Chapter 432

Samuel clung to Shelmaine, feigning desperation. "Honey, please don't be mad at me anymore. I won't dare do it again. From now on, I'll keep my distance from Luke and stop hanging out with scumbags." "A scumbag's friend is naturally a scumbag too. How else would you get along so well?" Samuel was speechless. "What's with that look? Am I wrong?" "Honey, you can insult Luke all you want, but don't lump me in with him. I'm not a scumbag—I had my reasons back then." "I believe you," Shelmaine said with a faint smile. "Of course, I believe you, Tammy's dad." Samuel froze, his body shivering slightly. "Honey, what did you call me?" "Tammy's dad. Isn't that right?" "Yes, I'm Tammy's dad. I'll always be Tammy's dad." Shelmaine was momentarily stunned by his radiant smile. This man never seemed to play by the rules. Samuel leaned closer, his tone gentle. "The doctor said you shouldn't get upset. Once you've recovered fully, you can scold me as much as you want. Just don't get mad right now, okay?" "I know," she replied lazily. "I'm going to sleep now. Don't bother me." "Okay, I won't bother you. You have a good rest, and I'll watch over both of you." Shelmaine quickly drifted off into a deep sleep and had another dream. She dreamed of her mother, Talia. Her mother had passed away not long after divorcing her father, Andrew, succumbing to illness born of sorrow. Since then, Shelmaine had known she was alone—no family, just herself. When she married Samuel, there was no wedding and no blessings from the family. Yet she had still felt happy—peaceful and content. Samuel had been wonderful, truly devoted to their marriage at the time. But who could have predicted everything that happened afterward? When Shelmaine woke up, she saw Samuel cradling Tammy in his arms, softly singing a lullaby. His voice was low, as if afraid of waking her. "Tammy, be good. Mommy is sleeping, so let's not cry, okay? "How did you turn out so cute, little one? You're everyone's favorite… "Oh, look at that smile! My sweet baby, you're so adorable, just like your mom. You're melting my heart." Shelmaine listened in silence, feeling increasingly bemused. How could he talk so much, carrying on endlessly with Tammy? She didn't make a sound. She just quietly watched as Samuel rocked Tammy and talked to her. During this time, Samuel had taken great care of her. He was meticulous and attentive. She couldn't pretend not to notice—it moved her deeply. Her heart wasn't made of stone; it was warm, capable of feeling. Even when it came to registering Tammy's birth and choosing her last name, Samuel hadn't objected to letting the baby take Shelmaine's last name. He didn't seem to care about such matters and simply wanted her to be happy. Samuel turned around and saw Shelmaine awake. He broke into a wide smile. "Honey, you're awake! Did I wake you?" "No." He brought Tammy over to her. "Honey, look, Tammy looks so much like you." Shelmaine took Tammy in her arms, gently touching the baby's chubby cheeks. Tammy was indeed adorable and bore a striking resemblance to her. Shelmaine felt a deep sense of fulfillment. After ten months of carrying her, she finally had her own child. In her heart, Shelmaine made a silent vow: Tammy would never experience the kind of childhood she had. She would give Tammy everything she had lacked—she would be a loving mother and provide Tammy with a happy, carefree childhood. Sunlight streamed through the windows, warm and golden like spring. Samuel wrapped his arms around Shelmaine's shoulders. "Honey, thank you for giving me the chance to be a dad. Thank you for giving me Tammy." Shelmaine looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Samuel leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "I love you. I truly love you."