Mummy is your wife?

"Sorry, I thought you were Daddy Gerald" Tonia snorted. "You left your phone, mummy" 

I know, baby. Look where it landed me

"Uncle was about leaving" I laughed nervously, pushing Antonio away from me. 

Tonia raised her eyebrow at me, confused. 

"No, I wasn't." Antonio smirked, walking up to Tonia. My heart raced as he approached her. "Who are you?" 

What kind of fucking question is that?

"I should be asking you that?" Tonia folded her arms as she glared at Antonio

"I'm Antonio Rodriguez. You?" He leaned to her level, his two hands on his knees. 

"Antonia Rodriguez. Wait! We share the same surname" Tonia gave me a questionable glance. Acting dumb, I raised my eyebrow at her. 

"I guess we're related. Right mummy?" Antonio asked, dragging out the 'mummy'. It sounded like he was mocking me but maybe I'm just overthinking it.

"Antonio is your daddy's stepbrother. Please we have a -" 

"I want him to join us, mummy" Tonia interrupted, smiling at me sweetly.

How can I say no to that cute face

"No. His family is waiting" I answered, taking her hand and dragging her inside. 

"Wait mummy... You didn't let him speak" Tonia slipped her hand out of mine, making my cuss her internally. Fuck!

"I will join you, if that's what you want" Antonio smirked at me before flashing a beautiful smile at Tonia

Damn, this two!

"Fine but you'll leave early so we could start our girls day. Right, Tonia?" 

"I'm kinda reconsidering" She grinned widely, giving me that puppy doe eyes trick. 

Not happening. 

"You know what? Let me just go and handle the things I bought" I forcefully smiled at them before leaving. 

Wait, why did I leave them? 

Tonia didn't know how to talk. She usually just says anything that drops into her heart. Such a child

 

Aggressively cutting the fruits, I strained my ears trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. When I was done, I carried it out to meet them.

"You know I don't eat pineapples" They both said simultaneously. What just happened?

"Jinx, Uncle!" Tonia smiled. "Why don't you eat pineapples?" 

"I'm allergic to them" Antonio answered genuinely. 

"Me too! I always wondered why I was the only one with such allergies because my mum and dad do not get allergic to it at all." She said, picking out the watermelon. "It's good to know you are just like me" 

"Yeah. I'm just like you" Antonio smiled, looking at me like he just uncovered my secret. 

"My grandmother is also allergic to pineapple so it runs in the family, somehow" I smiled at Tonia, smoothening her hair with my hand.

"Really? You never told me that" Tonia said, looking up at me 

"I thought you never met your grandmother" Antonio asked, calling out my lie 

"How.. how would you know that?" I swallowed hard as I stared at him.

"Maybe because we were ..."

"Can I get your help in the kitchen, Tonia" This man wasn't about to expose me. "Get started with the tomatoes, I'll meet you there"

"Don't scare uncle off. I like him" Tonia warned before running to the kitchen

"She could try but she wouldn't succeed" Antonio said, smirking at me. 

"What do you think you're doing?" Reducing my voice, I asked him. I turned around to see if Tonia was around the corner. She was a nosy child.

"Whose child is that?" Antonio asked calmly, his eyes soft.

"My child" I sneered. "You should leave. I'll tell her you had something urgent to do" 

Swiftly, he pulled me by my waist, making my hand land on his shoulder for support. "Is Tonia our... our child?" 

My smile began to grow until it turned into a full blown laughter. "Oh my goodness, that was so funny" 

His eyes seemed to harden at my reaction to his question. "I need an answer, Elissa" 

"I don't have time for your nonsense, Antonio. Please stop calling me that too." I tried to break free from his grip but he didn't budge, pulling me closer instead.

"You're avoiding my question. That means, I am correct" He smirked at me

"I am not avoiding shit. You're not correct too." I said through gritted teeth.

"Then look into my eyes and tell me she's not mine" Antonio hands moved to my chin, holding it firmly. His eyes penetrated deep into mine. He looked as though he was searching for something.

Determined, I didn't blink as I said, "She's not your child. She's a product of Gerald and I" 

His grip seems to get weak at the revelation. I took that opportunity to move away from him. 

"Mummy?" Tonia called out, her voice was small. 

I hope she didn't see that. 

Turning slowly, I exhaled calmly. "Yes, dear?"

"You look like you just saw a ghost. Is everything okay? I've been calling you to tell you that I'm done washing the tomatoes" She said, resuming her seat 

"Sorry, Uncle was telling me something. Business related." I laughed nervously.

"You both are business partners? Just like you and daddy? Cool!" Tonia smiled widely. 

"Just like me and daddy" I smiled at her before training my eyes on Antonio. I hope he got the message. "I should hurry up with cooking so Uncle can eat and start leaving before his mother gets mad at him"

"Is he a baby?" Tonia scoffed. 

He is, baby. He is his mother's baby. 

I could see the fury in Antonio's eyes as he looked at me but that only made me more happy.

Not wanting to leave them together for so long before Tonia said something contradicting, I hurriedly cooked something simple, fast and different. I'd cook the main meal when he leaves. 

"Is that ramen?" Tonia's eyes lit up with delight as she helps me with the dish

"Told you I'd try more Korean dishes here. I didn't take classes for nothing" I laughed, handing her the chop stick. "I hope you still remember how to use this, Antonio" 

"Not when you made me learn because you wanted us to go on a vacation there" Antonio chuckled. 

"Family vacation." I clarified. "His family and mine" 

This man was going to put me on spot.

"That's true! Do you have any child?" Tonia suddenly asked, making my eyes go wide.

"I should." Antonio smiled at her, lovingly.

"What does that mean? Your wife is pregnant?" Tonia asked cheerfully.

"Not really but she was. Maybe we could just ask her" Antonio shrugged.

What is he trying to do now?

"You confuse me, uncle? Who are we asking?" Tonia huffed frustratedly. 

Antonio didn't say anything but his eyes said a lot. He just trained them on me, putting me on spot. Once again

"Mummy is your wife?"