The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 1688

After he finished speaking, without waiting for anyone's reaction, he walked straight to his daughter and bent down to look at her.

"Who's been giving you a hard time?"

Even Aurora was surprised. She thought she had cleaned up all her tears. How could he tell?

"Dad, I wasn't crying!"

"Why lie about it?" Everett immediately frowned, his gaze shifting to Craig, his handsome face darkening, "Tell me, what happened?"

Even though Everett wasn't as involved in the corporate world as he used to be, having semi-retired, his presence still commanded attention.

Besides, Abigail was Everett's pride and joy, his little girl that he couldn't bear to scold. How could he stand to see her upset?

"I..." Craig hesitated, then decided to tell the truth, "I was grabbing a drink with a former business associate. Aurora came to drive me home, and the associate's daughter, who used to have a thing for me, made her upset."

"What business associate?"

Before Everett could press further, Aurora quickly tried to smooth things over, "Dad! It's really nothing big, just me being jealous for no good reason. Craig didn't do anything wrong. Please, don't worry about it."

"You were upset enough to cry; of course, I'm going to worry!" His voice was firm, each word aimed at Craig, "Abigail, your mother almost died giving birth to you. I nearly lost her and in turn, you and your brother. It was a miracle we all made it. Anyone who upsets you is no different from coming after my own life."

"Dad..."

Seeing the tension mounting, Dorothy, Everett's wife, quietly tugged at her husband's sleeve, whispering, "These are the kids' issues, let's not get too involved."

"If Abigail hadn't been crying, I wouldn't need to," he replied adamantly.

Standing in front of his daughter, he was like a mountain, shielding her from all harm.

Aurora, who had managed to stop her tears, suddenly felt her nose tingle, threatening to cry all over again.

Craig stood there in silence, unable to utter a single word.