Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 364: Unlocked Happiness

Chapter 364: Unlocked Happiness

Those eyes...

The little girl was dressed in a cute pink dungaree and her soft hair was pulled up to cute pigtails with bows on them. As she trotted, her shoes blinked with colorful lights and made a squeaky noise.

Leander didn’t know if her shoes made that baby happy. She had a wide smile on her face as she walked toward them.

Leander couldn’t take his eyes off her. His fingers twitched remembering the dire state he found her on that dirty warehouse floor. That was the last time he took a proper look at her. She looked pathetic and weak. He even wondered if she would survive or not.

Look how pretty she is! Look at her walk!

Well, she did have strong legs. He did change her diaper once. She put up a big fight that night. Her little legs kicked here are there making what appeared to be a simple task an arduous one.

Above everything, Leander couldn’t peel his eyes off her eyes.

Before he knew it, he got up from his seat and walked to that child. Maybe she was shy, the baby looked up at him and hid behind Martha.

Leonardo couldn’t keep still seeing Ziya. He almost stood up to get her but he decided to leave Leander to it. He wanted to check if Leander knew how to handle Ziya. He will keep a watchful eye on that Lion. If he makes a single misstep, he will punch that guy to hell.

Vito was about to stop Leonardo from interrupting the meeting of the father and daughter pair but Leonardo retracted on his own and he was relieved. His son was smiling weirdly and he could only shake his head. He hoped that Leonardo would get along with Leander in the future. It would give him peace.

"Ziya..." Leander kneeled on one knee to make him appear less intimidating and to get closer to her height. She was still too little. "Do you know who I am?" he asked.

He observed the child. She smiled at him but she was shy to approach him. His heart melted looking into those eyes.

How can she look just like her? How is this possible? She’s just a little version of her!

Ziya peeked out from behind Martha’s skirt. Martha tried to push Ziya to the front but Ziya kept on hiding behind. "Who is he, Ziya? You know him, don’t you?" Martha said in a soothing voice. "Go on..."

Ziya hid her face with Martha’s skirt but she couldn’t help but peek out as she didn’t hear Leander.

Leander held out his hands. He couldn’t help it. This past year, a lot happened. He did a lot; he ruminated a lot and he remembered a lot.

He remembered the seven-year-old girl he met on the tree too. She was hiding from the other kids who were bullying her. He still remembered the beautiful eyes that were filled with fear and sorrow. He wanted to help her then.

This kid was way too similar to that girl he remembered. What is the possibility, right? Except he could see that this was a happy child. Look at her cute smile...

"Daddy..." Ziya said and hid behind Martha once more.

Leander almost dropped down. His heart skipped a beat, and he almost cried. Almost.

He didn’t think hearing the word "daddy" from a child would make him feel anything. He was thinking about the next generation and this little one was in his future plans. He did so, keeping Viviana in his mind.

But now...

Something clicked in him. Something changed in his brain. He felt this overwhelming feeling arising from the bottom of his heart and made his blood warm.

Daddy... She called me "Daddy"... I’m a father...I am HER father.

He didn’t care about anything and hugged the little baby. She was feather-like. So soft and he couldn’t even say if he was holding her or not. When he felt her little squeeze back, he almost died out of happiness.

I am her father!

He sat on the chair and sat Ziya down on his lap. Ziya kept on staring at him with a shy smile and he smiled back. She leaned on his chest and he felt like he unlocked another level of happiness in his life.

Honestly, how much more happiness will he get through her? Ah...

"Mommy..." Ziya said pointing at the box Martha had. "Daddy," she then poked at his chin with her chubby little fingers.

Leander looked at Martha and she handed over the box to him. "Capo, Signora sent Ziya to treat your wound." While saying that, Martha couldn’t stop grinning. Signora was pretending to be angry at Capo and it was fun to watch her dressing Ziya cutely to meet her father. She kept on advising Ziya to be bold and approach her father and call him "Daddy" when she saw him. Ziya is a smart kid and she followed her mother’s advice.

Martha could say that Capo was truly happy to see Ziya.

"Is Ignazia going to apply medicine to her dad?" Leander asked.

Ziya put her finger in her mouth as she didn’t understand much. To her defense, she was not used to Leander’s voice and she couldn’t understand him well. And no one calls her Ignazia.

Martha served as a translator and Ziya ended up dabbing that ointment on his nose. Leander was more hurt than relieved by that little hand slobbering that ointment on his nose, but he let her.

"Where is she?" he asked Martha.

Martha smiled. She was so happy to return to the old days. "Signora is~"

"Wait..." Leander leaned to the side as he noticed a figure quickly dashing from near the door.

Of course, she was watching!

"She will be in the kitchen," Martha said. She was not sure but she guessed. There is no way Signora doesn’t cook for Capo when he returns after a long time.

Leonardo grumbled seeing Ziya ignoring him and settling with her father. What an ingrate! Just because her father returned, she forgot me!

As he was grumbling in his heart, Ziya turned to face him. "Ardo!" she waved her little hand. "Here..." she held out the ointment-soaked cotton at him.

Leonardo’s face lit up.

Of course, his niece would not ignore him just because that guy came! She’s my sweet little niece.