Chapter 1

Due to my dad's job, I had to transfer schools. I went to complete the enrollment procedures.

After I gave my personal information, the teacher in charge looked at me strangely.

"Wait! You said your father is Mr. Harrison, the new board member? But his daughter is already enrolled here."

"His daughter is half a year older than you. You can't be her."

I froze for a moment, then pulled out my phone and showed her a photo of me and my dad.

The teacher glanced at it, then brought up the system interface directly.

"Mr. Harrison's child has been attending our school since the beginning of the semester."

"He even donated a library for her. Here, see the official photos."

In the photo, my dad stood with an unfamiliar student by the school's bulletin board.

The girl looked about my age, and her features were strikingly similar to my dad's.

She even resembled him more than I did!

The question pierced through me: if they were father and daughter, then who was I?

"Mr. Harrison's daughter is an excellent student and the student council president. How could you impersonate her?"

"Student, I advise you to behave yourself. We're not accepting you!"

The teacher in charge looked annoyed and impatient, as if I was some kind of moral failure.

She waved her hand repeatedly, and by the time I reacted, I was already kicked out of the office.

Passing students glanced at me being rejected at the door, whispering gossip to each other.

But I was only consumed by confusion, my mind filled with that promotional image.

That was clearly my dad, but how could he be acting like the perfect father and daughter with another girl?

Had my dad betrayed my mom and me, and had a love child outside of our marriage?

Furious and bewildered, I immediately called him, ready to confront him.

But a robotic voice kept saying, "The person you are calling is currently on another call." I sent countless messages, but there was no reply.

What was going on? Had my dad blocked me?

The next second, I remembered he was on a business trip in the next city.

That was why I had to come and register alone.

My dad told me that his company was at a critical stage recently, and he was constantly on the go, leaving early and coming home late.

I hadn't seen him in ages.

Right now, he was probably either in a meeting or on-site inspecting.

Unable to reach my dad, I could only postpone my enrollment and wait for him to return.

If he really had another family, I would never forgive him!

Back home, my dad finally called me back.

"Hey, sweetie, your dad just finished an inspection. What's up?"

My dad turned on the video call. He looked exhausted and worn out.

"I have another meeting soon. Just use my secondary card if you want to buy anything."

Seeing him working non-stop but still thinking of me, a wave of tenderness washed over me.

Just as I was about to ask about his well-being, I instantly remembered what had happened earlier.

A knot of anger tightened in my stomach, and I spoke.

"There's nothing I want to buy. I just want to ask you one thing."

"Have you done something to betray our family? Do you have another woman and a child outside?"

My dad's face changed dramatically on screen. One second he was doting, the next his eyes widened in shock.

He propped his phone on the table.

"Oh, my little queen, how could your dad do such a thing?!"

"Besides your mom, I've never loved another woman!"

"Let alone have any love child!"

Seeing my suspicion, he immediately took his phone outside the house, revealing the construction site he had just inspected.

"My big girl, see for yourself, I'm so swamped I practically live on this construction site. Look around, where would I find time to mess around?"

"Even if I had time, your dad would never mess around. You have to believe me!"

My dad was indignant.

"Who's spreading rumors? They've even reached my daughter's ears!"

"Is it those clickbait accounts? I'll go settle scores with them right now!"

"Autumn, I swear you're my only daughter. Don't believe their nonsense."

Watching him, at his age, swearing solemnly with his hand to his forehead like a teenager, my doubts vanished.

My dad had treasured me since I was little.

More than my mom, he had taken charge of all my affairs, big and small.

From bedtime stories and daily meals to my enrollment ceremonies and coming-of-age rituals, he was involved in everything.

He always cared for me meticulously, working hard at the company while taking me everywhere with him.

Because I was always by my dad's side, everyone in the company, big and small, knew me.

Some gossips would quietly whisper that I was a "little burden" who hindered my dad's work.

That very day, that person was fired.

Even though he was a core technical staff member the company had painstakingly recruited.

Later, when I grew up and became more sensible, I didn't tag along with him as often.

He would often pretend to be heartbroken, saying I was already growing distant from him, and what would happen when I got a boyfriend?

Then, afraid I'd be tricked by some bad boy, he directly gave me half of the company's shares.

"Unless they're better than your dad, they shouldn't even think about stealing you away."

At just ten years old, I became the company's second-largest shareholder, but it was him who was smug.

Later, when I went to a prestigious prep school, he grandly donated millions to fund new buildings and a library, making sure everyone at the school knew I was the precious daughter of Harrison Holdings' CEO, and no one was to bully me.

How could such a doting, even reckless, father have a love child outside?

Thinking this, I felt relieved.

"Alright, old man, I'll let you off the hook today. But if I ever find out you have another child, you're toast!"

My dad profusely guaranteed on the other end, bowing and nodding in a way that no one would recognize his usual commanding presence.

"Oh, by the way, I had a problem with my enrollment. Wait until you're back to take me through the procedures."

"You got it, my Queen Autumn. Did that person in charge upset you? I'll set things right when I get back."

I chuckled, looking at my dad's dark circles, and decided not to worry him too much. I'd tell him later when he was back.

After hanging up, I planned to enjoy a few days off before enrolling, but then I got a call from the new school.

The teacher in charge, whom I'd met just that morning, was on the line, telling me to report to school immediately.

Was my dad that quick? One call and he sorted it out for me?

Fun canceled, school mode activated.

I wanted to check out the new school anyway, so I'd just go.