SEVEN – ISABELLA

2193 Words
My mind was filled with worry and confusion as I paced back and forth in our small apartment. The stranger's promise to Sofia had caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. How could he make such a promise when he knew nothing about us? What if he never showed up again? Sofia's hopes would be shattered, and my heart would break along with hers. I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in my gut that something wasn't right. How could Sofia be so sure that he was her father? I had always told her that her father was on a business trip, but now doubts began to creep into my mind. What if I had been lied to all these years? What if Sofia's real father was out there somewhere? As I continued to worry, Sofia came running into the room, a big smile on her face. She had a way of bringing light into even the darkest moments. "Mama, did you see how much daddy loves me?" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "He promised to see me again!" I forced a smile, not wanting to dampen her spirits. "Yes, sweetheart. He did say that. But we have to be realistic and not get our hopes up too high. We don't know for sure if he'll come back." Sofia's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her optimism. "I believe him, Mama. And I know he'll come back. He's my daddy, I can feel it in my heart." I sighed, unsure of how to respond. I wanted to believe Sofia with all my heart, but I couldn't ignore the voice in the back of my mind that kept warning me to be cautious. It was difficult to balance my love for her and my desire to protect her from potential disappointment. I pulled Sofia into a tight hug, feeling a mix of love and fear coursing through my veins. "We'll see, Sofia. Just remember, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you. You are my everything." Sofia hugged me back tightly, her small arms wrapped around me like a lifeline. "I love you, Mama." "I love you too, my precious girl," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. I would do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy, even if it meant facing the painful truth about her father. As I held Sofia close, one thing became clear – I couldn't just sit back and wait for answers to come to me. If I wanted to find the truth, I needed to be proactive. I needed to search for the answers and confront the past head-on. The next morning, I woke up with a renewed determination. I couldn't keep ignoring Sofia's claims and the connection she felt with the stranger. It was time to confront the past and find the truth about Sofia's father. I made Sofia breakfast, trying to keep the conversation light and casual. But Sofia had other plans in mind. "Mommy, do you think Daddy will come back today?" she asked, her eyes filled with hope. I took a deep breath, knowing that I couldn't avoid the topic any longer. "Sofia, we need to have a serious talk. I want to find out the truth about your father, but we need to be prepared for any outcome. It's important to remember that even if this man is not your father, it doesn't change how much I love you." Sofia looked at me, her eyes wide with understanding. "I know, Mommy. But I can't help but hope that he is my daddy. I want to have a real family." Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to Sofia's words. She deserved so much more than the broken family she had been dealt. But I had to be strong for her, to protect her from any disappointment that might come. "We'll do everything we can to find out the truth, Sofia," I said, my voice filled with determination. "But we have to be patient and careful. We don't want to make any hasty decisions." Sofia nodded, her small hand reaching out to hold mine. "I trust you, Mommy. I know you'll do everything you can to make things right." I smiled at Sofia, grateful for her unwavering faith in me. "Thank you, sweetheart. Now, let's finish breakfast and then we can start our search." Enzo POV I was able to bump into Isabella in the company and pleaded with Isabella to let me have breakfast with Sofia whuch she agreed to due to the no children policy set by Miguel. After having breakfast with Sofia, I sat down with Sofia at the kitchen table, determined to find out more about her mother and their past. I needed to understand the full picture before I could truly decide how to proceed. "Sofia, can you tell me more about your mom?" I asked gently, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves and uncertainty running through me. Sofia looked at me, her eyes searching for something. "Well, her name is Isabella, and she's the best mommy in the world," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "She's always been there for me, even when it was just the two of us." I nodded, taking in Sofia's words. It was clear that Isabella had been a strong and dedicated mother. But there was still so much I didn't know. "Do you know anything about your dad, Sofia?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to upset her. Sofia's face fell slightly, and I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. "No, Mommy never really talks about him. She always says he's on a business trip." I frowned, feeling a pang of guilt for potentially disrupting their lives. But I couldn't ignore the feeling that there was more to the story. "I think it's important that we find out the truth, Sofia," I said firmly. "Your mom and I need to have a serious conversation about your father and our connection. It's not fair to you to be left in the dark." Sofia nodded slowly, her expression filled with a mix of hope and apprehension. "I want to know, Enzo. I want to know if you're my daddy." I leaned forward, reaching out to hold Sofia's hand. "And I want to know too, Sofia. But we have to be prepared for any outcome. It's possible that I might not be your father, and that can be hard to accept. But no matter what, I promise that I will be here for you. We'll figure things out together." Sofia squeezed my hand, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Enzo. I