: I'm Your Daddy

Stanton Manor.

The entire manor was set up for a birthday party.

Clarissa Stanton, dressed in an LV spring limited starlight gown, was surrounded by a group of socialites singing her praises.

"Clarissa, your dress is so beautiful, like a nebula!"

"This is the LV spring limited edition, right? I couldn't even get one on loan, and you bought it. Your dad really spoils you!"

"Happy birthday, Clarissa. I heard you got a role in Director Sutton's film. You'll certainly be this year's most popular actress. Don't forget about us when you're famous in the entertainment industry."

"What entertainment industry? Clarissa is just there for fun. With her status, how hard could it be to become famous?"

Amidst the adulation, Clarissa Stanton suppressed the smugness in her eyes and said, "Thank you all. Let me go check when the cake will arrive."

Clarissa Stanton returned to the villa and nearly bumped into her mother who was just leaving.

"Mom!" she whispered, pulling Stella Monroe aside to speak quietly: "Haven't the people my cousin sent returned? Today is my twentieth birthday, and I don't want people to know our family still has some wild girl abducted by traffickers!"

Stella Monroe lovingly adjusted Clarissa Stanton's skirt hem and said, "No news is good news. Don't worry, she absolutely won't come back. Even if she does return, she's been sold by traffickers to some remote mountain village. What threat could a village girl pose?"

Clarissa Stanton was completely convinced, even somewhat eager for that village girl to return.

Only by comparison could one create harm, allowing her to truly stand out as the real heiress.

"It's not good! Madam!" a servant rushed in to report: "There's a Knight helicopter parked on the party lawn."

"The Knight Family?" Clarissa Stanton's eyes lit up: "Mom, you and dad wouldn't have invited Damian Knight over for me, would you?"

Stella Monroe was equally surprised.

Although the Stanton Family is also a top company in the nation and holds its own in Crestfall...

The Knight Family stands at the pinnacle of the global pyramid, and Damian Knight is the heir to The Knight Corporation. Their family isn't worthy to invite Damian Knight to attend their daughter's birthday.

Could it be... that the business deal that Old Master Stanton discussed with the Knight Family made Damian Knight take it seriously?

"Let's go see!" Stella Monroe felt suspicious but even more delighted.

If their family could forge a connection with the Knight Family, they wouldn't have to worry for generations to come.

Mother and daughter touched up their makeup and hurried excitedly towards the lawn.

A group of Crestfall's nouveau riche had already gathered on the lawn.

As soon as Clarissa Stanton approached, she was surrounded by socialites full of envy.

"Clarissa, you actually got someone from the Knight Family to come. You're amazing!"

"This is such an important event, and you didn't even tell me. If I had known, I would have hired a professional makeup artist."

Clarissa Stanton only smiled outwardly, while inwardly feeling disdain.

The people from the Knight Family were here for her—what makeup were these people trying to fix?

It must have been that Damian Knight noticed her at the Knight Corporation's anniversary banquet last month!

She was about to become the esteemed Mrs. Knight!

At that moment, the helicopter door slowly opened.

In eager anticipation, a ragged girl jumped down from the helicopter.

Her figure was slender, but her face was covered in black soot, making her original appearance unclear. Her hair seemed unkempt for a month, sticking to her scalp, appearing very disheveled.

"This is..."

The crowd turned to Clarissa Stanton, and someone who disliked her taunted, "Clarissa, is this your esteemed guest? A... beggar?"

Clarissa Stanton was furious and walked over to question, "Who are you? How dare you attend my birthday party?"

"Birthday party?" Summer Monroe immediately recognized the arrogant girl.

Documents showed she was Stella Monroe's adopted daughter, but the detective told her this girl was her aunt Stella Monroe and her biological father Henry Stanton's illegitimate daughter.

Her biological daughter was missing, yet they hosted a birthday bash for the illegitimate one?

Ha!

"Who am I?" Summer Monroe glanced deeply at the girl and said, "I'm your dad's..."

"You—"

Just as Clarissa Stanton was about to lash out, Summer Monroe bluntly added, "Biological daughter."

The expression on Clarissa Stanton's face instantly froze, while the party guests showed eager anticipation for the unfolding drama.

Clarissa Stanton came to her senses and asked in shock, "You're... you're Summer Monroe?"

That village girl?

Indeed... very much a village girl!

Stella Monroe was relatively calm, swiftly stepping forward to say, "Summer, is that you? I've been waiting for you for so long. Poor child, you've finally come back..."

Summer Monroe curled her lips: "Auntie, I see you've been well."

Though she smiled, her tone was filled with sarcasm.

Her mother's own sister married her biological father? Her brother-in-law married the sister-in-law?

What a ridiculous affair!

There was definitely something suspicious about them!

The guests whispered among themselves: "I heard Mrs. Stanton is the sister of the former Mrs. Stanton..."

