After Cook's birthday celebration, the news of Cullen's previous marriage and his six-year-old daughter spread like wildfire through Porter's elite social circles. The revelation sent shockwaves through the community, particularly among Niall's numerous admirers.
Despite her established relationship with Cullen, many men had continued to harbor hopes. Learning about Cullen's marital history and child, these persistent suitors felt Niall deserved someone without such complications. Their concern for her manifested dramatically the morning following Cook's birthday when several appeared at Stellar's entrance, attempting to persuade Niall to reconsider her relationship with Cullen.
The situation became so overwhelming that Malachi and other colleagues had to intervene, helping Niall escape the crowd of well-intentioned but unwelcome advisors. News of this incident circulated rapidly throughout Stellar's offices.
"We already witnessed Ms. Crystal's popularity on Valentine's Lewis, but this is beyond anything I expected," one employee remarked during a coffee break.
"You can say that again," another responded, shaking their head in disbelief.
Most Stellar employees were well aware of Cullen and Niall's strong connection, but few had known about Cullen's previous marriage or his daughter. Curiosity eventually overcame professional boundaries.
"Ms. Crystal," one brave soul ventured during a brief encounter in the hallway, "is it true what they're saying? Mr. Dennis was married before and has a daughter?"
Niall's calm smile never faltered. "Yes, that's correct."
Noting her composed demeanor, another colleague hesitantly pressed further, "And how do you... feel about that?"
With a light chuckle that dispelled any tension, Niall replied, "We have a wonderful relationship. Sabrina is very attached to me, and I to her. There's nothing complicated about it."
The brief gossip session dissolved as everyone returned to their responsibilities, though the revelation remained the day's most discussed topic in hushed conversations.
Later that afternoon, around five o'clock, Niall was focused on completing some financial projections when rapid footsteps approached her desk. She looked up just as a small figure launched toward her.
"Niall!" Sabrina called out excitedly.
Niall's face immediately brightened as she opened her arms, gathering the child in a warm embrace. "You're here!"
Sabrina nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Mm-hmm!"
"I still need about ten minutes to finish this work," Niall explained gently. "Can you sit here quietly for a bit? Then we'll go find your dad at Dennis Group together."
"Okay!" Sabrina responded cheerfully, settling into a chair beside Niall's desk.
The exchange drew curious glances from nearby colleagues. Any lingering questions about the identity of the unexpected young visitor vanished instantly. Beyond the child's obvious resemblance to Cullen, the natural affection between Niall and Sabrina spoke volumes.
That morning, when Niall had casually mentioned her positive relationship with Cullen's daughter, some colleagues had privately harbored doubts. Seeing the genuine joy lighting up Sabrina's face as she watched Niall work, those skeptics were silenced. The connection between them was undeniable.
"Ms. Crystal," one colleague couldn't help commenting, "even children fall under your spell! That's truly impressive."
Niall smiled modestly. "You're giving me too much credit. Sabrina has an incredible personality. Our relationship works because we both put in the effort—I can't take all the praise."
Another colleague observed Sabrina with admiration. "Mr. Dennis's daughter is absolutely beautiful. She's going to break hearts when she grows up."
"No question about that," someone else agreed.
As they observed Sabrina more closely, several employees noticed something curious—beyond her clear resemblance to Cullen, there was something vaguely familiar about her features, as though they'd seen someone similar before. This observation led to unspoken questions about Cullen's ex-wife, the woman who'd given birth to such a lovely child.
Despite their curiosity, professional boundaries kept them from inquiring further.
Twenty minutes later, Niall closed her laptop and turned to Sabrina. "All done now. Shall we go find your dad?"
Sabrina enthusiastically shouldered her small backpack and reached for Niall's hand. "Okay!"
As they prepared to leave, Niall gently prompted, "Sabrina, say goodbye to everyone."
The child turned toward the office, waving cheerfully. "Goodbye, everyone!"
Her natural charm instantly evoked warm responses from the staff. "Goodbye! Come visit us again soon!"
Sabrina nodded happily. "Okay!"
As the pair departed, Malachi leaned against his desk, watching them leave. "For those admirers who refuse to believe Ms. Crystal is happy with Mr. Dennis, he certainly isn't wasting time dispelling their doubts."
"Bringing his daughter to visit Ms. Crystal —you have to admit, Mr. Dennis knows exactly what he's doing when it comes to protecting what matters to him," another colleague observed.
Malachi nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Ms. Crystal is truly fortunate."