Chapter 4 SUDDEN VISITOR

A WEEK HAD PASSED since Isabella agreed to Spade's offer. He hadn't contacted her during that time, but Isabella focused on memorizing everything she needed to remember for the day Spade introduced her to his parents.

Even at work, she studied her "assignment." Her co-workers noticed and questioned her, but she just smiled.

"What I'm doing is equivalent to deceiving someone. I'm sure I'll feel guilty once Spade introduces me to his parents. But I have no choice. Spade's offer is the opportunity that came to me to have Alina operated on," Isabella told herself.

"I need to swallow what I'm doing, just so I won't lose my daughter," Isabella added before refocusing on her work.

After her shift, Isabella went to her boss's office to get her paycheck. As she walked toward the office, she thought about the food she would buy for Alina.

"I don't need to scrimp on the food I'll buy for Alina, since Spade will take care of her operation."

When Isabella reached her boss's door, she knocked.

"Come in," Isabella heard from inside, and she entered.

Isabella found her boss busy in front of his laptop. Her boss was a year older than her, kind, and knew how to get along with his employees. He was also handsome, and some of their customers went to the restobar because of him.

Isabella couldn't help but compare him to Spade. If the two were side-by-side, Isabella would say that Spade's face card would overshadow her boss's face card.

"Hello, boss," Isabella greeted, and he turned to her and smiled.

"Good work for this month, Bella."

"Thank you, boss Tristan," Isabella thanked before approaching the desk of her boss, Tristan Allejo.

"Here's your paycheck. I added some since I know you need it for your child's treatment."

"Oh, boss Tristan, you didn't have to do this. I'm embarrassed," Isabella said, and Tristan smiled at her.

"I insist. Besides, you are one of my good employees here at the restobar, you earned it," Tristan said, and Isabella bowed to him.

"Thank you, boss Tristan."

"No worries. I'm looking forward to meeting your daughter. I'm sure she's pretty like you."

"If there's an opportunity, boss. Thank you again," Isabella said before taking her paycheck and leaving her boss's office.

Isabella walked with a wide smile, eager to go home. But Isabella decided to stop by the grocery store and buy food for Alina. Isabella was starting to feel sleepy, but she continued with her shopping.

After grocery shopping, she took the jeep to go home. When Isabella arrived at her barangay, carrying her groceries, she picked up Alina from her kind neighbor's house.

"You have so much to carry, Nay."

"Your mother got paid, so I bought the food and fruits you like," Isabella replied with a smile as they walked home to their apartment.

"Thank you, Nay."

"I have something to tell you when we get home. I've been preparing for this for a week, so don't be too surprised. It might affect your condition, okay?"

"Is what you're going to tell me surprising, Nay?" Alina asked innocently.

"Hmm, a little. I don't want to keep secrets from you," Isabella said, but when she looked ahead, she frowned when she saw an expensive car parked in front of her apartment.

Some of her gossipy neighbors were looking at the expensive car.

"Whose expensive car is that parked in front of my apartment, and why is there a car like that in our barangay?" Isabella wondered until they got closer to her apartment, and the car door opened, and Isabella's eyes widened when she recognized who came out of the car.

"Y-You?!" Isabella exclaimed in shock, while Alina looked at the handsome man who came out of the car.

"I was waiting here for thirty minutes," Spade said, and Isabella turned to her gossipy neighbors.

"W-What do you need, and why did you rea—wait? How did you know where I live?" Isabella asked Spade, puzzled.

"Nay, who is he?"

Spade and Isabella turned to Alina, who was looking at Spade innocently.

"Is she your child?" Spade asked.

"L-Let's go inside my apartment. It's better to talk there than here outside," Isabella suggested before taking Alina into her house.

Spade followed them inside, so Isabella quickly closed the door to her apartment.

"What are you doing here? How did you find this place?" Isabella immediately asked Spade.

"I have ways, and I came here for an important reason. Aren't you going to let me sit down?"

Although puzzled, Isabella let Spade sit on her old sofa. Alina was also sitting in her usual chair, looking at Spade.

"What's the reason for your visit?" Isabella asked Spade after sitting next to Alina.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your child first? Wouldn't it be better if she already knew me?" Spade said.

"I-I haven't told her yet. I was thinking about her condition. Actually, I was supposed to tell her today, but I didn't expect you to come," Isabella answered, and Spade turned to Alina.

"Who are you? Why do you know my mother?" Alina asked Spade.

"My name is Spade Cedric Vasile, and I'm going to be yo—"

"—Are you going to be my father?" Alina interrupted Spade.

"Alina, look at Nay first," Isabella said, drawing Alina's attention, and she turned to her.

"Didn't Nay say earlier that I have something to tell you? I told you not to be surprised. What if, my child, would you allow me to marry him and for him to be your father?" Isabella said, worried about Alina's reaction.

"Are you going to marry him?" Alina asked, turning her gaze back to Spade.

"What if, my child..."

"...if you're happy with him and you like him, it's okay with me, Nay. Besides, I also want to have a father," Alina said.

Sorry, my child, I'm doing this for you, Isabella thought to herself.

Alina stood up and walked closer to Spade, who was just looking at her.

"Is it okay with you that my mother has a child? Don't worry, I'm not really Nay's child—"

"—Alina, don't say that," Isabella interrupted, quickly approaching Alina. She turned Alina to face her and knelt to be level with her daughter.

"Didn't I tell you not to say that anymore? You are my child, Alina."

"Don't worry, I can be your father when your mother marries me," Spade said, and Isabella turned to him.

"Alina, why don't you go to our room first? Nay will follow," Isabella said, and Alina faced Spade.

"I'm Alina Fuentes, it's a pleasure to meet you and to be my father," she said with a smile before going to their room.

"About my daughter—"

"—It's fine. Once we get marry, I'll play a father figure to her. She's your daughter, and you agreed on my offer because of her, so I won't set her aside," Spade interrupted, and Isabella stood and sat back down.

"W-What's the reason for your visit? Are we starting already?"

"Not yet, I came here to tell you that your daughter's operation already has a date," Spade said bluntly.

"M-My daughter is going to be operated on? D-Does that mean..."

"Yeah, Sandro already found a heart for your daughter. She will have the heart transplant this Friday."

Isabella couldn't help but cry at the good news Spade brought her.

"Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Spade, thank you so much."

"You don't have to say thank you to me, that's what I promised you for helping me also."

"But thank you still, my daughter's life will be extended," Isabella said, wiping away her tears while Spade looked at her seriously.

"Why?" a question escaped Spade's lips, slightly furrowing Isabella's brow.

"What why?"

"You accepted my offer because of a child that is not even yours, so why?" Spade asked, and Isabella composed herself before meeting Spade's gaze.

"Alina is my daughter."

Spade saw the seriousness in Isabella's expression, so he sighed slightly.

"Sorry about my question," Spade said before standing up.

"I'm leaving. Sandro will fetch you and your daughter by Friday, make her prepare mentally," Spade said before walking straight out of Isabella's apartment.

Isabella sighed as she was left alone in her living room. She was happy that Alina would be operated on, yet she felt that her response to Spade's question was wrong.

"There's nothing wrong with my answer, but why do I feel guilty about my reaction?" Isabella said to herself.