"So, this must be the Miss Monroe who was kidnapped by traffickers ten years ago?"

"The Stanton Family was originally surnamed Monroe, and Old Master Stanton was just a live-in son-in-law. After Miss Monroe's death, the family took on the Stanton name."

"There's really such a backstory? How... amazing..."

Stella Monroe felt her face burning from the whispers, and she awkwardly cleared her throat: "Darling, it's good you're back. Let me take you to clean up. Look at yourself... so dirty. Life in the countryside must be very harsh, right?"

At this moment, she still couldn't help but remind everyone that she was from the countryside; clearly, she was displeased with herself.

As Summer Monroe was about to speak, a low voice suddenly echoed from behind: "Hey."

Everyone turned to look and, seeing who had stepped out of the helicopter, was left dumbfounded.

Damian Knight!

Damian Knight, whose slightest move could cause tremors in the global economy?!

"Young Master Knight?!" Clarissa Stanton rushed forward excitedly and asked, "Are you... here for my birthday party? Thank you..."

The delight in her eyes was impossible to hide, and her face was visibly flushed with shyness.

She had originally thought Damian Knight might just send someone to congratulate her, but she hadn't expected Damian Knight himself to show up!

Her time had come, her happy life was about to begin!

If she could, Clarissa Stanton really wished to leap up and cheer.

Those around her cast envious glances at Clarissa Stanton.

Even as an adopted daughter, forging a connection with Damian Knight promised a bright future!

But in the next instant—

"Who are you?"

Damian Knight frowned, seemingly noticing Clarissa Stanton only then, with visible impatience and confusion.

Damian Knight had no idea who she was!

"Pfft..." someone nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What's this? I thought Young Master Knight came to wish Clarissa Stanton a happy birthday, but he doesn't even know who she is."

"Hahaha... I'm dying of laughter! If I were her, I'd find a hole to crawl into and seal it up with glue so I'd never come out again!"

Clarissa Stanton's expression shifted from delight to bewilderment, then from bewilderment to shame, finally glaring angrily at the two socialites who spoke.

Still, Stella Monroe reacted quickly, stepping forward to speak on her daughter's behalf: "Young Master Knight, it's such an honor to have you here. Today is my daughter's birthday; she misunderstood and thought you were here to celebrate with her. I see you're actually here to discuss cooperation with Old Master Stanton. He's upstairs, please come in and have a cup of tea."

The guests immediately curbed their mocking looks.

Having Damian Knight personally visit to discuss cooperation was also a tremendous honor.

Yet, the next moment, Damian Knight once again—

"Do I know you?"

Stella Monroe's hand, poised to invite, hung awkwardly in mid-air.

Could it be that Young Master Knight... didn't know her either??

: Waiting to See Her Embarrassed

"Pfft..." The guests stifled their laughter.

Is this mother and daughter pair here for comedy?

Stella Monroe was so awkward that her toes were trying to dig through to the Earth's core.

Damian Knight doesn't know her either, so who is he here for?

She suddenly thought of...

Everyone looked down on, including herself, they didn't care about Summer Monroe, who seemed to have come down from Damian Knight's helicopter.

Because Summer appeared so suddenly and looked so shabby, she hadn't linked Summer with Damian Knight at first.

Could it be that Summer knows Damian Knight?

Just as this thought emerged, Stella saw Damian bypass her to stand in front of Summer.

"Are you sure this is your wish? It's not too late to change it now."

Summer looked baffled, "Are you Aladdin's Magic Lamp? I told you just dropping me off would be fine."

Everyone around, including Stella and Clarissa Stanton, couldn't believe their eyes as they watched Summer and Damian Knight.

What's going on?

This beggar knows Damian Knight?

Damian's dark eyes were fixed on Summer, just as he was about to speak, Old Master Stanton's excited voice rang out—

"Young Master Knight! Why didn't you call ahead if you were coming to see me? I've been shamefully unprepared for your arrival!"

The moment Old Master Stanton spoke, he noticed everyone looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Stella closed her eyes directly.

What's happening?

Henry Stanton finally noticed something was amiss and suspiciously scanned the surroundings.

His brows furrowed immediately when his gaze landed on Summer.

"Clarissa, why did you invite a beggar to the birthday party? Get her out of here! Don't sully Young Master Knight's eyes!"

Clarissa's face stiffened, though she was a bit pleased, and she said with a complex expression, "Dad, she is..."

"Dad!" Summer interrupted Clarissa and spoke willingly, "Don't you recognize me? I'm Sadie."

Her nickname was indeed Sadie.

"Sad..." Henry's eyebrows shot up, and two seconds later, he asked in shock, "You are... Summer?"

"It's me, Dad." Summer stepped forward.

After a decade, she had no memories of her childhood, but there was something familiar about that face.

