Chapter 55 CHAPTER 58

Chapter 55 CHAPTER 58

“Mama Elsie!”
A bright, delighted squeal escaped Amethyst’s lips before she ran toward Elsie and her husband.
Elsie opened her arms wide and caught the child in a tight embrace.
“My first daughter,” she said affectionately, as though she never wanted to let go.
I stood off to the side, smiling as I watched the three of them. A faint ache tugged at my heart, but gratitude outweighed everything else. Elsie had always treated my daughter, Amethyst, as if she were her own flesh and blood, especially during the years when she and her husband had no children of their own. She visited often not to escape Manila, but simply to spend time with my daughter. Eventually, I stopped correcting Amethyst when she began calling her “Mama.”
“I missed you so much, my Amethyst!” Elsie showered the little girl’s cheeks with kisses, earning a fit of infectious laughter in return. “Look at you. You seem to get more beautiful every single day.”
Amethyst leaned against her and turned toward me, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“Of course. My Mommy is beautiful.”
The simple compliment made my eyes sting. I swallowed hard, holding back the tears threatening to surface, and forced a teasing smile.
“Why don’t you all head inside before the mosquitoes feast on you?”
Elsie wrapped an arm around Amethyst’s shoulders. Walking side by side, they entered the house looking every bit like a real mother and daughter.
“Manang Hilda cooked all your favorites, so go straight to the dining table and eat,” I called after them as I followed behind.
Elsie glanced back, her smile reaching from ear to ear.
“Manang Hilda! You will never forget my favorite dishes!”
The housekeeper emerged from the kitchen carrying another platter, her own smile just as wide.
“How could I forget? You text me every night reminding me to cook them whenever you’re coming to the mansion.”
“Thank you so much, Manang Hilda.”
“You’re welcome. Come on now, let’s eat while everything is still hot.”
I pulled out their chairs, and we all settled down for dinner.
As the meal went on, however, I gradually became a shadow at my own table.
Instead of Elsie and me catching up as old friends, it was she and Amethyst who filled the room with endless conversation. Their longing for each other was impossible to miss.
“Mama Elsie...” Amethyst asked hesitantly, gripping her fork with both hands. “Will you be the one coming with me to Family Day tomorrow?”
Elsie glanced briefly at me, silently asking if her answer was appropriate, before turning back to the child with a gentle smile.
“Of course, sweetheart. Your Papa Allen and I will both be there.”
Amethyst shifted her gaze to Allen.
Her eyes filled with pure gratitude, an emotion no child should have to feel simply because a father figure chose to be present.
“Papa, thank you for coming here. I love you,” my daughter whispered.
Allen’s expression softened. He gently patted her head.
“I love you too, my child. Papa will always be here for you.”
Seeing Amethyst happy made me happy too. What mother wouldn’t be?
But at the same time, it felt as though someone was stabbing my heart over and over again.
A crushing weight settled in my chest because I knew that, in moments like these, I had failed her.
I could give her every material thing in the world: a house, beautiful clothes, expensive toys but a father?
That was something I could never give her.
And I certainly had no intention of letting her know that the man who destroyed our lives was still alive.
I lowered my gaze to my plate. The food had lost all flavor.
Thank God for Elsie and Allen.
They somehow managed to fill the enormous void in my daughter’s life. The emptiness I could never erase on my own.
“Mommy...”
I looked up.
Amethyst was staring at me, her eyes soft and warm.
“Thank you. I know you asked them to come here.”
Something lodged itself in my throat.
I stopped eating and slowly rose from my chair. Walking over to her, I placed my hands on her shoulders.
I studied my daughter’s face, the face I had spent years protecting, only to realize that I had also become the reason for her loneliness.
“I’m sorry...” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m so sorry that I’m not enough to make you completely happy, sweetheart. But I promise... I promise Mommy will make it up to you.”
She offered a small smile. A smile far too mature for a child her age.
“It’s okay, Mommy. I understand.”
That was all it took.
I pulled her into a tight embrace, burying my face in her hair as silent tears slipped down my cheeks.
