Chapter 9. The Search for Answers

9. The Search for Answers

Sabrina's POV

Before I could escape, he seized my wrist and pulled me close to his rock-hard chest. I avoided his gaze, hastily wiping my eyes.

"You," he said, recognition flashing in his eyes.

"Mamma Iris!" Wynter exclaimed, reaching out her tiny hands. I silently sought his permission with a glance before scooping her into my arms.

"Mamma Iris, this is my Daddy," she declared, pointing at the man of my dreams. "Daddy, didn't you say we should introduce ourselves when we meet someone?" She chided him gently.

"Oh, yes, I did. But you know how forgetful your Daddy can be, right?" His affectionate interaction with our daughter warmed my heart, evoking memories of my own father. I didn't want to shatter my already fragile heart, so I pushed those feelings aside.

"Yes, you are! Now, what are you waiting for? Go on!" Wynter insisted.

He extended his hand. "Hey, I guess you already know my name. I'm Travis King. It's a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for saving my daughter," he said warmly.

Words eluded me; my throat felt parched. Unsure of how to respond, I took his hand. In that moment, I felt an unexpected wave of calm wash over me, as if a million sparks had ignited within, dissolving all my worries into nothingness.

A smile spread across his face as he patiently awaited my response. Up close, I noticed the thickness of his lashes—something I had never seen on a man before.

"Ahmm… hmm?" He raised an eyebrow, and I turned my face, embarrassed that I had been caught staring at him. For a brief moment, I forgot the distressing scene I had witnessed earlier. Right now, I just wanted to savor this moment.

In this second, I longed to forget all the terrible things I had seen and immerse myself in this moment without any worries about what the future might hold.

"H-H-Hey, I'm Sabrina Kline," I stammered, pausing after saying my name. I didn't know what else to say.

"So, Miss Kline, may I ask what brings you here?" he asked politely.

"I-I'm a journalist. You can call me Sabrina. I'm here to cover the upcoming event. Regarding your daughter, I happened to notice her by the pool, so it wasn't a big deal for me to step in at the right moment. Please take care of her, Travis, or Mr. King, whichever you prefer."

I was tempted to call him Nio or Armanio, but for that, I needed to be sure he wouldn't be offended.

"I'll always be grateful for that, and you can call me Mr. King; that works," he replied, and the smile that had graced his face earlier returned.

"I-I think I should leave now," I said, feeling disheartened. I wanted to get away from here, retreat to my room, and let my emotions flow freely.

Reluctantly, I handed Wynter back to him. She looked sad, not wanting to let me go, and I felt the pang of a deep connection formed in this short time with this little fairy in his arms.

"May I ask you, Sabrina, why my daughter calls you 'Mamma Iris?'" he inquired, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion, as though he assumed I had deliberately encouraged her to address me this way.

"The best person to answer that would be your daughter," I replied calmly. "Iris is my middle name, and I think the absence of a mother figure in her life has made her see me as one. I've always had a special connection with children; they tend to open up to me quickly."

I wanted to confront him about his unexpected appearance and the questions that had been nagging at me since he arrived. However, I decided against it, choosing instead to voice my concerns.

Although it made me feel vulnerable to say this, he deserved to know how his girlfriend—or fiancée, or whatever she was—treated his daughter.

"Mr. King, you should be cautious about whom you trust with your daughter. The woman who came earlier was scolding her, and I don't believe that's the right way to treat a child," I said.

"She has a name, Helen," he responded defensively. "She can be strict at times, but I assure you she means well."

In that moment, I realized just how important Helen was to him. How could I ever think of competing with her? His gaze clearly conveyed that I should back off.

He might have assumed I was one of those girls chasing after him for his wealth. I needed to maintain my distance to avoid giving him that impression.

"I understand, Mr. King. I know it wasn't my place to offer my opinion," I replied, though I couldn't hide my disappointment. His coldness was not what I had expected when I initially raised my concerns. I felt suffocated; I needed to leave this place before I broke my heart any further.

He simply nodded in response to my words, not denying what I had said. Perhaps my input wasn't really necessary.

"Very well, I'll take my leave now. Maybe we'll see each other again," I said as I turned to walk away.

"Thank you again, and I will speak to Helen about this," he began, but I didn't wait to hear the rest. I rushed out, feeling as though I would suffocate if I didn't escape.

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I retreated to my room, thoughts swirling in my head. "Nio," I mused, or perhaps I should address him as Mr. King?

My tears had ceased, leaving my eyes swollen and red. I had spent a good half-hour wallowing in my own misery.

I couldn't help but wonder what else this world had in store for me. Each time I dared to hope for happiness or a reason to live, life seemed to take a cruel twist, as if happiness was never meant for me.

First, I had to witness my parents' tragic deaths. Yet, my mom used to say, "God never takes something from you unless He has a plan to replace it with something better."

When I met Angel, I thought that this was what she meant. I held onto the belief that he would bring me happiness and elevate my world.

But then I discovered he had a daughter. I had fallen for a married man, and strangely, I was ready to accept it, given his wife's absence. However, there was another woman he held in high regard.

If his wife were alive, my decision would be easier, and I would walk away without regrets. But now I was lost. Should I give up, or should I wait for him? Was there any chance for us?

What about the woman who had captured his heart? Her presence was undeniable in his eyes.

To answer these questions, I needed to understand him better. I grabbed my laptop, hastily tied my hair into a messy bun, and sprawled on the bed. I began searching for information about him: "Travis Armanio King."

Why hadn't I done this sooner, before the internet was flooded with information about him?

"Travis King, the famous entrepreneur, spotted picking up his daughter from preschool," read most of the recent headlines. I couldn't fathom why the minutiae of celebrities' lives made headlines. After all, picking up your child from school was something most dads did. What was the big deal?

After an hour of research, I discovered that he was a billionaire and the CEO of Wynter Corporation, whose 'Wynter' I had recently met and found to be the most adorable child I'd ever seen. I realized that sooner or later, our paths would cross.

At 26, he managed to keep most of his private life out of the limelight. He was relatively young to have a daughter but had married his childhood love at the tender age of 19. A pang of jealousy washed over me as I read this.

I knew I could never be his type. First, he had been deeply in love with his wife, and I understood how hard it was to forget your first love. And even if he had moved on, there was another woman in his life now.

Curiosity led me to search for images of his late wife, but there were none. As I had suspected, he guarded his private life fiercely. All I could find was that she had died in a car crash, and nothing more.

Then, I stumbled upon a piece of news that shattered my dreams.

"Famous Entrepreneur Travis King to Announce Engagement to Helen Tremaine by Month's End."

That was it.

Any glimmer of hope I had harbored was extinguished in that moment.

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