Chapter 12
Silas
“Can I ask you something. Soraya?” Silas inquired as they made their way down the first floor of Aegis Core Systems.
“What is it?” Soraya asked.
“Does it still hurt seeing Calum?” Silas went straight to the point, wanting to weigh Soraya’s feelings.
Soraya’s eyes narrowed. Her face tensed as she responded, “It doesn’t matter. You know me. Once I have made my decision, it’s final. It won’t be long now, I will get over him.”
Yes. From what Silas knew of Soraya, she was the kind of woman who never looked back once her mind was made up. And if she had finally decided to walk away, it only meant she had already endured more than enough.
Seven years.
That was how long Soraya had suffered.
And what about Sage?” Silas asked,
Soraya stared at the elevator doors, deep in thought. She said without looking at him, “I’m not ready to be her mom at the moment.”
“Right now, I am choosing myself,” Soraya added.
Silas paused, looking at Soraya’s reflection in the elevator door. There was an unmistakable determination in her eyes, “Good. That’s good because you can’t pour love into someone else when your own cup is empty”
Soraya’s gaze softened as she turned to him. She forced a smile and acknowledged. “Thank you, Silas. I will definitely fill my cup.”
Soraya-
In the afternoon, Soraya visited two apartments. She closed a deal with one and made the deposit. It was a two–bedroom condo unit just two blocks away from Aegis Core Systems. She could walk to work every day, or she could drive when the weather was bad.
Since the apartment was already furnished, she only needed to buy a few essentials, which she planned to do the following week with her friend, Lyra.
By six in the evening, she was already driving back to Belridge. Soraya, yet again, passed by the park with the light display.
It always captivated her.)
Soraya decided to have a moment for herself. She bought a sandwich from the food stalls in the park and ate while sitting in front of the light display.
She was already halfway done when she noticed little arms wrapped around her waist from behind.
“Mommy!”
Soraya froze, startled. She slowly looked behind her and realized it was Angelal
She gulped, putting her sandwich down. “Angela, what are you doing here?”
Just then, she noticed Jacob Steel and the bodyguard running toward them. Upon seeing her with Angela, they both stopped and took deep breaths
“o,
o, the young miss went after Miss Azar, the bodyguard, Dante, said.
Jacob, on the other hand, said nothing. He merely shook his head in disapproval at his daughter’s actions
“Mommy.” Angela called again, making Suraya incredibly unconfortable.
“Why did I have to run into them again? she mumbled silently.
“Miss Azar, ever since we met you here last Monday, Angela kept pointing at the lights. We have been coming here for four consecutive
ights. We thought Angela just wanted to see the lights again, but every time we arrived, she kept looking around.” Dante let out a long
Chapter 12
sigh, suggesting. “I think Angela has been looking for you all along
Jacob’s hazel eyes burned through Soraya’s frame as if blaming her for his daughter’s actions. He clearly wanted to say something but
didn’t.
“Mommy, Angela called again, looking at Soraya with pleading eyes. “I want Mommy.”
Soraya’s mouth quivered a bit. She said with a half laugh, “I um. Haha. I’m not your Mommy.”
Then, Soraya saw Angela’s hurt expression. The little girl looked like she was about to cry
In a panic, Soraya turned to her sandwich and asked, “Hey, do you want to eat?”
Angela immediately nodded and touched her belly.
Minutes later, Angela was sitting with Soraya, eating the sandwich. As for Jacob and the bodyguard? They stood nearby, giving Angela a strange look
Soraya heard word the men said
Dante. “Sir, this is strange. Angela has not eaten a proper meal for the past few days. Her nanny had reported the same, but she willingly
te Miss Azar’s sandwich.”
Dante. “Sir, did you see that? There was lettuce in the sandwich, but the young miss ate it. She never eats greens.”
Jacob: “I’m not blind.”
Dante. “U–okay. I wasn’t saying you were blind, Sir.”
Dante: “This is really a miracle, Sir.”
There was a moment of silence before the men resumed stating their observations.
Dante: “Angela had never approached a woman before not this way.”
Jacob: “Soraya saved her.”
Dante: “Yes, of course. That could be it”
Soraya understood what Jacoba meant. Angela liked her because she had saved her.
At that point, she was torn as to what to do. Later, she turned to Angela and said. “Angela, after eating the sandwich, you should your daddy. Every good girl follows their parents. Do you understand?”
Angela glanced at Soraya with woeful eyes. She shook her head in response before finishing the last of the sandwich.
Oh, boy, Soraya sighed.
Although Soraya did not like Jacob, there was something about Angela she couldn’t say no to. Maybe it was her innocence or perhaps the way Soraya saw a tiny part of herself in Angela.
It could be the child’s longing for a mother or the pain that flickered behind Angela’s eyes. Whatever it was, Soraya was sure there was pain
An hour passed, and Angela still refused to part with Soraya.
Jacob exerted his authority, “Angela, it’s past right. You still have therapy in the morning Let’s go
This time. Apela wrapped her arms around Soraya, 1
her superhuman strength activated.
- ed. “Min. Min. I want Mommy”
This went on for a few more minutes. When Soraya could no longer hold back, she asked, “Mr. Steel, where is Angela’s mother?”
It was as if she had opened Pandora’s box Jacob’s expression darkened as he said, “I told you already! Angela does not have a mother.” “Adopted” she mouthed, only to receive a sharp frown from the man whose face now looked as hand as his last name Steel
When Jacob tried to pull Angela away
ay from Soraya again, the young girl c
cried, “No! No! Mommy!
Angela’s body shook with her sobs. It wa so real, Soraya could feel her desperate need for a motherly love? “Why?
Chapter 12
Just then, a thunderclap rang out in the sky. Everyone looked up and saw the clouds looming above.
to trouble you. I’ll pay you anything. Name your price. Do you mind accompanying me to the
oh finally
“Soraya, I’m sorry to decided
Unfortunately, Soraya did more than just bring Angela to the car. The little girl simply would not let her go. In the end, Soraya rode in Jacob’s Maybach while his bodyguard drove her car.
In the backseat, Angela clung to her like her life depended on it. The young girl eventually fell asleep in Soraya’s arms half an hour into
the ride.
Soraya could have just asked Jacob to stop the car, but the man said. “We are almost home”
Since they were near, Soraya supposed she might as well bring Angela to their home.
They pulled over at the driveway of a massive mansion, widening Soraya’s eyes.
Jacob Steel’s house was almost twice the size of the Montclaire old estate,
Despite knowing Jacob as Calum’s friend, Soraya had never been to his home or to any their friends houses. She had always bern janinvited to their social gatherings,
When Jacob opened the door to the backseat, Soraya carried Angela ou
Just
Soraya stepped into the hallway of the luxurious home, the rain poured. It was so heavy that visibility was nearly zero.
Soraya gulped as she turned back to the mansion gates. She froze in place, unsure of what to do.
Jacob also stilled, stunned by the downpour.
The bodyguard, who had run into the driveway for cover, gasped at the heavy rain. He turned to Jacola and said, “I guess staying here for the night”
“What? No!” Soraya objected, but leaving proved harder than she had anticipated.
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