“Thank you, my princess. I love you so much.”
I pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek, pouring every unspoken apology into that single gesture.
Elsie discreetly wiped the corner of her eyes before breaking the emotional moment.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s finish eating so our princess can get some rest.”
“Okay... we can talk later,” I agreed, secretly brushing away my tears.
I returned to my seat and forced myself to continue eating, though the heaviness in my chest remained.
It was already eight o’clock that evening.
After making sure Amethyst was sound asleep, I quietly closed the door to her bedroom. Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my temples and headed out to the veranda where Elsie was waiting.
The cool night breeze greeted me.
Elsie sat beneath the dim porch light, quietly chatting with her husband. I approached them slowly.
“Mind if I join the conversation?” I asked.
Elsie turned to me and immediately teased me, trying to lighten the mood.
“You didn’t bring coffee? How are we supposed to have a proper conversation without coffee?”
Only then did I notice the two steaming mugs beside them.
I forced a smile and sat on the sofa across from them.
“I’ll have some later when I start working.”
The humor disappeared from Elsie’s face.
She looked at me, concern and disappointment mingling in her eyes.
“That’s right... you still have work tonight. How do you even manage all of this? Were you an octopus in your past life?”
This time, her laugh sounded strained.
Allen sighed and rose to his feet.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Looks like this is going to be a serious conversation. I’m heading to bed.”
He gave my shoulder a light pat before disappearing inside.
I simply nodded.
The moment he was gone, a heavy silence settled between us.
Elsie stared straight at me, her eyes brimming with frustration and concern.
“I already told you to quit your job, didn’t I?” she said firmly. “Why are you still working? Why do you keep pushing yourself like this?”
I looked away.
“I’m just waiting for the right time, Elsie. It’s not that simple.”
“The right time?”
Her voice rose slightly as her emotions finally broke through.
She grabbed my hand tightly, and I could feel it trembling.
“Think about your daughter for once! She already doesn’t have a father. Are you really going to deny her a mother’s time and care too because of that job?”
Every word struck like thunder, shaking what little strength I had left.
I swallowed hard, desperately searching for my voice as tears slowly began to fall.
“Aeros… he’s here. In this city.”
My voice trembled despite my efforts to stay composed. Fear crawled slowly through my chest, tightening its grip with every passing second.
Elsie shot me a sharp look, irritation evident in her eyes.
“You’ve already told me several times that Aeros is here,” she said. “So what if he is? Let him be.”
“He saw Amethyst.”
I tightened my hold on my coffee cup.
“He saw her up close when we ran into each other at a restaurant. Elsie… I’m scared.”
Elsie’s eyes widened briefly before her expression hardened into one of firm determination.
“Of course he’ll be suspicious. Your daughter looks exactly like him.” She leaned forward. “But listen to me, Lilith. Under no circumstances should you tell him that she’s his daughter. Deny everything.”
I nodded quickly, like a lost child searching for shelter.
“I pretended not to know him, but I felt like my heart was going to burst from panic. I’m terrified that one day he’ll suddenly introduce himself to Amethyst and tell her he’s her real father.” My gaze dropped to the table as tears threatened to fall. “I told my daughter that her father was dead.”
“That’s not good,” Elsie replied seriously. Her voice softened slightly, but the authority remained. “If Amethyst finds out the truth, she’ll think you lied to her. You’ll be the villain in her eyes, while that man becomes the victim.”
I drew a deep breath, struggling to calm the storm raging inside me.
“If I could move somewhere else right now, I would.”
“And why should you be the one running away?” Elsie slammed her hand against the table. “You shouldn’t be the one adjusting your life, Lilith. You shouldn’t be the one hiding. The nerve of Aeros after everything he put you through! Let him go crazy trying to find you. What you need to do is strengthen your resolve and make sure you never fall into his traps again. Don’t be foolish enough to make the same mistake twice.”
Silence settled between us.
Every word struck my heart. Painful, but true.
“You’re quiet because you know I’m right, aren’t you?” Elsie said, staring directly into my eyes as though she could read every thought in my mind.
