Chapter 13: Akia's father

Edward then placed an order for mac and cheese for Akia, as well as beefsteak and chicken curry for Cassandra and himself.

He sat across from her, noticing how tired and haggard she appeared. "You look stressed," he said to her.

When she looked up, she noticed him staring at her, and he seemed sincere. She had no idea he was being sincere. "I'm just tired," she explained.

"Who watches Akia while you're at work?" he wondered.

"My mother," she replied.

Edward was about to ask again when he noticed Akia paying attention to them. "Hey sweetheart, take your dinner into the other room and watch TV," Cassandra said, smiling and nodding that it was fine because she didn't want the child to hear what they were talking about.

Cassandra turned on Mike as soon as Akia left.

"I'm exhausted. I need to rest now," she said as she was about to leave him, but he pulled her back and stopped her.

"I'm sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable; I just want to know and understand more about her and you, especially since you're the mother of my child and I'm her father," Edward said softly.

Cassandra sneered "You think you're the father of the year after only a few hours.

When she stood, he grabbed her wrist and drew her close to him, sneering at her, "You should have told me in the first place, I had a right to know."

She growled, her teeth clenched "And you still can't say if I had my way.

"F*ck! Cassandra, listen, I'm trying to—" He came to a halt when Akia entered the room and released Cassandra.

"I'm thirsty, mommy," Akia said.

When he saw the little girl who looked exactly like him, his heart melted. "Would you like something to drink, sweetie?"

"Cola, please," she said.

"Oh, no, young lady," Cassandra replied.

"How come she can't have a glass of cola?" Edward inquired.

Cassandra shook her head and said, "Have you never been around children before Edward? If you give them sugar, they'll be up all night and it's bad for her health," she turned to Akia and said, "You'll have milk Akia, no cola okay?"

"Yes, mommy," Akia said, her bottom lip outstretched in a pout.

Cassandra showered her and put on her nightclothes after they finished eating. Akia ran up to Edward and hugged him goodnight. Cassandra then tucked her in and read her a bedtime story.

He laughed a bit to himself as he stood in the doorway watching them. Akia had fallen asleep as soon as she put down the book. He and Cassandra returned to the living room and

He began talking while sitting down with a drink in his hand.

"Akia has some similarities to me like how I can fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow."

"Really?? I don't think so," she blurted out, then blushed as she realized how she must have sounded.

He smiled and changed the topic. "You've done well with her; she's smart for her age and very energetic."

"Thank you. Akia is my life, she means everything to me, and you can't take her away from me," she said, fear visible in her eyes as she looked at Edward.

"I'm not taking her away from you, honey, because we'll be a real family soon," Edward told himself.

"Then let me support you; I'll buy you home and provide you with a generous allowance to meet all of your and Akia's needs. You will be leaving with me from now on," Edward said as she stared at her.

"And what do you expect in exchange? Is it sex? Am I to be your paid sex doll?"

Then Edward laughed. "No, I just want to spend time with my daughter, getting to know her, and she needs me."

Cassandra leaped to her feet. When she was

Edward, too, stood. "Do you have any plans to take her away from me?" she asked, pounding his chest with her fists.

"Cassandra, stop it. I assure you that's not what I'm doing. I just want equal time with her," he said as he grabbed her hands and stopped her from hitting him.

She walked over to the window and peered out. "But why do I get the impression you have a hidden agenda from us?"

He walked over to her. "You're just overthinking. I'm not going to take her away from you," he said as he tried to hug her and secretly smirked.

"Look, I don't need anything from you. I don't need your wealth, Edward. I can finance myself and my daughter, but as far as living with you, I say no," Cassandra said as Edward was losing his cool and trying to intimidate her. "You're going to live with me, Cassandra, whether you like it or not, and accept my money; no child of mine will go poor."

When he saw the fear on her face, he took a step back and chose his words carefully. "The majority of women would sue for half my wealth."

"Well, I'm not like most women; I can make a living while taking care of Akia."

"Let me support my child in the luxury and comfort she deserves, Cassandra; don't you want the best for her?"

