CHAPTER 49: Finally Home
DARREN’s P.O.V.
I looked at Claire, who is now nervously staring at her reflection on the mirror. I almost laugh as she trembles when my hands touches her shoulders.
“Hey...” I greeted her, trying to suppress my laughter.
“You startled me!” she complained.
“Sorry, wife. Just, don’t be nervous, okay? Dad will be the one who supposed to be surprised so please, stop worrying now,” I assured her.
“Okay... I just... What if... What if he doesn’t like Cloey? Or what if... He’ll be mad because you didn’t come home for over half a year here...”
“That wouldn’t happen. Everyone loves Cloey. And hey, I promised to him never to come back here if I still haven’t got you yet... So I’m sure he will be glad to see you... With a bonus, of course. A grandchild he’s been waiting for.”
“Okay, okay. I can do this,” she smiled towards me.
“Of course you can.”
I smiled when she took a deep breath before glancing towards my direction again.
“I know you’re here with me so I’ll try not to worry anymore.”
“Well that’s the spirit. Come on now, Claire. Let’s meet my Dad.”
She nodded, before I reached out towards her hand to intertwine our fingers. We walk towards the exit of our home before hopping into my car.
“I don’t want to give Dad a heart attack so let us just take this slowly,” I stated, hoping for Claire’s consideration.
“Sure. Of course. And how about Elijah?”
“Right. I wanted to see him too. The last time we talk to each other, he told me that he’s still teaching at your previous workplace. Do you want to go there before we meet Dad?”
“If it’s okay with you, then why not?” she stated, flashing a sweet smile towards me.
“Let’s go then.”
We drove to their school, thinking what Elijah’s reaction is going to be. I hope he wouldn’t be too surprised because I’m saving my laughter for my Dad’s reaction. I saw how Claire giggled as if she is thinking the same thing too.
Thirty minutes passed by before we finally reached our destination. We are currently staying in a fancy hotel nearby because I don’t want my Dad to know that we are already back. I wanted it to be a surprise. Thankfully, the hotel is just an hour away from home. We left Cloey to my most entrusted men and I asked them to bring her later to meet her grandpa.
“We are here... Nothing changed. The ambience of this place is still the same. I hope some of my students are still here.”
“Let’s go and meet my best friend.”
Claire nodded as a response before I opened the car door for her. She hopped down and hand by hand, we enter into the school premises. Thankfully, their security wasn’t that strict when it comes to visitors. And also, he knew that Claire previously work in here so he let us passed by that easily.
“Teacher Elijah is there!” Claire pointed out, delighted to see him again same as me.
“Elij!” I half-shouted.
He turned his gaze upon us, before his eyes widen in disbelief. He looked so surprised, before running towards our direction. Claire laughed, and I did the same. I couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Darren?! God! Is it really you?! And Claire!”
Elijah looked so stunned that he didn’t know what to do. I just walk towards him to give him a hug.
“Stop that reaction of yours. You look like an idiot,” I whispered.
He chuckled, before punching me in the shoulder.
“I can’t believe it! And Claire!”
My wife gave him a hug as well, but he’s still stunned like he just saw a ghost from the past.
“Surprised to see my wife, huh?”
“Your what? You are married now?! How did you... How come?!” he asked, confused.
“Darren found me. And I’m very thankful for that,” Claire stated, suppressing her laughter at Elijah’s reaction.
“We should hangout soon! You have a lot of explaining to do, bro. Look at you! I can’t believe it. How did you find each other?!”
“I’ll tell you about it sooner or later. For now, let us meet my Dad first.”
“What?! Mr. Herrera didn’t know too?”
I chuckled before nodding.
“This is insane!” He smiled, almost turning it into a laughter of disbelief.
“Yes. We just came here to see you. We missed you so much, Lij. I promised we will catch up later after we meet Dad,” I promised.
“Sure, sure! Just call me anytime! I’m more than willing to take a leave from work just to hear your stories!”
Claire laughed once more.
“Okay then. We need to go now... And bro?”
