Chapter 6

ELSIE'S POV

After what felt like an eternity, although my watch Indicated it had only been forty-five minutes, we were finally home.

I was the first to step out of the car, I felt suffocated by the air all through the journey. Sitting in that confined space with Ethan made my heart race each second I heard his voice.

“ Are you alright Elsie?” Timothy asked, his voice marrying concern.

“ I'm fine, you don't have to worry,” I assured him and shot a glare at Isabella’s father. “There was a pervert on the flight who tried to touch me, so I am still flustered by the incident,” I added.

Ethan's face drained of color instantly and I could swear that his body stiffened and it suited him. “ Such a fucking bastard.” I referred to him in my mind, he should count himself lucky that I haven't exposed him yet. Of course, Timothy would be so displeased to know that his business partner was nothing but a jerk.

“ A lethally good-looking jerk is still a jerk.” I thought to myself, my negative thoughts slowly fading away as soon as I caught the sight of my little princess.

It surprised me that Isabella didn't make a fuss when she saw me. She acted odd and it didn't seem well to me that she did not make her usual noise and there was no sign of excitement on her face. I had to call out to her,

“ come on Isabella, won’t you give Mommy a hug?”

There was still no response from Isabella and I began to worry.

However, something unexpected and unusual happened. As soon as Isabella's gaze fell upon Ethan, her eyes widened in sheer shock.

She hurriedly jumped down from Grace, her nanny’s arm, and ran towards Ethan. She clutched him by his trousers and screamed, “ Daddy is home!”

Then in a louder voice, she exclaimed, “ Mommy!! You brought Daddy home!!! Is daddy the present you promised to bring along for me?” My little girl asked anxiously.

Tears welled up at the corners of my eyes and I tried my best to to fight their release. My heart felt as if it had been pierced with a million daggers. I shook my head in denial, but Isabella’s excitement could not be dampened.

“ Daddy!!!

I finally get to meet you, mommy said we will soon be together but I never knew it’s gonna be this soon.” Isabella shouted joyously, exuding waves of delight that filled the whole atmosphere.

“ No Honey,

He’s not your daddy. He’s Grandpa's guest.” I tried to convince him desperately.

Isabella studied Ethan closely, she did not look convinced and kept on looking at him intently before looking back at me, her expression perplexed, “NoMommy!

He is my daddy, look, we have the same eyes and nose. He is my father!” Isabella was defeated with unwavering certainty.

An uncomfortable silence enveloped the atmosphere as everyone sympathized with my disappointed girl and me.

The image was already etched in my mind. My child was yearning for parental love, unaware of who her biological father was, and I, the unfortunate single mother grappling with my child’s pain.

After Isabella’s continuous plea, Ethan cleared his throat before responding, “ I’m sorry Princess but I’m not your dad.”

Disappointment shimmered in Isabella’s eyes as she asked, “ Are you sure? Because you look exactly like my daddy.”

“ Trust me, Princess, I would definitely know if I am the one.” Her father assured her, unaware of the truth.

I felt my heart sank. I don’t know why Ethan’s response had so much effect on me, I felt like my heart was pierced in two different parts with a sharp-edged sword. All these and more were already causing a tense atmosphere and I know I had to divert their attention.

“You see Isabella, Mr Gomez is not your daddy. Now let’s not bother him, why don’t we go inside and unveil the gifts Mommy got for you.” I tried to convince my daughter but Isabella was resolute,

“No Mommy, I want to play with Daddy outside,” Isabella said, clinging to Ethan’s pants, unwilling to let him go.

Ethan on the other hand sensing the disappointment in Isabella’s eyes, leaned over and lifted her into his arms and said, “ But, I think I have an idea.”

I saw my little Princess face brightened with hope and excitement as she asked, “Which is?”

“ Since I will be staying here for a few days, we are going to play a little game alright? I will be your daddy for now until I leave. What do you think?” Ethan proposed a temporary situation which I assumed sounded perfect to my daughter, judging by the look in her eyes.

Even though it was a gesture of kindness for my daughter's sake, I did not want to accept but I reluctantly agreed to it. I can not deny the void that fatherly love left in my daughter's life, even if it wasn’t my fault.

With a mixture of resignation and acceptance, Isabella signed, “ Fine. But just so you know, you are my real father.”

In a bid to seek my approval, Ethan glanced my way and I nodded, acknowledging their temporary agreement. It was a small sacrifice I had to make for my child, to let her experience a semblance of a father's love, even if it was only temporary.

“ Very well then!” I declared, taking Isabella from Ethan’s arm and placing her back on her feet. “ Let’s go inside and see what mommy brought for her princess”

As I stepped back, my heels caught on something and I braced myself for an imminent fall. But before I could hit the ground, I felt a strong and skilled hand around me, preventing me from tumbling.

Lo and behold, Twas Ethan. Our eyes locked in a minute frozen in time, Ethan’s gaze piercing deep into my soul, my heart beating and racing with a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.

Isabella, witnessing the scene, filled with childish innocence and excitement, exclaimed, “Yayyy… Daddy caughtMommy!”

A crazy idea instantly began to form in my head. I was convinced that Ethan deliberately tripped me, his face glowing with undeniable triumph.

‘ I must be out of my mind, right? He wouldn’t do that,’

I thought and tried to shake off the absurd thought instantly.

With Ethan holding me firmly, I braced myself and stood back on my feet, and without uttering a single word to anyone else, I made my way inside the house.

We had dinner and after a long conversation with Timothy about the company’s and also my new status, since I would be taking over from Timothy there was so much for me to know about the company.

I later headed straight to bed. It has been a long day with so many dramatic scenes and I needed to cool off and take a long rest.

Even though I couldn’t bring myself to sleep, I tried my best to flush the images that came flashing back in my head, tossing to and fro on my bed, I forced myself to sleep, not knowing what the next day had in store for me.