Chapter 9

• Jonathan went up to meet Gloria and when he was reaching her room, he heard a soft giggle coming from inside.
• He paced up and what caught his eyes made his face lift with happiness.
• Gloria was tickling her son when he was trying to escape.
• “You naughty devil. How dare you trick me? I forbade you from eating so many chocolates.” She scold her son but he moved away from her grip and run to the other side of the bed.
• “I didn’t. I was just bringing them for you because you were hurt.” He replied while giggling and jumping on the bed, trying to run away from the bed.
• “Really? Then how they ended up in your stomach? Let me ask your tummy.” She said and try to tickle him again but he run out to hide when his tiny frame bumped into Jonathan who picked him up happily.
• “Uncle Jon save me. Mom is going to punish me again.” He said and hide his face in the crook of Jonathan’s neck and Jonathan wrap his arm over him in a protective stance.
• “Gloria, how could you bully my friend? I won’t let you do that.” Jonathan acted glared at Gloria when he was smiling and Gloria also smiled seeing his friend.
• “Don’t listen to him. This boy is getting naughtier day by day. He just now recovered from the fever. But when I was not watching, he stole chocolate from the kitchen and blamed me. I am going to tickle him until he doesn’t throw out all the chocolates.” Gloria tried to look intimidating, though he can’t bear to scold his son.
• “No, not again. My tummy will burst out mom. I promise I won’t steal again.” He tried to compromise, but Gloria glared at him.
• “That means you are going to eat again?” She asked and he giggle shyly, making the duo burst into laughter.
• She was sad after returning from the hospital, but his cuteness make her forget all her sadness.
• Gloria has always been strict with his diet as she couldn’t bear to see him sick.
• But this boy has a sweet tooth like his dad.
• So he ended up eating too many sweets whenever he would get a chance.
• Though she got worried she can’t let him feel she is too strict with him.
• After all, she is the only parent he has.
• If it was in a normal situation, David would have spoiled her when she acted strict to naturalize the environment.
• But things can’t ever happen like this.
• So she has to balance everything.
• And he is her only support system, she can’t see him getting sad.
• “Next time when I will meet dad, I will tell him to bring him lots of chocolates. So that you can’t scold me.” Daniel said out of nowhere, which made Gloria’s heart skip a beat.
• Gloria never mentioned his dad in front of him.
• But recently, before moving here Gloria had enrolled him in a school.
• He has tried to ask her many times whenever he has noticed her friend’s dad picking him up.
• But Gloria has tried to divert his mind.
• She never thought he was expecting his dad.
• She didn’t blame him, but she was not ready yet to tell him about his dad.
• How could he tell him his dad is not part of their life and now when he was starting his new family Gloria don’t know if he would want to acknowledge him ever?
• “Daniel, can you go and see what your beautiful was making for you?” Jonathan said to Daniel, knowing how this matter is a sore point for Gloria.
• He knew Gloria has to face this truth sooner or later, but she was not ready yet.
• Though he can’t save her from this incident, at least he can support her and help her out as much as possible.
• Gloria turn around and walked toward the balcony to hide her tears but Jonathan was well aware she must be hiding her tears from him.
• He walked toward her and stand beside her.
• They were both facing the beautiful view of the White mansion’s garden, but their focus was lost.
• “You can’t hide it from him for a long time. He is growing up and soon asks for an answer.” He tried to make her face the truth.
• Though Gloria was well aware of this, she was afraid of the result.
• She didn’t want her son to get hurt.
• “I don’t know what to tell him. How can I tell him his father doesn’t want any of us? He even denied acknowledging his existence?” She asked not only Jonathan but also himself.
• “Maybe you should talk with David. What if he agrees to acknowledge his son? After all, he is his flesh and blood and kinship can’t be denied.” Jonathan suggested but Gloria scoffed in mockery.
• “I met him today. In the hospital. He was accompanying Lia for her gynecology appointment.” Gloria expose the truth which made him mum.
• How he can’t understand why they were visiting a gynecologist?
• “I won’t let him play with my son’s heart how he played with me. My son is not someone’s liability. I have been handling this well till now. I will do it perfectly in the future too.” She says confidently.
• Though Jonathan wanted to assure her he would support her but stopped himself at last.
• Gloria has many times made it clear he can’t give him a place in her heart.
• Yes, she won’t push him away until he knows his boundary, but she won’t let him cross it too.
• “What you will tell him if he asks in the future?” He asked to make her prepared.
• “Maybe I will tell him his father is dead. It’s better to know he is dead than knowing he is not a person Daniel wants as a father.” Gloria said in his choking voice.
• Though Gloria never wanted to win David over in her life she was always prepared that if someday they meet each other she won’t become an obstacle in their relationship.
• But now everything has changed.
• She can tolerate every insult coming toward her, but she won’t bear a single tear in his son’s eyes.
• He would never become someone’s burden or someone’s second choice.