The Kiss that Sparked it All

Regina grabbed her purse and walked out of the house yet again. Ever since she had come of age, it seemed all she ever did was come and go, like a transient visitor in her own home.

Francis had so much he wanted to say, but as he watched her resolute figure stride away, the words just wouldn't come.

He wanted to tell her he understood her temperament, that if something were truly wrong, she wouldn't be standing there so calmly.

He wanted to tell her that it was precisely because he understood that he didn’t ask.

Even from the moment he had appeared on the second floor, he had eyed his daughter carefully. She was standing there alright, so she must be fine.

But to Regina, all these observations just translated into his lack of care.

He sighed heavily, his fingers subconsciously tracing the emerald ring on his ring finger, a keepsake from Regina’s mother Magina.

After all these years, it was the only ring Francis wore. Even when he married Imogen, there was no wedding ceremony. He had given Imogen plenty of jewelry over the years, everything but a ring.

Because the one on his ring finger was enough.

“Magina, am | such a lousy father that | always leave Regina dissatisfied? Teach me, what should | do to raise our daughter right?” he murmured to the memory of his late wife.

Regina had to drive around the block a few times to cool off.

All things aside, her dad was right about one thing: whatever the reason, she needed to make things clear. Who else would have been there that night, sneaking around?

Regina’s thoughts deepened.

She ruled out the senior members first; they had left the area by mid-afternoon.

Moreover, there was no history between them, let alone a conflict.

The only journalist she had recently butted heads with was that slick colleague at the office.

Regina rested her chin on her hand, pondering. Could it have been him?

In the world of journalism, evidence was key. Regina decided to probe him at the office.

The man didn’t seem bold enough to confront her directly, preferring instead to engage in

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petty subterfuge.

Before confronting her colleague, however, she paid a visit to Ablett.

In the end, Regina arranged for Ablett to stay at Daphne’s orphanage, which just happened to need a security guard. Ablett had the look of a gentle soul, and the kids there would surely take to him.

Just as she was closing her car door, she saw a gaggle of kids swarm around him.

He had cleaned up, shaved his beard, and even trimmed his hair dramatically, shedding the disheveled vagabond appearance for a look of gentle sophistication.From NôvelDrama.Org.

“Sir, Sir, | wanna play airplanes!” “Me too, me too!” “Alright, kids. | will take you all flying, but let’s line up nicely, one at a time, okay?”

Regina watched him with arms folded and a smile on her face. Perhaps this was why she was so adamant about being a reporter.

After playing airplanes with the kids, Ablett noticed Regina quietly observing him. “Why didn’t you come sooner? Why no heads-up? How long have you been waiting here?”

His face was slick with a thin layer of sweat. Regina fished out a tissue from her purse and handed it to him. “I just got here. Seeing you getting along so well with the kids, | knew | had nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, the kids are thrilled, and honestly, | prefer their company to that of grown-ups. Kids say what’s on their minds, and | like that honesty.”