Chapter 3

Rosetta's POV

"Is she my new mommy, Daddy?" the little girl, who looked about seven years old, asked enthusiastically. She was wearing a pink dress, her hair was down, and she was holding a teddy bear.

Nicholas knelt in front of his daughter. He tucked her hair behind her ear and said, "Uhmm, if she agrees, baby."

I rolled my eyes.

Yes, he wants me to be his wife on paper and a mother to his daughter. I never imagined having a life like this. But his offer is tempting. He told me earlier that if I agree, he will pay my father's debt.

"Are you going to be my mommy?" she asked, giving me an innocent look.

I just stared at the child silently. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to say no, but her innocent face seemed so eager to have a new mother.

I moved closer to Nicholas's daughter and sat down so I could be at her level. I held her tiny face and asked, "Hmm, what's your name?"

"Zylia Mirai Rivas," she replied confidently. She didn't have any trouble pronouncing her name.

"That's a beautiful name... it suits your beautiful face," I said.

"You haven't answered my daughter's question, Rosetta," Nicholas said from beside me, so I glared at him. I gave him a look, but he just smirked in return.

Ugh, he's so annoying. What is this, am I going to be a mom that quickly? Last month, my boyfriend left me, and now I'm going to have a husband and a daughter?

"Please agree to be my mommy. I promise I'm well-behaved. I'm a good girl." There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

I turned my gaze away from Nicholas and back to his daughter. I fixed her hair and smiled.

"Okay. I'll be your new mom—" I couldn't finish what I was saying when she suddenly hugged me very tightly. I could feel her happiness, so I hugged her back.

I turned my gaze to Nicholas; he just gave me a warm smile.

"Thank you, Mommy. I'm so, so, so happy!" She started to kiss me on the cheeks, which made me giggle.

"Hey! Stop that, Zylia. Stop eating your mommy." Nicholas tried to pull his daughter away. He was trying to move her away from me, but the child clung to me like a gecko.

I just shook my head and picked up Zylia. Nicholas was surprised by what I did, but I ignored him. I put Zylia on the couch, and I sat beside her.

"Am I heavy, Mommy?" Zylia asked me.

I shook my head and smiled. "No... just right."

She pouted, which made me smile.

"Did you know that when I was a child, I was just like you?" I said, remembering the time when my mom was still alive and taking care of me. But when she died, it was as if I grew up alone. I never felt my dad's love after my mom was gone.

I miss being babied by a mother.

"Were you also big like me?" she asked innocently, bringing me back to reality.

I shook my head before answering. "I was just craving a mother's love, baby."

"Besides, there's nothing wrong with being fat, Zylia. You're cute and adorable, okay?"

She nodded her head. "Okay, Mommy. It doesn't hurt me when they call me fat."

My mouth parted. So, she's being bullied because of her appearance?

"That's right. Don't be hurt by what they say. Embrace yourself and tell them you're gorgeous like mommy."

"But they always told me that I don't have a mommy... that my mommy left me because I'm fat," she said, her voice getting softer and softer at the end. I don't know if Nicholas heard that.

I looked at Nicholas, and his brows were furrowed as he stared at us, his jaw clenched.

"Tell me the names of those kids who bullied you, Zylia. I'll make their lives a living hell," Nicholas said harshly, causing Zylia to cuddle closer to me.

"Hey! Watch your mouth. You're talking to a child. You're a bad influence!" I snapped at him and gave him a glare.

"Mommy, daddy is just being protective," Zylia said beside me, in a voice only the two of us could hear.

He clicked his tongue. "I just don't like my daughter being bullied, Rosetta."

"And cursing at them in front of your daughter is okay?" I asked him, trying to stay calm.

I faced Zylia and held her shoulders. "Baby, can you go to your room first? I'll just talk to your father."

Zylia nodded in response. She gave me a kiss on the cheek before leaving me and her dad here in the living area. I waited for Zylia to be completely gone before I spoke again.

"Where is Zylia's real mom?" I asked him, which made him look away.

"I don't know where she is. I just woke up and she was gone," he replied.

"Why didn't you look for her? Why did you let her classmates bully her?"

"I didn't know that was happening, Rosetta." He couldn't help but raise his voice, which made me fall silent. Something felt stuck in my throat.

It was as if I lost my voice because of his shouting.

"I'm sorry for shouting at you. I didn't mean to," he apologized. I just gave him a smile in response.

"Look... I didn't know Zylia was experiencing that in school. That's also one of the reasons I need you... she needs a mother figure like you, Rosetta," Nicholas said softly.

"Why me? You know—"

"Because I can see that you're a good person. I can't trust anyone. I can't find a woman like you," he interrupted me.

"How can you say that I am a good person—that I will be a good mother to your daughter?" I asked him again.

He smiled. "The first time I saw you, I knew you were a good person. The way you trusted me... I know you are a good person."

I looked away from him and cleared my throat.

"Don't worry, I'll pay your father's debt, and you will have a monthly allowance. Just be my daughter's mother..." he paused for a moment that made me turn my gaze to him. "And be my wife on paper. No strings attached. No commitments, just a contract."