Second Chance with the Billionaire

06. The Reason For Your Smile

“YOU’RE CRAZY.”

I instantly covered my mouth as those words came out of it without me noticing, making him laugh. The rush of blood came up to my cheeks, turning me into a huge ball of tomato.

His words, he really does have his way to make everything as romantic as it can be. I know that I shouldn’t take his words that seriously, considering of who he is and what kind of person he is. However, as those words came out of his mouth, it sounds genuine that anyone could believe it.

When I first came here, the thought of Kathleen getting close to Ezekiel never crosses my mind because she is a kid who is obviously picky with who she wants to spend time with. I taught her to always observe first and be keen before spending time with one person, especially if it is with an adult. That is why, even with Gael’s second cousins’, she never really approaches them easily. But things became different when we came here.

It is a normal thing to see her spend so much time with her grandparents and her uncle because they have always done that every single time, we come here to the point that I would feel left out already. However, what is not normal is to watch her gets so close to Ezekiel, whom she didn’t really get to spend so much time yet not until we came here days ago. It is even weird because Ezekiel is suddenly telling me how he views my child. It made me wonder what happened during the time they spend time together.

“You are just like your daughter, you know?” My brows furrowed with the comparison. “When we were in the arcade earlier, there was a little boy who approached her and gave her a candy stick then she just turned into a tomato like you do right now. it’s no doubt that she is your child.”

I rolled my eyes. “She came out of my womb. What do you expect?” I sarcastically responded, earning a chuckle from him.

“She did… and it just happens that a wrong share blood is running in her veins.” I look at him in confusion. “Her father.”

It is not surprising for me to see him speak this way towards Gael. After all, he was never in good terms with him since then just like how Gael doesn’t approve of him to be around me. It is like they attract each other to annoy and ruin one another’s day. However, the moment he found out about Gael’s cheating, he never stops seeing him as the bad man who doesn’t deserve to be the father of my child even if it cannot be change anymore.

“You should really be careful of your words. What if my parents suddenly come in and they heard you? Or my brother?” I warned him, pointing at him.

He shakes his head in purse disapproval. “You should stop defending him or hiding what he did to you from your family, Kenny. I’m sure they would be much mad that I am once they found out about what he did.” He pointed.

“And that is why I don’t tell them for now!” I raise my voice a little to make my point. “I know that it is hard to understand, but you need to let me decide on this one. If I tell my parents and my brother now, they will instantly go and call Gael out for it, and trust me, that is not good for my child. I don’t want to watch her respect to him to be gone.”

“Even if he cheated on you and your daughter?”

“Even if he cheated on me and my child.” I emphasize without any hesitation. I took a deep breath as I instantly saw the disapproval in his face. “You wouldn’t understand where I am coming from because you don’t have an innocent child that you want to save from having her innocent and good memories with her jerk of a father to disappear just like that. She is still a little, Ezekiel. You can’t force me to just do something reckless with Kathleen around.”

He turned silent as I point out my side regarding the matter. I don’t want to make him the bad one when he is just helping me out, but he also can’t force me to do something when Kathleen will be the one to suffer at the end. I can’t do that to my child.

“I am glad for your help, Ezekiel. You provided a great lawyer and even keep this hidden for me even though I know how much you want to talk about it to my brother. But… you need to trust me when I said that I will handle it in a way that my daughter wouldn’t be affected badly.” I explained in a soft tone, making him look at me as I show a small smile. “I really appreciate your concern. But let me handle this one for now. Besides, the new year is fast approaching. Just give me until the end of the year to finalize everything before I tell my parents and my brother.”

He stared at me for a moment before smiling moments later then chuckled after. I watch him as he slowly turns into a crazy man, shaking his head with a huge smile plastered on his lips.

“What is it?” I confusedly asked, laughing along.

“Nothing.” He says in between chuckles. “It’s just… you really turned into a fine and responsible woman, Kenny.”

The smile on my lips slowly drops with his compliment. Maybe it is because I am not use to it yet but hearing it from him… it is different.

People would often say how responsible and fine I have become as a woman and a mother. They would always compliment my work and how I am as a wife and a mother without any worry. However, hearing such compliments from Ezekiel felt different. It is like… more genuine. Maybe it is because he was there while I grow up and he really watched me turn to how I am now.

“You and your sweet words.” I shake my head with a scoff, smiling after. “No matter because my brother felt like puking whenever you mess around with other women.”

He scoffs as if he is offended. “He made it sound like he is a different bread!” He commented in betrayal, making me laugh harder.

One thing that I know about him and RJ, they are the bestest friends who are just as similar as the other. They are so alike the point that they keep accusing the other is much worse than them when they are just at the same level. Maybe it is just hard to admit for them that they are just equal Casanovas.

“It feels nice knowing that I am the reason why you are laughing so much right now, Gabriella.” He suddenly said, making me stop. I look at him slowly in surprise. “I don’t know if you noticed, but it has been so long since you look this comfortable and laughing so hard with me around. It’s nice seeing you like this with me now.”

I smiled a little and look back to my work. “I should… go back to finishing this one. I really need to pass this as soon as possible.” I said, pretending to read at the files on my laptop then glances at him, only to caught him looking at me still. “You should go ahead now. If you stay more, you might get stuck in the traffic and miss your important appointment.”

He took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, maybe I should go now.” He said that only made me nod.

I try my best not to glance at him once again as he turns to his back and slowly walks away. However, the moment he speaks one last time, I know he already starts messing up with my head again.

“It would be nice to be the reason to see you smiling and laughing again just like back then, Kenny. Get a good rest after that and…” He stopped for a moment, making me hold my breath, waiting for his next words. “I will visit again tomorrow, Kenny… for you.”