Chapter 857
Keith racked his brain for over two weeks, coming up with hundreds of names before he finally settled on one: Baby. It was a name as simple and precious as it sounds, perfectly fitting for his treasure. Baby was, indeed, Keith’s treasure.
As time went by, Keith heard an old saying that most kids can roll over by three months and sit by six. However, Baby, his little darling, was nearing seven months and still hadn’t mastered sitting up on her own. This sent Keith into a frenzy of worry. He took her to several pediatricians, all of whom assured him that Baby was developing just fine. But Keith couldn’t shake off his concern, leading to many sleepless nights spent scouring the inte for reassurance, even going as far as infiltrating mommy groups online under the guise of a concerned mother.
Finally, just shy of eight months, Baby sat up on her own. Keith’s heart, which had been up in his throat for so long, finally settled back into its rightful place. He was so proud that he invited the neighbors over for a little viewing party, showing off Baby’s new skill like she had won a gold medal.
But soon, Keith found himself caught in the trap of comparison, especially within those mommy groups. Anything another child had, Baby needed to have too, and more. He spoiled her rotten, decking her out in designer baby gear, even though she was far too young to even walk. Keith had become a boastful parent, always sharing but never revealing Baby’s face to protect her identity.
The other moms in the group would often say Baby was born under a lucky star, to which Keith would beam with pride. He loved hearing people praise his daughter.
Then came the day Baby spoke her first word. “Daddy,” she called him, as he was feeding her porridge. Keith was so stunned he almost dropped the spoon. “What did you call me?” he asked. “Daddy,” she repeated. Keith’s heart swelled with joy; it was a moment as thrilling as watching his favorite team win the Super Bowl.
From then on, his affection for Baby only deepened. It was as if she had officially accepted him into her heart with that single word.
However, reality struck hard when Keith was reminded that Baby wasn’t actually his biological daughter but Tarquin’s. How could he continue to use Baby as leverage against Tarquin if his feelings for her were so genuine? It pained him, but Keith knew what he had to do. When Baby turned three, he made the difficult decision to leave her behind and move to Jindale City, thinking distance would dampen his feelings.
Keith was confident that out of sight would mean out of mind. But life has a way of proving us wrong in the most unexpected ways. Despite his determination, Keith found himself rushing back to Baby faster than a speeding bullet. The story goes p>