Chapter 20

Maria's  ( P. O. V. )

Five Months Later

Its been a few months and Jason and I haven't spoke but we see each other from time to time, its like every time I tell him something or reveal some truth to him he distances himself from me, but later he comes back and asks me questions about my life like his my husband, Isabella and I have been so distant lately after the argument we had five months ago about me getting married.

I feel so sad...

Isabella's still mad at me, she does talk to me don't get me wrong but she doesn't tell me everything like before, I feel like our relationship has fallen apart just because of Jason.

Jason and Isabella are still close to each other, whenever she comes to the hotel which is every day, while I'm attending to guest they are busy talking and laughing, sometimes I mean, I always feel jealous of them, she's grown so close to Jason not knowing that he is her father, sometimes I wish I never met Jason, I sometimes wish Jason and I never slept together, but if I never slept with him I would have never gave birth to a wonderful daughter like Isabella, I don't regret giving birth to her, she's my pride and joy, I love her with all of my heart, but it hurts that she is so distant with me.

But anyways, right now I'm at work it's 12:40 my last twenty minute shift before I change shifts, I'm in room 1004 on the 10th floor. I'm finally finished cleaning the room, I walked out of the room with my cart following behind, I turned to see Carla walking towards me, I smiled realizing that Isabella is back from school.

"Hey, Carla." I greeted, walking towards her.

"Hello, Maria." she responded, finally standing in front of me.

"Is Isabella here with you?" I asked with a smile on my face.

I want to see my daughter, I don't know why I feel this excited to see Isabella, I saw here this morning, but I feel like seeing her right now, I feel as if something is wrong with her, I don't know why I feel this way, one minute I feel excited the next minute I feel like something is wrong.

"Isabella? I thought she was with you." she stated, her brow furrowed.

"With me, how come, you the only one that goes to fetch her after school, she should be with you." I replied, the pace of my heartbeat quickened.

"Well, yes I did go fetch her at  school, but the security guard said that she left, they was a fight at school and after that fight she escaped, she ran away from school." Carla revealed, with a worried expression on her face.

"A fight but why didn't they call me?" I asked.

"They said they did, but you didn't answer your phone." she explained.

I ran my hands through my hair.

"Oh, shit I don't have my phone here, I think I left it in my locker." I responded, checking my pockets for my phone.

"Where do you think Isabella could be?" Carla asked.

"I don't know, she and I haven't been on good terms lately, she's close with..." I trailed off.

"Jason!" we both blurted out in unison, could she be with Jason, did she run away from school and go see him.

"I think she could be with him, where do you think he could be?" she asked.

"I know his still in the hotel, let's go to his room, maybe she could be with him in there." I suggested, she nodded her head in response, we quickly walked towards the elevator, after a while we reached his room and stood outside his door.

I feel so nervous....

"Knock?" Carla instructed, pointing to the door.

I knocked and the door immediately opened.

"Maria, what are you doing here, aren't you suppose to be in the reception area?" Jason questioned, his hand on the door.

"Do you know where Isabella is, is she with you by any chance?" I asked not bothering to answer his question.

"No, why would she be here, we always meet each other at the reception area, why are you asking?" he replied, I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

"She's gone missing, she ran away from school without letting anyone know where she is, I thought she must have came to see you, since you too are so close." I explained.

"No, she isn't here the last time we spoke was yesterday, why would she run away from school?" he inquired.

"I don't know why, she and I are not that close anymore." I answered, feeling so guilty.

"Oh Geez, maybe that's why she ran away from school, maybe because she was mad at you or something." he implied.

"Jason, maybe you right but I came here to ask you if you know of any place Isabella could have went to, I'm really worried about her, she's only six years old, I'm scared something will happen to her, please help me find her, please Jason." I begged, helplessly.

"Okay, I'll help you, but I don't know of any place she might have ran off to, but I'll help you find her, I'll go change quickly then we'll go, wait here." he responded, going back inside his room.

