Chapter 24

Maria's ( P. O. V. )

Four months later.

It's been four months and Jason's been staying with us, well his now part of the family basically, he and Isabella are so close, they go to the park every weekend, I join them sometimes but other times I go to work. I'm still working at the restaurant, Jason couldn't convince me to quit my job there, so he suggested that he drop me off and pick me up.

My trial went well Joey was sentenced to 10 years of life imprisonment, it's not to long but at least he isn't gonna bother me for ten years, Isabella didn't find out about my attempted rape. I don't wanna tell her, we've decided we'll tell her once she's a bit older, the secret of Jason being Isabella's father is still kept a secret, Isabella still is in the dark about her biological father.

Jason and I have grown even closer physically, emotionally, mentally and sexually, to be honest he and I are at it none stop in the sex department, I think we missed each other that's why we stayed abstain.

Two months ago Isabella informed Jason and I that they'll be a concert at her school and I need to attend, she said she'll be dancing, singing and performing a part in a play, I decided that I should take the day off, well Jason suggested I should. Isabella was so excited when she heard I took the day off, I'm so excited to see her perform, she also informed us that both parents need to be there. I told her, her dad won't be able to make it, she was so sad but then Jason came up with the brilliant idea to fill in as her dad, Isabella was so happy to hear him say that.

So right now were preparing to go.

"Isabella are you ready, princess!" I yelled out to her.

"Yes mom, I'll be out soon!" she yelled back in response.

Standing in the living room waiting for Isabella I'm already dressed in a formal but casual outfit.

"

How do I look, mi amor?" I turned to see Jason swirling around like a model parading his outfit, he looks so handsome. ( My love )

He looks handsome in anything even with just his boxers and a T-shirt... But he looks even more handsome naked...

I didn't realize I was drooling.

"I left you speechless then my outfit must be amazing, huh." he spoke with a smirk on his handsome face.

"I- you look dashing in that tux, hunny." I stuttered replying to his silly remark.

"Gracias mi amor, you don't look too bad yourself, well to be honest you always look beautiful no matter what you wear." he stated sweetly, slowly walking towards me. ( thank you, my love )

"Thanks, Jason." I replied my cheeks turning red.

He leaned into me, I thought his gonna kiss me, but as always I'm just being horny.

"But to be honest, you look even more beautiful naked." he whispered near my ear.

I couldn't stop the smile erupting on my face.

"Why do you always have to sound so cheesy?" I replied my hands covering my cheeks.

He removed my hands from my cheeks and  leaned in with a serious expression on his face, he slowly brushed his lips with mine, I immediately opened my mouth for him, he slid his tongue in my mouth and I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck, he pulled me close has we slowly but intensely kissed.

"Mummy, I'm ready -" Jason and I quickly pulled away from our kiss, when we heard Isabella speak.

Shit, we're in big trouble...

"Isabella, princess you look so beautiful in that dress." Jason complimented Isabella, she smiled but her smile didn't reach her eyes like usual.

I know what she's thinking, she thinks I'm cheating on her dad with Jason, she thinks  I forgot about her dad, that I don't love him anymore, but she doesn't know that Jason's her dad, she doesn't know that I'm madly in love with her father, she doesn't know that her dad and I are so in love with each other that we stayed abstain until we found each other again, I understand why she thinks I'm cheating on her dad, she's been waiting for her dad to come back since she started talking, but I can't reveal the truth to her, not right now.

"Thank you, Jason." she replied politly, her eyes are on me, even though she's talking to Jason.

I stood behind Jason awkwardly, my hand on my mouth, my eyes staring at my daughter.

"Well shall we go, we don't want to be late, do we, huh." Jason tried his best to soften the tense mood, but failed miserably.

"Isabella, you look beautiful, hunny, dressed like a princess." I complimented her hoping to clear the air in the room.

She smiled.

"Thank you mummy, let's go before it gets late." she replied.

I nodded, Jason intertwined his hand with hers and we all walked out of the house, I locked the door, while Jason and Isabella went to the car.

Once I was all buckled up, Jason drove straight to our destination.

After an hour of driving, Jason finally pulled up in front of "The Dwight School."

"Y'all go in while I park the car." Jason instructed Isabella and I, the two of us nodded our heads in response.

I opened the door and I took Isabella's hand.

We walked inside the venue, the decorations are so beautiful, it looks like I'm in a fairy tale land.

"Princess aren't the decorations beautiful." I remarked, looking down at her.

She smiled.

"Yes, mom, they beautiful." she replied, looking around the venue.

"Isabella!" Isabella and I both turned to the person that called her name.

A little girl and her mom, walking towards us, the little girl had a big smile on her freckled face.

"Hello, Melissa." Isabella greeted her friend, Isabella walked towards her and they embraced each other in a warm hug.

