The Rabbit Girl Who Shook the Walker Family Chapter 05
She placed the cake on a napkin and looked down to straighten the rabbit’s ears. The door to the private study was not closed tightly. Voices leaked through the crack. Ethan Walker opened the report.
“The STR loci support a biological relationship.”
“The probability of paternity is greater than 99.99 percent.”
Old Mr. Walker’s cane touched the floor lightly. Lucas did not speak. He took the report and stared at the line identifying him as Lily’s biological father. John’s expression did not look good. Rachel quickly spoke.
“It’s only a preliminary report.”
“An expedited report should be treated carefully.”
Ethan did not raise his head.
“It should.”
Rachel froze. Ethan Walker flipped the report to the last page.
“That’s why I want to know why the corner seal on this DNA report matches the stamp used by the Walker Medical Investment Project three years ago.”
Lucas looked up. John looked over too. Ethan pushed the last page to the middle of the table. A red seal sat in the corner. A tiny break marked one edge of the seal.
“This DNA lab changed its official seal two years ago.”
“This report was stamped with the old seal.”
Outside the private study, Lily did not understand any of it. She only heard her own name. She hugged the stuffed rabbit and quietly leaned closer to the crack in the door. Inside, it was silent for several seconds. Lucas Walker closed the report.
“Do it again.”
Ethan nodded.
“I have already arranged a second agency.”
Rachel’s smile faded. Lily looked down at the tips of her little shoes. She did not know why the adults had to keep checking. All she understood was that no one had quite said she could stay. She wrapped the small cake in the napkin. If she was sent away later, she could bring it with her and eat it on the road.
When the private study door opened, Lucas noticed her movement immediately. He walked over.
“What are you doing?”
Lily jumped in fright. The little cake almost fell to the floor.
“I didn’t steal it.”
She hurriedly held it up.
“The gentleman gave it to me.”
Lucas watched her for several seconds.
“Why didn’t you eat it?”
Lily glanced at him. “I was afraid there wouldn’t be any later.”
Lucas reached out, took the cake from the napkin, and handed it back to her.
“Eat.”
Lily did not take it.
“Then will I have one tomorrow?”
Lucas said, “Yes.”
“The day after tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“The day after that?”
Lucas crouched down.
“Every day.”
Lily stared into his eyes for a while, as if deciding whether she could believe him. At last, she took the cake. She took a tiny bite. Cream stuck to the tip of her nose. Lucas raised his hand to wipe it for her.
Halfway there, he stopped. Lily rubbed it with her sleeve by herself. The more she rubbed, the messier it became. Ethan came out of the private study and saw this scene. He looked at Lucas, then at the cream on the child’s face.
“Lucas.”
“You should learn how to take care of a child first.”
Lucas looked up. Ethan handed over the second sampling form in his hand.
“Also.”
“This afternoon, Dad wants to hold a small family dinner to introduce her.”
Lucas frowned.
“The full results are not out yet.”
Ethan said, “It means the child stays for now.”
“As for who tampered with the report and who tampered with Emma Reed’s records, we investigate all of it.”
Lily licked the cream from the corner of her mouth.
She asked softly, “Will there be food at the dinner?”
Ethan looked down at her.
“Yes.”
Lily let out a breath.
“Then I can go.”
Lucas looked at her.
“You don’t have to go just because there will be food.”
Holding the little cake, Lily said solemnly, “But food is important.”
Lucas said nothing. He remembered that Emma had once said something similar. At that time, she had sat on the sofa in his office, holding a cold takeout box.
She said, “Lucas, people can’t live on contracts alone.”
“They have to eat too.”
He had not listened then. Now, a child stood in front of him. There was cream on the tip of her nose. Her eyes were full of caution. She said food was important. Lucas looked down and saw that her shoes did not fit.
He told the butler, “Go buy children’s slippers.”
“And clothes, a toothbrush, and tableware.”
The butler hurriedly answered. Lily listened in a daze.
Lucas added, “Buy all of it.”
Ethan said lightly, “Do you want to buy her a bank card too?”
Lucas glanced at him. Ethan looked down and flipped through the documents.
“Joking.”
Holding the cake, Lily looked up.
“What’s a bank card?”
Lucas paused for a second.
“A card that can buy food and milk.”
Lily’s eyes brightened a little.
