The First Light of Dawn -
In the midst of a sweltering summer night, the air still hot and heavy, the ceaseless chirping of cicadas filled the air outside the window. Lucy Liao noticed her daughter, Serena, frequently glance towards the unresponsive entrance, a pang of heartache welling up inside her.
She gently touched Serenas head and coaxed, "Alright, today daddy already took you to buy a toy car. Lets share the cake with mommy, you know daddys work is very busy."
Serena, with eyes as big as black grapes, nodded obediently, blew out the candles, made a wish, and cut the cake.
At that moment, the door opened.
The man who was supposed to be absent tonight, returned.
"Daddy!"
Serenas eyes lit up with surprise, and she happily ran towards Alex Jiang, not forgetting to bring a slice of cake with her.
Alex pushed her away, not realizing the force was too strong for a three-year-old girl. Serena fell to the ground and burst into tears.
The smile on Lucys face instantly froze, and she hurriedly went forward to hold Serena in her arms.
"What are you doing? The child just wanted to share her birthday cake with you..."
Alexs eyes showed undisguised disgust, which deeply hurt Lucy.
A newspaper was thrown in front of her, featuring a photo of Alex with them during the day.
"I said why you were so unusually asking me to accompany the child for her birthday. Your paparazzis efficiency is really high. The news of me, Alex Jiang, having a child has already been spreading everywhere before the day is over."
Alex, who had reluctantly taken them to the mall, had cleared the place beforehand, keeping everything low-key and confidential.
Yet, they were still photographed by the paparazzi.
It couldnt be anyone but Lucys calculation, could it?
"I didnt..." Lucy shook her head, wanting to ask for evidence.
She also felt the question was ridiculous; what Alex Jiang believed didnt need evidence.
"Isnt it just that you want a formal status? Its not the first time youve schemed against me. Look at the result of your last scheme..."
Alex glanced at Serena, who was sobbing, as if looking at an object.
"Lucy, third times the charm. If theres a next time, get out of here!"
He left with those words, slamming the door behind him.
Lucy swallowed her tears, coaxed Serena to wash up and go to bed, and turned on her phone.
The gossip about the movie star Alex Jiang being secretly married and having a child swept across various online platforms, magazines, and newspapers.
His company quickly responded, saying Serena was a relatives child, and Lucy Liao was the nanny.
In this gorgeous house, without a name or status, she indeed resembled a nanny.
At first, Alex Jiang believed she had schemed to get pregnant, and after they got the certificate, once the child was born, he threw the divorce certificate in her face, slapping her hard.
Lucy foolishly comforted herself, at least Alex Jiang didnt make Serena an illegitimate child.
After Alex Jiang left, he blocked Lucys number.
Unable to resist Serenas longing for her father, she prepared a nutritious meal and went to visit him on the set where he was filming.
Alex saw her, and his face immediately darkened, scolding, "Are you deaf or crazy? How dare you come to the set!"
"I said Im the nanny from your house..." Lucy took a breath, as if this could suppress the constant pain in her heart.
Alex sneered and casually threw the exquisite lunch box to a passing crew member.
"Here, its yours."
The crew member opened the lid, revealing a box full of delicious-looking food, and he swallowed his saliva.
"Brother Jiang, why dont you eat? It looks great!"
"Losing weight."
"Brother Jiang is joking."
The crew member looked at the tall and handsome Alex Jiang, so handsome and self-disciplined, no wonder hes so popular.
The food Lucy had carefully prepared for the morning went into someone elses stomach.
He rarely ate what she cooked, and that was nothing, she should be used to it.
"Call Serena when you have time, she misses you."
"Leave now." Alex neither agreed nor refused, waving her away like a fly.
Feeling eyes around looking over, Lucy felt embarrassed, lowered her head, and was about to leave.
"Wait a minute!" A middle-aged man with a sun hat stopped her.
Lucy was stunned, and Alex frowned.
"Director Howard, why did you stop her?"
"Xu Bai, dont you think her silhouette looks particularly like someone?"
This remark touched on an unspeakable secret in Alex Jiangs heart, and a fleeting look of guilt flashed in his eyes.