"Of course I do," she said, her eyes welling up with tears, "how do you anticipate me to let her go as a mother?"

He looked down at her with his hands on her shoulders. "Cassandra, I told you I wasn't going to keep her away from you, that's why you're living with me, let's go on a vacation next week, will you come to Batangas?"

She felt she had no choice but to respond quietly, lowering her head. "All right, let's go."

When he realized he was still touching her, he let go. "All right, and tomorrow we'll tell Akia I'm her father, okay?"

She agreed with a nod of her head. "I'm exhausted; I'm going to bed."

"OK, goodnight."

He stood there watching her walk away. He reflected on how beautiful she was, recalling the night they were together. He had no idea at the time. That was the only time she was broken. Her breasts were incredible. And she was a virgin, which he didn't realize until it was too late.

"I'm your first, Cassandra, and I'll make sure I'm also your last; you can't get away from me now," Edward mumbled, smirking at the prospect of claiming her.

It was the most enjoyable sex he'd ever had. He loved sleeping with her in his arms because she was so warm and soft. He liked her energy and her laugh. They discussed what they desired from the life He told her things he'd never told anyone else.

When he remembered that night, his heart skipped a beat. It was supposed to be a night of sex with a stranger with no strings attached. Cassandra, on the other hand, wasn't the type of girl who was only interested in sex. He realized this when she said, "I love you," during their sex. Her eyes were longing for genuine love. "And I'm going to give her the love she wanted," he said to himself.

It frightened him, so when he fell asleep, she quietly left before he awoke. He quickly realized he had made a mistake in letting her go. He couldn't get her out of his mind and even tried to track her down, but she had vanished until the time he met her in California with his cousin. Seeing her again was the best thing in his life, and he promised himself that he'd never let her go again and that he'd make sure she belonged only to him, no one else, but for him.

He stopped by her room on his way to bed to check on them. Gazing in, he noticed Akia sleeping on her side, trying to suck her thumb, just as he did when he was that age. Cassandra was flat on her back. He observed her boobs moving up and down with each breath she took. He remembered how they felt and tastes exactly when he touched them.

His body was filled with desire. He was having a hard time just watching Cassandra. He needed her, he had to have her. He turned and walked away, deciding that a cold shower would help him to ease the pleasure he wanted too bad.

Cassandra awoke to find Akia had gone. Alarmed, she threw on a robe and dashed out the door in search of Akia, where she discovered both Edward and Akia.

the cooking area While Akia was painting, he was frying eggs and making pancakes.

His muscles were so toned, even though he wasn't wearing a shirt, that her heart began to race. Her inner core began to throb and heat up. Her thoughts returned to the past.

They shared their bodies that night. She remembered fondling his chest as he glided over her, making her jiggle beneath him, and how it felt when he moved inside her.

"Are you hungry?" Edward interrupted her thoughts.

Turning away from his gaze and approaching Akia, she replied, "Yes."

They sat drinking their coffee and eating their breakfast while milk for Akia and her favorite mac and cheese

"Sweetheart, should I order some fruits? Do you prefer oranges, grapes, apples, or strawberries?"

Then Akia smiled at Edward. "I like oranges and apples, but I can't eat grapes because I'm hypersensitive to them."

"You are? So am I," he replied.

"Sweetie, Edward and I have a few things to discuss with you."

"What is it, Mommy?"

Cassie took a deep breath and returned her gaze to Akia, saying, "Well, baby, Edward is your daddy."

Akia's gaze was drawn to Edward, her big blue eyes locked on his. "You're my daddy?" she inquired.

"I am, sweetheart."

"Can I call you daddy?" Akia inquired, her voice brimming with excitement.

He thought his heart would burst with joy and had to fight back tears that threatened to fall. "That would be fantastic."

Cassandra cried as Akia went over to Edward and wrapped her tiny arms around him in a bear hug. He snatched her up and hugged her again, a single tear streaming down his cheek.

"What else do you want to tell me?" she asked, backing away. Edward and Cassandra then exchanged glances.