Chapter 16
Steven wasn’t in the mood all day. All of the employees in the office were avoiding him. Everyone gets scolded by him because a week passed without a text or call from Ria.
“Why is it like this?” He asked his secretary who almost trembled with fear. Steven’s voice was a bit calm but everyone knew that he’s mad.
“Who did this? What do you think of this job? Just a game?” Steven threw the papers in the trash.
Sora, his secretary, left looking pale while Steven’s father, who was looking at his son, just shook his head. Don Alvante entered the office and asked his assistant to leave him for a moment.
“Dad,” Steven stood up to greet his father.
“Is there a problem son?”
“No dad. I’m sorry for that. I’m just stress lately.”
Steven’s father is a good man. His name was famous in the business industry before passing the throne to Steven. He is respected by the big bosses of Asia. A successful business tycoon in the country that’s why many people knew the Alvante.
“Are you sure? You seem hot-headed.”
“Yeah. Anyway dad, can you please help me convince mom? I want Amanda to leave me alone. She’s not welcome to my house dad and I’m telling you that I’m not really the child’s father.” Steven added while handing the beer to his father.
Don Alvante was a little surprised when he saw the beer. ‘Why is there beer in the office?’
“You know what son, I don’t know why your mom agreed to Amanda’s wishes. I don’t think she doesn’t believe you. She must have a reason.” His father said.
“And I already told her about that but she didn’t listen. I love your mom so I just let her do the things she pleases to do.”
“Well try harder dad. You might be able to convince her.” Steven couldn’t hide his annoyance and frustrations thinking about his situation with Amanda
“What’s your problem if she’s living with you? I thought she was your girlfriend.” Don Alvante said while looking at his son. In his mind, he already knew the reason. He just wanted Steven to confess everything.
“Well dad, you’re too late of the news. We’re done and I want someone else. We broke up 6 years ago. She cheated on me when we were together so why would I want her?”
There. That’s what the Don wanted to hear. It’s his first time seeing his son like that.
“Well, that’s not what we heard from her. She said, you’re still in touch with each other even though you’ve been separated.”
“What? And you believe her? Well.. News flash, I’m into someone else and obviously, she’s not that someone.”
“So you have a new one now. What is she looks like?” The Don asked. Steven looked at him.
“Well dad.. She’s amazingly beautiful.” Steven couldn’t help but smile as he looked into the void.
“Really?” Don Alvante asked, still looking at his son. From what he observed, his heir is confirmed to be in love with someone and he’s thrilled to meet the woman who drove his son crazy.
“Yes dad.”
“I wanna meet her,” he added and Steven suddenly looked at his father.
Don Alvante noticed the changes in his son’s expression so he became even more intrigued.
“I think she’s in a relationship with someone else dad.” Steven said.
‘In relationship but my son is crazy in love with her? What potion did that girl use on my son?’ The Don thought.
“And she has a child,” Steven added, surprising his father even more.
“What? In that case… So why?”
“I don’t know dad. I just feel it and I think it’s impossible for me to stop it.”
His father was silent. For Mr. Alvante, there’s no case if his son marries anyone as long as the woman his son wanted is a good person. But he wondered why his son still likes a woman who’s in relationship with someone. Not to mention that that woman has a child already.
Mr. Alvante knew Steven. His son is arrogant but smart and fierce in business.
Mr. Alvante also knew the reason of his wife why she let Amanda live with Steven. His wife wanted the best for their son and Steven is no longer in his 20s.
For his wife, Steven needs to settle down so she’s hoping that her son’s feelings for Amanda will be develop again.
Obviously his wife fond of Amanda because Amanda’s late mother was his wife’s best friend. His son and Amanda were used to being best friends until they grow up.
Mr. Alvante understand his son but he doesn’t want his son to be with someone who’s in relationship with someone else and already has a child. It’s a big no for him.
Don Alvante hesitantly smiled at Steven before saying goodbye.
Before the day ended, Steven took the cellphone and went straight to his condo. One week has passed since he learned the truth that Ria has a child.
It’s been months since he visited his condo.
He did nothing but to clean. He’s pretty tired and he missed Ria so damn much.
Steven couldn’t help but to remember her again. He wanted to see her face again. He wanted to hear Ria’s voice again. He cursed.
He took his phone.. ‘I’ll text you, Ria. I think I’m dying, baby.. I missed you so damn much!’
He took the courage to send Ria a text message but an hour passed, he didn’t receive a reply from her and he’s mad again to the bottom of his core.
“Fvck shit! Why are you not replying? God!”
