Araceli POV
Hospitals were perpetually filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.
Micah had a head injury that didn't require hospitalization and was bandaged up and picked up by Maddox and taken back to Royal Pack.
I was worried about Valeria and asked Krish to follow them back to Royal Pack.
Raphael watched me quietly, his eyes following me at all times.
I sat down and asked, "When did you find out about this?"
"Last night." Raphael's voice was a little raspy. "I heard you on the phone when I went to look for you at Creaty Company."
My lips pursed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Raphael said in a single word.
I lowered my eyes.
"I didn't take a paternity test to know if this was true, so I didn't tell you."
Raphael stared at me for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "You actually offered me to be your boyfriend just to get close to Micah and Essel, right? You already knew Ramon wasn't the father of the baby, but you favored this excuse to let my guard down. You were afraid I'd take custody of Krish and Valeria after you told me, weren't you?"
The buried secret was suddenly exposed.
I jerked my head up.
I gazed into Raphael's eyes and said, word for word, "That's right. I wanted to be your girlfriend because of Micah and Essel! They were my children! I owe them so much. But, Raphael, I don't owe you!"
All my pain and misery was given to me by Raphael.
Who the hell was he to question me about that?
The air grew stagnant. The temperature in the hospital room was getting lower and lower.
Raphael leaned against the bed, his gaze bland as he watched me.
His pupils reflected my silhouette.
"I'm sorry."
Raphael opened his lips and said slowly.
I pursed my lips.
I pushed down the emotions that welled up and was about to speak when Maddox knocked on the door.
"Ms. Chancey, Ms. Valeria is looking for you everywhere. You should hurry back."
I said in a faint voice, "I'll be heading back then."
I drove to Royal Pack.
It was two in the morning.
In the living room, Krish was sitting on the floor with Essel and Valeria playing with stacking blocks. In the past, Essel was all smiles, but today, she looked a little down.
As soon as I entered, Essel put down her blocks and walked over, her eyes suddenly accumulating a layer of tears.
"Mommy, is my daddy back?"
"Your daddy is fine."
I touched Essel's face. "He'll be back in a little while."
Essel sniffled and swallowed back the tears.
I whispered, "Where's Micah?"
Essel pointed upstairs.
I stroked Krish and Valeria's heads and walked upstairs.
I gently pushed open the bedroom door and sat down on the edge of the bed.
I couldn't help but reach out and touch Micah's face.
"Don't! Don't..."
Sleeping Micah suddenly murmured.
I held his hand and whispered, "Micah, don't be afraid. Mommy is here. Mommy won't let anyone hurt you..."
I bent down and kissed Micah on the forehead.
Micah was soothed and fell back into a deep sleep.
I left the room and gingerly made my way downstairs.
"Essel, it's getting late. We're going to head back for now. I'll come back and see you tomorrow, okay?"
Essel didn't make a fuss this time, but waved. "See you tomorrow, Mommy."
I smiled gently at Essel and got in the car. The car drove gently down the road.
Valeria was exhausted and fell asleep on Krish's lap. She wasn't sleeping peacefully and rolled over every now and then.
Krish's hand protects Vallie's head, fearing that Vallie will be hit.
He lifted his head and said in a low voice, "Mommy, is Mr. Lancaster really okay?"
I nodded.
"Mommy, what do you think?" Krish asked in a slow voice, "Mr. Lancaster is mine and Vallie's real father. and Essel and Micah are your real children too. Mommy, what do you want to do next?"
I looked at the road ahead of me, and confusion rarely surfaced in my eyes.
I rarely get lost, no matter what I have to do, I know exactly where I should go.
But now, I really didn't know what to do...
I said, "Krish, what about you? What do you think?"
"I..."
He lowered his eyes and said, "Mommy, I used to have some misunderstandings about Mr. Lancaster and that's why I didn't like the idea of you being with him, but now the misunderstandings are cleared. I think he's not a bad man either. Mommy, if you stay with him or get married and start a family, I will support you unconditionally no matter what choice you make."
