Proposal

"Why did you suddenly come back? Did something bad happen?" Asuncion asked her grandson as they entered her room.

"Grandma, what was the agreement between you and Danica before the twins came out?"

The Madame looked apparently guilty. "Why did you ask that?"

"I need to know, is it true that you gave Danica a condition to fulfill in order to be married to me?"

Asuncion sighed and averted her eyes from her grandson. She knew what he hated the most was for someone to meddle in his life. "You know she has a problem with her ovary and the state of our clan when it comes to women."

Steven no longer needed to hear the exact answer from his grandmother, what she said was enough.

"I don't want our bloodline to end with you. It's important that you have a child who will carry our family name." The Madame explained to her grandson.

"I understand and thank you for understanding my situation." He said sincerely.

Steven didn't stay long in his grandmother's room. He did not want to tell her the truth because she might have a heart attack. He will act alone to resolve everything.

Sean felt that something bad was going on, particularly because he can’t contact his mother. The only thing their father told them was that their mother had an important appointment and would be gone for a few days. He wasn't childlike to believe such an excuse.

"What do you want me to do, Brother?" Daniela asked Sean in a whisper when they talked.

"Don't leave Danica's side. Make a way to find out what she's doing in her room."

"Why do you suddenly want me to stick with her? Previously, you got mad at my Mommy and told me to stay away from her." Daniela pouted.

"Just do it, don't ask. She shouldn't notice or catch you." Sean sternly instructed his sister.

Though hesitant, Daniela nodded to her brother. She also wanted to help and she was feeling she had become brave and strong just like her older brother.

Daniela knocked on her mother's door. "Mommy, can I come in?"

Danica's forehead furrowed when she heard Daniela's voice. She opened the door even though she didn't want to be disturbed.

"Mommy, I heard you're sick? I want to stay here to take care of you." Daniela said tenderly.

Somehow, Danica was happy that there was someone who appreciated her in that house. Now that Nicole was no longer in the mansion, she can be alone with the child again.

"Thank you, baby. Come!" She opened her arms and invited the girl to a hug.

Danica just let her stay in her room until night.

"Mommy, I want to sleep beside you." Daniela doted on her again.

"You can't!" Danica quickly refused her. She planned to leave tonight to see Nicole.

"Why?" Daniela asked sadly.

Danica took a deep breath first to stay calm in front of the child. "You need to get used to me not being by your side, sweetie. Remember, the woman who wants to steal your daddy is here. I don't know how long I will stay here to take care of you."

Daniela could not hold back her tears. She was really sad to think that Danica would leave her one day.

Danica felt guilty and sorry for the child when she saw her quietly crying. She already knew her and she knew she was upset with what she said. But she had to get her out of her room.

"Let her with her request. You know she's used to you."

Danica looked at the door and Steven was there. The door of her room was left open earlier because Daniela was there.

"You know Daniela loves you and Nicole has left, so I hope you don't leave her."

Danica smiled at his plea.

"Daddy, Mommy is not feeling well."

Steven went inside and examined the wound on Danica's lips and cheek. He did everything to put aside his grudge against her.

"Lay down, your wound needs to be cleaned and treated."

"It's just a small wound." Danica was embarrassed, but her heart was dancing with joy because the two important people in her life were now in her room and taking care of her.

"I will never let you get hurt again. I know I was an inadequate partner, particularly when Nicole came back. I was so stupid and I thought of replacing you in my life. I didn't think of your sacrifice to my family, particularly for being Daniela's mother."

Danica hugged the young man and felt that he was serious about apologizing to her.

"Rita is right, I only love Nicole's body and not her personality."

"Does that mean you're not going to push me away from your life?" She asked while crying.

Steven was fuming inwardly, but the aura of his face remained calm as he stared at her. He showed her how much he admired her and how much he wanted her to stay by his side. Now he understood why Nicole was urging him to marry her. He needed to play with her first to get his sister back. Tony was right, a psychopath was indeed a tough opponent. She was not afraid to kill and die, as long as she got what she wanted.

"If you accept me again in your heart, I want to correct the wrong things I've done to you. It's only now that I realize that you're more important to me. I realized when Nicole left — she left Daniela again."

Danica felt Steven's anger for Nicole, so she secretly smirked.

"Daddy, does it mean you and Mommy will finally get married?" Daniela asked her father excitedly.

Steven blinked as he turned to his daughter. He almost forgot she was right next to them.

"Yes, that is, if your Mommy agreed." He smiled at his daughter before facing the woman again.

Danica sobbed because she was so happy. Her heart was drowning in joy. She thought there was no hope that he would love her. She’s really smart and now Steven was mad at Nicole again.

Steven pulled out the ring he had previously bought for Danica. "I'm sorry if I just thought of giving it to you now. But I bought it for you a long time ago. Will you marry me?"

"Yes… Yes!" Danica almost jumped out of happiness. She quickly stretched out her hand to Steven so that he could put the ring on her.

"Yay! I'm going to be a flower girl and my classmates won't bully me anymore! I'm just going to go to Brother Sean to tell him about it!"

Steven couldn't stop her when she ran out of the room. Sean shouldn't know about it right away because he would surely feel hurt and mad at him.

"If you're worried about Sean, don't worry and I'll do everything to make him accept me as his second mother."

"I trust you can do that."

"When are we going to schedule our wedding?" Danica asked and she couldn't wait.

"I have to redeem Rita from the kidnappers first. When she comes home, we will get married as soon as possible. I want her to be your bridesmaid like she dreamed of for the two of us."

The excitement Danica felt diminished. It seemed that she had to think of another way to continue her marriage to Steven.

"Is there a problem?" Steven commented when she suddenly went silent.

"Huh? Uh, nothing. I was just wondering how she was doing. I hope the kidnappers didn't hurt her." Danica said in a sad voice.

"Don't worry, I'll do everything to make her come home alive. Because if something bad happens to her, I can't accept it. I won't be happy in our marriage and lose my enthusiasm when that happens."

Danica hugged him again to let him know that he was not alone in his fight for Rita. She could not allow her marriage to him to be cancelled this time. She had thought of a way and she knew that Rita could do nothing but follow what she wanted.

"Thank you! Come on, let's go to Grandma to announce our upcoming wedding."

Danica happily went with Steven. He held her hand tightly as if he was afraid she would suddenly disappear.

Asuncion was surprised by her grandson's sudden decision and he even did it knowing their situation. But when he explained the reason, she did not object. She did not want her grandson to have a grudge against her because of what he had discovered from the past.

"Rita will definitely be happy when she finds out. It's also a good decision for your sister's worries will be lessened when she comes home."

"Thank you, Grandma, for agreeing with Steven and I's marriage. I promise to be a good wife and mother to Daniela and Sean."

Asuncion lightly hugged Danica to welcome her to the family. She could do nothing about Nicole because this was what Steven wanted. What was important to her now was the happiness and safety of the siblings and her great-grandchildren.