Her Last Plea✨

Chapter 20

A quarter till 12 Mira suddenly woke up, feeling disoriented, before realizing that Garrett must have brought her back home as she was in her own bedroom. Rolling over, she found her father lying on the bed next to her, staring at the ceiling. Yawning, Mira stretched slightly, waiting for her father to open his arms. As soon as he did so, she placed her head on his left arm, cuddling close to him.

"You can't keep sneaking over to Jayden's room," Mike said, his tone quiet but stern.

"I know," Mira mumbled.

"I know you're upset, and believe me when I say that I'm upset for you - for all three of you. But Mira, these outbursts cannot continue."

"I know," she repeated, biting her lips. "I'll apologize to Mom and Ara in the morning. Promise."

Mike sighed as he felt Mira's tears soaking through his shirt. When Mira was younger, he would often spend the night in her room after having a massive row with his wife. His eldest had him wrapped around her little finger from the moment she was born. The nonsense of not producing a heir was quickly drowned out by the way she would look at him from behind her long lashes, or how her cries would instantly stop whenever she was placed in his arms. Over the years, Mike had spent a lot of time with Mira in her room as they had only each other for company on numerous occasions, while Delphina remained out of the house, mourning for the 'life she was supposed to have'.

"Daddy? If the baby in Mommy's belly is a boy, will she stop loving me?"

Mike looked over at a seven year old Mirabelle as she held a tea party between herself and her throng of stuffed toys on the floor of her bedroom.

"Mommy will always love you," Mike assured his daughter, shaking his head at the huge set of fake pearls that she had around her neck.

"I don't think so," Mira replied with a pout. "Daddy......I feel Mommy doesn't love me much even now."

Before Mike could protest, Mira continued, "Hailey always gives me hugs and she gives Isaac, Jay and Karl even more hugs. And Lexi always gives me hugs and kisses and tells me how much she missed me even if I just saw her the day before. Mommy never does those things."

"Your Mom loves you, Mira," Mike said, not sure as to whom he was trying to convince. "She just has a different way of showing it."

Mira handed him a plastic teacup and saucer, smiling sadly. "But she didn't want me. She wanted a boy. I heard her telling this when she was talking to Grandma Esther on the phone."

"Oh no honey, I'm sure you heard wrong," Mike quickly replied, cursing his wife and mother-in-law in his head.

Mira simply shook her head as she fixed her dress with her dainty hands. "Daddy, will you love me less if the baby's a boy?"

"Absolutely not," Mike exclaimed. "I'll love both you and your little sister or brother the same."

Grinning, Mira stood up and walked over to her father, plopping down on his lap. "Don't tell Mommy, but I hope I get a sister."

"Don't tell Mommy, but I hope you get a sister too," Mike said, kissing the tip of her nose.

His daughter smiled at him brightly, her ice blue eyes twinkling, as she hugged him as tightly as she could. "I love you Daddy."

"I love you more, my sunshine," Mike replied as he found himself praying for another daughter for his eldest's sake.