Marry?
I froze. I hadn't really thought about it that much.
The only thing I was still thinking about was whether or not to remain Raphael's girlfriend.
...
The next day, I took the kids to Royal Pack.
"Wow, Araceli's here!" Royce stood up immediately.
Both of his eyes lit up at once. "My goodness, what a good looking little girl. Come on over here and let me give her a hug!"
I frowned and before I could say anything, I heard Raphael coldly say, "Royce, get out."
Maddox hurriedly ushered Royce out.
Raphael's gaze fell first on Krish's face and then to Valeria.
"Valeria, come to daddy."
Raphael beckoned.
Valeria let go of my hand and walked towards him.
Raphael raised his hand and said in a slow voice, "Krish, come here."
Krish pursed his lips and walked over slowly, calling down, "Mr. Lancaster."
Raphael's eyebrows rose. "Mr. Lancaster, didn't your mommy teach you what you're supposed to call me?"
Krish's lips pursed and his hands clenched into fists.
He was silent and didn't speak.
Essel grunted and said, "You're supposed to call Daddy. My daddy is your daddy. How are you not even as smart as me?"
Krish silently gave Essel a blank stare.
This was something Krish knew about already, but he still wasn't reluctant to open his mouth and call Raphael daddy.
"Krish, Essel is right. You should call me daddy."
Raphael lifted his hand and stroked Krish's hair, pulling him along with him. "My negligence has left you and Valeria without a father's protection and affection, but none of that will happen again. I will protect you all from now on."
I hadn't slept a wink last night.
As soon as I saw Raphael, my emotions were very complicated, but seeing a couple of children looking so adorable quietly eased a lot of those pent-up feelings in my heart.
I squatted down, stroked Krish's hair, and said, "Krish, he is indeed your daddy. Call him daddy."
A father's love is an indispensable force in a child's growth.
Krish is dull and too heavy-hearted. If a father's love was involved in his growth, Krish might have become a carefree boy too.
Kris pursed his lips at my words, walked over, and whispered to Raphael, "Daddy."
Raphael smiles, "Krish, here's my present for you."
He took a file out of the bedside cabinet and handed it over.
Krish took it suspiciously and flipped it open to read it.
"You're giving me a company as a gift?"
"I told you, what Micah and Essel have, you'll have."
Raphael said calmly, "I'll set you up with an assistant. Just instruct your assistant if you need anything."
I heard Raphael and walked over.
I glanced at the papers. Just by looking at the name of the company, I could tell that it was an internet company that deals with software technology. How is this kind of company suitable for a child?
Krish is just over five years old. I just want Krish to grow up carefree. Let's wait until Krish is eighteen to manage a company.
I was about to speak when Micah, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.
He said, "So, can I, too, call Ms. Chancey 'Mommy'?"
As soon as he said this, the tips of his ears suddenly reddened, then he averted his gaze in embarrassment.
I crouched down and met Micah's gaze squarely, smiling gently, "Of course you can call me Mommy. I am your mommy."
Micah's eyes suddenly glazed over.
He flung himself into my arms and whispered, "Mommy..."
I hugged him and my heart was all content.
I just wanted all four of my children to be healthy. There would be nothing lacking in my life.
"Mommy, I want a hug too!"
Essel also came over and burrowed into my arms.
Valeria, unsure, also ran over on her legs and climbed onto my back.
Krish came over helplessly to help, propped up Valeria's hindquarters, carried her, and climbed onto my back.
All four kids gathered around me.
Raphael looked at me with some envy in his eyes. He coughed twice as hard as he could, but unfortunately, the four kids were making so much noise that they didn't even hear him.
"Essel, stop hooking my neck. Krish, carry Vallie down. Micah, go and stand on the side..."
A couple kids finally let go.
I finally got a breath of fresh air.