“Stop mocking me.”
“I’m not mocking you.” I raised my hands. “Look. Clyde helped me when I really needed it. When I had no support, emotional, physical or financial. Yet he took care of me, and I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for his stubborn determination.”
Mia pursed her lips and looked away. I knew she would tear up, but I didn’t want to make her cry. I wanted to make her understand.
I crossed the space between us and touched her hand, allowing her to close it around mine as I gently rubbed her knuckles. “If I went through that again, your father wouldn’t think twice before helping me. I’m repaying my debt, Mia. It’s the least I could do.”
Her forest-green eyes peered at me from beneath her thick lashes. Tears were already glistening in them. My heart felt heavy seeing such a pained look on her face, and I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around her. She sniffled, tightening her arms around my waist, hiding her face in my shirt.
“Still,” she said, pulling away and pouting at me. “You could’ve told me. I saved up for it.”
I kissed her forehead. “I know. Now you have more savings for your college.”
Mia frowned, shaking her head. “No, it’s the tuition fees for the next semester—you didn’t!”
I shrugged when she pulled away. “You’re his daughter, and I promised him I’d take care of you.”
“Then take it back. You didn’t have to pay my tuition fees.”
“I can’t. And you’ve to live with it.” I tilted her chin and gently kissed her pout. “I’m not going to apologize for taking care of my Princess. What kind of Daddy would I be if I did that, hm?”
“I-I saved so much, working and—” She quickly shook her head, tipping on her toes and kissing me.
But I pulled away, holding her chin and asking, “Working and what?”
Mia tried to avert her eyes. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” I said. “What are you lying about, Princess?”
She looked at me and slumped, knowing I won’t let her be unless she tells me. “I… I helped a few classmates.”
My voice hardened. “Helped them how?”
“W-writing their essays, doing their homework, that kind of stuff.” Pink colored her cheeks, and she looked so vulnerable with her doe eyes, “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“You did it for money?” I asked, knowing well some of the rich kids would throw money at anyone who would do their hard work.
“Just for Dad’s bills,” she answered quickly. “Please, James, don’t tell anyone. They could get in trouble.”
She was worried about them and not about her?
“You can get expelled if you get caught,” I said bitterly. I wouldn’t let her, though. I had enough material on the entire school board committee that if I threatened enough, they’d make Mia the star student with a scholarship to any Ivy League university she wanted.
“I know, but they would never do that.” She bit her lip and added, “Aaron only did it to spend time with me. And others had problems with the subject matter, dyslexia, or needed my help with tutoring.”
“Is that why you were staying up so late and waking up early?”
She nodded.
I pulled her closer and ordered her, “Don’t you ever do that again. Understand?”
“Y-yes, Daddy.”
“Promise me,” I demanded. “I don’t want you to help your classmates like this. If they need help, let them come to their teachers. If the teachers don’t understand, then I’ll make them understand, but you are not doing it ever again.”
She nodded, licking her lips. “Yes, I won’t. I promise.”
“Good girl.” I leaned down and closed my lips over hers. She sighed, her body relaxing as I coaxed her closer, holding her waist. I deepened our kiss, biting her bottom lip until she moaned, parting them.