I smiled, Melissa's mom glanced at me.

"Um hello, ma'am, nice to meet you, I'm Maria Rodriguez." I introduced myself my hand stretched out to Melissa's mom.

She smiled.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Taylor white." she introduced herself and shakes her hand with mine.

"Our kids are so close huh." I stated, letting go of my hand.

"Yeah, Melissa always talks about your daughter, I'm glad I finally met her and you." she responded, smiling sweetly.

"Same here." I simply replied.

"Hun, here you are, I was looking all over for you." a male voice spoke.

Taylor turned around and smiled at the man.

"I'm here, hunny you don't need to get so worried." she remarked , he pecked her lips and smiled at her.

"I can't help worrying about you." he replied and pecked her lips again.

They look like a young couple, maybe around 20 or 25.

I feel awkward..

Why isn't Jason here??

"Oh, I'm so sorry, where are my manners, Maria this is my husband John, honey meet Maria, she's the mother of Isabella, Melissa friend." he introduced her husband to me.

"Nice you meet you sir." I said politly, he smiled and we both shook hands.

"Nice to meet you too." he replied, I pulled my hand away, because our hand shake lingered for way too long.

"Mummy, look Melissa and I's dresses are the same colour." Isabella spoke, happily.

I smiled.

"I see that princess, you both look so beautiful." I complimented both the girls caressing both they cheeks.

"Thank you." they both replied in unison, we all laughed.

This little girl reminds me of Julia and I, we were such close friends, no we were best friends but then when I moved to LA she and I lost touch, but till this day I still remember all the good old times, the pranks we used to play.

"Maria, where is your husband, I mean Isabella's father?" Taylor asked.

"Uh -" Isabella cut me off.

"My dad isn't here, he doesn't live with us, but my moms boyfriend is here to fill in for my dad." Isabella spoke confidently.

Boyfriend.... Oh God....

She think's that because she saw Jason and I kissing a whole ago... Oh my dear daughter.

"Oh, but um, not to be rude or nosy, but this is a parent and daughter concert, I don't think your boyfriend should he here and your daughter knowing that man is your boyfriend, I don't think that's a good way to raise your child." Taylor advised, looking at Isabella with pity.

"Um, I don't mean to be disrespectful but Isabella's my daughter, Jason's very dear to me, I don't only consider him my boyfriend, I also consider him my best friend, so I don't like when someone I just met, criticize my relationship, I don't see how that's your business." I spoke with up most honesty.

I'm not gonna let this woman talk about my relationship with Jason like that, how dare she, she has no shame, she didn't even notice her "husband" flirting with me with his eyes, but she talks about my Jason like that, all I know is Jason's more faithful then that husband of hers.

"Babe, here you are, I'm sorry, I took so long the-" Jason trailed off, I bet he feels the tension around us.

"Honey met Taylor, Melissa's mom, John Melissa's dad and this lovely little girl is Melissa, Isabella's friend." I introduced everyone to Jason.

"No mom, Melissa's my best friend." Isabella corrected me.

Jason and I smiled at Isabella.

"Well, it's nice to met you all, I'm Jason Mendez." Jason stated, his hand outstretched towards the couple.

"Nice to meet you too, Jason." the couple replied in unison shaking Jason's hand.

"Okay, well why don't we go inside the venue, I'm so excited to see my little princess and her best friend perform." John spoke his eyes on me biting his bottom lip, Jason wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close, I guess he saw the looks John's sending my way.

"You right my good sir, honey shall we go in?" Jason asked.

I simply nodded my head in response and he planted a kiss to my lips tenderly.

"Okay, let's go then." John said, his expression hard as he stared at Jason.

We all walked inside the venue, Isabella and Melissa making small talk while holding hands, I hope this day goes well, because I'm tired of being sad all the time, since Jason and I revealed everything to each other we've been in such bliss, being with each other has been our remedy to all the pain and sadness we went through the past six years, his my knight and shining armor.

2 hours later

The concert was amazing even though the conversation Taylor and I had wasn't that pleasant but she asked for it, why did she have to stick her noes in my business, anyway Isabella's performances were magnificent, I never thought she was this talented in the entertainment field.

She sang and danced to the song Come along by Asia Monet, she acted in a motivational play about woman empowerment, she was simply amazing, I think I actually saw Jason crying, I saw a lone tear fall down his cheek, I bet he was so proud to see his six year old daughter on stage performing, I'm so proud of her, she brought light into my life from the moment she was born.

"Princess go change then you can go play outside if you want." I instructed.

"Okay, mommy." she replied skipping towards her room, I'm so happy to see a smile on her beautiful face.

"Maria we need to talk." Jason spoke cutting me out of my train of thought.

I turned to look at him, he had a serious expression on his face.

"About?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Isabella." he replied.

