Chapter 42 Taki

Rozzean didn't let me get up right away. When I finally persuaded him to go back to his room, it was already six o'clock. Fortunately, Manang didn't come to check on me in my room. She knows that I usually come down by 5:30 in the morning.

But this morning, I came down around seven. When I arrived in the kitchen, Manang had already prepared breakfast. I suddenly felt embarrassed because, normally, I'm the one assigned to cook.

"I'm really sorry, Manang," I apologized.

"Oh, don't worry about it! I know you're not feeling well, so I expected you to wake up late. How are you feeling now? Is everything okay?" she asked.

I wanted to grimace. Rozzean is so persistent. He didn't leave me alone earlier, even wanting to shower in my room and insisting that we do it together. I just threatened him that if he didn't go back to his room, I wouldn't open my door to him at night.

Well, he quickly got up and left to return to his room.

"I-I'm feeling better now, Manang, not too bad," I replied.

We were in the kitchen now, having breakfast. Rozzean left for the office at eight. Manang told me that Luther was still sleeping in the guest room. It means I could talk to Luther if he's still here.

Rozzean's statement from last night about being annoyed with Luther lingered in my mind. I wondered what Luther could have said.

"Good morning," someone greeted, pulling me from my thoughts.

Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear.

"Good morning, Sir Luther. Will you be having breakfast?" Manang asked him.

Instead of answering, Luther looked at me. I turned my face away and finished my meal. Then, I stood up, went to the sink, and washed my dishes.

"I am not hungry, Manang," I heard him say, "Tali."

I swallowed hard when Luther called me.

"Y-Yes, sir?" I responded.

"Make me coffee. Bring it to your pool area."

After giving his instructions, Luther left. I noticed that he was squinting, suggesting that he lacked sleep.

He ordered coffee again. Rozzean said he doesn't drink coffee. What's with his preferences?

I followed Luther's orders, preparing his coffee and heading to the pool area. He was standing by the edge, talking on his cellphone.

"Yes, Mama, did you tell Cyron? So he's aware."

"Ah, he's not answering his phone? Maybe he's busy."

"Yes, I'm here in his house. I can go home tomorrow if that's the case. Who will pick me up, Mama?"

He's talking to his mother?

"Okay."

After ending the call, Luther faced me.

"He went into your room last night, right?"

I looked at him. That's the first thing he said to me. Did he follow Rozzean? Or did he peek into my room? Luther's gaze on me was serious, not playful like yesterday.

"Thaliana, my brother likes you so much. And you know that."

I felt nervous with the way he looked at me.

"L-Luther--"

"Wait, you are not Thaliana here... you are Tali," he said, smirking.

I tightened my grip on the saucer. Luther sat down, and I placed his coffee on the table beside him.

"What are your plans?"

He wasn't looking at me; he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.

"I-I told you I'm leaving, but give me one more month here, Luther. It's hard for me to say goodbye to Rozzean. He doesn't even want me to go out alone because--"

"And whose fault is that? You are the one who put yourself in this situation. Now, you don't even know what to do," he said to me.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes tightly. I know. I know very well.

"My brother likes you so much, Tali. He even defended you to me. He told me that he doesn't care if you or our family don't accept you. He even said that he thought he might punch me last night because of the anger he felt."

S-So that's why... that's why Rozzean looked like that when he came to my room last night.

"I am trying my best to escape the situation now and go home, Luther. It's hard for me, but I know I have no right to complain," I told him.

I saw him sigh.

"You walked into the fire, Thaliana."

I lowered my head.

"I know."

"Just... give me a month. I asked my father for two months before, and the plan was to go home after that. But now, it's getting difficult because of Rozzean's hold on me."

Luther lowered his coffee cup and looked at me.

"Funny how your plans turned out like this, Thaliana. From spying on my brother to falling in love with him."

I gulped at his words. I couldn't deny it because it was true. I fell for Rozzean. I developed feelings for him, and that was not part of the plan when I decided to enter his house and pretend to be a maid.

Now, I didn't know what to do.

"Unexpected..."

I couldn't find any more words to say.

"But, okay, I am not that evil. I will let you stay here for another month. I will not ruin your plans; in fact, I am actually enjoying what's happening."

Those were Luther's final words. When I said goodbye and headed back inside the mansion, he didn't say anything more.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning the house, thinking about how I would explain to Rozzean what I did—entering his house and pretending to be someone I'm not. I pondered if there was a way for him not to be extremely angry, but no matter how I looked at my situation, there was no reason for Rozzean not to be furious with me.

Haaa... What now? The day passed by quickly... I didn't even realize I've been here for a month.

I continued wiping surfaces while letting out several sighs.

It's already four in the afternoon. In an hour, Rozzean will be here. Luther, on the other hand, is in front of me, reading a book. Until now, the impish fellow earlier has been engaging me and deliberately calling me Thaliana. I'm giving him stern looks, afraid that Manang might hear him.

"Why are you looking at me? Don't you like Cyron anymore? Is it me now?"

I scowled at what he said.

"That will never happen, Luther."

I continued wiping surfaces until I heard the doorbell. I approached the door and opened it. My eyebrows furrowed at what I saw.

"Who's that?" Luther asked. I heard his footsteps approaching.

"Luu..."

I looked down at the child who spoke. He looks like...

W-wait...

"Taki."

Luther approached the child and lifted him. He looked at the man accompanying the child. The man bowed, and then he handed Luther the baby bag.

"Thank you for bringing Taki, Desmond. Take care on your way back," Luther said.

I didn't know how to react because I was just staring at the child Luther was holding. Even after he called the man Desmond who left, I was still looking at the closed door.

Who is this kid?

Once the door was closed, Luther sat on the sofa, still holding the child he called Toto.

Luu?

"Taki, we'll wait for your father here, okay? I know you miss him so much."

I swallowed hard at what Luther said. I quickly walked towards him, looking at the child again. My heart was pounding fast as I looked at the child's face, so much resembling--

"Luther."

I looked towards the door when it suddenly opened. I saw Rozzean's serious face.

It's not yet five...

Luther stood up while holding the child. I could clearly see how the child's expression changed upon seeing Rozzean. The child got down from Luther's arms and quickly ran towards Rozzean.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

My heart raced as I heard the child calling Rozzean. I also felt the chill in my hands.

D-Daddy?

I saw Rozzean glance at me after lifting the child who looked so much like him.

"I told you, Cyron, Taki misses you so much. Your son misses you so much," Luther said, looking at me.

W-What? Rozzean has a child? W-Who is the mother?