“I won’t...” I whispered before raising my voice, trying to convince myself. “I won’t be fooled by him again.”
A bitter smile appeared on her lips.
“Well, I’ll believe that when I see it.”
I was about to defend myself when the shrill sound of my alarm clock shattered the seriousness of the conversation. It was a reminder that work awaited me.
“I need to get ready for work,” I said, forcing my voice into a lighter tone to hide the sadness. Standing up, I glanced at her. “That’s enough coffee for you. You won’t be able to sleep later. Thanks, Elsie.”
I left her with a small smile before turning away.

I woke up at five in the morning.
My body felt heavy from lack of sleep, but I forced myself out of bed and prepared for work. In the kitchen, I quietly helped Hilda prepare breakfast. While making vegetable sandwiches for the three of them to bring along, I couldn't help but smile.
Even though I knew they would probably eat outside during Family Day, I still wanted to feel useful as a mother.
“Lilith, go get yourself ready,” Hilda said, concerned with filling her voice as she placed a hand on my shoulder. “You look exhausted. I’ll take care of everything here.”
I nodded weakly.
“Alright, Manang Hilda. I’ll take a shower.”
I headed straight to the bathroom and let the cold water run over my body, hoping it would wash away the weight pressing down on me. Nearly twenty minutes later, I finally emerged, dressed and ready.
When I entered the dining room, I found Elsie preparing a glass of milk.
I walked over and forced some energy into my voice.
“Good morning!”
They both turned toward me.
The moment Elsie saw the dark circles beneath my eyes, she frowned.
“Wow. Are you even alive?” she asked sarcastically, though concern lingered beneath her words. “You worked last night, and now you’re going to work another eight-hour shift? Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“I’ve told her countless times to quit,” Hilda chimed in from the kitchen. “Especially when she works straight through weekdays. Her body can’t keep up anymore.”
“I managed to get four hours of sleep,” I argued weakly, despite feeling my knees trembling from exhaustion.
“Tsk.” Elsie set down her glass with a loud clink. “And you’re actually proud of four hours of sleep? I’m telling you, Lilith, quit your job before your body gives out. You can barely spend time with your daughter because of it.”
Her words stung, but I knew she was right.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.
“I know. I’m resigning this week. I’ve already spoken to my manager.”
Elsie let out a relieved sigh.
“I’m holding you to that. If you don’t quit, then forget about us being friends. I refuse to stand by and watch you work yourself to death.”
“I understand.” I forced a smile. “Come on, let’s eat. Everything should be ready by the time Amethyst wakes up.”
“Mommy! Mama! Papa!”
A cheerful voice suddenly filled the quiet house.
Amethyst.
All of us turned toward her.
She was walking toward us while rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her hair was a complete mess, but somehow it only made her look even more adorable.
In an instant, all my exhaustion faded away.
She was my strength.
I walked over, knelt in front of her, and gently combed through her tangled hair with my fingers.
“How did my little princess sleep?” I asked lovingly before kissing her forehead.
“I slept really well, Mommy! I’m so excited for our Family Day today!”
Her smile was bright, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
I smiled back, though a small ache tugged at my heart because I wouldn’t be able to join them.
“That’s good. Make sure you eat a lot so you’ll have plenty of energy for all the games with Mommy Elsie and Daddy Allen, okay?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! I’ll eat lots so we can win!”
“Good girl.”
I gently pinched her cheek.
She sat beside Elsie and happily began eating breakfast.
I watched her with quiet affection.
One thing I loved about Amethyst was that she was never a picky eater. Unlike most children, she ate whatever was served to her without complaint.
She was the perfect little angel in the middle of my chaotic life.
By seven in the morning, we were ready to leave.
With a heavy heart and a mind burdened by countless worries, I prepared to drive them to school before heading to another exhausting day at work.
“Ready, little champion?” Elsie asked with a smile while adjusting Amethyst’s backpack.
“Yes, Mommy! I’m super ready!”
Elsie turned to me.
In her eyes, I saw unwavering support and a promise of protection for both me and my daughter.
She smiled.
“Very good,” she said. “Let’s go.”