He’s getting angry every time an image of Ria with her boyfriend crossed his mind.
He looked at the clock and saw that it was 8 in the evening. He was just sitting on the couch and he felt that the clock was making too much noise. It’s like, it’s calling him to leave and go see Rialyn.
Steven stood up and went to the car. He’s ready for what might happen. He could feel it too. The moment when he was with the girl, he felt that Ria was genuine to him. That she likes him too.
Steven went straight to Divine’s house where Ria live.
He immediately approached the gate of the house but the gate opened and Agatha came out with her daughter.
Steven wondered when he saw Agatha. And vice versa, cause Agatha’s jaw dropped when she saw Steven standing outside the gate. ‘What the hell! Why is he here?’ Agatha thought.
“Hon,” both of them looked at Kael who just came out from the house. He didn’t notice Steven yet.
“Daddy,” Oceanie shouted, very happy to see her daddy.
“Hello princess. Where’s my kisses?” Kael was talking to her daughter and laughed when his princess gave him lots of kisses as he cuddled up to him.
“Kael,” Steven said so Kael looked at him. Kael’s forehead furrowed wondering why his lovesick friend was standing outside the house of his wife’s best friend.
“Hey man, why are you here?” Kael asked.
‘This is the address where I sent Ria after we came back from the island. Why the hell Kael is here?’ Steven thought.
STEVEN
Why Kael is here?
“Why are you here?” I asked Kael.
“I’m picking up my wife and my daughter. You?”
‘So what is his wife doing at Ria’s house?’
I looked at Agatha who’s now nervous. Based on her reaction a while ago, I think she already knew me other than the fact that I am her husband’s buddy.
I could feel it. Is she hiding something from me?
“Why are you here?” I asked Agatha.
“Hey, what’s wrong Steven? This is the house of my wife’s best friend, Divine. But Rialyn was the one who’s currently living here.”
What?
“That’s why they’re here.” Kael added.
And then I remembered their conversation one week ago at the club. So that’s it. The Ria they talked about and MY Ria are the same?
I couldn’t believe it. And then Agatha, why do I feel like, she already knew me at that time when Kael introduced us last week?
“Don’t tell me that the Ria you are referring to is-” Kael
“Daddy who’s he? Is he V’s daddy?” Kael couldn’t continue what he was going to say because of what their daughter said.
I frowned because of that.
“Anie, baby, come on, mommy forgot something. Let’s go back inside the house darling.” Agatha took her daughter from her husband. Why do I really feel like she’s hiding something from me?
“Mommy, V will be happy when he finds out that his daddy visits here.” I heard their daughter said again before they went inside.
When I looked at Kael, his jaw dropped while his eyes widened.
“Daddy?” I asked Kael about what his daughter just said. Who is V? Ria’s son? Is the father of Ria’s child not with them? I thought-wait.. I’m confused.
I was suddenly nervous. Sh*t!! Don’t tell me… But how? Damn! I’m so confused. Did I get it wrong? Am I wrong?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
“Sh*t! I didn’t know.” Kael’s words made me even more scared. What’s happening now?
Based on his reaction..
“Man, I’m sorry. I think… God! I’m stupid” What does Kael mean? Why is he saying sorry to me? I have a hunch but it’s beyond possible, right?
“What do you mean, Akhael?”
“Kael, stop it.” Agatha went out with a woman. It must be one of her friends.
“So it’s confirmed?” Kael asked his wife while I just looked at them like a fool. I’m completely lost.
“Yes honey,” Agatha answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me, hon? He deserves to know.” Kael said, frustrated.
“I didn’t know either Kael. I didn’t know it was him. I found out late and besides, it’s her choice so we should respect it.” Agatha answered. Are they having a quarrel now? Really? I’m still confused about what’s going on.
First, I just found out that the Ria I know, and they Ria they were talking a week ago were the same.
Second, their daughter said, that I’m the daddy of her friend named V. Who’s V, by the way? Is it Ria’s son?
And why Kael is acting weird? What are they talking about?
Lastly, I have a feeling that I and this Hivo are somehow connected.
“Steven, you better go and see Ria at the hospital.” The woman said who was with Agatha who went out earlier. She knew my name and that’s weird.
“Divine,”
“Angie, he deserves to know and I think it’s time. He’s here now so he better go. Ria is fighting the battle alone for Hivo. It’s time for this man to step up.”
At this time, I don’t know what to feel. I’m nervous and I don’t know why. My heart is pounding fast.
They gave him the address of the hospital and I immediately drove the car to the hospital. To Ria. God! I have conclusion in mind. Am I right?