Illicit Attraction

11. THE BEG

Henry

I wondered why Emilia came back this early.

"Are you even listening, Henry?"

Relaxing on the couch, I blinked when Emilia called my attention. "Of course. You said your co-workers in Toronto were shitheads..." I said, taking a stolen side-glance at Era who was reclining in cross legs, pressing a pillow between her chest and arms on the farthest side of the sofa.

This was fucking uncomfortable. The house seemed very crowded since Emilia arrived three hours ago.

"That's right. And I know they couldn't achieve their quota without me."

She was cheerfully bragging about herself. But I wouldn't blame her. Emilia was independent and undeniably tactful and smart. "Hey, by the way..." she whispered and my eyes grew wide as she rested her head on my shoulder. "You think, it's never too late to start our family, Henry?"

Era frowned and looked at Emilia fiercely. "What do you mean, Mom?"

Emilia lifted her face and stared at me, then she turned to Era. "Walk to your room. Your dad and I need to talk... privately."

Era raised her eyebrow. "But-"

"We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

"Fine." Era rolled her eyes and raised from the couch. She turned to her back and stomped through the stairs.

"Well, goodnight!" Emilia shouted, smiling. But her brows furrowed as Era slammed her bedroom door loudly. From the staircase, Emilia shifted her face to me. "Is that how she treats you too?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "No. She's a nice and sweet girl."

"Oh, come on, Henry. Look at her, she's a brat sometimes like most of the kids these days," she sighed. "I shouldn't have let her go along with Cora. They're bad influences for our daughter."

"Era's no longer a kid now." I stood up and faced her, crossing my arms over my chest. "She acts like a kid because you're treating her like one."

Emilia got up off the couch too and came over to me. "That's why I need you to stay with us permanently. Era needs you. She needs a dad that would discipline her."

Her tone was light and kind, but it was like a series of hard slaps on my face. Era's a woman now. But nothing could change the fact that she's my daughter too whom I slept with every night.

"Thanks for looking after our daughter, Henry." she smiled.

"Hey, not a problem. It's my job too," I said, contracting my eyebrows, then I took a single step backward.

But she walked forward and just by seconds of looking at her, I noticed how similar her features to Era were; same emerald bright eyes, same small pointed nose, same kissable lips, same blonde hair with ringlets. Emilia was like Era's older version.

But before I uttered another word, I held my breath as she curled her arms around my neck and kissed me.

I instantly pulled away and groaned, "Emilia, what are you doing?"

"I missed you," she whispered.

I froze as my eyebrows crumpled in irritation? "You what? Emilia, this is beyond our agreement!"

"You think I reached for you just to babysit Era? Henry, isn't it obvious? I still love you! I want you!"

Emilia and I shared some really special things in the past. But it was long gone. I knew it's fucking crazy but Era owned my heart now.

I turned to my back and left her in the living room. I barged through her room and collected my clothes. This house wouldn't need me anymore. If I stayed here longer, Era might think I was after Emilia, or worst Emilia would discover our dirty, dark secret.

As I threw my clothes into my luggage, I heard the door open, followed by gentle footsteps heading towards me.

"Henry, no one's telling you to leave! You can stay here for as long as you want!" She wrapped me from behind, pressing my abdomen tighter inside her arms. "P-please, don't leave me."