Chapter 64


    Josefina felt a surge of warmth in her heart and, on impulse, called out, "Mom, thank you."


    Hattie''s eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh my, my baby girl just called me ''Mom!''"


    She was so thrilled she wanted to shout it from the rooftops.


    "My girl said ''Mom'' before ''Dad!''"


    "Ha! That means I''m the numero uno in her heart!"


    Hattie, bubbling with excitement, gripped Josefina''s hand but then worried she might be squeezing


    too hard. She let go, fretting, "Sweetheart, did I squeeze too tight?"


    Josefina couldn''t help but chuckle. She''d merely said ''Mom,'' and Hattie was over the moon.


    Memories from her childhood shed before her eyes. She remembered stumbling toward Lauren,


    calling her ''Mom,'' only to be pushed to the ground.


    "I''m not your mother, and you''re nothing but a little brat!" Lauren''s harsh words still echoed in her


    mind.


    Josefina''s nose tingled with the sting of old wounds as she stared at Hattie, her eyes brimming with


    warm tears. The regrets of her youth seemed to be healing as she grew older.


    Hattie was taken aback, clumsily dabbing at Josefina''s tears. "Oh honey, why the tears? Did I say


    something wrong? It''s okay if you don''t want to call me Mom. As long as you''re happy, it''s all good."


    Garrett strode in quickly, his heart fracturing at the sight of Josefina''s tears falling like pearls.


    "What''s wrong, pumpkin? Don''t you worry. I''ll drag Xavier and Ruby here to get on their knees and


    apologize!"


    Nothing hurts a father like his daughter''s tears.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Josefina giggled through her tears. Unlike her helpless and sorrowful childhood, she was now filled


    with joy and contentment. She wiped away her tears and smiled, "Mom, Dad, I''m fine. I''m just so


    happy, so incredibly happy."


    Garrett, in disbelief, took Hattie''s hand. "Babe, pinch me. Did our girl just call me ''Dad?'' Am I


    dreaming?"


    Hattie gave Garrett''s thigh a pinch, and he yelped in pain. Hattieughed and said, "Silly, of course


    she called us ''Dad'' and ''Mom.'' But just so you know, darling, she called me ''Mom'' first. You''re a tad


    late."


    Garrett grinned, "You''ve worked harder. You deserve to be called first." The trials of motherhood


    were no small feat. Hattie blushed at his gaze, their love as strong as ever.


    Josefina reassured Garrett, "You don''t need to worry about Xavier and Ruby. I''ll handle them."


    Garrett shook his head vigorously. "How can I let my girl deal with these stuff? I''m here. You should


    just be the merry littledy of the Harrison family."


    Josefina’s smile broadened. "Trust me, I''m on it."


    Hattie swatted Garrett''s hand lightly. "Josie said she''ll handle it. Why are you being so stubborn?


    Keep this up, and I won''t let Josie call you ''Dad.''"


    Garrett quickly backed down, "Alright, pumpkin, I''ll leave it to you. If you can''t handle it, then call


    me."


    Josefina nodded emphatically, the three of them basking in familial bliss.


    Meanwhile, Lena, hidden in the shadows of the upper floor, overheard the exchange. She slipped


    into the bathroom and sent Ruby a message using a spare phone. [Josefina ising for you! And


    she says she''s already on it!]


    Ruby scoffed upon receiving the message, "If she could take me down, would she have waited till


    now?"


    Little did Ruby know, she wouldn''t beughing the next day.