I Shall Cuck Everyone

Chapter 373 Mischievous Xander

When Zella suddenly appears in the room, fear claws at me, and I nearly sink into the ground. Did she hear what we were saying?

"What were you guys hiding from me?" Zella asks, her voice unexpectedly calm, though her sharp gaze betrays her suspicion.

"Zella, you see..." Ophelia begins hesitantly. "I don't know how to explain this, but while Jake and I were dueling, some—"

"I won, didn't I? I won," I interrupt, cutting her off mid-sentence. I can see she's about to reveal the truth, and Old Man Duke swallows nervously. Zella looks even more confused now, her frown deepening.

"When I came back to this room, Ophelia and I made a bet," I explain, keeping my tone steady. "If I won, she'd let me see you and our daughter. But if I lost... I wouldn't be able to see you again."

"S-So what happened?" Zella asks, her curiosity clearly piqued.

"I won."

Her eyes widen in shock. She glances between me and Ophelia in quick succession, as though trying to process the idea that I actually managed to defeat her mother.

Without warning, Ophelia stands and walks over to Zella. She wraps her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace, startling both of us. Then, to my surprise, Ophelia begins to sob.

"I... I'm so sorry, Zella," she chokes out. "I'm so sorry for how I treated you. I thought I was doing what was best for you, not realizing I was making things worse." Her voice cracks as she clings to Zella, tears streaming down her face.

For a moment, Zella is stiff in her mother's arms, but then she relaxes. "Mom... you've never treated me badly," she says softly, her voice trembling. "Even though you were always so distant, you gave me everything I wanted—except freedom, which you thought was protecting me. Since you've realized your mistakes... I forgive you, Mom."

Since it is the first time Zella call Ophelia "Mom," the words hit harder than anything else in the room. Ophelia sobs even harder, pulling Zella into an even tighter hug. They stay like that for what feels like an eternity, with Ophelia whispering apologies over and over again.

When they finally pull apart, Ophelia turns her attention to Xander, who has been quietly sitting on the floor, watching everything unfold with wide, innocent eyes.

"Hehe," Ophelia giggles, her eyes twinkling. "Even Xander can tell you're a naughty old man."

Old Man Duke narrows his eyes but persists, managing to scoop her up after a brief struggle. His small victory, however, is short-lived.

"Uyaa~ Uyaa~ Uyaa~!" Xander's cries erupt loudly, her little face scrunching up in protest.

Trying to calm her, Old Man Duke bounces her gently, swaying side to side in short bursts of motion—moves that usually work with babies. But Xander isn't having it. Her wails grow louder, rattling the room.

In a final, desperate attempt to soothe her, Old Man Duke tosses her lightly into the air, a playful motion meant to distract her. But then...

"BLUERRHHHH!"

Xander vomits mid-air, her small body perfectly angled to unleash a stream of baby puke all over Old Man Duke's face. Some of it even lands directly in his mouth.

Xander giggles innocently at her masterpiece as the old man freezes in shock.

"What have you done, you naughty little vampire-witch!" he bellows, spitting out the foul taste while more drips down his face. He quickly sets Xander down and rushes toward the bathroom, muttering curses under his breath.

"Gagagaga!" Xander giggles gleefully, clapping her tiny hands as she watches the flustered old geezer scramble to clean himself up.

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