I turned to Carla.

"He didn't even think twice, he quickly accepted to help you find Isabella, you have to tell him that Isabella's his daughter, you can't keep lying to him, he deserves to know the truth, his still so kind to you after you told him all those unbelievable lies, how can you just let him think that you a slut, don't you feel even a little bad for him, you say you love him but you lie to him, I know you hurt that he cheated on you, but that was in the past, why are you making him suffer for a mistake that he caused drunkenly." Carla voiced out.

"Carla, I know you trying to help me, but I know what I'm doing, Jason doesn't need to know that Isabella's his daughter." I replied feeling no remorse for Jason he has hurt me tremendously, I'm not gonna let him know that Isabella's his daughter I don't care if that hurts him.

"I'm giving you the best advice as a friend, but I won't force you to take my advice it's your life you can do whatever you want." she commented.

"Okay, I'm ready let's go." Jason acknowledged, interrupting Carla and I's conversation.

"Okay, let's go." I agreed, not wanting to waste anytime talking.

"I'll wait here just in case she comes." Carla suggested, I just nodded my head in response, Jason and I walked away and  took the elevator, it quickly stop at the ground floor, we quickly walked to the parking lot and got inside his car, I sat in the passenger sit while he sat in the drivers sit.

"Where should we start looking for her?" Jason asked his hands on the stirring wheel.

"Let's first go to her school and ask around maybe she could be around there." I suggested.

"Okay, but what's the name of her school?" he asked his eyes on me awaiting my answer.

"Dwight school, in 291 central park west." I replied.

"Okay, put your seatbelt on." he instructed.

I nodded and did what I was told, he started driving, he drove out of the parking lot. He drove in silence, both of us not saying anything to each other, I hope we find Isabella, I would never forgive myself if anything happens to her, she's my life my everything, her happiness is my happiness, I can't live without her.

30 minutes later

We finally reached Isabella's school, Jason and I immediately got out the car.

"I'll go ask if they know where she might possibly be." I told Jason and he nodded.

"I'll wait here for you." he responded.

I nodded and walked to the school gate, I pressed the red button on the wall and a man dressed in a security guards outfit walked to the gate.

"Hello how may I help?" he asked his eyes looking at me up and down.

"Uhm, do you know where Isabella Rodriguez went to, a friend of mine came here to fetch her and she told me that they informed her, she ran away from school after a fight." I narrated, hoping he knows where she might be.

"Yes, she's right, Isabella was in a fight and she ran away from here by climbing a fence, we called her mom but she didn't answer her phone." he replied.

"I'm her mom, I received your phone call but at the time I didn't have my phone with me, but do you know where she could be." I asked.

"No, all I know is that she ran that way, maybe she's at the park or something." he replied pointing to the right, the alley going towards Central park.

"Okay, I'll go check if she could be there thank you so much." I answered.

"You welcome, I hope you find her." he replied.

"I hope so too, thank again, bye." I smiled.

"You welcome, bye." he waved, I walked to Jason's car, he stood leaning on his car.

"What happened?" he asked straightening up.

"The security guard said that she fought with someone and then ran away by climbing a fence, he suggested that we look for her at Central park." I informed.

"Fighting then climbing a fence, I think the security guard is exaggerating, Isabella would never do that, she's playful and naughty but that's just being ratchet." Jason responded, shaking his head in disbelief.

It's so amazing how he and Isabella just met a few months ago but they know each other so well, Carla's words popped in my head. "the bond of a father and a daughter can never be broken." I feel so angry at myself, even though I separated them from each other they somehow seem to come back to each other like lost lovers, their connection has strengthened from the past few days, she always wants to see him and the same goes for him, I don't think they'll ever stop loving each other.

"I think so too, but let's go to Central park and look for her, I don't care if his exaggerating all I care about is finding Isabella." I replied, trying my hardest to not break down in tears.

"Okay, but it's my first time in New York so you need to guide me to Central park." he pointed out, going inside the car and I followed behind him.

