Chapter 973

"Sponsor you?" Vivian Dempsey waved her hand dramatically. "No problem!"

Victor Laurent raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Then you'll have to call me 'Daddy' first."

He pretended to leave, but Baby Chloe suddenly lunged forward, tiny hands clutching his sleeve.

"See?" Victor lifted the baby triumphantly. "She doesn't want me to go."

Vivian stared in disbelief. In just a few hours, the baby had grown attached to this stranger. She reached out. "Sweetheart, Uncle needs to buy a pot."

"Together," the baby lisped, blinking her big eyes.

Vivian's face lit up with understanding. She pinched the baby's cheek. "Little glutton, you just want chocolate, don't you?"

Baby Chloe giggled, revealing tiny white teeth.

"Easy fix." Victor grinned. "Uncle will take you."

Vivian blocked him. "No." She lowered her voice. "Evelyn's rule—one chocolate per day. She's already had hers."

Her breath brushed Victor's ear as she leaned in.

His ears turned scarlet. He froze.

"Hello?" Vivian waved a hand before his dazed eyes. "Earth to Victor?"

"N-nothing." He stammered. "Since when did Evelyn get so strict?"

In his memory, Evelyn had always been gentle as water.

Vivian rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Evelyn's not some tiger mom."

"But you just—"

"It's about principles." Vivian dressed the baby in a mint-green dress and floppy sunhat, transforming her into a tiny fairy. "Even if Evelyn wouldn't mind, I can't cross that line."

Victor turned away automatically, but bitterness welled up. "You weren't this careful before."

"You never really knew me." The words slipped out casually.

Victor's smile stiffened. Right. After years of absence, what right did he have to expect her remembrance?

Vivian was already pushing the stroller outside, the shopping trip forgotten.

Victor watched her adjust the car seat with practiced ease. Sunlight through the window haloed her silhouette in gold.

Suddenly he sprinted forward, claiming the passenger seat.

"You sit with the baby." Vivian gave him a strange look.

Flushing, Victor retreated to the backseat. The entire ride, he entertained Baby Chloe with silly games.

As they parked, Vivian studied him. "You're surprisingly good with kids."

Victor flashed a grin, teeth gleaming. "I tutored in Canada."

"But your family's loaded." Vivian frowned.

"A real man doesn't mooch off his parents forever." His tone was light, but shadows flickered in his eyes.

He strode toward cookware, suddenly pointing. "Isn't that the brand you wanted?"