Once a Wife [English Version]

Chapter 13

"WHAT is he doing there, Maricar?" She called her sister right after letting Dominic in her house. Call her stupid but she couldn't push him anymore after he begged.

"Ate, he has a point. I can't punish him ---"

"Do you even hear what you're saying?" Maricris blurted out, "Wait for me and I'll just finish my work!" She immediately dropped the call.

What are you doing Maricar? She asked herself. She knew that this is not right and could lead to disaster but, how could she deprive her children of the chance to meet their biological father?

How could she see Gryffin and Slyther's face asking about him? Their eyes longing for proof and ears longing for answers.

"Icang?" she got back to her senses when she heard Dominic's voice, "You alright?"

She nodded, "Yeah, How's Gryffin?" she asked since he headed straight to their son's room.

"He's excited for the book I brought for him" she looked at him with disbelief, "Why?" he asked as he noticed her look.

"How did you know he loves book?"

"Slyther" he replied immediately "T-Thank you, Icang"

She gritted her teeth with what he called her, "Please don't call me that... Maricar will do"

He nodded understandably, "I-I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to thank me for this, Dominic. Just so we clear, I'm not doing this for you"

She flinched when Dominic caught her hand, again. She didn't want the warmth she felt in the palm of their hand.

No, it's not sexual hot rather an anger kind of hot. She knew he had no memories of the past but it was not easy to ignore what he had done before.

"Still thank you. You don't know how much it means to me" He looked at her with his deep brown eyes.

"Mommy?" Maricar stepped back when she heard Raven's voice. His jaw clenched as he looked at them.

"Raven," she immediately approached him while Dominic looked surprised to see him.

"What are you doing here?" Raven asked directly after seeing his father, "Are you disturbing my mom, again? Who are you going to brainwash next?"

"Raven!" Maricar called him off. She didn't like his tone, "Don't talk to him like that,"

"Are you defending her, My?” Raven's eyes sank as she faced Dominic again.

"R-Raven?" His voice was so delightful, "Is that, you Raven?" He seemed could not believe what he has seen.

Of course, Raven was only three years old in his memory. How could he even know it?

"What are you doing here?" Raven asked again, didn't pay attention to his father's reaction, "You shouldn't be here, sorry but you have to leave"

"Raven" She tried to calm him down but as if Dominic understood what his son wants.

"Maricar, it's okay," He said and looked at Raven once again as he tried to leave a smile, "I'll go ahead, thank you"

She just nodded at him and looked back to Raven that didn't leave his gaze until Dominic completely left.

"You shouldn't talk to your father like that, Raven" She calmly reprimanded him, "even if you turn the world around, He's still your Dad"

"He wasn't for the past seven years" Raven replied, "My, are you forgetting what he did to us?"

"Son, no." she caressed his cheek, "but regardless of what he did, I didn't raise you to be disrespectful" Raven's defense dropped, he knew that she has a point.

But she can't blame him either because how could he respect the person who didn't respect his mother?

"My, an angel like you don't deserve him"

"Oh, Raven..." She embraced him. "I'm not going to force you to forgive your Dad because among your siblings it's you who were there, you witnessed everything" She pulled away from the embrace and cupped his face, "But let your siblings decide, it's their right too"

Raven heavily sighed and nodded. Knowing that he would not win even if he didn't agree with her plan.

"What about Tito Tristan?"

"He'll understand, I'll tell him too," she said and smiled.

Just then Maricris arrived and saw them.

"Ninang" Raven approached and kissed her cheek, "I'll just go to Gryffin"

They were left alone in the living room when Maricris gave her a meaningful stare. Waiting for her story.

"What?"

"Don't you use that tone on me! Where's your good ex-husband so that I could talk to him!" Maricris reacted defensively as if she was the one who had been cheated.

"Your godson asked him to leave" She walked at the kitchen as Maricris follows her, "Don't worry, it was Gryffin whom he talked with and not me."

Maricris rolled her eyes and crossed her arm, "So you're letting him in, again?" They looked at each other and exchanged meaningful stares.

"Maricar, once you let Dominic into the kids' lives, you're part of it!"

"But, Ate...He withdraws the case" She sighed as Maricris looked pissed, "He withdraws it but he wants to be a father to them again, even if that's all..."

"That's just his strategy! That guy's brain may be damaged but he's not stupid! Of course, you have kids and he knows that's your weakness!" She was taken aback by what Maricris said.

What if this was Dominic's way to get into their lives? Did she make the wrong choice?

"Icang, you're already getting married. Your life is already fine. Don't let this mess you up, again" They were just staring at each other when the telephone rang.

She deeply sighed before picking it up, "Hello?"

"Good afternoon, Ma'am! This is Tania" her secretary in Wizards.

"Oh, Tania. What's the problem?" She asked, "Is there a problem in Wizards?"

"None, Ma'am. I would just like to remind that you have an appointment tonight"

Huh? She didn't remember that she has a meeting this late.

"Appointment? With whom?"

"Mrs.Delaverde" She almost dropped the phone upon hearing that name as her throat seemed to get dry, "Mrs. Cynthia Delaverde, Ma'am."

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Author's Note:  It has been two years since I've written this story and only now had the chance to translate it. I hope you're enjoying this so far.

Let me know your thoughts! What do you think? Kindly refrain from using curse words. Thank you!