Chapter 34
The Harris siblings went to the balcony to talk, while I silently initiated to accompany the child. I placed down a glass of orange juice at the coffee table. “That’s all we have. I can get you water if you prefer that.”
I sat on the single armchair sofa and watched the young child drink the juice. As I stare at him, I can see nothing but his resemblance to Stefano. They look so identical. He really looks like Stefano’s younger version.
“Are you Stefano’s wife?”
I was a bit startled by his sudden query. He looked at me like I’m some sort of criminal he’s interrogating.
“I, umm, no. Not yet? At least.” I stuttered. I didn’t know what to answer. I mean, I wasn’t prepared to be interrogated by a nine-year-old child.
“Then you’re his girlfriend.”
“Yeah. You can put it that way.”
A few minutes passed and there was only silence. I don’t know how to converse or interact with a child. I can barely do it with an adult, what more to a child.
But I heard him talk earlier to Stefano, and even now, I could say he talks more eloquently and mature than his age. Even if he grew up without Stefano by his side, he seems to have inherited Stefano’s intelligence and attitude.
“Is he a good person?” His sudden question broke the silence.
He’s not looking at me. He’s looking down, and he looks like he has a lot on his mind. How can a child look so stressed, anxious, worried, confused — all in one at the same time. But me being able to read him this easily assures me he’s still a child.
I was about to answer but he spoke again. “Mommy doesn’t say anything, but I know the problem is serious. Mommy always says that he didn’t choose to leave me, and that he’s a good guy.”
I don’t know what happened in the past, but if he grew up believing his father didn’t abandon him and that he’s a good guy — Veronica is a great mother.
“You’ll stay with him. Eventually you will find out the answer to your question. Judge yourself if your father is a good guy or not. But if I were to answer, he’s not the best. He’s not perfect — no one is. But he tries his best in everything, especially for his loved ones. All I know is he will do everything for you, his son.”
A few seconds later, I stood up. After talking with this child and realizing his expectations on his father, and also knowing that Stefano would also consider me in every step of the way, I realized that I don’t want to be a hindrance between the two. I don’t want to be the person who’ll end up ruining what is just starting to be built.
“The real question is, do you have a plan?” I heard Sylvester ask as I walked closer to the balcony.
“I do. I’m planning to take Emily and Noah to the mansion. There’s better security there,” Stefano answered.
“What?!” Savannah, Skyler and Sylvester exclaimed in unison.
“There’s no other way.”
“You know Emily’s dad will be able to reach her there, right?”
I take a breath before sliding the glass door open.  “Remove me from the equation. I am an adult, and I can protect myself. But a child can’t.”
I looked at Stefano, and we locked eyes. I smiled at him, giving him assurance.
“I told you, Stefano. I’ll be here — by your side. Do what you have to do.  Do what you think is right. Not for yourself, or for me, but for your son. You’re a father now. Your priorities change.”
After that, we started packing our things.
Right now, we have arrived at the Harris’ mansion. I looked at Noah through the rear view mirror — who’s sitting at the backseat and looking outside the window.
I heard Stefano breathing deeply, making me turn to him. I grabbed his hand and he turned to me. I smiled.
“Everything will be fine.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Trust me.”
We have now entered the house, and it’s nerve wracking. It would be a lie if I say that I’m not scared to be here. But I have to be brave if I want to be part of Stefano’s life.
I have to be brave for myself too.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps emerges. We looked towards the staircase, and there’s Stephen and Jasmine Harris walking down the stairs.
I suddenly felt someone grabbing my shirt. I looked down and there’s Noah hiding behind my back. I held his hand, making him look up to me. I smiled and mouthed ‘it’s okay’.
“Dad,” Stefano started. “Mom.”
“Have you come to your senses?” his dad authoritatively asked.
“You’re the one who should come to your senses,” I heard Savannah mumble. The three other Harris are being supportive behind us. Somehow, it helps me to relax knowing that three of them have our back.
“I’ll be staying here again,” Stefano said, ignoring his father’s words. Stefano grabbed my hand. “Emily is staying with me.” He glances at Noah before walking beside him and grabbing his other hand. “Also, meet my son. Noah.”
His mother gasps while his father still has his unfazed stern face.
“Your son? How —”
Stefano quickly cut off his mother. “Veronica. She’s his mother.”
“Do you even realize how huge of a scandal you’re bringing to this family, Stefano? DO YOU?!”
I flinched the moment he shouted, but Noah’s tightening grip to my hand made me go back to my senses. I squatted down and made him turn to me. I comforted him as I repetitively said that everything is alright.
“I have legal rights to this house. I also have rights to bring and live with whoever I want.”
“Who says you have rights?!”
“Did you forget? Whoever, in the family, has a position at ZH Holdings automatically holds rights to the main mansion. I wonder who pre-approved that amendment.”
I quickly glanced at Stefano as he sarcastically said the last line. I turned to Stephen Harris, looking furious.
“Don’t test —”
“What? What will you do? Fire me?” Stefano chuckles.
“Stop fighting,” I heard Noah whisper, making my attention back to him. He’s now covering his ears. “Stop fighting,” he mumbled once more.
Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed him. I looked up and it was Skyler. He carried him. “Let’s get out of here.”
Skyler left with Noah. I stood back up and held Stefano’s arm, trying to stop and calm him down.
“I’m staying here with Emily and my son. I will handle everything that is about me. I don’t need your opinion or decisions. I don’t need anything from you.”
“You can’t do this, Stefano!”
“Of course he can!” Savannah, from behind, shouted. “He is an adult and he can do whatever the fuck he wants!”
“And what? Fucked up like you did?!”
“Oh, come on. Don’t act like you’re not happy that I fucked up. I am now a Zach and you’re benefiting from it old man!”
“Ohh, old man. Bars.” I heard Sylvester say in a mocking tone.
The rest was a mess. It didn’t end quietly. Right now, we’re at Stefano’s study room. A room inside his bedroom. Noah, on the other hand, is sleeping on his bed.
“I swear! I knew it would end the moment she called him old man!” Sylvester said laughing. “You missed a great one, Sky. Ah, I can’t stop laughing whenever I remember his face the moment he heard it. It was epic!”
Stefano and Savannah just both giggled as they shook their heads. Skyler keeps sighing in frustration — frustration that he missed the scene.
“Are you guys always like this?” I asked, making them all turn to me. “I mean, do you all always hate your father? And act like this after those kinds of situations?”
“Not always,” Savannah answered. “Especially before we all reconciled.”
“Yeah. Because someone always sides with the old man,” Sylvester added. I followed his stares and brought me to Stefano, who averted his eyes and faked a cough.
“We were a mess back then. I took years just for us to be this close. Sometimes I feel like we wasted so much time on fighting and hating each other, and wasted so many times we could have just backstabbed the people we hate. Like what we do today,” Skyler said, making all of us chuckle.
“But on a serious note,” Savannah started after a deep sigh. Making me turn to her. “Don’t mind him or anyone. Don’t listen to anyone. Trust yourself… and — I can’t believe I’m saying this but, trust my brother. Trust Stefano.”
“Right. Dad is a selfish person. You won’t be happy if you let his words and actions penetrate your entire system,” Sylvester added. “We also got your backs, so, yeah, don’t mind his shits.”
When Stefano reached and grabbed my hand, and smiled at me, the assurance I needed was completed.
I never imagined that having Stefano in my life will bring more than his love.
His siblings, and their warmth that almost feels like a whole new family.