I stepped inside the car also and sat down.

"Jason you have a GPS, you don't need me." I implied, pointing to the GPS next to him.

He rolled his eyes.

"Smarty pants." he remarked, with a pout and starting the engine.

For the first time in a long time I laughed my head off, he turned to look at me.

"Why are you laughing what's funny?" he asked his brow furrowed.

I continued laughing hitting my thigh.

"You are such a drama king." I pointed out, laying a hand on my chest to hold in my laughter.

"Drama king, Maria I think something's really wrong with you, what are you talking about?" he questioned, confusion written all over his face.

"Okay, listen, I was laughing because..." I trailed off.

"Because..." he mimicked my voice making me laugh again.

"Jason just focus on the road, don't look at me, please." I spoke in between laughs.

"Okay." he simply replied.

"I was laughing because of your expression when I said you had a GPS, you didn't need me, you had a boyish expression on your face." I explained, trying to control my laughter.

He smiled.

"Oh, that's why you were laughing like a hyena." he remarked, side glancing me.

"What? I wasn't laughing like a hyena, you just pulling my leg." I replied pinching his arms.

"Ow, that hurt you know." he hissed rubbing his arm.

"Shut up and drive." I stated, it feels like old times when Jason and I would go out and we would crack jokes while he drove us to our destination, I missed the old times when Jason, Carla, Lola, Adam, Ben and I would go out clubbing, or just having fun in Jason's house playing hide and seek, even though we were teenagers then...we still acted like kids.

20 minutes later

We finally reached Central park, Jason and I got out of the car.

"I'll go this way and you go that way." Jason ordered pointing left and right.

I nodded.

"I'll yell if I find her." I suggested.

"I'll also do the same." he replied and we both parted ways, he went to the left side of the park while I went to the right side.

I looked around praying to the heavens that I find her, I continued looking around the park growing anxious, I can't find her anywhere.

I walked, looking around trying to find her in every corner, I bumped into a hard chest, I looked up and saw the worried look on Jason's face.

"Did you find her?" I asked, hoping he did.

He just shook his head in response, I felt like my heart was about to break in two, the tears welled up in my eyes, has flashes of Isabella's childhood came to mind, the first time I saw her pretty face, the first time she drank from my breasts, the first time she cried, the first time she giggled, the first time she crawled, her first words, her first steps, her first day of school, all of the memories came flooding in my mind like a hurricane, I felt a huge lump forming in my throat, I couldn't speak all I could do was cry, cry my eyes out, all I could do was let out all my pain through tears, long hard tears.

Jason rubbed my back soothingly, I wrapped my arms around him.

"Jason I feel so helpless, I don't know where my daughter is." I cried, tears streaming down my face like a river.

"Maria, please don't worry, we'll find Isabella I promise. I'm here nothing will happen to her, I'm here I'll help you find her, please don't lose hope." he encouraged, rubbing my back soothingly. I cried on his shoulder, his so supportive, not knowing that Isabella's his daughter, I can't hold this secret anymore it's eating me up inside, I can't keep lying to him anymore.

"I wanna tell you some thing I need to tell you the truth, you deserve to know the truth, it's unfair for me to keep lying to you." I spoke pulling away from our embrace, trying to hold in my tears.

"What are you talking about Maria, just forget about that, all we need to focus on is Isabella, you can tell me whatever you want later on, Isabella's my top priority now." he stated. concern written all over his face.

"No, Jason I need to tell you this now, or I'll regret it for the rest of my life, please listen to what I have to say, please." I pleaded, hoping he'll let me speak.

"Maria, what do you have to tell me that's more important then Isabella's safety, what's so important that it can't wait till-" I cut him off.

"Isabella's your daughter!" I yelled, looking at him dead straight in the eye.

"What!" he voiced out his expression emotionless.

"You are Isabella's biological father, she's your daughter, she's the fruit of the love we once shared." I confessed.

He ran his hands through his hair.

