Araceli POV
I had to leave to go to daycare to pick up my kids.
Krish came out holding Valeria's hand. Luckily, Ramon didn't come this time.
I breathed a small sigh of relief.
The car drove smoothly and soon arrived in front of the house.
I pushed open the car door and got out, taking Krish and Valeria's hands.
"Ms. Chancey, you're finally home!"
A soft voice sounded behind me.
I turned around to see a little girl in a cowboy outfit and a duck-top hat darting toward me and jumping into my arms.
It was Essel.
"Essel, what are you doing here?"
Essel hugged me and said sullenly, "Ms. Chancey, I'm starving. I want to eat the sandwich you made..."
I knelt down and asked her, "You didn't sneak out this time, did you?"
"I didn't!" Essel shook her head frantically. "I told Daddy and he agreed before I came over!"
I smiled and nodded my head. It seems Essel remembered me saying that if she ever sneaks out of the house again, I would never see her again.
At that moment, a young bouncer in his mid-twenties approached. "Ms. Chancey, I'm Ms. Essel's personal bodyguard. My name is Trent Gervis, and Mr. Lancaster ordered me to escort Ms. Essel here and take her home in about an hour."
I was relieved. "Okay, then let's go inside first."
I pushed the door open, led the kids in, and said, "Krish, you play with Valeria and Essel in the living room for a while. Dinner will be ready soon."
Krish pursed his lips and nodded gently.
I rubbed his head, but when I turned my head, I noticed that something seemed off about Valeria.
There was coldness on Valeria's pretty face.
Valeria even frowned slightly every time Essel came close to her.
Only, Essel did not notice it at all.
"Wow, Valeria, is this the toy you usually play with? This kind of puzzle looks so hard. I don't even know how to play it..."
Essel took the puzzle, held it up to the light, and looked at it carefully.
I didn't think much of it, carried the bag, and walked to the kitchen.
While I cooked, I looked at the living room from time to time.
The three children were sitting on the mat playing with the puzzle, looking cozy.
Dinner was soon ready.
Trent was standing in the yard keeping watch. I asked him to come in and eat with us, but he just shook his head.
I knew the Royal Pack had rules, so I didn't try to persuade him.
I sat down with the three kids.
"Wow, this smells awesome! Ms. Chancey, the food you make is super delicious!"
Essel took a deep breath on purpose and looked excited.
I laughed, "Let's eat."
"Thank you, Ms. Chancey!"
Essel picked up her chopsticks and eagerly took a chicken wing.
As she ate, she said vaguely, "Ms. Chancey, this chicken wing is so delicious! I've never had such good chicken wings!"
Valeria didn't say anything and kept on eating.
While Essel was talking, Valeria had already eaten two chicken wings.
Krish gave me one, so I also started eating.
I felt happy watching the three kids eat.
Just as we finished eating, Trent pushed in the door. "Ms. Essel, it's time for an hour. We have to go back."
Essel's originally happy mood instantly became gloomy. She pouted and said, "I don't want to go back... Just the last ten minutes... I'll play for another ten minutes..."
Trent sighed slightly and said, "Fine. Ms. Essel, you have to come home with me in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later.
"Trent, we'll go back as soon as I finish this!"
Essel was lying on the mat, frowning and very serious.
Trent said anxiously, "Ms. Essel, Mr. Lancaster said..."
I was in the kitchen washing dishes. After hearing this, I shook my head, wiped my hands, walked out and said patiently, "Essel, since you made a deal with your daddy, you have to keep it. Otherwise, next time your daddy will definitely not let you come here again."
Essel lifted her head and looked at me.
"Ms. Chancey... I want to stay with you a little longer..."
My heart softened, and I was about to say something when I saw a bright light come on in the yard.
A car drove in.
Essel glanced at the door and her face turned pale with fear.
She jumped into my arms and said nervously, "Ms. Chancey, it's Daddy! He's coming to take me back!"
I raised my wrist, glanced at my watch, and frowned slightly.
The villa's doorbell rang. I had to walk over and open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Raphael's face came into my line of sight.
The air was cold in the late autumn night, and Raphael's body carried the chill of the night.
He stared at me without speaking. My face turned slightly red.
I coughed twice and gestured for him to come in.
He stood on the porch for a moment and stepped in.
Essel said nervously, "Daddy, I was just getting ready to go home, and here you are..."
Raphael said calmly, "If I hadn't come, you would have been here for at least a few more hours."
Essel spat out her tongue. "I'm sorry, Daddy."
I shook my head and said, "Mr. Lancaster, I'm the one who left Essel to stay a little longer..."
Raphael glanced at Valeria, who was sitting on the cushion.
Valeria was also looking at him. After she saw Raphael's gaze, she immediately took a doll rabbit, ran over, and stuffed the rabbit into his hand.
He squatted down, and there was more tenderness in his cold eyes.
"Valeria, have you been well lately?"
Raphael looked at Valeria tenderly.
Valeria whispered, "Daddy."
I froze.
I didn't know why, but I felt a little touched.
"Valeria, this is 'Mr. Lancaster', not 'Daddy'."
I knelt down and said to Valeria.
"Ms. Chancey, it's fine!" Essel blinked her big eyes and smiled, "Valeria and I are best friends, so my daddy is Valeria's daddy. Ms. Chancey, you are Valeria's mommy, so can you be my mommy?"
Valeria's face then suddenly went cold. She looked at Essel, turned around, and ran upstairs.
Essel hurriedly said, "Valeria! Where are you going?"
I said with some embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Mr. Lancaster, Valeria should have heard Essel call you that and that's why she called you 'Daddy'. I'm sorry, I would never let that happen again..."
Raphael said calmly, "It's okay. I understand."
I said slowly, "Thank you, Mr. Lancaster. I'll talk to Valeria again."
"Buzz..."
The vibrating sound of a cell phone came.
Raphael pulled the phone out of his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID and smiled.
I was close to him, so I saw the caller ID on the phone's screen.
It was "Kenneth Easton".