Chapter 7

"Daddyyyyy" Maya screamed as she ran down the stairs to welcome her father, whose car engine she had heard.

" Welcome back daddy, I missed you" she say hugging him.

Lucas took her in his arms and kissed her cheeks.

" Hope you were good to your daddy today, Maya?"

" Of course daddy, I was a good girl through out. I did not disturb her about mummy returning today either. Mummy has to be at her workplace because there are important jobs she has to care of. So I did not ask after her" she innocently added, smiling and showing off her teeth that had started falling off.

Lucas carried her he went to his room and smiled.

She was one of the reasons he was still in the marriage.

Maya was a sweet girl. He had her six years ago, after he and Genevieve's fourth wedding anniversary.

He had wanted to leave the marriage then but after she was birthed, be had always endured because he did not want to make her a motherless little girl.

He took her to her room and laid her ok the bed. Adjusting his collar and removing his jacket.

"Sorry sir, I tried putting her to sleep several times, but she always refused saying that she was waiting for aby of you to return" the nanny said tensed, feeling scared that he might burst at her for allowing her still be awake by that time of the night. It was more than two hours already past her bedtime.

" It's okay, I'll take it up from here" he comely said, dismissing her.

" Father you returned late today. Did something happen at your place of work?" Maya chipped in.

" No my little Princess, nothing happened. I just had plenty jobs to do today, that's why I returned late. But I promise I won't do so again from now on" he voiced calmly, bringing his index finger to lock in a promise with hers. It was her thing...

" Father, will you tell mother to come early from work from now on too? I miss her also. It's almost a week since I saw her last" she added, masking the hurt she felt in her little heart with a smile to show her dagger she was okay.

" Of course my little princess, I will do so gladly" he promised her, with his eyes not looking directly at hers.

Maya was matured over her age.

Even though she was just six, she understood things and could figure out what was happening especially from looking into his eyes .

She had become a perfectionist at deciphering what his eyes meant whenever he told her something, so he casted his gaze away from her in a bid for her to notice that he had made the promise to her out of convenience, and not because he was sure he would be able to keep them.

"Go to sleep now my little princess, it's already late. You should be dreaming about yourself in your castle by now. Hush now and sleep princess" he say moving to pat her on her chest so she could fall asleep.

" Read me a story father. I'm sure if you do, I would fall asleep quicker"

" I don't know Maya" he said glancing at his wrist watch.

" It's already very late and a princess like you should be sleeping by now. It's hours last your bedtime or do you want to grow short my little princess? " He cajoled her.

" Oh father, but I refused nanny reading me a bedtime story because I told her you would when you got home. I waited for you so I could sleep but you did not return on time" she protested, explaining to him that it was not her fault she had not fallen asleep.

" Okay okay princess, I know I know. I will sing for you instead. How do you like the sound of that?"

" Oh father, I love you very much" she brimmed from ear to ear and pecked him on his cheeks.

Closing her eyes and holding on to his big arms as he began to slowly pat her chest.

"" I met a princess on my way to war.

She was so beautiful, I couldn't resist her,

But my dear little princess was in pains,

My dear little princess has gone through hell,

I took my dear little princess in my arms,

Dear little princess, I love you,

Dear little princess, I will protect you,

Dear little princess, I will be your prince charming,

But my dear little princess was not ab angel in distress,

My dear little princess needed no prince,

My dear little princess was after her heart that got shattered,

My dear little princess was......." He sang but paused when he noticed that she had fallen asleep.

" Goodnight father" she muttered in between her sleep.

"Goodnight my little princess" he replied and moved to kiss her forehead before he stood up from the bed where he laid and sat on the sofa in her room.

He brought his bag and took out his laptop from it.

He began to browse through his files until he reached what it seemed he had been looking for and clicked on it.

Next he began typing away at the computer.

He brought his phone that was by his side and typed a message and sent to a group chat.

It was the General Group Chat of all the lawyers that worked at his Magistrate..

He had given them another order just like he always did.

The Montenegro Mr has been insulted and part of his responsibilities as his son in-law was releasing all the crimes, corruption and tax evasion charges the opposition had under their sleeves.

Next he would have to charge them to court, using his powers to make sure they're locked in the most ruthless correctional center in Montenegro.

He had grown used to the lifestyle even though it was not what he wanted or whom he was.

It told nothing about his simple and outgoing personality.

He had maintained his reputation and personality during his youthful years until he had married Genevieve.

It wasn't a marriage that was accepted by all.

He had come from a middle class home, his mother had taken loans from Genevieve paying for his tuition at college without him knowing.

Genevieve had fallen in love with him once when he had helped her ward off perverts that stood at her way once, but he never knew that she was the daughter of the governor then.

It was later when she asked him to marry her and he refusing that he had known.

His mother risked being arrested and he had no other option that to marry the Montenegro daughter, against his wishes.

Ever since then, his life had taken a turn from the tracks he had set for them and had vegan derailing, away and far away from his set goals.