To Love A Villain

Chapter 249: Side Story - Ordinary Days

>>Third Person POV (Modern World)

The day was gentle—sunlight trickled through a canopy of green, filtered by the soft rustle of tree branches swaying in the breeze. The park, nestled in the heart of the city hummed quietly with life. Laughter rang from a distant group of children near the swings, birds chirped high in the trees, and somewhere nearby a musician played a slow, lazy tune on a lute.

Amber adjusted the soft brim of her straw hat as she pushed the small stroller along the winding cobblestone path. Beside her, walking with his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his long charcoal-gray coat, was Hael—recognizable to none thanks to the large sunglasses perched on his nose and a wide-brimmed dark hat pulled low over his brow.

"You know you’re drawing more attention with that coat," she whispered with a chuckle.

"I’m trying to not be recognized," Hael muttered, glancing over his shoulder like someone was hunting him, "I want a peaceful day outside with my family."

Amber smiled as she peeked down at the tiny bundle in the stroller. "I don’t think anyone’s looking at you anyway. They’re all too busy admiring Zola."

Hael sighed and looked down too—and the tension in his shoulders softened at once.

Zola, now eight months old, blinked up at the canopy of trees with her big curious eyes. She wore a soft blue bonnet and a matching cardigan Amber had knit herself. A plush duck toy was clutched loosely in her chubby little hand.

She babbled to herself and kicked her feet like she was conducting an invisible symphony.

"She’s happy," Hael said softly.

Amber smiled. "She likes being outside."

They found a quiet corner of the park, where a wide pond stretched out under a willow tree. Ducks waddled along the edge, quacking and bobbing their heads, and the afternoon sun shimmered off the water.

Hael picked Zola up out of her stroller while Amber took out a small napkin wrapped with pieces of soft bread.

"Let’s show her the ducks," Amber said, her eyes shining. "It’s her first time seeing them."

Zola squealed as Hael held her up, her legs kicking excitedly as her gaze locked on the cluster of waddling creatures. She reached out with a delighted gasp and smacked Hael’s shoulder with joy.

"I think she’s a fan," Hael said dryly, rubbing the spot she’d hit.

Amber laughed and knelt beside them, holding out a piece of torn bread. "Okay, Zola," she said sweetly, holding up the bread to her daughter, "we feed the ducks like this. You throw the bread in the water, and they come to eat it."

Zola blinked slowly, tilting her head.

"She probably doesn’t get it yet," Hael said.

"Here, let’s show her."

Amber tossed a piece of bread into the pond. Immediately, a nearby duck let out a happy quack and paddled over to snap it up. Zola gasped, eyes wide, and bounced in Hael’s arms.

"See?" Amber beamed. "You try now!"

She handed Zola a small, soft piece—just enough for a baby to hold.

Zola took it gingerly between her fingers, looked at it...

...and stuffed it directly into her mouth.

!!!!

"Wait—!" Amber leaned forward.

"No, no, no, not for you!" Hael panicked, trying to gently pry the soggy lump from her tiny mouth without scaring her.

Zola let out a high-pitched protest and flailed, clamping her mouth shut and glaring at her father with indignant fury.

"She’s already eaten it," Amber said, laughing now, a hand on Hael’s arm. "It’s fine. She eats soft solids now, remember?"

Hael looked down at Zola with his lips parted in a mix of horror and surrender.

"She just ate duck food," he muttered.

"It was literally bread," Amber grinned. "The same bread you eat every day."

They looked at each other—and burst into laughter, full and unrestrained. Hael shook his head, grumbling something about how she "did it on purpose," and Amber kissed the side of Zola’s bonnet.

Zola, hearing her parents laugh, let out a happy squeal as if she’d played the greatest joke in the world.

"Okay, let’s try again," Amber said, still giggling as she handed Zola another, even smaller piece. "But this time, watch the ducks, sweetheart."

Zola took the bread again, a little slower this time. Her parents demonstrated once more—Amber tossing her piece into the pond, Hael pointing dramatically as the ducks swam closer.

Zola held her piece out at arm’s length.

"Throw it," Hael encouraged. "You can do it."

She looked at him, then at the ducks. Her mouth opened in a tiny "oh," and she made a valiant effort to launch the bread. It fell half an inch from her hand and landed at her feet.

