Chapter 423 I’ll Never Let Go, Not in This Lifetime

• Seeing Stephanie like this, Sienna finally let out a breath. This was better. She was the one involved, so the rest could move forward. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told Lin Feng to dig up exactly what happened back then and what’s going on with the child.” She looked at Stephanie. “You need to think it through too—do you really want to rip that scab open?” “And no matter what you decide, your Uncle Callan and I are on your side. Even if you do rip that scab open, don’t be scared. You’ve got us. Besides, you’re not the Stephanie you were back then.” Sienna still didn’t dare bring up what happened back then at this moment. Stephanie was pretty carefree by nature. Right now all her attention was on the little girl, so she didn’t overthink it. Suddenly, Stephanie, who was bathing the kid, froze. “What is it?” Following her gaze, Sienna spotted a faint bluish mark on the inside of the little girl’s thigh. About the size of a fingertip. Stephanie lifted the child out of the water. The two of them found two more light bluish marks—one on the inside of the other thigh and one on her lower back. Stephanie’s voice shook. “What’s going on?” Sienna’s face darkened. A bruise on the lower back could be from bumping into something. But the inside of the thigh? “Steph, don’t panic. They’re very faint. Looks like they’ve been there a while.” Sienna used the showerhead to rinse the bubbles off the child and wrapped her in a towel. She reached out to pick her up, but the kid clutched Stephanie’s hand instead. Sienna had to step out first. Outside, Callan’s face was just as grim. Whatever the case, that guy named Qin Xiuyun had majorly dropped the ball. If this child really was Stephanie’s, the Moore family would never hand her back to him. After Sienna told him about the bruises, Callan’s expression turned even darker. Only after a long beat did he say, “Dad wants us at the Moore residence for dinner on New Year’s Day. You going?” Sienna knew why he was asking—Matthias and Janette would be there. She honestly didn’t want to go. After all, she and Callan weren’t married. But as a girlfriend, it would look bad to turn down an invite from her boyfriend’s family. Plus, the kid could stay at the Xu residence over the holiday, but Stephanie would definitely head to the Moores. Sienna worried about her, so she nodded. “Let’s go.” That New Year’s Day dinner would definitely include the other Moore branches too. Lots of people. It would also be Sienna’s first official appearance since getting together with Callan. She knew perfectly well: if she was going to be with him, she had to face the whole Moore clan. “Don’t be scared. I’ve got you,” Callan said, giving her hand a squeeze. Sienna joked, “If I regret it now, is it too late?” Callan jolted, eyes locking on her. “Don’t you dare.” Sienna could tell he meant it. She hurried to say, “I’m kidding.” Callan: “Not even as a joke.” He’d finally won her over—using every trick in the book. He was never letting go. Not in this lifetime. The deep feeling in his eyes startled Sienna. Suddenly, she felt like she was being a wimp. It’s just the Moore family. What’s there to be scared of? Stephanie came out with the little girl. The kid was in a long-sleeved white princess dress, hair blown dry, a cute bun perched on top—courtesy of Stephanie. Even cuter. There were a lot of people outside, and the little girl was clearly nervous. She kept a tight hold on Stephanie’s finger. At dinner, everyone was stunned. The child ate with perfect manners—full marks for table etiquette—but her mouth never stopped. In the end, she ate two bowls of rice, downed two bowls of soup, and polished off a good bit of the dishes. Sienna and Stephanie traded a look. Both thought the same thing: Had the kid really been separated from Qin Xiuyun since yesterday?