CHAPTER 50

"So, since the next scene is at Tierra Fima, we need to head there for more accuracy in the book, right?" Sir Benedict asked everyone.

"Of course, Benedict. I told the whole staff about it and just the approval of everything needed," Levi replied to him and immediately focused his gaze on me.

"We're going, too, Sir, aren't we?" Yerim uttered so I just looked at them.

One by one, everyone agreed before they looked at me. I would have asked why but Levi had already spoken.

"You're coming with us, Rae, right?" he asked me.

I suddenly remembered Ria so I bit my lower lip so hard. I thought for a few more minutes before looking at them all.

"I can't... I can't leave alone," I said to them.

I could see the grin of Yerim and Rafa as well as Miss Rochelle while the others were surprised especially Levi who immediately stood up. Its forehead is already furrowed.

"Then, you can include who should go with you," he uttered and meaningfully looked at me.

"Who will you take with you?" he added so I was completely shaken by him.

It's your daughter, asshole.

-

My Asteria is such a lovely girl. She's shy and timid but also sweet especially to me. She got her shyness from me and the sweetness was from her dad.

“I have to stay here. I can't come. I hope you understand,” I lazily told Levi with a steady sigh on the other line.

I looked again at my daughter quietly playing while my cell phone was still in my ear. He’s still insisting I go with them to Tierra Fima. If I could just include her, I would but can't. She has a class and no one will watch over her.

"Why? I told you, you can bring anyone—"

"I can't. I’d rather stay here than go there with my...” I paused and whispered a cussed. "I can't, Levi," I told him emphatically and then ended the call.

If he only knew the real reason why I couldn’t come, I’m sure even he wouldn’t want to come, too, anymore.

I no longer bothered myself there and quickly headed to Ria's side. When I sat next to her, she immediately turned to look at me and then hugged my arm so I just smiled.

“I want to go outside, mum,” she uttered.

I looked at what she was watching and I saw a Disney movie playing there.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked her while watching as well.

"Uhm..." she murmured so I laughed.

"Just... outside, mommy," she added so I just nodded.

“M... kay. Let’s go change your clothes,” I told her and guided her to her room.

When we finished getting dressed, we went out. I decided to just bring her to the park, just behind this building. I saw that when I walked towards Seb’s coffee shop. There are also a lot of children who play there so I think Ria will like that.

“Do you want to eat before we go to the park?” I asked her again as we headed to the elevator of the condo building.

I even heard my cell phone ring in succession but I ignored that. I'm sure that's Levi again. I really regret that he even found out my number. Dammit!

"I'm still full," Ria uttered as we were waiting for the lift to open.

I looked at her for a while until the elevator rang and it opened. I was about to walk towards it when I saw who came out of there so I was stunned.

My heart almost went out of my body when I saw the focus of his gaze on Ria then turned to me and turned back to my son. I saw how he looked at me and his daughter. It was as if questions suddenly flooded his mind and at that very moment, he needed an answer.

"L-Levi..." I uttered and gasped an air.

"You!" Ria suddenly hissed then looked up at me. “Mommy, that’s him! The one who gave me the hairpin,” she added so I almost fell because of what she called me.

I was unaware of what happened next. I just saw Ria quickly let go of me and go to Levi who was still staring at the child. Asteria arched her arms around his left arm and hugged it. I could feel the inexplicable feeling inside me when Levi suddenly bent down to hug my daughter... tightly.

His gaze focused on me as he was hugging my daughter. I saw the redness in his eyes before he closed his eyes tightly and turned to my child.

“N-nice to see you again, kid. Did you like the hairpin I gave to you?” Levi said tremblingly to my daughter but he managed to smile in front of her.

My daughter nodded at him repeatedly before turning to me.

“I told Mommy that you also want to meet her, Tito Emmanuel. She’s my mom,” my daughter introduced me so I closed my eyes even more emphatically.

I could feel my heart pounding as Levi and I straightened up and stared at me intently. His eyes were still red as if he wanted to cry as he looked at me. I look away from him and quickly take my daughter from him.

“L-let’s go, Ria. Mommy still has work to do. Let's just go to the park next time, okay?” softly and hurriedly I told her and aptly turned away from Levi, but he spoke again.

"How old are you, kid?" he suddenly asked my daughter.

I bit my lower lip. I can already taste the blood there because I've been biting it before. I tightened my grip on Ria's hand when she turned to Levi again and then smiled.

I have become even more convinced that they are very much alike now that I see them close together. I could never deny it to him so I didn’t know what to do now. I can feel that he wants to ask me those questions the moment he sees us earlier but he just holds back.

"I'm... five years old," my daughter replied modestly.

I saw how Levi gasped an air while still looking at my daughter. His eyes twinkled with tears but he quickly wiped them away and smiled.

"F-five?" He almost whispered.

I could feel the heaviness of my breathing as I watched them both. Talking as if they are really close. As if they had known each other for a long time. I didn't know how I would feel so I suddenly let go of Ria when she finally approached Levi.

“S-she’s mine... oh, god,” Levi mumbled and looked up at me. "S-she is?" He asked me.

I looked away from him because I could feel the tears in my eyes. I was even more triggered when I saw him kneel in front of Ria and then hugged her again. I could hear him moaning as he hugged my daughter with no idea what was going on right now.

As much as I wanted to deny her to him, I couldn’t. I feel like I can no longer take back what he feels now and just destroy it because of the lie. I’m only sure of one thing right now — I don’t know what’s in store for me after this scene.