Richard's POV
I watch with regret as Daisy blows out the candles on the cake and lets out a wide grin. Arabel claps her hand, and onlookers do the same after singing a happy birthday song for her.
Indecisive on what to do, I continue watching, my stomach twisting into knots.
When I can no longer take it, I step down from the car and take long strides into the restaurant, not stopping until I am right in front of Arabel.
With dread, she looks up to meet my gaze.
I drag out a seat beside Daisy and slump in before shifting my eyes to meet Daisy's. She isn't jumping up in excitement like she used to, so my heart sinks.
“Happy birthday, buddy,” I mutter with a weak smile carved on my lips. I didn't even buy anything. I didn't get her a birthday gift.
And that is simply because I didn't even know today was her birthday. How could I have known it was her birthday when I didn't even know her birthdate?
This shows how much of a good father I was.
I know I have been terrible, but things will change. That is what I want. This is exactly why I am doing everything inhumanely possible to get their forgiveness and make things right.
“Thank you,” Daisy replies maturely before turning to her mom.
“Are you ok, baby? Why do you look sad?” I inquire, wondering what Arabel might have told her.
“Richard, we are in public, and it's my daughter's birthday. Can you please not do this now?” Arabel finally speaks, her gaze soft and pleading.
I do not want to, but I can't help it.
I have remained here for five days. I meant what I said when I told her I wasn't leaving until I got her forgiveness.
I don't care if the company crumbles. It once went down, and I picked it up from scratch to reach that height.
I twirl around to face her. Instead of saying a word, I grab her two hands on the table where the beautiful chocolate cake is seated and drag my chair closer to her.
In a whisper, I say, “Arabel, look at me.”
She doesn't obey. She is avoiding my gaze. I rub my hands against hers and ask again. “Won't you look at me? Please!”
In fear that I will do something drastic, she finally raises her eyes to meet mine. There is no anger in them tonight, and it makes me feel glad for letting her be for four days without making an appearance.
Perhaps she thought I had given up and gone back to New York.
“This is not a difficult situation, babe. All you have to do is admit it, and I'll go down on my knees and beg you to forgive me. That's all. There isn't much to it. If you want to hit me, I will let you. If you want to curse at me, I will let you. If you want to let out all the pent-up anger, I won't stop you. Just don't continue torturing me this way. Don't stop me from coming close to you or our child…”
“She is not your child!” She clenches her jaw in an effort not to let out a shout. “Richard, let go of me and stop this rubbish!”
I was speaking in low tones.
She yanks her hands free and turns to Daisy with anger written all over her face.
Daisy, who has been watching silently in curiosity, asks. “Mommy, is he daddy?”
Arabel shakes her head, embarrassed by the repeated question about my paternity.
“Just tell her. Isn't your conscience judging you? I have suffered enough, Arabel. Don't continue punishing me this way. You can punish me, but not this way. Just tell her I am.”
“You are not, you asshole!” She curse out, making me feel a little relieved.
We are getting somewhere. Perhaps I should anger her more. Trigger her to blurt it out.
“Daisy, he is not your dad…”
“Buddy, you trust me, don't you?” Daisy ping pongs her gaze from me to her before nodding. “I am your dad. Mom is lying. You are my child. Look at my hair, it's just like yours. I have the same eye color as you…”
I sound like a crazy man, and I am sure I am behaving like one, but I don't care.
Her denial is making me crazy. The thought that I might never be able to do this successfully is making me tremble with fear.
My hands are literally shaking.
"I am beginning to despise you, Richard," Arabel suddenly interrupts, shocking me. “What do you want to gain from ruining my child's night? A woman knows the paternity of her child best. When I say she isn't yours, then she isn't.” Her words explode with frustration.
The regrets from earlier spread and filled my lungs.
Suddenly, Daisy breaks into tears, and Arabel shoots to her feet.
“Baby,” she coos, dragging her to herself in an embrace while I watch with dread gnawing at my stomach.
I just ruined her birthday. I just ruined her night.
Am I even doing this the right way?
Just as Arabel shoots me an icy glare, Daisy whimpers with a shout, catching our attention.
"Why didn't you tell me he was my dad?" Why did you say daddy had gone to heaven? Everyone in school has a daddy, but I don't. You said he had gone to heaven, and whenever I say that, they mock me. I liked Buddy because I wish I had a daddy like him, but….”
Arabel stands up instantly, fury igniting in her eyes. She grabs Daisy and stalks out without the cake.
I sit still, in a trance for a second, confused on what to do next.
I vowed not to give up and continue doing this till she forgives me, but now I don't even know what else to do. I don't even know if I am doing the right thing or not.
By the time I am pulled out of my trance and helplessness, it is way darker than before, and I realize my phone is ringing.
It is Leo.
With a sniff, I rise up, debating whether to go along with the cake to the hotel or not.
After a moment, I pick it up, wrapping it back in its box before strolling out. Leo is still in the car, so I enter, and he drives off without a word.
He must have seen her dash out of the restaurant with Daisy.
I am too weary with exhaustion and sadness to even say a word. By the time we get back to the hotel, I am almost dozing off.
I can't remember the last time I had a good sleep.
Leo wakes me up fully, and I step down with the cake. Dragging my feet in, I dismiss him and take the elevator up to her floor.
I don't intend to create a scene today; I just want to give her the cake and go to bed. By tomorrow, I will come up with a solution to all of these.
As soon as I get to the door, I knock softly and wait for a response or a sound, but there is nothing. I knock again, this time louder and with urgency.
After five minutes, I find myself still standing here and knocking.
“Arabel, I am not here to argue, just open the door so I can drop Daisy's cake off and go to bed. If you want me to leave, I will leave first thing in the morning…”
The sound of a door opening two rooms away cuts me short, and I realize it is the door from the other day and the same woman comes out.
This time, she isn't half-naked but fully dressed in a leather skirt and crop top with a dark red lipstick on and a gum in her mouth. She looks so much like a hooker.
She folds her arms, stares at me from head to toe before muttering while chewing the gum. “You don't look bad.”
I ignore her, wanting to knock again when she stops me.
“Stop bothering yourself, man. The lady is gone," she announces nonchalantly.
I whirl around quickly before running to her. “What? Who?!”
“Your lover. Wife. Or whatever. She is gone. I can replace her if you want.” She holds my hand, licking her lips in a seductive manner.
With rage, I yank my hand away before rushing back downstairs with the cake. Halfway, I meet Leo, who is panting.
"Boss, she's gone," he admits, regret glinting in his eyes.
The cake drops from my hand, and I slump.