believe in us." As we continued our conversation, I delved deeper into Sofia's understanding of her mother. I asked her specific questions about Isabella, hoping to gather any additional clues about her past or potential connections. "Sofia, can you tell me more about what your mom does for a living?" I inquired, hoping to gain some insight into Isabella's occupation. Sofia pondered for a moment before enthusiastically responding, "Oh, she's a superhero! She fights crime at night and saves the world from evil villains!" Surprised by her answer, I chuckled softly, not quite sure if she was serious or just playing pretend. "That sounds incredible, Sofia. Is there anything else you can tell me about her?" Her eyes sparkling, Sofia continued with her imaginative response. "Well, she also has a secret lair hidden in our basement where she keeps her high-tech gadgets and plans for world domination!" I couldn't help but smile at her wild imagination. It was clear that Sofia adored her mother and had an incredibly creative mind. But I needed to push further to uncover the truth. "And what about your mom's family, Sofia? Do you have any relatives besides her?" I asked, hoping for a more grounded response this time. Sofia tilted her head and thought for a moment before replying, "Hmm, let me think... Oh, yes! We have a pet unicorn named Sparkles. She's my mom's sister!" Suppressing a laugh, I tried to maintain a serious tone. "That's quite unusual, Sofia. Are you sure about this?" She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes! Sparkles is our magical guardian, and she protects us from any danger. She even granted me three wishes once!" I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of her answers. It seemed that Sofia's imagination had gone into overdrive, creating a fantastical world around her mother. As amusing as Sofia's responses were, I realized that I had hit a wall. It was clear that she either didn't know much about her mother's past or was choosing to keep it a secret. Either way, I couldn't rely on her fictional tales to uncover the truth. ENZO – Isabella walked into the kitchen, a tired but determined look on her face. She glanced over at Sofia and me sitting at the table, her eyes filled with both relief and apprehension. "Sofia, it's time to go home," Isabella said gently, reaching out her hand to Sophia. But Sofia remained seated, her arms crossed defiantly. "No, I'm not going home. I want to stay with Enzo." Isabella's brow furrowed, clearly taken aback by Sofia's resistance. "Sweetheart, you know it's time to leave. Enzo and I need to talk." Sofia shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. "I don't want you and Enzo talking without me. I want to know what's going on." Isabella glanced at me, her expression filled with a mixture of concern and uncertainty. I could tell she was grappling with the right way to handle the situation. "Sofia, please. We're just going to have a conversation. It's important for us to talk privately," Isabella pleaded, her voice full of desperation. But Sofia remained unyielding, her gaze fixed on her mother. "No, Mama. I want to be a part of this. You can't keep shutting me out." My heart went out to Sofia, torn between her parents and desperate for answers. It was clear that she had reached her breaking point and wanted to be included in the conversation about her father. "Isabella, I think Sofia has a right to know," I interjected, my voice laced with empathy. "She's been kept in the dark for far too long. It's time we faced the truth together." Isabella looked at me, uncertainty etched on her face. She seemed torn, caught between protecting Sofia and acknowledging her right to know the truth. Finally, after a moment of silent contemplation, Isabella nodded. "You're right, Enzo. We can't keep hiding the truth from her. Sofia, sit down. There's something we need to tell you." Sofia's eyes widened, the tears slowly drying on her cheeks. She took a deep breath and sat down, her whole body tense with anticipation. Isabella took a seat next to Sofia, her hands trembling slightly. She reached out and held Sofia's hand, a gesture of both comfort and solidarity. "Sofia, I've always tried to protect you from the truth about your father," Isabella began, her voice filled with a mix of regret and determination. "But it's time for you to know. Your father… he's not on a business trip. He left before you were born, and I haven't heard from him since." Sofia's eyes welled up with tears once again, her grip on Isabella's hand tightening. "But I thought… I thought he was coming back. That he loved me." Isabella nodded, her own tears streaming down her face. "I know, Sofia. I let you believe that because I didn't want to hurt you. But it's time to face the truth. Your father is not here, and it's just you and me." Sofia looked at both of us, her face overcome with a mix of sadness and resignation. "So, Enzo isn't my daddy?" I hesitated for a moment, uncertainty clouding my mind. But in that moment, I knew what I had to do. "No, Sofia, I'm not your biological father," I said, my voice steady. "But that doesn't mean I can't be your daddy in every other way. I love you, and I'll always be here for you." Sofia looked at me, her eyes searching for answers. After a moment of silence, she gave me a small smile, her trust in me unyielding. "Okay, Enzo," she said softly. "You can be my daddy." "You can't promise her that, we still trying to get out of the first trouble your initial promise brought to me." Isabella said to me in a tone more like a whisper. "And why are stopping me from making your daughter happy?" I questioned making her sign in frustration "Why are you two just so against me, I don't want you to force things I know how busy you are as a Business man." She said, she already sees me as a Business man. "You are not forcing me in any way, this is my decision and I am only doing it for your bundle of angel." I said to Isabella who stared at me in surprise.
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