Jilted Ex-wife Billionaire Heiress

Chapter 82 Fawn All Over

Him

'You can't call her that!' Callan stood with his arms akimbo like a protective mother hen.

Darya was examining a bottle of ketchup.

She was about to push her trolley away when she heard a joyful bark.

'Daddy!' Marshmallow stuck his head out from the tote bag.

He was hopping, eager to jump out.

To where?noveldrama

Into the arms of the man he was calling Daddy?

Darya gawked at the pup.

What was going on?

Marshmallow didn't give her the time to react.

Like a rocket, he launched himself into Micah's arms, wagging his short tail feverishly.

There was no mistake about it, Darya thought.

The man Marshmallow was calling Dad was Micah.

But why?

Micah stroked the dog's soft fur.

He didn't look surprised at all to have a talking dog in his arms.

Darya hissed, 'Marshmallow! Get back here!"

He'd promised not to talk in public!

'But it's Daddy!' Marshmallow rolled over and gave a happy bark as Micah gave him a belly rub. 'I haven't seen him for so long!'

Callan stepped forward and positioned the trolley to form a little triangle of

enclosed space, preventing anyone from coming within earshot.

'What's Marshmallow doing here?' Micah asked Darya.

There was no doubt that he knew the robotic dog.

His long fingers were stroking the pup into ecstasy.

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'You've been to the Gerber Research Lab,' he deduced before Darya could answer. 'Dr Code allowed you to take

Marshmallow home?'

Darya put two and two together. 'You are involved in Dr Code's Project.' Micah nodded.

It wasn't the first time he'd collaborated with the Gerber Lab.

In fact, he was directly involved in the programming of Marshmallow's operating system.

Dr Code often joked that while he and Dr Urner gave Marshmallow his body, Micah was the one who gave him

his mind.

Micah glanced at Callan.

It took him a tremendous amount of willpower not to ask the questions that had been burning him up inside.

What was Darya doing with Callan?

If they were shopping for groceries, did that mean they were living together?

What exactly was the nature of their relationship?

And what about Avery?

Micah stroked Marshmallow absent-mindedly, his attention elsewhere.

'Daddy, I'm living with Mommy now.'

As smart as Marshmallow was, he was still just a robotic dog.

Ignorant of the strange vibe between his 'parents,' he extended an invitation based on the social protocols downloaded into his database. 'Daddy, would you like to have dinner with us? Mommy's making veal ravioli. And maybe a kale salad, if Callan stops being a picky eater.'

'I'm not a picky eater!' Callan stomped his feet, miffed. *

'But you turned down all my suggestions for leafy vegetables."

'Your suggestions stink! I don't want kale or Brussels sprouts.'

'But Brussels sprouts are high in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants,' Marshmallow lectured his finicky new friend. "They also help to reduce inflammation."

'I'm not inflamed!'

"The pimple on your forehead says otherwise."

'What? What pimple?' Callan touched his forehead. 'I need a mirror!"

Darya ignored her drama-king brother.

She extended both arms. 'Marshmallow, come on. Time to go.'

'Can Daddy come with us?'

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'No.'

Chapter 82 Fawn All Over Him

'But I want Daddy to have dinner with us.'

Micah said nothing.

Holding on to Marshmallow, he silently willed Darya to say yes.

In the past, he seldom spent time at home.

The few times he did, he was secretly impressed by her cooking.

But he never told her that in case she misinterpreted the signal and thought he was being nice to her.

Darya issued an ultimatum, 'You could either go home with him, or me. It's up to you. But you can't have both."

Marshmallow spun his head left and right, caught in the middle.

His central processing unit went into overdrive.

Darya's arms fell to her sides. 'Goodbye.'

'Wait!' Marshmallow hopped down from Micah's arms and scampered after Darya. 'Mommy, wait for me!"

He crawled into her tote bag and poked his head out, giving Micah an apologetic

tail wag. 'Sorry, Daddy'

Micah stuck both hands into his pants pockets.

Callan, Darya and the fluffy little dog.

The three of them looked nice together, like a family unit.

Callan hoisted the tote bag over one shoulder. 'Mr Cavanaugh, Marshmallow is my sister's puppy. If you want a dog, there's a pet store right around the corner.'

His lips curved into a wicked smile. 'Or if you just want a faithful follower, someone to fawn all over you, I'm sure you've already got a candidate in mind.' 'What are you talking about?' Darya whispered in her brother's ear as they walked away.

'He's got an admirer, a woman who follows him around. I thought you knew.'

'I do.' Darya thought of Regina. 'But I'm surprised you do, too.'

'I talk to Avery every day.'

'Are you implying that our big brother likes to gossip?"

'It's not gossip if it's the truth.' Callan slung an arm over Darya's waist. 'Come on,

let's go get the stuff you need to make me a delectable dinner. I want a bottle of Shiraz, by the way.'

'Does Chris allow you to drink alcohol?'

'He's my assistant, not my keeper.'

Micah watched them stroll away without a backward glance.

It was just like the airport all over again.

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Chapter 17 Fawn All Over Himm

Micah, who had always been confident, sted excond gossing himself

If Derya was happy with the new man in her life, shend he still pursue her?

When he spotted berre earlier, he followed her into the supermarket without thinking

He acted purely on impules, eager to seize shy opportunity to talk to her.

Had that been a mistake?

As Callan rounded a corner, he caught Micah out of the corner of his eye

The man looked pensive.

How did I do? Callan nudged his sister

What?

I helped you get rid of that man.' Callan picked up a bottle of truffle butter sauce

and tossed it into the trolley. Is he stalking you?"

'I don't think so, Darya said, though she was equally puzzled by Micah's

appearance at the supermarket.

She had never known the man to go grocery shopping.