Araceli POV
It didn't take long for dinner to be ready.
Raphael sat at the main table.
"Ms. Chancey, your cooking is getting better and better! This is so delicious!"
Essel excitedly ate the mashed potatoes I made.
Micah put a piece of steak in his mouth and took a small bite.
I looked at him and saw a surprise look in his eyes.
Raphael held out the tickets to the painting show and looked to Valeria, who was sitting to his right.
"Valeria, are you free on Sunday afternoon? I'd like to take you to see the painting exhibition."
Valeria froze for a moment and looked at me with some excitement.
I took the tickets and Valeria immediately said happily, "I want to go!"
Essel also said happily, "Daddy, are we going to the show with Ms. Chancey's family? I'm so excited!"
I said calmly, "Krish, do you want to come with us?"
Krish nodded his head.
"Micah, why don't you come with us, too?" Essel hurriedly said, "This exhibition is a joint effort by several well-known artists! Micah, come with us!"
Micah narrowed his eyes slightly and didn't say anything.
After a moment, he pursed his lips and said, "I have time on Sunday. Let's go together."
Raphael glanced at him.
"Yeah! Great!"
Essel cheered.
"By the way, Ms. Chancey!" Essel said to me, "My aunt's birthday is in two days! Ms. Chancey, I want to invite you, Vallie and Krish to come to Royal Pack for my aunt's birthday party. "
I frowned slightly.
Royal Pack's banquet...
A lot of upper class people would be there.
I didn't want my two kids to be photographed in public, so I hesitated a bit and didn't answer Essel.
Raphael seemed to guess what I was thinking and said calmly, "This is a relatively private party. You don't have to worry about anyone exposing Krish and Valeria."
I remembered that the identities of the Royal Pack's two children were also kept secret from the public. People didn't even know Raphael had two children.
Royal Pack's secrecy was almost meticulous. I really didn't need to worry.
"Okay. Essel, I promise you I'll bring Krish and Valeria to the party."
Seeing me nod, Essel smiled happily.
After dinner, it was late at night.
I took the two children and prepared to drive home.
Raphael followed me out.
His low and nice voice rang out, softer than before.
I suddenly felt my heart skip a beat.
"Let me drive you back."
"Thank you, Mr. Lancaster, but there's no need. I can drive back."
I looked at him and said calmly, "Mr. Lancaster, I hope you'll think about my offer."
With that, I led Krish and Valeria to the car.
Raphael stood in front of the villa. I started the car and drove away slowly. I saw him in the rearview mirror looking at my car until the car turned the corner and then he slowly withdrew his eyes.
Did he consider my proposal?
To be my boyfriend...
No, it was "pretend to be my boyfriend".
...
Sunday.
The sky was as blue as a jewel in late autumn. The sun was warm and bright on the ground. The breeze gently brushes by, bringing a trace of coolness, but as gentle as a trace of warmth. The sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting a dappled light.
I drove Krish and Valeria to the Museum of Modern Art, and as soon as I got out of the car with the kids in tow, a black car drove by.
The next second the car stopped, Essel opened the door and jumped out of the car.
"Ms. Chancey, you look so beautiful today!"
She jumped into my arms and gave me a kiss on the cheek before pulling a small bag of cookies out of her arms and handing it to Valeria.
"Vallie, these are my handmade cookies! Look, I made this little girl just like you look! What do you think? Do you like it?"
"So you're secretly making cookies at night. Why don't you give me a few? By the way, is there a cookie made just like mine? Is it as handsome as me?"
Micah came over, put his hand around his chest, and said seriously.
Essel beamed and said, "No!"
Krish said calmly, "Are you sure this is Valeria? It looks like you."
I looked down and took a look at the cookie.
It was a little girl with two braids tied in her hair. Her eyes were made of two sesame seeds, and then her face was very round.
It looked pretty cute, but it really didn't look like Valeria.
I couldn't help but cover my mouth and laugh.
Essel skimmed her lips. "Vallie, do you think this cookie looks like you?"
Valeria blinked, reached out her finger and poked Essel in the face.
"Really?" Essel took the cookie and looked at it closely.
Valeria blinked and put the bag of cookies into her little school bag.
Essel finally cheered up. "See, Vallie likes this gift from me!"
I laughed out loud.
Four kids standing together made me feel inexplicably happy, as if everything else in life didn't matter.
I just wanted to grow up with them.
As long as they were happy, I was happy.
I glanced at Raphael.
Raphael's usually sharp eyes had a gentleness that he hadn't even noticed.
I suddenly wanted to stop time at that moment...
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Raphael looked at me.
I felt a burning line of sight and met his deep eyes.
These eyes were like the starry sky, with a magic that gave me a sense of curiosity...
I was curious to know what emotions were inside him...
What was he thinking?
I didn't look away from him for a long time.
Essel's voice suddenly rang out.
"Daddy, give Ms. Chancey a kiss!"
Valeria also said loudly, "Kiss her!"
I froze and jerked my head around.
I looked at Valeria incredulously, my voice with a slight tremor.
"Valeria..."
Valeria's words just now had excitement, thrill, joy...
She was using her words to express feelings...
That was a big step forward.
The therapist had said Valeria would slowly come out of her world, so I couldn't rush it...
I keep acting like I don't care, but the truth is, no one wants Valeria to express her feelings in words more than I do...
"Baby..."
I squatted down and hugged her.
Valeria cocked her head, blinked her big eyes, and didn't say another word.
"Ms. Chancey! I want a hug too!" Essel came over and said excitedly.
"Essel!"
Krish frowned and stepped forward to pull Essel away.
Essel, a little afraid of Krish's cold eyes, beamed and hid behind Micah.
I smiled and held out my hand to Essel. "Come on, baby."
Essel ran over and hugged me and Valeria.
Valeria opened her lips and whispered, "Mommy..."