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Okay, what about Isabella do you wanna talk about?" I questioned looking at him with a serious expression.

"She -" he was interrupted by Isabella.

"Mummy, I'm going out to play now." she informed me, with a bright smile on her face, changed in her causal outfit.

I smiled at her. "okay, princess, have fun." I replied.

"Okay, mummy, bye Jason." she waved at him and I.

We both waved back at her, once she was no more in sight, I turned to Jason.

"She what?" I asked.

"She deserves to know that I'm her father, I can't keep this secret anymore, you saw what happened at the concert today, you heard what Taylor and those other woman said about our daughter, I can't lie to her anymore, she's my daughter and she has the right to find out the truth, you can't keep her in the dark forever." Jason voiced out and I just stared at him.

"I don't care what those woman said about my daughter, they don't have nothing better to do then to gossip, I know Isabella deserves to know the truth, she will find out, I will tell her but not right now, please understand." I stated, trying my hardest to try and calm his nerves.

"Maria speaking the truth isn't gossiping, I can't live here knowing that our daughter lives here as well but I can't call her daughter and she can't call me daddy, she's my only daughter, the only child I'll ever have, why can't you understand me, you can conceive, you fertile, but I'm sterile, I will never ever be able to be a father again, I wasn't here when she was born or when she was a little baby but I'm here now, I wanna make up for lost time, you say that you'll tell her, when? When she a teenage, the time to tell her is now, not tomorrow not the day after, now, I want you to tell her right now." he explained taking small steps towards me.

"Jason, why don't you understand, I can't tell her now, can't you see how happy she is I can't spoil her mood like that, I'll tell her, I promise." I reassured him hoping he would listen.

He raked a hand through his hair.

"You are impossible, it's so hard to make you understand a thing, I can't wait anymore, I fucking want you to tell her the truth now, now! Maria!!" he yelled grabbing my wrist, pulling me towards the back door where Isabella walked out off.

"No, Jason, please stop and listen to me, I can't do this now, please not right now, please." I pleaded but my pleads went on deaf ears.

I yanked my hand from his grip, we stood right at the door, I hope Isabella doesn't see us.

"Maria, if you don't tell her I will and if I tell her she'll hate you for the rest of her life." he threatened, my hands are shaking in fear.

He stared at me with anger burning in his eyes.

Oh my... What do I do?

I can't tell Isabella the truth... She'll hate me. I just can't.

"Jason please, don't do this she's a little girl, she won't be able to handle it. Jason, please, I promise I'll tell her but not right now." I tried reasoning with a him, but he just stared at me emotionlessly.

"Maria, I promise you, no scratch that, I swear to you if you don't tell Isabella the truth now, you'll regret it." he spoke taking deep breaths.

"Jason, please -" h cut me off.

"Jason please nothing, just go tell her the truth now." he demanded and grabbed my elbow.

"Jason your hurting me, please stop" I said trying to squirm from his grip on my elbow.

"Maria. Tell. Isabella. The. Truth. Now!" he yelled his grip on my elbow tightening.

I can feel tears stinging my eyes.

"No, I can't tell her the truth if I do..." the tears fall from my eyes. "she won't handle it Jason, Isabella has breathing problems, if she gets stressed, angry or even really sad, she'll lose her breath and she might end up in a coma, that's why I'm afraid to tell her the truth, I'm afraid she'll not be able to handle the pain." I explained sniffling.

His eyes widened at my revelation.

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier, you always keep secrets from me, I'm tired of all the lies and secrecy!" he yelled even louder.

"Jason, I promise I'll tell Isabella that you're her dad, I'll tell her the whole truth about our relationship, but not right now, please understand, my love." I tried reassuring him.

"What, Jason's my dad." I heard a voice and turned around to see Isabella standing at the door way tears welling up in her eyes.

Oh my God... Don't tell me she heard everything...

"Isabella let me explain." I spoke breaking the silence that erupted between us.

"Mummy you lied to me, Jason was my father all this time, you never told me the truth, you a liar you never cared about my feelings and how much I wanted to see my dad, you are so selfish, I hate you mummy I hate you with all of my heart, I hate you has much as I loved you before, you bad, you so evil!!" she yelled at me and ran towards her bedroom and I heard the door slam shut.

I turned to Jason tears blurring my vision. "Its all your fault you couldn't shut up, you couldn't just wait for a while, ugh!"

****

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, tell me what you think on the comment section below.

Do you think Isabella will forgive her mom? comment your responses.

This is the last chapter that I'll writing for now... so right now I want to focus on my exams, this girl needs to pass, Lol!

But don't worry this ain't the last chapter, this story is no way near over.

Anyways please vote, comment and share to your friends, who knows they might love it.

Thanks for voting, luv y'all 😘

Elaida ❤