Madeline frowned at the sight of Domingo, her rugged-looking father, clearly dissatisfied. "So, you're my dad? The one who abused my mom even after I was born?"
She wore a disdainful smile, which Domingo met without a retort.
"Back then, I had a terrible temper, young and without a direction in life, so I took it all out on your mom. That was wrong of me. But since then, I've completely turned my life around. Madeline, come here, please let me have a good look at you. It's been since you were eight that I last saw you. Your mom kept you well hidden, never reaching out once all these years. She's got a cold heart!"
Madeline was profoundly grateful for her mother's decision not to contact her ex-husband, allowing them a peaceful life with the Tanner family. However, her visit today was to seek Domingo's help.
"My mom didn't reach out to you, but couldn't you have tried to find us? But then again, it's probably for the best. I've been very happy living with Dad. I never want to go back to living in that dump."
Hearing his daughter refer to Francis as 'Dad' visibly upset Domingo, though he managed not to lash out.
"I am your real dad. What's this calling someone else 'dad'?"
Blinking her large eyes, Madeline replied, "If I didn't call him 'dad,' do you think I could have survived? After you left, do you have any idea what life was like for Mom and me?"
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