Chapter 8 You Can't Leave

• Ethan's POV
• "Who is this?" My father asked in his usual hostile tone, his gaze scrutinizing her, and I noticed that Ariana became frightened. I instantly picked her up.
• "She's my daughter." I answered, stroking her back gently.
• He stood up, throwing his book aside. "You have a child?!"
• Ariana grabbed my shirt, as she hid her face in the crook of my neck. I held her protectively, letting her know that she was safe.
• "I do."
• "Better tell me that her mother is Ashley, or else..."
• "Ashley is not her mother."
• "Bullshit!" His face flashed red with anger. "Do Ashley know about this? About her? How come I am just finding out?"
• "Ashley does not know about her." I answered, ignoring his last question.
• He hissed, his gaze fuming. "I hope you do not plan to make her your heir? Who the fuck is her mother?"
• I shook my head. "This girl is my daughter, and she is my heir, no matter what you say." I answered him defiantly. I knew that I would only end up provoking him, and I didn't want any drama this morning, but I hated how he was speaking of Ariana.
• "I want a legitimate child from you, not some bastard!" He bellowed. I was about to retort to him calling my child names, but her mother beat me to it.
• Chloe stepped into the scene from no where, and took Ariana from me.
• "I don't know about you, but I'm not going to stand here and let this man call my daughter a bastard!" She lashed at my father, and I knew that this was only the beginning of many dramas to come.
• She didn't allow my father to respond, and she angrily walked off with Ariana. I turned to my father again, my hands balling into fists.
• "Whether you like it, understand how it came to be or not, she is my child, and she is important to me. I can have you here, but I will not tolerate you calling my little daughter of four, names!" I yelled at him, making his eyes grow wide for a moment, before he narrowed them at me.
• "Why haven't I heard about her or her mother? Is she some whore that had come to brainwash you? You left this lifestyle years ago, you better not go back. You have a duty to fulfill, and that should be your utmost priority." His father lashed back at him.
• "I just took over your company, and I don't think that it is doing very bad. You do not always have to worry about it's future, neither should you bother about an heir, because I have one now."
• My father stood up, coming to face me, and I tilted my head as I squinted my eyes.
• "That lady, who is she to you? Does she mean anything? Is she some kind of mistress?"
• "What you have to know about her is that she is the mother of my child."
• "I don't know what you are up to. But if Ashley as much as breathe a word of complaint against you about her, don't blame me for what will happen."
• I knew my father. This was a threat, and he did not make empty threats. There was a reason he was feared in his business world.
• I grabbed his arm, as my face came close to his, the hostility in my eyes reflected in his. "You stay out of my business, and I will stay out of yours."
• "You have so many weaknesses already, boy. Don't add to it."
• I didn't wait for him to respond, and I went inside the house. I planned to go to my room, but curiosity led me to Ariana's, knowing Chloe was there.
• I placed my ear on the door, and I heard her small angelic voice.
• "Mommy, what is going on? Is Ethan in trouble?" Ariana asked, her voice filled with concern. I smiled at the fact that she cared for me.
• "No, sweetie. They are just having a disagreement. He will come around soon." Chloe coaxed to her, and I opened the door. She stood up abruptly, making me raise one brow in question. She just rolled her eyes, before she sighed.
• "I need to talk to you." She said, coming to me, and I nodded. I wanted to talk to her as well. I knew that she would had been confused and worried about what my father said about Ariana.
• "Stay here, Ari. Mommy will be back soon." She handed her her tablet for her to watch some cartoons. I gave her a nod, and she followed me outside.
• "Do you mind taking a stroll with me?" I asked, and she stubbornly shook her head. "I want to talk to you in private, and I am sure that you do not want to come to my bedroom with me. Or do you?"
• I rolled my eyes at him. "I am sure your bedroom is not the only place we can go if you need privacy."
• He smiled a little. I had the urge to tease her more, but I didn't want it to appear like I was flirting with her when I was engaged to someone else. "Fine. Let us go to my study."
• I closed the door as soon as we entered my study room and I let out a deep sigh.
• "What was that about?!" She then asked me, seemingly unable to contain herself anymore.
• I paced around for a while, before sighing again. "My relationship with my father is very complicated."
• "Obviously." She blurted with a roll of her eyes.
• I decided to come clean with her. "My father excepts so much from me. He didn't want to give me the company at first without me getting married, but I had refused to do that. Instead I engaged her, and refused to marry her. Now I decided to take the company, so I agreed to marry her in a month. He also wants me to have an heir with her."
• She frowned as she listened to me, as if my story wasn't making sense. Well, I would not blame her.
• "First of all, I don't get why he expects so much from you. You are his son, he should hand the company without any condition." She said to me, and I smiled a little.
• "Well, I am not his biological son. I was adopted. It is a long story, but he didn't really want to adopt me, my mom only convinced him. She thought he would grow to love me, all those stuffs, with time. But I know that he does not see me as his son. He sees me as someone he rescued, and be believed that I owe him for everything he has given me." I explained to her calmly.
• "And what does the heir stands to do in all of these? How do you owe him that?" She asked again.
• "My father cares about continuing his legacy more than anything in the world. He just wants to be ensured of that."
• She nodded. "And what about Ari? Will she be safe here?"
• "I can assure you that Ari will be safe. I will do everything to ensure that she is not bothered." That was one thing I could promise. I would do everything to protect my little girl.
• "You said she is your heir. I don't want her to bear that burden, at least not until she is old enough to decide for herself. She is burdened enough as she is now. Tell me Ethan, did you want her because you think you can use her to get your father off your back? Is that why you want custody of her? Do you just want her as your heir, or do you love her as your daughter?"
• "Chloe, I love my daughter, and I will do everything to ensure her safety. I promise you, I don't want custody of her because I want an heir." There was an accusing look in her eyes, and I felt the need to explain myself. Shit! I shouldn't be bothering with this woman.
• "You mentioned that she does not go to school." I decided to bring up another topic. This was still very important, as I would like her to be educated.
• Chloe nodded. "She cannot in her condition. She is homeschooled."
• "Does she have teachers coming over back in your house?" I then asked, and a small smile curved on her lips.
• "She is homeschooled by me." She responded, and I frowned.
• "How are you sure you know what you are doing?"
• "Didn't you agree that she was too smart?" She answered cockily, and the corners of my lips curved up.
• I shrugged. "I guess she took after me."
• She rolled her eyes. "I will be going out in the evening. You will have to stay and look after Ariana."
• I turned to her abruptly, a frown etched on my forehead. I could not tell why, but I was displeased by the fact.
• "Where are you going?" I asked and she frowned.
• "Out with a friend?"
• "Which friend?"
• "How many of my friends do you know?"
• "I know of the one you call Bonnie, and Ari mentioned you have another one, Dylan. Is he your boyfriend?" I found myself asking before I could even stop myself.
• Now she looked annoyed.
• "I would have asked you to follow me and find out, but we have a four year old that you need to take care of."
• She attempted to walk past me, and I grabbed her arm and pulled her back. I was suddenly feeling angry.
• "You are the mother of my child, you live in my house, and you must do as I say. I didn't give you permission to leave." She looked at me as if I said something funny. Her lips parted in a
• way I found enticing, and I quickly shook away the thoughts.
• "When evening comes, we will see if I need your permission or not."