LOVED BY STEPDAD

[9]

What did he say? An old man? Gosh, seriously, Lucian's words are sometimes so absurd. Where did Lucian's 'old man' come from? Even the hair of the man who seemed to be focused on driving the car was still black, well-groomed, and thick. There are no signs of aging such as the growth of gray hair. Moreover, his face. There are absolutely no wrinkles or signs that show that Lucian is 'old'.

As a result, Susan frowned and smirked even more. Although she should be grateful for Lucian's help this afternoon, she could be free from Tedy. At least, today. For tomorrow and the next day, Susan would immediately think about how to avoid Tedy.

"What do you want for lunch this time?" Lucian asked without lowering his focus on the road they were walking on. It looked deserted but Lucian would not be easily distracted.

"I'm not very hungry."

"You have to eat, Susan. Don't deprive your body of energy. Tell me, what would you like to eat this afternoon?"

Susan let out a long sigh. Lucian sounded very pushy and made her a little irritated. "I'm really not hungry, Dad."

"Do you need me to feed you?" Lucian glanced sharply at Susan who also turned to him. "Eating is a duty to the body, Susan. If you get sick, who will bother?" Lucian chuckled in annoyance. "Me."

Susan scowled in disapproval, choosing to look away while holding back her mounting irritation. Somehow Lucian was more annoying than ever. Why did he have to go to the trouble of supervising and ordering trivial things like this?

The direction of the car was no longer along the highway, but turned a few blocks and slightly passed the row of cafes and fast food restaurants on the right side of the road. But Susan remained unmoved, not wanting to ask where they were going because her irritation with Lucian was still great.

"Here we are," Lucian said as he made sure the car was parked properly. Not to block other cars and disrupt his lunch. A quick glance at the girl who was still fussing over lunch. Sometimes, Susan was much more stubborn than girls her age. But... when did Lucian face a girl like Susan? Wasn't this the first time he faced a girl so young compared to Lucian's age?

And because of that too, Lucian relented. Choosing a restaurant that serves Susan's favorite food; pasta. Complete with pizza and a few items such as toast with abundant meat and cheese fillings.

"I hope you like my choice." Lucian took off the seat belt which was also followed by Susan. It seemed that the girl did not refuse to follow Lucian's choice this afternoon. At least, they did need to fill their stomachs before arriving at their actual destination.

Who knows, there is an unexpected drama waiting for them there.

Lucian led the way, followed by Susan who was still scowling although her eyes were no longer looking at Lucian sarcastically. Hearing the girl say thank you even if it was quietly when Lucian opened the restaurant door was enough to make the man's smile at the corner of his lips.

"Ehm... the smell of cheese is so tempting," Susan said unconsciously. She was getting more and more excited to enter the restaurant area and apparently, her appetite had been whetted as well. "Shall we sit over there?" pointed out Susan who had forgotten the annoyance of being forced to eat lunch by Lucian a few minutes earlier.

"That's fine." Lucian smiled slightly. At least, Susan was cheerful again. I don't know why Lucian cared so much for Susan. Maybe it was because of the girl's fate? I don't know. Anyway, ever since Lucian clearly saw how Yossie's parents treated her and how they talked to Susan, Lucian suddenly wanted to give Susan as much protection as possible.

After all... he had promised Yossie to take care of Susan. Even though the girl was Yossie's adopted daughter, a promise was still a promise.

"Yeay!" Susan half ran towards the place she wanted to be. Forgetting that she was no longer ten years old. But hey... it's pasta. Her favorite food. Who wouldn't be interested if they were served food they liked? "Come on, Daddy. Hurry up and get here. You're walking so slow! Are you really so hungry that you don't have much energy to walk?"

Susan and her sometimes off-the-cuff remarks made Lucian laugh. Luckily, the pasta restaurant seemed empty. Maybe it was because the lunch hour had already passed two hours, I don't know. Anyway, at least Susan's words didn't make many people pay attention to them.

"So... what did you order, Miss Sweetie?"

"Um," Susan was still selecting some menus, then pointed at the ones she really liked. As well as choosing the right lunch for Lucian. "I'll have the meat lasagna, fetucinni with mushroom sauce. And for you, spaghetti carbonara and chicken soup. I'll have a salad for dessert. Do you mind?"

Lucian chuckled. "Not at all."

"Good then." Susan handed her menu book to the waiter who had noted the order she had just mentioned. "How long can our order take to prepare?"

"About ten minutes at most."

"Okay. We'll wait patiently."

Shortly after the waiter left, Lucian responded to Susan's remark. "Are you sure you can wait patiently?"

"I think it will be worth it for the taste that goes into my mouth later." Susan said with sparkling eyes. "I see that next to this restaurant, there is a coffee shop. After the meal, can we stop by?"

"Since when have you been into coffee?" Lucian was curious, because as he remembered Susan's menu and preferences, the girl rarely touched coffee. Maybe if it was coffee with creamer or some kind of latte, Susan would still consume it. But as Lucian remembered this coffee shop next to the pasta restaurant, it was a coffee shop with a strong flavor.

"Not for me," Susan said with a big smile. "For you. As a thank you for picking me up and treating me to lunch."

"You want to buy me coffee?"

"Only this time," Susan said, straightening her back slightly. "I have to economize. Please, you can't choose something expensive. I'll run out of my allowance."

Lucian laughed, very loudly. He didn't care if he would be reprimanded by one of the employees. Susan's funny-sounding remarks really amused him. During the approach period with Yossie, Susan was often in their midst. Just to accompany their date as well as part of Yossie's efforts to make them close. Like a stepfather and son who would become part of their new family.

But as Lucian recalled, Susan rarely showed her spoiled and sometimes stubborn side. The child was more often quiet and didn't ask for much. She was also obedient to whatever her mother wanted. Although in Lucian's mind, all of Yossie's choices were the best. So perhaps it was only natural for Susan to obey everything Yossie chose for her.

And knowing the other side of Susan these days, it was quite comforting for Lucian.

"Do you intend to spend my allowance, Dad?" Susan asked while looking annoyed at Lucian who was still laughing. "If that's the case, my offer is off. I'd rather spend my allowance."

"In that case," Lucian reached into the wallet in his pants pocket. He took out one of his debit cards. "Don't use your allowance. Keep it. But from now on, use this card for all your needs."

Susan's brow furrowed in incomprehension. Not that she didn't understand the type of card that was now in front of her. A black debit card on which Lucian Bernandes' name was clearly written, indicating that the account holder on this card had a considerable balance. What... Lucian seriously gave him a card like this? But what was it for?

"Keep it and use it, Susan," Lucian said firmly.

"But... why?"

"Why what?" Lucian looked at Susan in surprise.

"Um... I still have a lot of money in my pocket from Mommy. I was just joking with that remark. I can still buy Daddy a cup of your favorite coffee. I was serious."

"I'm more serious about asking you not to use your mom's allowance. Keep it and use it when you really need it."

Susan was still staring at the card and Lucian with an indecisive look.

"If you're afraid to use it until it's gone, that's fine with me. I'm not angry. Because it was me who asked you to use it. I'm just sad if you don't use it, Susan. Feeling as a father... I can't provide proper facilities for his daughter."

A father? Her daughter? Lucian's words echoed in Susan's head. Lucian thought of her as his child? Even though the man already knew what kind of background Susan had?

"Well, what a coincidence," Lucian smiled broadly. "The waiter is here with our order. Come, let's eat."

What could Susan do but obey Lucian? After all, she would have the opportunity to ask what Lucian meant by his words and actions.