Chapter 1164


    That was definitely a domineering statement. It was so domineering that even Maria was surprised.


    When had her mother be so domineering?


    She widened her eyes and looked at Yvonne, then at Zachary. Her eyes were full of astonishment,


    "Dad, did you hear her? She said that I''m hers, and so are you."


    Zachary was also slightly surprised that Yvonne would say something like that. What was trying to


    imply by saying such words in front of their child?


    Zachary was considered a reserved man. He was used to handling things his way; he rarely made


    such a deration.


    Zachary felt that she should not have done so, especially in front of their child.


    He frowned but didn''t speak.


    "See." Maria immediately began to gloat, "Dad didn''t say anything at all. You''re only ttering


    yourself."


    Yvonne pursed her lips and looked at Zachary pitifully.


    She wasn’t trying topete with her daughter for his love, but this was all she could do as she


    wanted to be part of her daughter''s life whenever possible.


    Her method was slightly aggressive, but there was no better way.


    "I am ttering.” Yvonne said, "Such a handsome man like your dad belongs to me, so of course I''m


    ttered."


    "Dad is mine." Maria immediately retorted.


    "You''re right. I didn''t say he isn''t yours." Yvonne corrected her, "But he''s just your father. It wouldn’t


    take long, probably another fifteen or sixteen years, or even less, for you to have a boyfriend. When


    that timees, the most important man to you will be your boyfriend or husband, while the most


    important man to me would be your dad."


    Maria was dumbfounded; she adorkably stared at Yvonne.


    The most important man in her life?


    A hint of joy shed across Zachary''s eyes.


    He faced away from Yvonne, but he could not help but curve his lips into a smile, and he seemed


    delighted.


    When she saw Zachary facing away from her, she grew worried as she did not see his smile nor the


    joy in his eyes.


    She was afraid her tease had gone too far, so she just shut up.


    Maria pouted andined, "Humph, my dad may not even marry you. There must be a lot of


    women who like my dad since he''s so outstanding."


    Yvonne had already decided to stop her teasing, but when she heard Maria''s words, she


    immediately nodded her head and said, "You''re right. There are a lot of people who like your dad."


    It was only her first day at work that day, and Yvonne already saw how the other women in the


    company gossiped. They were more curious about Zachary''s private life than anything else.


    "Huh?" Maria panicked when she heard that. She looked at Yvonne and asked, "How many people?


    How many people are there?"


    "A truck full." Yvonne thought about it carefully. There were already a few women on her floor who


    admitted to liking Zachary publically. Her estimation could be considered conservative.


    "So many?" Maria was also stunned. She immediately looked at the expressionless Zachary and


    found him frowning with his eyes filled with discontent.


    Maria was puzzled as she hurriedly asked, "Dad, are there really so many women who like you?"


    "Of course." Yvonne answered for Zachary, "And all of them want to be your stepmother."


    "Yvonne," Zachary spoke displeasingly.


    She should not have said such words in front of their child.


    If Zachary liked another woman, he would not have waited until now. It was because he had not


    liked anyone else that he remained single all this while.


    Now that she had finally returned, she was actually intimidating their daughter.


    Zachary naturally wouldn''t allow it.


    Seeing that Zachary was angry, Yvonne reflected on herself. What did she say wrong to make him


    so unhappy?


    She took a deep breath and forced a smile, saying to Zachary, "Maria''s dad, why did you call me?"


    The phrase "Maria''s dad" made Zachary''s hardened heart copse in an instant.


    He looked at Yvonne and was unable to keep his face straight any longer. He turned his head over


    and said, "Keep up!"


    Yvonne was stunned for a moment before she rxed instantly.


    "Oh,ing." She said with a brisk tone.


    Maria stared at her father with wide eyes as if something was amiss.


    It took Maria a long time to finally realize that Yvonne was following them.


    And the family of three yed together for more than twenty minutes.


    Although Maria and Yvonne basically only bickered and said nothing else, they still spent such a


    long time together.


    That was something that had never happened before.


    Yvonne had unnoticeably entered Zachary and Maria''s world.


    What was even more surprising to her was that Zachary was the one who initiatively let her in.


    She was grateful to Zachary as she knew that she could not have talked to her daughter for such a


    long time without him.


    When they were about to leave, Maria was still holding onto Zachary''s neck and refused to let go.


    "Dad, I don''t want you to go." Maria whispered in Zachary''s ear.


    Zachary replied in a low voice as well, "Maria, be good. I''m busy today. I can''t pick you upter, but


    I''ll do it tomorrow. Now go back to ss. It''s time for me to go back to work."


    Although Maria was reluctant, she still nodded,


    "Alright, Dad, you can go back."


    The little girl stiffened her neck so as not to look in Yvonne''s direction. But her stiff movement had


    exposed the fact that she really wanted to take a look at her mommy.


    Zachary naturally saw through Maria''s thoughts. So he shifted his gaze towards Yvonne.


    Since the child couldn''t take the initiative to do so, Yvonne should take the lead and give a full y


    of her shamelessness.


    Yvonne remained unmoved. She stood still and looked at Zachary with a weird expression.


    In truth, she understoodpletely.


    She had already seen through her daughter''s thoughts long ago.


    But she didn''t want to move at all and just wanted to tease her.


    The little girl was not angry, yet her father was already furious.


    "Yvonne," Zachary called her name again.


    Yvonne had the urge to roll her eyes. She said, "What?"


    Zachary frowned and nced at Yvonne, then at Maria. The message he wanted to convey was


    evident.


    Yvonne knew that she couldn''t act dumb anymore, so she smiled and said, "Oh Maria, I''m going to


    attend a banquet with your dad tonight, so we can''t pick you up today. We''ll do it tomorrow!"


    Maria immediately red at Yvonne, "You''re going to a banquet with Dad?"


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    "Why?"


    "Your dad is single, so there will be a lot of women at the banquet who want to steal his heart. I''m


    there to help you keep an eye."


    "What can you help me keep an eye on?"


    "I''ll help you pick a good stepmother."


    "I don''t want a stepmother." Maria immediately blurted out.


    Yvonne immediatelyughed, "My dear daughter. Great minds think alike. I think so too. Your father


    is mine. I won''t agree if other women want to be with him."


    Maria was baffled.


    She roared angrily when she finally came to her senses, "My dad won''t want to be with you, nor will


    he marry you."


    Yvonne shrugged her shoulders, "It''s alright, I can marry him."


    "Dad!" Maria was about to cry.


    Zachary picked up Maria and sent the child back to her teacher. When he returned to her, Yvonne


    remained where she stood. She watched as he strode over to her, grabbed her wrist, and dragged


    her towards the car.


    "What are you doing?"


    "We''re going to the apartment!"