"No, you lying, she's Jonathan's daughter!" he yelled.

"Jason I'm telling you the honest truth, Isabella is your daughter, Jonathan is not her father I lied to you, please believe me, I'm so sorry for lying to you." I apologised.

"Are you being serious right now, now is the time you tell me that Isabella's my daughter, I've been here for 6 months, but you never said a thing only now that Isabella has gone missing, that's when you tell me, I can't believe you." he expressed.

"Jason, I'm really sorry, I-" he cut me off.

"I don't wanna hear it, all I care about right now is my daughter, all I want to do is find her and make sure she's safe." he responded and walked away not even waiting for me to replied to his remark.

"Jason, listen!" I yelled out to him hoping he'll stop and listen, or at least let me explain to him why I did what I did.

"Isabella, princess, where are you?!" he yelled out to his daughter totally ignoring my call out for him.

I followed after his footsteps, I decided that I would speak to him after we find Isabella, for now our top priority is our daughter, we can both agree on that.

"Isabella, where are you!" I yelled walking around the place looking for any where she could be, because this is the only place that she loves the most and it's also closest to her school, maybe this is as far has she could go in walking distance.

We walked around tirelessly looking for her, we actually walked around this big park for 10 minutes, yelling her name.

"Isabella, where are yo- Isabella!" Jason yelled turning to look at the opposite direction. I turned to look at where his  looking at, Isabella, we actually found our daughter, the tears were streaming down my cheeks rapidly.

I immediately ran towards her, I didn't notice how sad and distraught she seem, she hugged her knees, her face buried between them, I knelt down in front of her, she didn't even look up at us when we called out to her.

What's wrong with my daughter??

I hope nothing bad happened because I would never forgive myself if she was hurt in any way.

"Isabella, honey what's wrong?" I asked rubbing her knees.

She lifted her head up to look at me, her eyes looked red and puffy indicating that she was crying, my heart broke at the sight and the expression on her face.

"Isabella, princess, why did you leave school and why where you fighting, I don't understand, please tell me what's going on." I questioned, on the verge of tears.

"Isabella, look at me princess, it's me your friend, your best friend remember, please tell us what's going on, what happened at school, I promise we won't judge you or scold you, I promise and you know that I always keep my promises." Jason stated, staring at Isabella with a worried expression on his face.

She stood up and walked towards Jason embracing him in a warm hug, I felt my insides break, she went to hug her friend, her dad, she basically choose her dad over me, me her own Mother, he wasn't here when she was born, he was with Rebecca rolling in the sheets maybe you never know with Jason he is so unpredictable, him just being in New York is unpredictable, I just can't believe it.

I stood up and watched them hug like long lost lovers.

"Princess are you okay?" I asked walking towards them and soothingly caressing her hair.

She pulled away from they embrace and look at me.

"Mummy, I'm so sorry for being a naughty girl at school, I didn't mean to, I got really angry, I'm so sorry Mommy." she cried walking over to me and embracing me in a bear hug, causing tears to well up in my eyes, I looked up to blink the tears away.

"Princess, please don't cry you know I hate seeing you cry, it breaks my heart." I confessed, pulling away from our hug, I wiped the tears on her face and she also wiped the tears on my face, I kissed her cheek.

"Maria, Isabella came let's go inside my car I'll drop you off at the hotel." Jason spoke breaking the silence that erupted between my daughter and I.

We both nodded not wanting to say any more, we followed his led, Isabella's hand in mine, Jason held Isabella's hand as well, I held her right hand while Jason held her left hand, if anybody walked by they'd think we were a family, a happy family, but we're not, Isabella's my daughter. Jason does know that Isabella's his daughter, but I won't let him be with her, he has another child with my nemesis, I won't let him leave his other child alone because of Isabella, Isabella doesn't know that Jason's her father so she won't be hurt if he leaves or if I don't let them see each other.