One duck waddled up toward the grass.

Zola screamed in delight, and Hael had to scoop her up again to stop her from diving after it.

The duck flapped and waddled back toward the water in a flurry.

"Maybe next time we don’t feed the ducks with the baby," Hael said, turning in a slow circle to keep Zola’s feet away from the ground.

Amber laughed again, covering her mouth. "But look how happy she is."

Zola was now flailing with pure glee, arms outstretched, babbling nonsense toward the ducks like she was telling them her life story. Hael held her up higher so she could see better. Amber stepped beside them, looping her arm around Hael’s waist.

They stood there together, the pond sparkling in the sunlight, the ducks moving slowly across the water. Other families passed by, some with strollers, some with giggling toddlers—and yet in that little corner of the park, time slowed for the three of them.

Zola eventually began to rest her head on Hael’s shoulder, her energy spent from all the flailing and cheering.

***

There were very few things in the world that Hael loved without question.

And if spoiling his daughter with a baby spa treatments counted as love, then yes, Hael was the kind of father who believed in first-class pampering for his baby girl.

"I booked us the best package," he said proudly as he adjusted Zola’s sunhat before gently strapping her into the car seat. "She gets a full-body massage, warm-water float therapy, calming mist, and—listen to this—aromatherapy bubbles for infants."

Amber, standing beside the car with a knowing smile, raised a brow. "You do realize she’s eight months old, right?"

Hael didn’t even blink. "And she’s been through eight months of life. That’s hard work."

Amber laughed, stepping into the car as he shut the back door gently. "You’re not going to ask for a robe in her size again, are you?"

"She deserves a robe. And slippers," he muttered under his breath, starting the car.

The spa—Little Blossoms Baby Wellness Retreat—sat on the edge of the elite class district, where trees glowed softly at dusk and birds sang lullabies at the right pitch to soothe even the fussiest newborns. The building itself was beautiful—soft whites and petal pinks, with golden leaves drifting through the air in the breeze.

Inside the spa, gentle harp music played as scented mist floated in rings above the guests’ heads. Parents in cozy robes chatted quietly while babies squealed in joy, their giggles echoing softly under high ceilings.

Zola looked around wide-eyed from her perch in Hael’s arms, clutching a corner of his coat as if already approving of the atmosphere.

Amber leaned closer and whispered, "She’s got your taste for luxury."

Hael gave a smug little smile. "Of course she does."

They were escorted to a softly lit room with plush mats, baskets of fluffy towels, baby-safe oils, and hanging mobiles that rotated slowly with floating stars. Other parents were already there, some waving politely as they took notice of the new arrivals—though a few looked twice at Hael, eyes squinting with curiosity.

A spa attendant greeted them with a soft voice. "Welcome, Mister and Misses Hael. Thank you for booking the deluxe private parent-child package. Zola will enjoy a full spa rotation—and you two will learn how to give your baby the most soothing, developmental massage possible."

Amber tried not to laugh at the regal tone. "Is she getting a tiara too?"

"She deserves one," Hael whispered reverently, lifting Zola up and gently booping her nose. "Our little mage." Although there was no magic in this world, Hael would still sometimes call her his little mage.

The spa attendant handed them soft robes and a gold-trimmed booklet labeled "Blossoming Bonds: Infant Wellness and You."

Hael ignored the booklet and focused instead on rubbing the warmed massage oil between his palms like he was preparing for a sacred ritual.

Zola lay on her back on a padded cloud-shaped mat, blinking up at her parents with that curious, almost dreamy look. When Hael began to gently run his hands along her arms—following the slow, guided motions demonstrated at the front—Zola squealed in delight and kicked her legs.

"She’s smiling," Amber said, charmed. "She’s actually smiling."

"I told you," Hael murmured. "Baby spa is the way."

One of the other parents leaned over from their mat, squinting at Hael. "I’m sorry, are you—are you Hael Helio? From Twelve Blades of Summer?"

Hael didn’t even flinch. "No," He flatly denied being what he was

The mother gasped and whispered something to her partner. Hael sighed and shook his head as Zola babbled, completely unaware of her father’s old fame resurfacing.