Chapter 21: I'm Your Father (unedited)

Max gripped her wrist rather tightly than his usual gentle self. He had no hold himself even if he wanted to suppress his anger. He wanted answers and his mind could see nothing except that. Angela tried to break free but to no avail. It was like he was dragging her forcefully. But Angela kept mum, which was like a fuel to his burning rage. Max made her to sit inside his car, trying to be as gentle as possible.

“Wait for us outside!” he ordered his driver. Once he got the desired privacy, he made her to face him. “Now explain me!” he demanded; his voice reflected his lack of patience.

Angela moved away “what’s there to explain? It looks like you have already known everything you wanted to know. And there is no use in explaining myself when you don’t even trust me.” She huffed in irritation. Max exhaled breath to calm his nerves. He pushed his hairs back and took her both palms in his hand gently.

“I wouldn’t have asked for your explanation in the first place if I didn’t trust you. It’s just…. just…. I thought you would share your things with me. To know that the one you like is hiding something from you is downright hurt.” He let his guard down and allowed her to see the vulnerability behind his eyes.

Angela’s heart skipped a bit when her mind registered his words. Is he…… is he confessing to me indirectly? God damn it…. He makes it so hard to get mad on him…. Humph… I hate him……

“Alright I’ll tell you but promise me that you will trust me” she requested in a low voice. He squeezed her hands in assurance. “I trust you more than my instincts” his voice though gentle was firmer than anything else she had experienced. On the other hand, her heartbeat was faster than ever. Wh…what’s wrong with him? Moreover, what’s wrong with me!!!! Why am I feeling so giddy from his words? She tried to catch breath…. which was stopped after listening his words.

“Umm… the girl….is actually my daughter…” she mumbled. She didn’t fail to notice a slight disappointment in his eyes. She spoke again quickly “No, no I mean not my daughter…. shit… I mean she is my daughter but not my own blood. I adopted her two years ago. When I lived in Brazil, there was a maid who used to take care of me. She was very close to my heart… in fact she was like my best friend. Unfortunately, one day, she died in a car accident. That was really a tough time for me and I came to know that she had no one in her family except her daughter Racheal. After her death, I decided to look after Racheal and so I went to visit her and when I looked into her eyes… I saw….” She paused in the middle, her voice was on the verge of breaking.

“You saw yourself on her place. You felt like you can understand her more than anyone else in this world. And when you looked at her innocent eyes, you felt the greatest urge to protect her from all the troubles you faced yourself in childhood.” Max completed the rest of the sentence for her.

Angela gazed in his deep ocean like blue eyes. His eyes were screaming all the unsaid words of his heart… for the first time she felt like there was someone who understands her the most… this was more intimate than any other action. “Yeah…yeah exactly like that” she mumbled.

Max closed his eyes in guilty and rubbed his face with his palms “Damn it… I am such an ass…. I acted harsh on you without even listening to your words. I hate myself so much” he muttered incoherently.

“Hey, hey don’t do that” she clutched his palms to stop him. Max looked at her deeply. His keen gaze startled her. What’s the meaning of this look? Angela speculated. She started to sweat when he leaned in. before she could register, he entwined his palm with her hair and rested his forehead on hers.

“I’m so, so sorry Angela. Will you please give me one more chance and forgive me this time?” he whispered, his face dangerously close to hers. On the other hand, the only thing that she could register was his hot breath fanning her face gently, igniting sparks of desire inside her.

“N... now that you are here, why don’t you come and visit the orphanage?” she murmured whatever first came in her mind. She just wanted to move away from his proximity because she feared that she would lose her senses if he continued like that. Placing her palm on his chest, she tried to distance herself.

“yeah, why not” he breathed out, his voice was husky. He straightened his tie and composed himself. Meanwhile Angela came out of the car to breath fresh air. She placed her palm on her heart to calm herself. Oh my god…he is too much.

“Lead the way” she jolted as he spoke suddenly. This would be the first time Angela would be taking someone to the orphanage. Even Romeo, the person closest to her, was unaware about her secret daughter. But now she was going to take Max with herself, and she didn’t know why but she didn’t feel awkward about it. She was busy contemplating her current situation as she walked to the orphanage, at the same time she could sense Max’s presence silently following behind her.

When they entered inside the orphanage, Max saw a little girl sobbing around the corner. He immediately recognized the girl as the same girl who he saw with Angela that time. The moment she saw them coming towards her, she ran eagerly towards their direction. The little girl threw herself at Angela

“I knew that you will come momma” she chimed, her watery eyes sparkled as she looked at her.

Angela crouched to her level and ruffled her hair affectionately “how can I not come when such a beautiful little fairy is waiting for me? You are too cute to leave behind, sweetie” she kissed her cheeks.

“Did you forget something Angela?” the caretaker came behind the little girl.

