Chapter 54

COLE AIDEN

"DADDDDDDDDDDDY! WAKE UP IT'S ALREADY EIGHT!" The abrupt sound pierced through the stillness of the morning, forcing me to hastily shield my face with the nearest pillow, desperately attempting to muffle the shrill cry of my child. When had I ever been roused from slumber without feeling like my eardrums were on the verge of shattering? I'd already reprimanded her about it, but it seemed she had inherited my own penchant for disregarding volume control.

Why did she always have to wake up like this? No matter what, my child seemed determined to jolt me awake, leaving me with no option but to release a deep sigh and try to steady my nerves.

"DADDDDY!" I clenched my eyes shut as Lauren's voice, sharp and piercing, assaulted my senses once more. It felt as though she was intentionally aiming to rupture my eardrums!

"Ouchhhh!" A sharp pain shot through my side as her kick landed squarely, leaving me with no choice but to begrudgingly haul myself out of bed to avoid further injur