We reached his car and he opened the door for Isabella and I, we entered his car and I sat with Isabella in the back sit, Jason rolled down the windows for her and  started the engine of his car, while he was driving he would occasionally glance at Isabella and I, I turned to look at Isabella and she had a big smile on her face has the wind blew through her hair, she looked so happy and content.

"Isabella princess, please tell me what happened at school today, why did you run away from school like that, what happened please tell me, I'm your Mother I hate seeing you in trouble." I asked worried out of my mind, I don't wanna spoil the little happiness she had just by looking out the window, but I really wanna know what happened, she's my daughter if anything were to happen to her I'd die.

"Mommy..." she began taking a deep breath and continued. "Mom, Jennifer started it, I was sitting with my friends during lunch time when she came towards our table with her squad of friends and she suddenly started laughing out of the blue, when she stopped laughing she stood in front of me, she started speaking and she said that you are a hoe, you sleep with lots of men that's why you don't know who my father is, Mommy she said I'm a bastard child, that you didn't want me, she said you felt sorry for me that's why you gave birth to me, she also said that another reason why you didn't abort me was because you were afraid of going to jail, Mommy I couldn't leave her like that, I was angry that she could say such terrible things about you, I couldn't just let her go like that, so I stood up and pushed her, she dramatically fall to the ground and started screaming and crying hysterically, everyone gathering around us, she got up and slapped me across both my cheeks." Isabella narrated, I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, I wrapped my arms around her in a warm embrace, she defended me, she fought for my dignity for my respect, she had grown without her father for six years but she has never not even once asked me who her father is, she respected my decision to not tell her, its all because of me she's having trouble at school, it's all because of me, I failed her, I was never able to really make her happy, I cried on her shoulder.

"Mommy, please don't cry, I'm really sorry for fighting at school, I didn't mean too, I just couldn't stand there and let her disrespect you like that, I don't care about what she said about me, all I care about is what she said about you mommy, I'm so sorry if I disappointed you in anyway, I'm really sorry." Isabella cried out on my shoulder, the both of us crying on each others shoulders.

Jennifer has always been bullying Isabella since she was in the first grade, I told the principal about her and she told me that she was gonna do something but Isabella always comes back home with stories about what she does to her at school, I sometimes am so tired of living, I just can't take this much stress I feel suffocated, I'm trying my hardest to get her out of that  school and into the child Genius school, but the money for it is the only problem, I don't care about what that little girl said about me, she could be my daughter, she's only a year older then Isabella, but she acts like a spoilt little brat, I'll have to do whatever it takes to get Isabella out of that school.

I rubbed her back soothingly, I pulled away from our embrace, I looked into her eyes.

"Why did you go to the park, because it was  near your school or is there another reason why you went straight to Central park." I inquired, wiping her teary face and she did the same to me.

"Yes it was the near to my school, I didn't feel like walking a long distance and the other reason was because I thought my dad would be there, I always had dreams where my dad would take me to the park and we would play hide and seek and run around the park, but when I went there mommy, he wasn't there, I looked for him everywhere but I couldn't find him." she confessed, tears streaming down her cheeks rapidly, I never thought my decision would hurt her this badly, she cried and I wrapped my arms around her again, I felt the tears stinging my eyes.

"Princess did you see your father's face in your dreams?" I asked, if she did she knows that Jason's her father.

"No, I didn't see his face, I thought I would finally meet him today, but he didn't show up, mummy please tell me who my dad is, I promise I won't be mad, I promise mommy." she cried out, I've never seen her cry this much, this is a side of Isabella I hardly see.

I pulled away from our embrace again and wiped her tears, I kissed her cheek, I don't know what to say, I brought her to my lap, my silence made her cry even more, her head on my chest she wrapped her arms around my waist, while she cried on my chest her tears staining my maids attire, I can't believe I actually left the hotel with my maids attire.

I glanced at Jason, I could see he's holding in his tears, his hands were clutching the stirring wheel tightly, I felt the tension between us through his stare, his mad at me, I know it.

