My Mother Killed Me For Her Stepdaughter novel Chapter 56

My boyfriend proposed to me at the bar where he works part-time after dating for two years.

"Caroline, I want you to be with me for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"

He's always treated me so well, attending to every little detail, wanting nothing more than to make me feel like a princess. Just as I was about to say yes, a little girl tugged on my shirt. Her big, watery eyes looked up at me sadly.

"Mommy, are you going to get me a new daddy?"

The lively bar fell silent in an instant. The sweet, romantic atmosphere was shattered by this unexpected twist, and all the lights seemed to focus on us. People who were cheering just moments ago now stared wide-eyed, eager to see what would unfold.

I looked down at her, stunned. "Sweetheart, you must have the wrong person. I'm not your mom."

I've only ever kissed and hugged my boyfriend, Andrew Jackson, in the two years we've been together. There's no way I could have a child—especially one who looked eight or nine years old.

"Mommy, are you going to leave Elisa behind?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to me, looking pitiful.

"Don't cry…" I fumbled to pull out a tissue, wiping her tears while feeling completely lost about what to do.

People around us started whispering, criticizing me for being an irresponsible mother who would do anything for love. I felt both wronged and furious, yet I couldn't bear to push her away, leaving me in an awkward position with no way to defend myself.

"Caroline is only 23; how could she possibly have a child this age?" Andrew, like a guardian angel, stood in front of me, shielding me from all the gossip. His usual gentle demeanor gave way to anger as he frowned at the crowd.

"Little one, did you lose your mom? Let us help you find her, okay?" he said, kneeling down with a warm smile after scolding the crowd.

A wave of warmth swept through me. Andrew is such a kind, gentle man, always considerate of my feelings and putting me first, treating me like a princess in every way. He's the perfect boyfriend, trusting me implicitly and not even questioning why a child would suddenly call me "mom."

"If it's a scam, it still requires cooperation. Let's wait a bit and see if anyone comes looking for her."

Andrew looked at me, hesitated, and finally agreed. We waited until closing time, but no parents came forward.

It was well past midnight when Andrew suggested taking her to the police, but she refused adamantly.

"No! I want to stay with Mommy. I'm not going anywhere!" she declared, holding on to me tightly. Left with no other choice, I took her home, planning to figure things out the next day. At the same time, I couldn't deny a tinge of curiosity, wanting to uncover the truth behind this mysterious child.

In my final year of college, my parents had bought me a small apartment near my internship for convenience. I'd only been living there for about a month, but she moved around as if she'd been there countless times. She washed her hands in the bathroom effortlessly, as if it was routine.

"Who are you, really? How are you so familiar with this place?"