Mommy, Where's Daddy? The Forsaken Daughter's Return

Chapter 20: The Mystery Man

"Where is she?" Ethan Wright asked the hotel staff. "Can you go outside and check on her?"

"Sure, Mr. Wright. Give me a moment." The food attendant was about to look for Samantha Davis when the door to the one-carat conference room swung open.

Ethan saw how Samantha abruptly closed the door behind her and dropped to the floor helplessly. She howled without restraint, and tears continuously flooded her face.

The first thing that Ethan felt was a stab in his chest. His hands easily trembled in anger before clenching them into fists.

'Who dared to hurt her?!' His mind was thinking ahead.

He immediately rushed to her side and tried to get into the cause of her misery. Kneeling down in front of her, he asked, "Miss Davis, what happened? Miss Davis?"

When Samantha did not answer, he grabbed her shoulders and called her name. "Samantha! "Who?! Who did this to you? Tell me. Tell me!"

Ethan could no longer hide the ill intent in his eyes. He was pained seeing such an elegant woman, trembling and staining her face with tears. He got up and turned to the door, wanting to find out who was out there that might have provoked Samantha's suffering, but before he knew it, he felt her slender hands holding him.

As he turned, their eyes locked together, and Samantha crashed into his chest as she got up. Ethan heard her plead, "Stay - stay with me... please... Please don't go outside... Just stay with me."

He wound up hugging her closer into his solid chest, and as he did, he took heavy breaths while gritting his teeth. It was his way of easing his annoyance at whoever hurt Samantha.

He unwittingly lifted Samantha with his strong arms, carrying her in princess style. After the two of them settled in the seats in front of the table, Ethan took the time to comfort her the best way he could.

It wasn't like him at all. He did not even know how to be affectionate, yet here he was, soothing Samantha Davis into his precious chest.

Moreover, he did not mind how this woman with golden curls stained his custom-made suit. At that point, all he cared about was consoling Samantha, and he did so, not minding the time that had passed.

When Samantha stopped sobbing, merely catching her breath, he offered a glass of water and said, "Drink this."

He studied her small and dainty face, which he thought was so exquisite, and it saddened him how they were smeared with ruined make-up. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

While Samantha was wiping her face with her fingers, he finally heard her say, "Mr. Wright, to be - to be honest with you... my name."

Looking into his eyes, she gasped and resumed, "My name... is Samantha Turner Davis. I am - I am the only biological daughter of General Winfield Davis... but he - he cares more for his adopted daughter... My father, he - he has long forsaken me."

Yet again, he saw how her lips trembled and how she wept helplessly. It just made Ethan so impassioned that he embraced her tightly, once again offering relief.

After another ten minutes or so, Samantha finally calmed down. She remained in the man's chest, just hugging Ethan.

Looking down at her, Ethan inquired, "Are you feeling better now?"

Samantha nodded and gently pulled away. She answered, "I'm sorry - "

"There is no need to be sorry," Ethan responded while slowly letting go of her.

He waited for a second before asking, "Why would... a father abandon his own daughter? Who does that?"

"Because I made a mistake, and it crushed his dreams of making me follow in his footsteps," revealed Samantha while stuttering. "I got pregnant, and I got kicked out of Military School."

"Of course, there is the shame of being the General's daughter getting pregnant before marriage," said Samantha while looking down at her hands.

When she gazed back at him, Samantha said, "Mr. Wright... I am so sorry that you had to listen to me and hear about my sad life." She tried to laugh at her situation before adding, "And I'm sorry I ruined our meeting!"

She hastily searched for a tissue in her purse and wiped the tears that lingered in the corners of her eyes, and said, "I don't mean to be rude... but... I - I really need to go."

Samantha let out a dramatic sigh and requested, "Can we - can we have this talk some other time?"

"I - I just want to stay in my room and... and let it all out," Samantha reasoned.

