Part 14

In Claire's car.

Right after the car door closed, Abigail squealed as she shook Claire's arm. "Oh my goodness auntie..." Her loud voice made Claire immediately cover her ears. "Why didn't you say that Claire's father is crazy handsome?" she blurted out with both hands patting her cheeks.

Claire glanced at her niece as she raised one eyebrow before releasing her handbrake and driving the car again. "I don't understand what you're thinking. So is Flavia's father handsome or crazy?" She said flatly.

Abigail spluttered at her aunt's words. "Don't play dumb. Next time, if you see a handsome man, share it with me. Don't collect it for yourself." " Abigail complained with pouting lips.

Claire rolled her eyes. "You think men are objects, you can just collect them. Besides, he's the same age as your father, do you really intend to attract old men?"

Abigail clucked loudly. "Who said that I was going to lure an old man? I mean, if one day you meet a handsome, sexy and seductive man, let me know. Who knows, he could be the perfect uncle for me. I definitely don't want my aunt to marry a man who is neither handsome nor attractive."

"What do you mean?" Asked Claire with her eyebrows knitted together.

" “I just want you to find the right match.” She said with a meaningful smile. “And I'm still annoyed with you and Flavia for hiding the fact that Antony Quirino is that handsome and attractive. He's exactly the kind of guy that comes out in romance novels.”

“Your teenage brain is too mature to define a man like a novel character. Does your mom know that you're a bit of a fantasizer?” Claire's sneer. “After all, I don't know him that well that I have to introduce him to you personally. Remember, he's your best friend's father and he's my boss, not my boyfriend. Did Flavia never introduce her father or show you a picture of him?” Claire asked curiously.

"Only once, and that was from an old photo. Honestly, he didn't look as handsome in the photo as he did up close." Abigail chuckled. "Besides, you know that Flavia doesn't get along with her father, so there's no way she'd introduce me to him. You saw for yourself a moment ago that Flavia actually looked afraid of her father. Yet behind her father's back, Flavia often praised him. Flavia loves her father very much, but you can see for yourself how Flavia's father treats Flavia. Their relationship is strange."

Claire chuckled at her niece's nagging. She raised her right hand and rubbed her niece's head affectionately. Claire didn't know how the two teenagers' friendship started. What was clear was that Abigail seemed to care and look out for Flavia. The girl's affection for her best friend was probably more than a sisterly bond. That's why Claire could understand the frustration Abigail felt for her best friend's father.

"Do you think Flavia's father will let her stay with me or not?" Abigail asked curiously. Claire glanced at her center mirror and then nodded her head. "Why would he?"

"Because their car followed mine." The answer is simple.

While in Antony's car.

Silence filled the small room. Both Antony and his daughter Flavia looked confused and didn't know how to start the conversation.

Deep in Antony's heart, he actually felt guilty for his daughter who had grown up without his attention.

Antony saw his daughter's view from the center mirror. The beautiful teenager with thick black hair that curled at the bottom was looking out the window with a stiff body.

Her face, as a whole, always reminded Antony of his unpleasant past. On his love story that ended in betrayal by his daughter's own mother. But should Antony blame his daughter for his ex-wife's betrayal? Antony too looked away and also looked out of the window.

No, I don't. He replied silently.

However, Flavia was innocent. Flavia never asked to be born to parents like himself and her ex-wife. His daughter was born clean, pure and without sin. Antony was at fault here for ignoring her just because the sight of her made him feel he was seeing her ex-wife.

Can he make amends? Does she still have time to bring her daughter back to her side? Will she still be able to forgive him?

"Papa?" Flavia's soft, shy-sounding voice made Antony turn his head. "Can I stay at Aunty C's?" She asked hesitantly. "I've got all my textbooks and supplies ready for school tomorrow. But if you don't let me, I'll come home with you and we won't have to follow Aunty C's car."

For the first time in thirteen years since her daughter was born, it seemed like the first time the girl had made a direct request of Antony.

Should Antony turn her down? If he allows her to stay over, will Flavia assume that he doesn't want to spend time with her?

Antony looked at his daughter in the darkness of the car. "Are you sure your whereabouts won't inconvenience your friend's aunt?" He asked cautiously. Flavia was silent as she looked at her interlaced fingers. "I won't stop you from staying at your friend's aunt's house if you feel comfortable there and don't inconvenience her." She continued straightforwardly.

Flavia looked up and smiled very sweetly. She nodded her head enthusiastically. "I promise I won't bother Aunty C." She exclaimed enthusiastically.

Antony just nodded his head, smiling at his daughter. Antony unconsciously reached out and gently rubbed his daughter's head. This surprised Flavia and she looked back at her father with a mesmerized look.

'My daughter, you're already this big.' Antony's heart sank.

Antony obviously didn't expect his little baby to grow up so fast and turn into such a beautiful girl. He felt ashamed of himself and of his daughter for not taking the time to get to know her properly and hiding behind the word work.

Honestly, Antony had been jealous that Flavia was much closer emotionally to Antony's own cousin Altezza than to Antony himself. And deep down, Antony vowed to make amends. From this day on, Antony promised to pay more attention to his daughter. He would love her more. That was the reason why he decided to stay in Kansas while his parents were away.

But he didn't know where to start.

Antony saw the car they had been following. Claire. I don't know if this is called fate or not, but the figure that had been bothering him for some time made him surprised because she had recognized his daughter first. Claire was even a step or several steps ahead of Antony. Can she help Antony win Flavia's trust?

Yes. Antony thinks she can. Claire and her niece, Abigail, could be the bridge that brings him and Flavia closer together.

Their car continued to follow the car driven by Claire. Antony frowned slightly when Claire pulled the car into the street food parking lot.

"We're eating here?" Antony looked at Flavia skeptically. Then looked around to see what the situation was.

Flavia, who was about to get out of the car, turned to look at her father and nodded her head. "This is Aunty C's favorite place, Dad. The food is really good." She said again looking enthusiastic.

Enough, seeing such a happy look made Antony not want to say much. Finally, he got out of the car. Outside, Abigail had already extended her hand to Flavia and they followed where Claire was going.

"Since you're the richest here, you're buying us food, right?" Abigail said to Antony as they walked into one of the shabby-looking yet crowded taverns.