Hearing Summer's words, Henry subconsciously took a step back.

It was a kind of fear, the fear of a secret being uncovered.

Summer sharply noticed it, but she continued, unfazed, "Dad, it's been so long since we've seen each other, I missed you so much."

Henry's expression was stiff as he forced himself to pat Summer's shoulder, "It's good you came back, it's good... but why are you dressed like this? And Young Master Knight, why does he... look not quite clean either?"

Only after Henry's reminder did the crowd realize they had been so fixated on Damian Knight himself that they hadn't noticed his clothes were also crumpled, looking like they had been soaked.

Clarissa's eyes shifted suspiciously between Summer and Damian Knight.

Could there be something between these two?

However, Clarissa quickly dismissed this idea. Damian Knight's status is so prestigious that it's impossible for him to pay attention to a dirty, ugly, and foul-smelling country bumpkin like Summer.

Unless he was blind!

Stella, seeing the awkwardness of the scene, hurriedly spoke up, "Master, it seems that Young Master Knight brought our Summer back."

"Is that so?" Henry's expression showed a little less disgust towards Summer upon hearing this.

After all, when that matter happened, Summer was still young, reportedly amnesiac and couldn't have remembered.

But if they could use Summer to climb up to the Knight Family... it would surely be a foolproof deal!

Henry immediately turned with a beaming smile towards Damian Knight and asked, "Young Master Knight, so you know my dear daughter! Thank you for bringing her back. Would you stay for a meal before leaving?"

Stella also said, "Yes, Young Master Knight, we just happen to have new clothes for guests at home, would you like to change?"

Damian was about to decline.

But he had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, and wearing clothes soaked with sea water was already pushing his limits.

Seeing Damian Knight not refusing, Henry immediately made a "please" gesture and softly instructed Stella, "Make sure Summer is well groomed."

Stella, married to Henry for nearly ten years, instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind "well groomed."

They planned to use Summer to climb to higher branches of the Knight family.

Such a boon should belong to her daughter, not Summer!

When Luna Monroe was alive, she overshadowed her; after her death, she would never allow Luna's daughter to overshadow her daughter!

Stella agreed on the surface but secretly pulled Clarissa aside and said, "Take Summer to clean up and dress up a bit, and from now on she'll be your sister, get along well."

Although her words were conciliatory, the gaze she passed to Clarissa was full of hidden meaning.

Clarissa immediately understood and turned around with a smiling face, telling Summer, "Sister, let me take you to freshen up and dress up, alright?"

Summer didn't believe that this mother and daughter would be able to accept her so easily.

She didn't show any suspicion and smiled innocently, "Sure, sister."

The two entered the villa hand in hand.

The lawn party guests whispered, speculating about Damian Knight's purpose for coming.

But whatever the reason, Damian Knight's arrival meant they had to treat the Stanton family with more respect in the future.

On the second floor of the villa.

"Sister, this is the guest room; your room hasn't been prepared yet, you can temporarily use this one. The toiletries are all there, I'll go get you some clothes to wear."

"Okay, thank you."

"Ah, by the way, sister, can you manage the water heater? It's set to constant temperature, no need to adjust it." Clarissa "kindly" reminded, but didn't hide the disdain in her eyes.

Summer seemed not to notice, smiled faintly, and said, "I can manage."

She's amassed numerous identities abroad; how could she possibly not know how to bathe?

"That's good then, I'll go get the clothes for you."

Clarissa smiled and turned to leave, the moment she closed the door, her smile vanished instantly.

She pulled out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped the hand that had touched Summer's, then tossed the handkerchief to the ground as if it were some virus.

This ugly girl, she really stinks!

There's no way Young Master Knight would look at her. Her return must be an accident.

...

Inside the room.

Summer was enjoying a comfortable hot shower.

After spending a week on a deserted island, she felt like she was about to rot away.

As the hot water streamed down her face, the dirt and grim gradually washed away, revealing the pale, delicate skin underneath.

A flawless, palm-sized face emerged from the swirling mist, resembling a fairy.

Ten minutes later, Clarissa knocked on the bathroom door.

"Sister, the dress is here. Please open the door so I can hand the dress in; the shoes are at the door for you to wear afterward."

"Okay." Summer opened a small crack to take the dress inside.

She didn't see the playfulness in Clarissa's eyes.

This dress was a couture Gucci gown, even more expensive than the dress she was wearing. She had struggled to buy it.

But after buying it, she found she couldn't wear it.

While the dress was perfect, it required a particular figure.

Its design could only be carried by supermodel physiques — no extra weight, yet needing sufficient bust. Ordinary people would either look fat or unable to fill it out.

She couldn't wear it due to having no collarbone, plus thicker shoulders, which was why she wasn't wearing it today.

Once this ugly Summer puts it on, it'd surely be hilarious!