A brand-new long Cadillac Eldorado moved smoothly along a flat road, turning the corner almost silently. Despite William's perpetual displeased expression, it was hard not to feel excited as he pulled up to the framed gate. Having a child at this age was not part of William's plans, he had been very clear about that until it turned out that his wife had too much free time. Enough that he had to heat up last night's dinner and turn over his underwear because Nancy dared to waste her time on idle chatter with the neighborhood women and shopping. It's nice when your woman looks beautiful, who could argue? But only until she had a ton of tank tops with thin straps in her closet. Fortunately, pumping your woman with a child was enough to keep her chained to her family for a couple more years.

And although the unspoken rule his daughter should have been only Nancy's concern, doing dirty work and shit like reading fairy tales, the moment William found out that he was going to have a girl, he finally made the decision to raise her right when he first held her in his arms. It's no secret that William wanted a girl in the end. To raise a real lady, a model woman who wouldn't be ashamed to marry a traditional man, whom he would certainly approve of. It made him feel a connection he hadn't had with any of his sons from his previous marriage.

Driving slowly into the college courtyard, William slowed down, squinting at the young people crowding near the first-class cars on the road. It didn't take much concentration to immediately spot his daughter among them, with her neatly attached bow and perfectly ironed uniform. The very picture of pride! William was ready to break into an haughty smile, but had to freeze, noticing her companion.

After parking the car by a garden shrub, William got out, approaching the couple with slow measured steps, giving himself time to size up the boy. Henry... Of course, who else would be hanging around his daughter?

"Pumpkin," he rumbled, grabbing his daughter's shoulder protectively, not missing her slight wince. Is she worried? "What is it, your new friend got you so carried away that you forgot that Dad was supposed to pick you up?" Despite the humor in his voice and the friendly hand he held out to Henry, William's gaze pierced the boy, narrowing his eyes, assessing his reaction intently. The way his face paled, but then immediately turned a deep crimson, caught off guard even William. The poor thing seemed nervous, trembled like a leaf, gently shaking William's hand like an excited girl.