Daddy! Come Home for Dinner!

Summary of the Daddy! Come Home for Dinner!

You know how some things just… happen? Like finding yourself face-to-face with the person you never expected? Cindy Clarke definitely didn't see this coming. A man appeared holding her old phone – the one she thought was gone forever, or maybe *this* specific one from back then – and his eyes were locked on hers with an intensity that felt impossible to ignore.

"Everything in here belongs to you," he said, shifting uncomfortably as he handed it over. "I found it five years ago." The implication hung heavy between them. Five years ago was a dark time for her. She'd been betrayed – framed badly and left heartbroken with an unexpected child thrown into the mix.

Could this… Alpha – *the* Adrian Zhekova, nation's darling? – be linked to that past drama at all?

But honestly, Cindy found it hard to care now. He spoke again: "Are you still going to deny it?" The question felt like a challenge.

Her son, Morgan, was watching her from behind his father, sniffles breaking the tension. Cindy looked down at him, then back up. Arthur Woods had told Morgan he didn't have a dad? That couldn't be right now. This changed everything – overnight. Suddenly things made sense; the sudden collapse of their lives after that accusation surfaced.

Adrian turned to her with this unreadable smirk, maybe even holding himself a little differently since… well, *this* was happening. "So," he started, looking her in the eye again, "when will you make us official?"

Cindy just leaned back and met his gaze, a playful spark igniting despite everything. Life felt like it had shifted into an easier gear ever since him.

"Seriously?" she let out unconsciously, maybe even thinking *that* was how to title her internal chaos after finding the father figure in all this? "Everything's been… easy mode." He chuckled, pulling her close then – possessive warmth replacing any lingering awkwardness. And that laugh held a certain truth: "Because," he whispered near her ear, his voice dropping slightly, "I'm your cheat code."