Chapter 52

I’m still staring at the sky, I’m still not leaving the unit because I still don’t understand what’s going on, what’s written on that paper. I don’t know if I’ll believe that because I’ve seen it myself. I know him, he’s good at deceiving, so I don’t know if I’ll believe what he says.

I smiled bitterly.

It doesn’t matter if I believe or not because four years have passed. And in those four years, I’m sure he was happy with his life in Manhattan with Ashley.

“We met in Spain, you saw our children. You were not able to tell me the truth, but you were able to tell me that you would not interfere in my life. You are different Zaffiro,” I said angrily.

I consumed the remaining coffee in the cup. I just shredded that paper and put it in the trash in my room. I went out and decided to say goodbye to Nelly.

“I’ll come back here, next time I’ll take the children so you can meet them,” I smiled and then handed the thick envelope to her.

“Oh! I can’t accept that—”

“That’s not enough for everyone. Accept that so you can save something. I’m leaving, be careful.” I didn’t wait for what she would say because I got in the car right away.

I tried to erase from my brain what I had read before, if I could just laugh at it I would have done it. It was late at night when I arrived at the mansion, from a distance I could clearly see the increasing number of cars parked on the left. I don’t know who the visitor was or came, there were five cars there and so on in the car on the right. I parked mine on the right. I decided to go down and from here outside I immediately saw Inah running because of the open curtain in the living room that penetrated here.

“Ma!” Inah shouted still arguing.

When I got to the main door I slightly bent down to kiss it. Smiling, she pinched my cheek and then hugged my thigh. Later, Van looked around, obviously he hadn’t memorized the road yet because he was going to go to the back of the house.

“Banban! Mama is here,” my daughter called.

Its rugged face was replaced by a smile, it soothed and quickly kissed my cheek.

“Have you eaten?” she asked immediately then I nodded.

They held my hand until we could enter the living room. That’s where it all opened up to me. They were silent especially Vernon who approached me then kissed me on the cheek. After that he returned to his father, only now I noticed him.

“Long time no see, Veron,” he smiled then stood up.

I don’t know what’s going on with me, every time a new person comes to the mansion I get nervous and restless.

“Von,” I smiled at him and kissed his cheek, as before it messed up my hair. I snorted causing others to laugh.

“I’m not young anymore,” I muttered.

“I know,” he winked then returned to his wife’s side still staring at the children.

“I’ll just take care of it, I’ll come down later,” I said with a smile.

Not escaping my eyes how Von stared at my children, I also noticed that there were two suitcases near the sofa, he had just arrived.

“I’m fine,” Inah said leaping.

I immediately took her hand andjust left Van with the others talking to her. While on the stairs the story was pure, I couldn’t help but smile because on the first day they were here she seemed happy with what was happening.

“Grandpa Zenos cooked a lot of dishes, and eggs, mama, then Vernon and I played, Uncle Lucas taught us the hideout, because he played with someone there, mama, with a lot of leaves, that he was chasing. Vernon and Banban stumbled upon us,” he said with a nod.

When we entered the room it deliberately sat on the end of the side of the bed.

“Then? What happened next?” I asked while taking a change of clothes.

“Then mama, we went to the big house, which is very big,” she said drawing in the absence of the big what.

She was referring to a company. I changed my clothes in front of her so that I could hear what else the story was.

“There are a lot of people mama there, they pinch my cheek, hmm! Inah doesn’t want to be there anymore.” She was holding her cheek and was about to cry. “Then Banban who always smiles at them, who pinches here but he won’t get angry. When I pinch, he becomes an angry bird, mama, yes,” she nodded.

Laughing I sat down next to her to comb her long hair, I really couldn’t afford not to do it for an hour.

“Are you happy?” I asked softly as I watched her in front of the mirror.

It puffs out her cheek and lengthens her snout, she looks at my reflection then nods.

“Yes, but I’m more happy if papa is here. When will he come home? You’ll find him, won’t you?” she asked, turning to me. “Dad isn’t in Spain, Banban said ma, maybe he works here, will you look for him earlier?” its tender question.

I don’t know what to answer, I don’t know if I’m going to lie again or just keep quiet. It is very difficult to lie especially to an innocent child who has nothing to do with everything.

I adjusted her sleeping Victorian white dress then touched her chin, lightly pinched her plump cheek, and kissed her forehead.

“Mama will find papa, okay?” I could clearly see how my daughter’s eyes shone, I rarely see my child like this, very rarely. To her great delight, she hugged me and then kissed my forehead, as her father had kissed me before.