tired. Let’s go home."

"Sure. Aurora, we’re going home."

Evangeline picked up Aurora with one arm, leaving her other hand free to grab their bags. Over the past three years of carrying a child, her biceps had actually become quite toned.

"Let me take her." Marcellus reached out, but Evangeline deftly swerved away.

"You said you were tired. I’ve got her."

"No, I don't need to be carried. I can walk!" Aurora wiggled free, grabbing her father’s hand with one of hers and her mother’s with the other, a radiant, blissful smile lighting up her face.

"Let’s go then."

"A perfect little angel," Evangeline whispered.

Hearing the praise, Aurora held her head a little higher. As the evening glow spilled through the windows, casting a golden hue over the three of them, it looked like a masterpiece of a painting—a portrait of a life they had fought so hard to build.