"Can you.. at least tell me why you suddenly broke down?" Ethan probed while trying to hide his dismay.

"I - I saw my father outside earlier... that's why," she answered while covering her mouth. "I just... I - I just want to be with my aunt and my kids, Mr. Wright. I'm sorry. I really am."

Ethan saw how her eyes were acting to water again. Her brows were drawn together as her entire body quivered.

While it disappointed him that he was not the person to fully console her, he understood. They did not know each other well, and she most likely wanted to be with someone who thoroughly understood her.

"I'll make it up to you, Mr. Wright. I promise," Samantha assured with her gentle tone.

Ethan could only nod and answer, "Okay... I expect that."

He turned to the server and instructed, "Bring the rest of the food to Miss Davis' condominium."

When Ethan glanced at Samantha, he saw the guilt on her face. He tried to smile, but it was really hard. A twitch in his mouth was the best that he could make out at that time. He said, "It's fine. I can have dinner at my office."

Ethan first instructed the hotel staff to ensure the General had already left the property. Only after getting an assurance from them did he walk out with Samantha, guiding her to the lift.

As soon as Samantha hopped in, Ethan said, "This is as far as I can go. I have matters to attend to."

Samantha nodded and repeated her apology. Barely a whisper, she said, "I'm sorry."

Ethan Wright maintained to give a friendly expression, at least the best way that he could, but after the elevator doors shut in front of him, his eyes narrowed, and his temperament changed.

John Garcia had caught up with Ethan. He had no idea why the meeting between his boss and Samantha was cut short.

He suddenly sensed how the temperature within the hotel lobby felt chiller than a second ago. This prompted him to turn to his boss, and it was then that he saw the apparent anger on Ethan's face.

"Instruct the hotel manager that I want all CCTV videos capturing the time when Miss Davis left the one-carat conference room and returned." Ethan shifted to John with his cold expression and demanded, "I want... the recordings in my email before nine in the evening!"

"Get my usual takeaway dinner, and I'll wait for you in the car. I want to work!" Ethan added before walking past John and calling the driver on his phone.

***

Two hours later, Ethan was still in his office, resuming his work. Since his dinner slash meeting with Samantha was practically canceled, he drowned himself to carry out his responsibilities. He became so engrossed with the paperwork in front of him that he forgot the time.

Ethan only realized how late it was when he received a call from Aiden, his employed hacker.

"Aiden, report!" Ethan immediately ordered as soon as he answered the phone.

"Mr. Wright," answered Aiden on the other line. "I have confirmed Samantha Davis is the daughter of General Winfield Davis. She went to military school for three years but was dismissed due to... getting pregnant."

"Curse you, Aiden!" Ethan yelled. "I already know that! Tell me something I don't know! You are too slow!"

There was a second of silence before Ethan called his name. "Aiden!"

"Ah, boss. Haha! How do you know about that?" Aiden probed, but when Ethan did not answer, he said, "But this one! I bet you did not find this out, boss!"

"When the general found out his daughter was pregnant, he wreaked havoc all over The Fort Eagle Military Camp! He demanded all soldiers who attended the wedding of one Cadet Sergeant Emilia Plater and Mr. Lance Carter to come forward!" Aiden reported.

"Apparently, based on the intel I have gathered, one of whoever attended the wedding celebration got Miss Davis pregnant!"

"The general made various threats, even violating military protocol by doing so, just to bring out whoever got his daughter pregnant. He also sought the cooperation of The Golden Eagle Hotel, plus, of course, the couple who were wed! But they did not find the mystery man."

Ethan heard Aiden sigh and said, "Unfortunately, there were no surveillance videos at the hotel - it was like it disappeared out of nowhere! And the newly wedded couple swore that everyone was already accounted for. It's too bad they never found the man."

"By the way... Boss... Isn't Lance Carter... your friend?" Aiden asked.

"Goodbye, Aiden. Thank you for your report," Ethan answered and immediately dropped the call.