Chapter 49

"YOU saw Euclid did what?" Maria asked and shot Euclid a glare.

"When he arrived he asked where are you, when I told him that you're still sleeping, he went inside our room and kissed your forehead," Sara explained with a knotted forehead. "Uncle Euclid said that you're like the princess in Sleeping Beauty," she added and chuckled.

Maria held her daughter's shoulders stirred her to face her. "Sara, I told you that fairytales aren't true, right?"

"Maria, you're ruining your daughter's imagination," Euclid protested. "Sara, do you want to read the story about Sleeping Beauty?"

Sara nodded excitedly. "Will you tell me, Uncle Euclid?"

Euclid smiled at her daughter. "I will buy fairytale books for you—"

"Don't make her believe in prince charming that breaks his own promises," Maria cut off. "What we need is a real man that can protect us—"

"And, you think that I can't do that?" Euclid smirked.

"I don't want you to do that," Maria said in a stern voice. "I want you to stop doing all those things for me." She stared in his eyes. "I want you out of my life, Euclid."

Euclid held his stare as he spoke. "Well, sorry to disappoint you, Angelica. But, you are part of my mission."

Maria froze at her feet when she heard the name that he called her. Maria buried that name years ago. She buried her old self from the day that she left the Balesin island. How will she do all her plans if Euclid is always watching her every move?

"And, let me remind you of your sworn statement that you'll participate with the police all throughout the investigation—"

"Enough," she cut off as she covered her daughter's ears. "Let's not talk about that in front of my child."

"Your child…" Euclid repeated and gazed down at Sara. "How old is she again?"

Maria hesitated to answer. "I've told you already—"

"She's six, right?" he said and looked in her eyes. "You gave birth in 2010, that was also the year when I graduated at the academy. The same year that we first made love—"

"Euclid," Maria cut off. "My daughter is out of your mission."

Sara removed her hands on her ears. "Mommy, I want to watch We Bare Bears."

"Sara, when is your birthday?" Euclid suddenly asked.

Before Maria could stop her daughter, she already answered.

"December 21!" Sara replied with a jump. "And, Doc Connor always brings me and mommy to the beach!"

Euclid's expression hardened suddenly. "You're a solstice baby…" he said. "You know what, I always wanted to have a child born between the midsummer and winter solstices."

Sara scratched her cheeks. "I don't understand…" she said and looked up at Maria. "Mommy, can you call Doc Connor?"

Maria knotted her forehead at her daughter's question. "Why? Does your chest hurt?" She crouched beside her and cupped her face. "Look at me and breathe."

But Sara just giggled. "I want to talk at Doc Connor because he told me that if I wanted to know about something that I don't know, I can ask him."

Maria let a sigh of relief. "Oh, okay…" She said and paused. "I don't have a phone."

"Sara, you can ask me everything," Euclid said in a gentle tone. "I'm always top in my schools and I graduated with high honors."

Sara laughed at him. "Then, why you're not a doctor? Doctors are smart because they can save lives."

Euclid chuckled. "I am not a doctor because I chose to protect people and keep them from needing the doctors."

Maria must admit, she's enjoying watching Sara and Euclid's conversation. 'You're softening again, Maria…' a small voice inside her mind whispered, making her feel like waking up from a dream.

"I want Doc Connor to be my mom's husband," she heard Sara say to Euclid. "But, I think…" She looked up at her. "Mommy, who do you want to marry? A policeman that will protect us, or a doctor that will care for us?"

Maria pinched her daughter's cheeks. "I want a man that will protect and take care of you at the same time," she said and stood. "Let's go, we'll go to Aunt Wendy's workplace—"

"You can't just walk out here, Maria," Euclid said, blocking her way.

Maria knotted her forehead. "Why? Is having a normal life forbidden now?" she asked and swept him away. "I need to talk to Wendy—"

"You can use my phone if you need to call her," Euclid said and gave her his phone, but Maria just stared at it.

Maria won't let him fool her. She knew that his phone is tapped and connected to their headquarters. She needs Euclid, but not now. She has to make sure that everything is ready before she dropped her bomb for the first target.

And it's at the police station now.

"I just want to buy the ingredients that I will cook for lunch," she said, rolling her eyes ceilingwards. "If you're preventing me to go out then asked your men to do the groceries for me—"

"Maria?" Connor's voice called out from the outside. "Maria, it's me, Connor."

"Doc Connor!" Sara jumped and ran towards the door. She excitedly opened it and welcomed Connor with a warm hug. "Where's my gift?"

Connor brushed her daughter's head and gave her the large paper bag with a fluffy teddy bear inside. When Connor looked at them, his smile faded as he nodded at Euclid.

"Sir Euclid, you're early," Connor said and walked towards her. "Is there a problem?"

Euclid smirked. "I'm staying here," he said. "Did your attorney forget to tell you?"

"As far as I know, you're only allowed to be here at night," Connor said. "Your presence is bothering Maria."

Euclid scratched the corner of his brow and looked at her. "Am I bothering you, Maria?"

Instead of answering him, she looked at Connor. "What brought you here, Connor? Sara's check is tomorrow."

"I'm here because I wanted to check on you personally," Connor said and smiled at her. "And, Wendy texted me, she said that you want to talk to me."

Maria's eyes shifted to Euclid, who was now scowling at them. "Yes… I need to talk to you about something in private."

Connor looked at Euclid, and Euclid just scowled at them. He stared at them for seconds as if measuring the situation.

"I'll go out," Euclid finally said and marched towards the door, but before he stepped out, he called her daughter's attention. "Sara, help your mommy choose between the two that we talked about, okay?"

Sara laughed. "Mommy says she wanted both."

***