“No, I didn’t forget anything lily. I just came again to meet Racheal with this gentleman” Angela gestured at Max, who stood dumbfounded behind her.

Lily (caretaker) was stunned when she saw the person standing behind Angela. She never saw Angela bringing someone to the orphanage and not to mention a man as handsome as the person standing in front of her eyes. In nutshell, she was utterly mesmerized with his charming appearance. The handsome man carried himself with a magnetic aura and power he gave out was undeniable. He must be filthy rich, lily thought. “Umm, who is he, Angela?” lily forgot to blink as she gawked at the man.

Max, who was dazed by the scene in front of him, came to his senses when he heard a question directed to him. He cleared his throat to get back his voice “Hi, I’m Maxwell Harrison” he said in a boyish manner.

Lily giggled at this. “Nice to meet you Mr. Harrison. I’m Lily, Racheal’s care taker.” She spared a glance at Angela “Are you Angela’s boyfriend?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s not like….” Angela spoke quickly but was interrupted by Max.

“Yes, I’m her boyfriend” he grinned goofily. Lily looked forth between them and smiled, they really make a perfect couple. She concluded.

Before Angela can object him, she was surrounded by lots of little children. “Angel aunty! Come with us, we will show you our new tree house” a boy among the group invited her.

“oh really! Take me there Johnny” she chirped enthusiastically. They ushered her to the garden at the backside of the orphanage. Max quietly followed behind them. He observed her every moment keenly. She paid extra attention to every child’s words and her faced glowed as she played along with them. He had seen her smiling and laughing many times but something was really different about this. He was so engrossed in staring her that he completely ignored Racheal standing beside him.

Racheal tugged at his pant meekly to seek his attention. He looked down in daze and a small smile made way through his face. He crouched down to her level and took her little hands in his palms. “hey” he tried to talk to her. Racheal looked hesitant; she didn’t say anything. “you won’t play with them?” he asked softly. She simply shook her head.

Racheal seemed to think something, after a minute she asked “have you travelled in an aeroplane?” Max chuckled at this, what?? Why would she ask such a question? He wondered. He ruffled her hair “of course darling I’ve travelled in an aeroplane. In fact, I have one of my own.” He saw a glimmer in Racheal’s eyes.

“Will you take me to fly in it?” she asked again.

“yeah, I promise I will”

“umm what should I call you?”

“Hmm.” Max scratched his jaw to show her his confusion. “what do you call her?” he pointed at Angela who was still busy with the children.

Racheal looked at Angela and then looked at him again. “you don’t know? She is my momma so I call her momma” she answered as if it was the most obvious thing in this world.

“Oh, I see…. so if you call her momma……then you can call me your papa??” he suggested with a broad grin.

Rachael's eyes widen in surprised “are you really my dad?” she asked, still not satisfied.

“Yup, if Angela is your momma then I’m definitely your dad” he nodded his head. “now call me Papa” he requested in excitement.

A bright smile graced Rachael's cute little face as she slowly absorbed his words and her eyes twinkled. She looked as excited to call him papa as he was to hear her calling him papa. “Papa!”

As soon as Max heard her call him papa with an utterly sweet voice, a lump formed in his throat. The feeling was so overwhelming that he felt a strange pain. This title seemed to be the best tittle in the world for him. He hoisted her small body and hugged her with utmost love. I don’t know what is this but it’s a very pleasant feeling.

Angela saw Max hugging Rachael dearly. The look in his face was priceless. What’s going on here? She excused herself from the children and made her way towards Max. he was so lost in hugging Rachael that she had to tap his shoulder to bring him back from his own different realm.

“will someone tell me what’s happening here?” an amused smile played across her lips.

“oh, it’s nothing” he stroked Rachael's head lovingly “It was just a formal introduction”.

Angela looked at Rachael and sighed dejectedly. “I think it’s the time we should head back” she said to Max. Although she hated this idea but she feared that spending more time with Rachael and other children will make it difficult for her to part with them and at this moment she could not afford this luxury.

On the other hand, Rachael's features fell in sadness. She had gone through this situation countless times so she knew not to protest. She gazed hopefully at Max “You will keep your promise, right papa?”

“I wont break this promise for world sweetheart” he kissed her rosy cheek.

Angela looked at them happily when something registered in her mind “wait…what??? Papa?? Since when did you….”

Max interrupted Angela in the middle. “you think too much, Angela. Aren’t you getting late now?”

Angela was sure that she heard Rachael calling him Papa but she decided not to press on this anymore. “Alright, I’m going to say goodbye to lily” she informed him and went ahead.

As soon as Angela disappeared, Max looked down at Rachael. At the same time Rachael looked at him curiously and somehow, he knew what she wanted to ask. He just pressed his index finger on his lips and winked at her suggestively.

Rachael nodded her head and smiled in return, understanding what her papa wanted to say.