"It's not Jameson," she weakly uttered. "Then who is it? I know he's the only per--" Louisa's head lowered, "What I meant was his name is not Jameson. It's Mason." She corrected for the umpteenth time in years. "He's Gianna's father and he's back in the country." There was a hum from Marley, "Where's he been all this while?" "Australia," she muttered, "For further studies." She added as if it would hush her brother's rage towards him, that he didn't deliberately run away from his responsibilities. "Did he know you were with child?" His unusually cold voice froze her mouth for a split second. "He didn't." "Are you defending him?" "I'm not. He didn't know I was with child, for real, even though I was about telling him the day...the day I ran away from home but--" "But he didn't give you a listening ear," He sternly completed. "So he's back and wants to claim his rights as Gianna's dad, right?" Louisa bobbe

"Mum?" Gianna, who was already dressed in her pajamas and trudging to her bed, abjectly called. She buried half of her little body in her favorite mustard-tinted blanket. "Yes, Gianna?" With her mother halfway laid on the bed gently stroking her almost translucent caramel curls, she went on ahead, "will you forgive Mr. Mason now?" Louisa disclosed a mild frown, "what are you saying, Anna?" "Mr. Mason told me he hurt you that's why you don't like him and also, that's why you can't get married." "He said that?" Gianna nodded, "Mum, I really wish you forgive him you know, so he can be my daddy too." "But you already have a daddy." "Daddy Marley is married to aunt Zaphrina already, besides, he's my uncle, right? Mrs. Heather thought us the family tree yesterday and she said your mother's brother is your uncle." "Go to sleep, Anna," She calmly said, "we'll talk about this tomorrow, okay?" "Okay, mum, good night." Louisa kissed the chubby girl goodnight, regulated the bedside lamp

"Beautiful morning, everyone!" Dressed in a pair of black jeans beneath an oversized red hoodie, Louisa greeted with outstretched hands upon entering the office earning astonished looks from her employees. No one dared to reply for fear of a misunderstanding of any kind that may lead to being fired. She paused and frowned at silence, "didn't you hear me? I said beautiful morning," she repeated finally getting the attention and stutters she deserved before noisily squeaking her trainers on the marble floor toward the elevator. "Beautiful morning, Nerry." The latter almost choked on saliva at the sight of her boss, "uh...Miss Woods?" She called to make sure. "What? Why does everyone look like they've seen a ghost?" Nerry shook her head. "Hand me your mirror, I probably have some jelly or peanut on my cheek or something." She took a hand mirror from Nerry's shaky hands and examined her face. There was nothing on her face: her teeth were okay, her eyes weren't droopy or hadn't bags be

How was she going to do it? Confront her so-called father. What was she going to say to him? She sighed for the umpteenth time in an hour or so while waiting for Mason and Gianna. When a knock finally kicked her out of her reverie, she jutted for the door almost immediately. Her countenance fell when Marley came in sight. "Hey," she weakly greeted. "Were you expecting someone else?" Marley walked in. "Uh, yeah. A friend." "Okay. That explains the disappointment," he read his watch, "I won't be here for too long. Dad told me what happened." Louisa said nothing. "I just came to see that you're okay." "I'm fine. Thanks." She didn't want to talk too much for she didn't want him to stay longer than ten minutes. "You know I'm always here for you, right?" He assured. Louisa nodded. "You are my one and only annoying little sister no matter what." Louisa laughed as tears flooded her eyes. She rushed to him for a hug and then a little hit on his signature tuxedo-protected chest. "I don'

No morning kisses and cuddling, little to no words uttered during breakfast, an emotionless kiss, and a nonchalant goodbye before departing to work. All that broke Zaphrina to the core. Now she was preparing Bethany's milk, her mind so preoccupied that she mishandled Beth's feeding bottle causing its contents to spill. Right on cue, the little girl began to cry from her room. Zaphrina sighed in exasperation. Nathalie who had been silently watching her was quick to pick up the bottle and assure Zaphrina that she'll take care of the mess and prepare some milk. The young mother thanked her before dashing out of the kitchen. "Here," Nathalie said, handing Zaphrina the milk she had prepared. Bethany was still wailing despite her mother's bobbing efforts to calm her. "Thank you so much, Nathalie," she sat down after receiving the bottle. Her eyes were so tired and feeble that Nathalie feared the young mother will pass out any moment soon. "Thank goodness you made it earlier today. I wou