Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 126

You’re kind of heavy

Grace

I pushed the small box toward her, my oversized bunny paws making it a little awkward, and flipped open the lid. Inside were all sorts of things, snacks, little sweets, and a neatly stacked container. I picked it up and opened it carefully.

Immediately, a delicious scent filled the room.

I looked down and almost gasped.

The food was a work of art, rice shaped into a tiny panda, the sausages twisted into smiling little bunnies, and even the vegetables arranged like flowers,

This morning, Eleanor had shoved the box into my hands with her usual confidence. “Give this to her,” she’d said. “Trust me, it’ll win her heart instantly.”

At the time, I didn’t understand what she meant, but now, seeing it before me, everything clicked. It was made with love. I looked up.

The girl’s eyes had brightened at the sight of the food. Her small fingers twitched slightly on her lap, as though she wanted to reach out but didn’t trust herself to.

I smiled beneath the bunny mask. I didn’t know what was cuter, the panda rice or the faint spark in her eyes.

I picked up the spoon and held it toward her gently.

“My friend made it for you, will you try it?”

Her eyes flicked from me to the food, then back again. She didn’t answer, but the hesitation in her gaze said everything. She hadn’t eaten properly in days. Her arms were thin, and her face too pale. Under the hospital light, she looked like she could fade away at any moment.

I’d read her file. Her parents had drugged her food so the famous actor could hit her with his car. They’d used her as a pawn in their own twisted plan, slipping painkillers into her meals to make sure she didn’t feel much when it happened.

Now, she believed that if she ate anything, something bad would happen.

“Let me taste it first,” I said, reaching forward, aiming for one of the tiny bunny–shaped sausages. The problem? My ridiculous paw gloves. The oversized fabric kept slipping, and every time I tried to grab the piece, it just plopped right back into the container.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, frowning behind the mask. The girl tilted her head slightly, watching my struggle.

I tried again, but before I could make another attempt, she moved. Her small hand reached forward and picked up the sausage instead. Then, to my surprise, she lifted it and held it toward my face.

For a moment, I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

There was a tiny gap in front of the bunny head where the costume’s mouth was supposed to be. Without

1/4

Youts kind of heavy

+25 Bonus

thinking, I leaned forward quickly and bit the sausage she offered, chewing exaggeratedly.

“Mmm.” I said, nodding. “I love it.”

She looked at me, then back down at the food, and picked up another sausage for herself. She hesitated only for a second before putting it in her mouth. When she did, her eyes went wide.

The taste must have surprised her, because she chewed quickly and then reached for the vegetables.

I just stood there, completely still, watching her eat.

God, I wanted to cry.

For the first time since I’d met her, she wasn’t just a silent child sitting by the window.

My phone buzzed suddenly, shattering the moment. I blinked, snapping back to reality, and quickly reached for it through the costume’s front pocket.

It was a message from Aiden.

[Can you come to the company so we can discuss the event before tomorrow?]

I sighed quietly. Right. Tomorrow was the event.

Between work and visiting the hospital, I barely had time to breathe lately. But still, I couldn’t bring myself to regret coming here every day. I looked up at the girl again. She was still eating, savoring every bite.

I smiled under the mask and said softly, “I have to go.”

She looked up at me, chewing quietly, eyes following me.

“I promise I’ll come back,” I said, crouching slightly so we were almost level. “And next time, I’ll bring something even more delicious. But you have to promise me to eat what the hospital gives you,”

She just stared, before finally nodding. I grinned behind the bunny mask, waved at her, and turned toward the door.

The moment I stepped out of the hospital door, I rolled my wrist and shook out my arm. God, it was so uncomfortable wearing something like this. The bunny suit had been cute for about five minutes, but after hours of waddling around like a fluffy oven, my body was crying for freedom.

I exhaled and adjusted the ridiculous costume, tugging the sleeve away from my wrist as I walked toward the

exit.

I just wanted to get home, change, and then go back to work. I lifted my hand to hail a cab, squinting through the narrow eyeholes of the costume’s headpiece. Because the costume blocked my view downward, I didn’t see the banana peel on the pavement until my foot hit it.

“Sh-!”

My leg slipped, and the world tilted backward. My heart lurched, the heavy costume head wobbling dangerously, when suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around my waist.

I gasped, my hands instinctively clutching at the furry edge of the costume’s belly.

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You’re kind of hearty

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“Got you,” a deep voice said. “Are you okay?”

I froze. That voice-

I blinked hard, my breath catching as I tilted my head up. Through the small gap in the bunny mask, I met a pair of familiar hazel eyes.

River.

My pulse jumped so fast I could feel it in my throat. He was standing right there, one hand still on my waist, brows furrowed slightly in concern.

I swallowed and tried to speak, but my brain short–circuited. He tilted his head, an eyebrow raised. “Is something wrong?”

I quickly shook my head.

River gave me a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s good, but could you please stand? You’re kind of heavy.”

Heat rushed up my neck. “Oh! Right, sorry!” I stammered, straightening quickly and stepping back, almost tripping again in the process. I gave him a small, awkward nod.

“It’s okay,” he said, his tone calm. “Excuse me.” Without another word, he walked past me and into the hospital.

I stood there, staring at his tall, broad figure until he disappeared through the glass doors.

What the hell just happened?

Why was River here? Why didn’t he pick up any of my calls if he was in town? And, most importantly, why didn’t I take off this stupid bunny head and tell him it was me?

I sighed heavily. Everything was so confusing.

My phone started ringing again, the shrill sound slicing through my thoughts. Groaning, I fished it out without even checking the caller ID, assuming it was Mr. Aiden nagging me to hurry up. But when I answered, a warm, familiar voice came through the line.

“Grace, dear! How are you? It’s been too long.‘

“Adam?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Yes, yes. I know you’re probably busy, but there’s an event tomorrow evening, and nobody wants to go with this old man. I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of being my plus one.”