Her cries quieten down, I rubbed her back soothingly, I glanced at her and her eyes were closed.

"I think she's asleep." I pointed out to Jason, he looked at me then at Isabella.

"We'll reach the hotel soon." he simply replied and I nodded.

"I'm not asleep." I head Isabella's soft voice speak, I looked down at her and smiled, I wiped her teary face.

"We'll reach the hotel soon, princess." I stated, she nodded and closed her eyes again, I rubbed her back and whispered sweet nothings in her ear, I hope she can forgive me one day because I can't tell her that Jason's her dad, I need to convince Jason to not tell her also, I hope he pays heed to my words.

30 minutes later

We reached the hotel and I slowly shook Isabella to wake her up, I looked at Jason he stopped the engine and got out of the car, he opened the back sit door for us.

"Let me carry her." he suggested.

I nodded and handed Isabella to him, I got out the car and straightened my outfit, I opened my arms, Jason gave Isabella back to me, he closed the door and kissed Isabella's cheek.

"See you later, princess." he whispered near her ear and stared at me for a while and he went back inside his car, I walked inside the hotel and went straight to the maids room, I saw Carla there sitting on the bench with her phone in her hand.

"Hey Carla." I greeted, trying to catch her attention, she looked up at me with a smile across her face once she saw Isabella in my arms.

"You found her, how is she, is she okay?" she bombarded me with questions. I just simply smiled at her concerned expression.

"She's okay, she's just tired, will you please take care of her for a while, I need to talk to Jason." I asked hoping she would not ask any questions.

"Talk to Jason for what, what happened when you two went to find Isabella?" she questioned curiously, why would I think she wouldn't ask any questions, she's Carla, always inquisitive.

"I told him the truth, I told him that Isabella's his daughter." I admitted.

"What! you really told him the truth, how did he react?" she asked her eyes widened.

"He was angry, but I need to talk to him, because I know his gonna reveal the truth to Isabella and I can't let that happen." I explained.

"Okay, I'll ask you more questions later, you just go talk to your lover, hand me Isabella." she teased.

"You never miss a chance to tease me huh." I remarked, she laughed. I rolled my eyes and handed Isabella to her.

"Please take good care of her." I responded.

"Don't worry, I will." she replied and rubbing Isabella's back, I nodded and walked out the room, I took the elevator to Jason's room.

The doors opened and I stepped out of them, I walked to his hotel suite, I knocked on his door and he immediately opened it like he was expecting me.

"Come in, I was expecting you to come." he stated with a smirk on his face, I entered his hotel suite, I closed the door and followed his lead to his living room.

"How did you know I was gonna come?" I questioned, nervously.

"I know you Maria, so well." he replied, walking towards me.

"Jason, I know you mad at me for not telling you the truth about Isabella, but I was helpless, please understand Jason." I tried to explain and he simply rolled his eyes.

"You right I'm mad, I'm really mad, no I'm not mad I'm angry, so fucking angry, but I'm a gentleman and I handle things way differently." he confessed with a blank expression on his face, if I was nervous before, I'm way more nervous now.

"Jason please let me explain." I pleaded, but it went on deaf ears, he just walked away leaving me here talking to myself.

"Jason!" I yelled, he came back out with  papers in his hand.

"I don't wanna hear any of your pathetic excuses, just sign these papers." he commanded, throwing the papers on the floor, a pen stretched out for me to take, I'm curious to know what papers are these.

I bent down and took the papers in my shaky palms, I stood up straight and read the papers.

Oh My... No his can't be happening...

"You want to take Isabella away from me?" I questioned, tears welling up in my eyes.

He smiled nodding his head with a sinister look in his eyes.

"I want full custody of Isabella."

****

I Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'm so sorry for not updating for a long time, I wasn't feeling well emotionally and mentally but I'm okay now, more drama in the next few chapters, stay tuned.

Please vote, comment and share.

Luv y'all 😘

Elaida ❤