Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 22

Daughter

It was in Spain where Ariah came into my life. I raised her with the help of the Fuentebella family. Noong una ay kinailangan ko pa siyang itago sa kanila dahil sa takot na baka pati sila ay paalisin at ayawan ako.

They were the only family I had. I worked as a helper in one of their wine shops. Oliver was there all the time at sinabi ko sa kanya ang nangyari sa akin bago aki napunta sa sitwasyong mayroon ako noon. Little did I know that Oliver was their son.

Hanggang sa isang araw ay dinala ako ni Oliver sa mansion nila. They welcomed me, not knowing about my pregnancy. They took me in without knowing about the child I was carrying.

I received so many hateful comments, and I thought of them in a negative way. I was afraid they would react the same way my own parents did when they found out about my pregnancy.

But I was wrong about them. Nagkamali ako ng pagkakakilala ko sa kanila. Eventually, they found out about my pregnancy, and they were mad not because I was pregnant, but because I kept it a secret from them.

Kung hindi dahil sa kanila ay wala ako ngayon dito. My life would be very different if it weren't for them. I am deeply grateful to the Fuentebella family, and nothing could repay the help they gave me, especially since they didn't have a daughter of their own.

At sila ang dahilan kung bakit ginusto kong makilala ni Ariah ang kanyang ama. I want her to have a father she can turn to when I'm no longer around.

I could feel the blood on my lower lip as I continued to bite it to suppress my emotions. I didn't want them to notice my tears, especially Arik, as I didn't want the attention to shift to me just because I was too happy.

"Y-You're my..." Arik couldn't continue his words to his daughter, cradling her in his arms and hugging her tightly.

"You're my... You're mine..." Arik whispered repeatedly.
"I... I thought I was just hallucinating, but it's true. You have my eyes, baby... You have every piece of me in you."

And you have mine in you, Arik.

I choked back a sob from the side as I watched the two of them. My heart warmed even more when Ariah lifted her little hands and held both sides of Arik's face, letting go of her unicorn completely.

"I'm sorry it took us long to come back..." Ariah mumbled in her sweet little voice.

I gasped at her words. I had no idea why that was the first thing she said to her father. Ramdam kong may nais pa siyang sabihin ngunit mas nananalo ang emosyon niya and she tried to hold it back.

"Mommy and I..." I saw her bite her lower lip, and she finally started sobbing.

Para akong pinipira-piraso habang nakikita ko ang tuloy-tuloy na pagkawala ng mga luha niya mula sa mga mata niya.

"I-I always wanted you to meet me, but it took so long..." she sobbed again.

"No one was defending mommy... so I always prayed that when you meet again... you would accept her again..." Ariah cried in her father's arms.

Her little arms wrapped tightly around Arik's, and there she quietly sobbed.

"D-daddy... I have a daddy now..." she continued sobbing.

"I've been waiting for this for so long... My friends at school would always tease me because they only saw mommy bringing me. Now, they won't be able to hurt me anymore because..." She beamed and looked up at Arik again, her tears flowing like mine.

"B-because... I have a daddy now..."

Tinutop ko ang bibig ko nang marinig ko iyon dahil sa hikbi na kumawala sa akin.