 By the time we arrived at Amethyst’s school, the campus was already packed with people. It was loud, chaotic, and overwhelming but none of that compared to the anxiety tightening in my chest.
I escorted Amethyst to her classroom first, desperately trying to calm my nerves. However, as we walked down the corridor, the principal suddenly stepped in front of us.
“Good morning,” Principal Marlyn greeted with a bright smile.
I forced a smile of my own, hiding the tension beneath it. “Good morning, Principal Marlyn.”
“I’m so glad you could make it! Your children will surely be happy,” she said cheerfully before lowering her voice as though she were sharing a secret. “But you’ll be even happier because we have a very special guest today. He’s here to give an inspirational talk to the parents.”
“Oh, really?” I replied nervously, noticing that she had mistaken Elsie and Allen for a married couple with a child in the daycare program.
“Oh, there he is,” Principal Marlyn said, glancing behind us. “Mr. Mariano!”
My world seemed to stop.
“Mariano?”
The name nearly knocked the soul out of me.
“Hello, Ma’am!”
That familiar voice.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
This wasn’t the fear of seeing a ghost. It was something far worse, the creeping terror that, in a single moment, Aeros might discover the truth I had hidden for so long.
That we had a child together.
Sweat beaded on my forehead as my heart pounded wildly against my ribs.
“Amiga! I’m glad you brought your husband today!” Elsie suddenly chimed in.
Her voice was unusually loud, almost as if she had done it on purpose.
Thankfully, both Elsie and Allen were wearing oversized sunglasses. I knew Aeros wouldn’t recognize them immediately.
I looked at Elsie, my eyes wide with panic and confusion at her sudden performance.
Before I could say anything, Allen gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer.
“Love, who’s that?” he asked calmly, though there was enough emphasis in his voice for the approaching Aeros to hear.
I swallowed hard.
Only then did I realize what they were doing.
They were covering for me.
Forcing my trembling lips into a smile, I tried to play along.
“Honey... She's my Amiga. Her child goes here too,” I said, acutely aware of Aeros’s piercing gaze drilling into the side of my face.
To anyone watching, we looked like a happy family.
Inside, however, I was silently begging the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
“Oh, I see,” Allen replied in a brief, serious tone.
Before Aeros could get any closer, Elsie quickly grabbed my arm.
“Come on, let’s go check on our kids. They might already be crying inside.”
Then she turned to the principal with obvious urgency.
“Goodbye, Principal!”
Elsie practically dragged me away. Our hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway, fueled by fear and desperation.
Only when we reached a secluded corner and were certain that man wasn’t following us did I finally breathe again.
Even then, my hands continued to shake.
“Damn it! Why is Aeros here of all places? That jerk really knows how to ruin everything!” Elsie snapped, planting her hands on her hips as fury radiated from her.
“Please take care of Amethyst for me...” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “I’m going to work. I need to get out of here.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Elsie shot back firmly.
“Huh? I thought you two were the ones accompanying Amethyst today?” I asked in confusion, tears already threatening to spill from my eyes from the whirlwind of emotions.
“That was the plan. But now that that bastard is here, you can’t just run away,” Elsie said, gripping both my shoulders to steady me. “You and Allen should pretend to be husband and wife. Make it clear that you already have a family of your own and that you’re happy without him.”
“But... What about my job? What about our livelihood?”
“You’re resigning tomorrow anyway, so stop worrying about that for now,” Elsie said, trying to calm me down.
I looked at Allen. He took my hand reassuringly.
“Elsie’s right,” he said gently but firmly. “Let’s pretend we’re married... for your protection and for Amethyst’s sake.”
I took a deep breath, forcing down the lump in my throat.
“Okay... It’s not like I have a choice.”
“Good. Let’s call Amethyst and explain the plan. She’s a smart kid. She’ll understand and cooperate,” Elsie said as she composed herself.
“Okay...”
In the end, I had no choice but to skip work entirely.
Exhausted, I leaned weakly against the wall.
Damn you, Aeros.
No matter how much time passes, you always find a way to ruin my life.