Cassidy patted the couch beside her. "Come sit with me for a second, baby."
Claire walked over and climbed up next to her. Cass tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her daughter’s ear and gave her a warm smile.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Claire tilted her head. "What is it, Mommy?"
"Would you like to try preschool?" Cass asked.
Claire blinked. "What’s preschool?"
Cass smiled. "It’s a place where kids your age go. You get to play, learn stuff like reading and numbers, and make lots of new friends."
Claire’s eyes widened. "There are other kids there?"
"Yep. Kids just like you," Cass said, nodding. "You’ll get to play with them, sing songs, do crafts, and have fun together. There’ll be teachers who help you and read stories, too."
Claire grinned, her little legs swinging off the couch. "That sounds fun."
Cass chuckled softly. "So, would you like to try it?"
Claire tilted her head toward Cassidy. "Are you coming to preschool too, Mommy?"
Cassidy smiled and shook her head. "No, sweetheart. Preschool is just for kids your age. But I’ll take you there in the morning and pick you up when you’re done."
Claire paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "I want to go! I want to meet new friends!"
Cassidy chuckled at her daughter’s excitement. She gently brushed a hand through Claire’s hair. "Alright then, let’s find the best school for you."
Having gone through dozens of options, Cassidy had already settled on one of the top international preschools in the city, just thirty minutes from their apartment.
The reviews were impressive. Parents raved about the school’s strong academic foundation, creative programs, and Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free! Many of the children who graduated from there had gone on to excel in top elementary schools, showing advanced skills in both learning and social development.
It wasn’t just a preschool. It was a place that built confidence, curiosity, and character.
Cassidy could already picture Claire fitting right in. But before anything else, Cassidy needed to officially enroll Claire.
She decided she’d go the day after tomorrow, once her car arrived. No need to rush, one more day wouldn’t make a difference. Besides, it gave her a little more time to prepare Claire and herself for this new step.
The next afternoon, Cassidy went to the hospital with Claire. Before heading to the hospital, Cassidy stopped by a flower shop and chose a bouquet of green chrysanthemums, known to symbolize longevity.
With the flowers in one hand and Claire’s small hand in the other, she walked into her mother’s hospital room.
Inside, a woman in her forties wearing a nurse’s uniform was sitting by the window near her mother’s bed. She looked up and offered a polite smile.
"I’m Martha," she introduced herself. "I just started yesterday. Mr. Sandro personally selected me after the final interview."
Cassidy nodded and gave a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Martha. I’m Cassidy, and this is my daughter, Claire."
Claire, ever curious, went straight to the vase on the side table, plucked out the sunflowers, and carefully replaced them with the chrysanthemums they had brought.
As Cassidy settled down beside her mother’s bed, Martha began explaining the latest updates on her condition, her tone calm but informative. Cassidy listened closely, every word sinking in.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again and Julian stepped in. Cassidy’s body tensed instantly at the sight of her father.
Julian paused briefly when his eyes landed on her, the surprise flickering across his face before he continued walking and took the seat next to his wife. Directly across from Cassidy, who sat to Teresa’s left.
Martha, sensing the shift in the air, calmly repeated the update she had just given to Cassidy, this time to Julian.
He listened, his face unreadable. But then his gaze shifted, landing on the little girl sitting quietly near Martha.
"Is she... your granddaughter?" Julian asked, his voice neutral.
Martha hesitated, then glanced at Cassidy, unsure of how to respond.
Julian clearly had no idea who Claire was.
But before Cassidy could say anything, Claire spoke up on her own.
"My name’s Claire," she said cheerfully. "What’s your name, Grandpa?"
Julian blinked. Then, unexpectedly, a small smile tugged at his lips. "My name is Julian," he replied, his tone gentler. "You can call me Grandpa Julian."
"Okay. Grandpa Julian," Claire echoed with a grin.
Cassidy couldn’t help the slight twitch at the corner of her lips as she watched the exchange.
Julian leaned forward slightly, still watching Claire with a curious gaze. "How old are you?" he asked.
Claire beamed and held up three little fingers. "Three! But I’m almost four."
Julian smiled. "Is that so? Not in school yet?"
Claire shook her head. "Mommy said I’m starting soon. I’ll go to school and make new friends!"
Julian nodded slowly, his eyes flicking briefly toward Cassidy. Then he looked back at Claire.
"Is your mommy too busy working? So you stay with your grandma?" he asked gently.
Claire tilted her head, about to answer, while Cassidy’s expression shifted, her body stiffening again at the question.
Claire blinked, then looked up at Julian with a confused expression. "My mommy is here," she said plainly.
Julian raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that. "She is? Does your mom work here? Is she a nurse at this hospital?"
Claire’s brows furrowed, clearly puzzled by the question. "No... she’s not a nurse."
Julian tilted his head. "Then is she a doctor?"
From where she sat, Cassidy nearly let out a laugh. There was something strangely ironic and mildly amusing about watching her father unknowingly try to guess her identity like some kind of riddle.
"Grandpa... are you stupid like my friend Nico in Swiss-land?" Claire asked innocently, tilting her head.
She said it proudly, not realizing Swiss-land wasn’t the right word.
Cassidy almost laughed, not just at the mispronunciation, but because her daughter had just called her father stupid to his face without even knowing it. She looked away quickly, hiding a smirk.
Julian blinked, visibly thrown off by the unexpected comment. "What?"
Still looking puzzled, Claire said matter-of-factly, "I already told you my mommy is here. But you keep asking if she’s a nurse or a doctor. Nico does that too, he never listens."
Julian opened his mouth, then closed it again. He glanced at Martha for clarification, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Was she the mother? But... Martha looked too old to have a child that young.
His brain tried to piece it together, but nothing made sense until Claire casually lifted her arm and pointed straight ahead.
"There. That’s my mommy."
Julian’s eyes followed the small hand... and landed on Cassidy.
Slowly, he stood up from his chair, staring at the two of them in disbelief. His gaze shifted between Claire’s bright face and Cassidy’s still expression.
His voice came out low. "How... how is this possible?"