“Yes?”
“Start saving your energy. You will need a lots of them when you meet my daughter,” I stated before giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
He couldn’t answer for a moment after I said those words. Claire waved at him as a sign of farewell before we walked back towards my car. We left him there, his mouth is still hanging open.
“Bye, Elij!” Claire waved at him and I did the same.
“What the?! You two have a child?!” he exclaimed from afar, making us share another laughter.
We hopped inside of my car before driving towards Herrera Corp. When we arrived, I parked my car on the nearest possible area to our building’s entrance.
“Now it’s time to surprise Dad.”
“Geez. I’m nervous. Though I still couldn’t forget Elijah’s reaction.”
“Dad will probably have the same reaction as well,” I stated, half chuckling.
She took a deep breath without responding. I smiled, looking at her nervous face.
“Don’t worry, wife. I’m here.”
We walk towards the entrance, and people began to look so shocked as they see me finally back with my wife by my side. They are all gasping, and Claire wasn’t loving the attention so far.
“Hey, lift your head, baby. God knows how proud I am to show to our employees the face of my beautiful wife.”
Claire smiled before she did what I told her to do. We just used the private elevator so that we can avoid the rumors to spread like a wildfire before we even surprise Dad. After a few minutes or so, we just found ourselves standing in front of my Dad’s office. His doors were still closed and I couldn’t wait to barge in just to see his reaction.
“Okay, I’ll go first. I don’t want to give him too much shock. Just wait here, okay? And please don’t mind the people.”
Claire simply nodded before I gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. I slowly opened the door, entered, before closing it again.
“Hey, Dad,” I casually greeted him.
“Darren?!”
He stood up to give me a hug. I return the favor and gave him a tighter embrace, before chuckling.
“Oh, son! You’re finally here! How are you? Have you eaten lunch yet? Why didn’t you tell me that you’re coming home? When did you arrived?” He asked those series of questions making me laugh.
“I’m fine, Dad. Everything went well. Though I haven’t ate anything for lunch yet.”
“Do you want us to have lunch first?”
“If you are free, then why not?”
“I’m always free for you, son. Now let me call my secretary to cancel all my appointments today.”
“Sure. But before anything else, Dad, I want you to know that I already fulfilled my promise.”
“What do you mean, Darren?”
“I finally be able to brought my wife back home. I married her. And it’s for real, this time.”
I opened the door, revealing Claire looking anxious. Dad blinked several times, trying to process what he’d just heard and saw.
“Claire? Is that really you?” he asked unbelievably.
“Y-yes, Mr. Herrera. I-it’s me.”
“Congratulations, son!”
He gladly gave me another embrace before he offered his hand to Claire for a shake. My wife took it, before smiling at him.
“I can’t believe it! My son found you! Let us definitely make call for a celebration!”
“If you want to, Dad. But please take us out for lunch first,” I stated.
“Sure, sure.” He laughed.
He called his secretary before he motioned us towards the parking lot. We used our limousine to get to the nearest, yet fanciest family restaurant in town. That’s when I texted my men to brought Cloey on the same address.
We arrived at the restaurant, got our seats and ordered something to eat.
“I’m so excited for another wedding to prepare!” Dad stated, making us laugh. “I know you two are finally married now but I wanted to witnessed it too. That’s why I’m going to organized the grandest wedding of the year!”
“Whatever that makes you happy, Mr. Herrera,” Claire said.
“You can call me Dad, Claire. I’m very thankful that you gave my son another chance.”
“Of course she will. And we have another surprise for you, Dad,” I announced.
“What is it?” he asked curiously, excitement was visible in his voice’s tone.
I nodded to Claire as a signal. She stood up, before walking outside of the fancy restaurant. Dad looked so confused, but his brows furrowed even more when he realized what is happening right now. As Claire entered in the scenario again, she is now carrying a child in her arms. Cloey instantly beamed when she saw me. Dad was still stunned before I say another word towards him.
“Dad, meet Cloey Braganza Herrera. Our daughter and your grandchild.”
