Araceli POV
I was in the middle of a meeting. Suddenly, my cell phone vibrated and the screen lit up.
"I'll be downstairs at your office in ten minutes."
Raphael texted.
I froze for a moment.
What was he doing coming to see me?
Soon another text came through.
"I promised Valeria I'd pick her up from school today."
I put my phone down and made my way back to my office after summarizing the meeting.
I cleaned up my desk and lifted my bag, ready to go downstairs and wait for Raphael.
That was when my cell phone vibrated.
It was Eliezer calling.
"Araceli, I heard that two men were outside your window last night trying to come in and kidnap Valeria and Krish. Is this true?"
I froze.
"Eliezer, how do you know this?"
"The men I arranged for today found a shell casing when they were weeding your yard."
Eliezer sighed and said, "Araceli, why don't you move back in with Grandma? It would be safer for you and the kids."
I frowned and said, "Does Grandma know about this?"
"No. I didn't tell her," Eliezer said after a moment, "Araceli, tell me honestly, were those two men in black sent by the Fleming family? I saw on the news earlier that you had cleared it up. Are they still pestering you?"
As I gathered my papers, I said, "It's true that Krish and Valeria have nothing to do with the the Fleming family. I've cleared this matter with Ramon. He shouldn't trouble me again in the future.Eliezer, don't worry. I will protect Krish and Valeria."
Eliezer sighed slightly, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Araceli, can I ask Krish and Valeria who their real father really is?"
I was silent.
I thought he guessed that I didn't want to talk about it and apologized, "I'm sorry, Araceli. It's your personal matter, and I really shouldn't have asked that..."
"Eliezer, I don't know how to explain this to you..."
I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the skyscrapers in a bit of a daze.
"I actually gave birth to four babies five years ago..."
Eliezer froze. It was as if I could feel his shock.
He was probably guessing where those other two kids were.
"I always thought the other two kids were long dead, but in the last few days I've realized they're still alive..."
My voice became low.
This was the first time I had ever told anyone else about these pasts.
At this moment, I felt at peace within myself, even more relaxed than before. I finally let go of my inner burdens and told the most unpleasant part of my past in the most plain language.
Eliezer didn't interrupt me and quietly listened to me.
"Eliezer, I've actually known my two children for a long time. They are very close to me and I can't help but want to meet them. I didn't understand why before, but I finally realize now that it's the bond of blood. No matter how far apart my children and I are, we are bound to meet again..."
The office was quiet, only my voice echoing.
"Krish and Valeria's real father is Raphael Lancaster.Krish went for a paternity test. I don't think it's possible to be wrong about the results. Krish would never lie to me."
I sighed slightly, "Eliezer, I know you're shocked. I am too. I don't want to come clean with Raphael about this just yet, so will you help me keep this a secret?"
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
After a long time, Eliezer said, "Of course, Araceli. i swear i'll keep your secret. It's been hard on you all these years. "
I hung up the phone and let out a long breath. Honestly, I felt a lot better inside...
I glanced at the time. It had been twenty minutes.
Hadn't Raphael come over yet?
I sent a message over, "How long until you get here?"
He didn't reply to me.
I frowned and sent another message over, "I have to go pick up Valeria and Krish. You don't have to come over."
I grabbed my bag and walked out of the office.
I went to daycare and picked up both kids. I was ready to go home, but I thought about it and decided to go to Royal Pack.
No matter what Raphael's mother did to me, I had to fulfill my promise to Essel.
As I thought about it and drove, I suddenly heard Krish ask, "Vallie, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling sick?"
I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Valeria's annoyed look.
It was rare for her to look like that.
"Valeria, are you okay?"
I asked softly as I slowed the car.
Valeria shook her head, softly. "I'm fine."
I frowned, always having an uneasy feeling.
Valeria paused and asked sweetly, "Mommy, where's Daddy?"
I smiled gently, "He had something come up, so he went home first. You'll see him later when we get back."
Valeria's furrowed brow slowly loosened.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Valeria had been recovering well for a while now, and was almost ready to communicate normally with people.
While she still doesn't talk much, she's willing to communicate with me and is slowly accepting new things.
These were signs that she was recovering.
Soon the car pulled up in front of the Royal Pack.
Maddox waited respectfully at the door. "Ms. Chancey, you are half an hour late today. I thought you wouldn't be coming."
I got out of the car with my two kids in tow and said, "I got a little delayed.Is Raphael's mother here?"
"Raphael's mother has gone to a charity dinner and isn't expected back until late."
Valeria opened her arms the moment she saw Maddox and asked Maddox to carry her inside.
Maddox, obviously a little flattered, immediately knelt down and picked Valeria up, looking at me again with some surprise.
I smiled, didn't say anything, and nodded.
"Vallie, Mommy!"
Essel rushed out of the cottage cheerfully and hugged my thigh, a little sadly, "Mommy, I was inexplicably worried about you guys today. I thought you guys weren't coming tonight."
I was about to comfort her with a few words when I suddenly paused.
Along the way, Valeria also looked very upset.
I looked down, to Krish. "Krish, do you have any uncomfortable feeling?"
Krish pursed his lips. "I feel a bit of tightness in my chest, Yes, I feel a bit uncomfortable."
Maddox held Valeria and said to me, "Ms. Chancey, Ms. Valeria's temperature seems a little higher than usual..."
I slowly clenched my fists.
All three of my children felt uneasy at the same time...
Could it be...
I raised my eyes. "Maddox, please call Micah and ask where he is now."