Araceli POV
Valeria asked, "Mommy, can I call Mr. Lancaster 'Daddy'?"
Every word Valeria uttered was very clear, and there was excitement in her tone.
I was tempted to nod.
Because, I was Essel's mommy. Raphael was Valeria's daddy.
But I didn't dare to do so.
I slowly turned my face to Raphael.
Raphael's icy side face became gentle. He slowly said, "Valeria, as long as your mommy doesn't object, you can keep calling me daddy."
Valeria's eyes glowed as she looked over at me.
Anticipation was hidden in her eyes.
I frowned and nodded slightly.
"Okay."
Valeria happily pounces on Raphael.
"Daddy!"
"What about me? Can I call Ms. Chancey Mommy?"
Essel asked, looking up anxiously.
Raphael hugged Valeria and calmly said, "As long as Ms. Chancey doesn't mind, you can call her whatever you want."
Essel looked at me with wide eyes and asked expectantly and cautiously, "Ms. Chancey, can I call you Mommy?"
A sour feeling passed through me. I suppressed my excitement and smiled, "Of course."
"Great! I have a mommy too! Mommy..."
Essel took my hand and called me "Mommy".
I looked at her tenderly. As soon as I looked up, I saw Micah and Krish, standing not far away, watching me and Essel.
Krish didn't accept me and Raphael so easily.
I decided to wait till I get home and explain to Krish slowly.
As for Micah...
"Micky, come here."
I beckoned.
Micah frowned and walked over.
My voice was gentle. "Baby, if you can't accept me yet, can we try to be friends first?"
"Okay."
Micah pursed his lips and nodded softly.
Raphael walked over to Krish with Valeria in his arms.
He crouched down, but he was still considerably taller than Krish.
Raphael said calmly, "I know what you're thinking. You don't have to worry. Whatever happens, I won't hurt your mommy."
Krish stared at him and clenched his fists.
"I hope you do what you say you're going to do."
The stretch Lincoln pulls up in front of the showroom. We get in and the driver starts the engine. The car drove slowly toward Royal Pack's villa.
When we arrived at Royal Pack, Essel led Valeria to her room.Krish took a book and sat on the couch and flipped through it.Micah said he was going upstairs to take care of work.
I went into the kitchen.Raphael followed me in.
The servants in the kitchen soon all left.
I took a potato and without looking back, said, "Mr. Lancaster, I think..."
"Valeria is happy."
Raphael interrupted, calmly, "I've never seen Valeria this happy. I just hope she stays this happy. I'd do anything..."
I was silent and didn't say anything.
Raphael knew all too well where my soft spot was.
I kept my head down, peeling potatoes carefully.
"Put on an apron. Otherwise your clothes will get dirty."
Raphael held the apron out and helped me tie it on.
His hormonal scent loomed over me.
I did feel fear when I first smelled him, but I've grown accustomed to it.
Have I gotten used to him being around me?
As I peeled potatoes, I said, "Mr. Lancaster, if you want a woman to pretend to be your girlfriend, why don't you go ask Micah and Essel's mother, Melany, if she's willing?"
My heart was beating wildly as I said this. I had to bite my lip hard to calm myself down after I said that.
Raphael said slowly, "I don't love her."
I froze for a second, gritted my teeth, and said, "But Melany is the mother of your children."
"She should be glad she's Micah and Essel's mother, otherwise..."
I turned my head slightly and glanced at him.
Raphael's eyes took on a lurid coldness in their depths.
He didn't finish the latter words, but I could already guess what he was going to say.
I lowered my eyebrows and said, "Why do you hate her so much? Just because she gave you two children without your knowledge?"
"You could say that."
Raphael's eyes were sharp.
I sighed slightly inwardly.
The truth, as he knew it, was that Melany had given birth to two children without his knowledge and, she had carried them to Royal Pack the day after they were born.
Everyone knew that Melany was trying to use the two children to marry into Royal Pack.
Raphael should also know that if he did marry Melany, he was stepping into a trap that Melany had carefully prepared.
My hands clenched violently.
Five years ago, the woman who secretly gave birth to Micah and Essel was actually me...
If Raphael knew the truth, would he let me go so easily?
I was guessing his answer was "no".
This matter couldn't be known to anyone. No one knew what crazy things Raphael would do because of this.
He had power, wealth, status. I was nothing to him. He could destroy me as easily as he could crush an ant.
I had to be as cautious as I could be on this matter.
"Mr. Lancaster, would you mind washing a potato for me?"
I said calmly.
Raphael stared at me, bracing his hand on the table.
"Araceli, I'm your boyfriend. Why are you still calling me Mr. Lancaster, let alone my mother, the servants won't believe you're my girlfriend."
Without looking up, I calmly said, "Raphael, could you wash a potato for me?"
Raphael giggled.
He nimbly found the potato and turned on the faucet.
I glanced at him with my afterglow. The depressing emotions in my heart eased considerably.
It didn't take long for dinner to be ready.
At the dinner table, Essel couldn't stop talking. Micah said a couple of words every now and then to find fault with her.
"Daddy, you're Mommy's boyfriend, so you have to protect Mommy from now on!"
Essel said with a smile and kept calling me "Mommy".
Valeria propped her chin up with both hands, looking at Raphael one moment and me the next.
I was suddenly embarrassed by the way they were looking at me.
My intention was to take more care of Essel and Micah, not to fall in love with Raphael...
I smiled sheepishly and didn't say anything.
Dinner was over.
I decided to go home as soon as possible to explain things to Krish.
Essel leads Raphael outside.
"Daddy, walk Mommy out. Don't forget to give her a kiss."
Essel's voice was just loud enough for me to hear.
Feeling nothing but embarrassment, I pulled Valeria and Krish towards my car.
"Wait."
Raphael's voice came from behind. I hastily picked up my pace, afraid he would catch up with me.
"Your car key."
Raphael walked quickly with a hint of teasing in his voice. "Honey, what are you walking so fast for? Here, your car key."
The words made my heart beat a lot faster.
I turned my head, took the keys out of his hand, and said in a calm voice, "Thanks. I've got to get going. See you tomorrow."
Raphael suddenly tugged on my arm, lifted his hand, and touched my head.
I instinctively ducked when his hand came up. An inexplicable fear surfaced inside me.
However, that fear was fleeting.
I quickly returned to normal, gave him a calm look, and headed out the door.