33

Emilia’s POV
I raise an eyebrow, taken aback by Daisy’s sudden request. My eyes shift to the small, adorable puppy in her arms, its innocent gaze captivating me.
“Daisy,” I begin in a gentle tone, “we can’t just take someone else’s dog. It wouldn’t be right to keep something that doesn’t belong to us.”
Daisy’s bottom lip quivers, and she pouts, pleading with me. “But Aunt Emilia, the puppy doesn’t seem to have an owner. I found it, and it feels like it wants to be with me. Can’t I keep it?”
Sighing softly, I understand Daisy’s attachment to the puppy. I notice how comfortable and at ease the dog seems in her embrace, as if it has already found its home. Perhaps Daisy could provide the love and care it needs.
“I understand how you feel, Daisy,” I say, my voice filled with empathy. “But we have to make sure we do the right thing. We need to try and find the puppy’s owner first. If we can’t locate them, then we can consider you taking care of it.”
A spark of hope gleams in Daisy’s eyes. “Really, Auntie? You mean it?”
I nod, a warm smile appearing on my face. “Yes, Daisy. I promise. We’ll do our best to find the owner, and if all else fails, we can talk about you giving the puppy a loving home.”
Daisy’s face lights up, a mixture of relief and excitement washing over her. She tightens her hold on the puppy, murmuring soothing words to it.
“But for now,” I continue, “let’s do what’s responsible. We should report the missing dog to the store manager. They might have a process in place to reunite the puppy with its owner. And in the meantime, you should talk to your father about the situation. It’s important to have his permission.”
Hesitation flickers across Daisy’s expression. “I’m not sure if he’ll agree, Auntie. He’s always so strict.”
Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, I offer reassurance. “You won’t know until you try, Daisy. I believe that if he sees how much you care about the puppy, he’ll understand.”
Reluctantly, Daisy nods, understanding the need to seek her father’s approval. I commend her for her understanding and maturity, proud of the growth she has shown.
“Well done, Daisy. You’re handling this with great maturity. Let’s finish our shopping, purchase what we need, and then head home.”
Afterward, I hold their hands on each side and push the trolley to the cashier to pay before bringing up the issue of the puppy. The store manager decided to let us take the puppy home first while he searched for the owner.
Before we leave, I can’t help but look back into the store, curious about the young lady that had dealt with the situation earlier. I was intrigued by her and how she handled it all. In that moment, if I didn’t know the truth, I would have unquestionably believed that Sophia was their mother. Her actions were so genuine, so wholehearted, that she exuded a profound maternal love that resonated with every move she made.
I am curious about her and the more I think about her, I can’t help but have a presumption thought That she is the mysterious mother of the twins that my cousin desperately wants to keep a secret.
Sophia’s POV
After I turn to leave, I can’t help but look back at the kids again. For some reason, I had felt panic and unease seeing that woman call them names. It made me uncomfortable and I couldn’t help but intervene.
Now as I turn to leave, I feel unwilling. I find myself feeling unexpectedly attached to them, as if they could have been my own children. Thoughts of my kids swirl through my thoughts, and I can’t help but wonder how they are doing.
It’s not the first time I’ve missed and wondered about the children since they were taken away from me at birth. In the early months after Alexander’s departure, the absence of the kids I had given birth to was a constant ache in my heart. But as time went on, I had made a conscious effort to stop brooding and accept the reality. After all, I had willingly agreed to the surrogacy arrangement, and I needed to come to terms with it.
However, now that Alexander has returned, a flicker of hope stirs within me. I can’t help but wonder if I will be allowed to see the children, to catch a glimpse of what they look like, to know how they have grown. The thought tugs at my heart, a mix of curiosity and longing.
I keep these thoughts to myself for now, unsure of how to approach the subject with Alexander. Will he be open to the idea of reconnecting me with the children?
Along with this, my thoughts swirl to Alexander and I bring out my phone. As I click on it to open the interface, I find there is no calls or messages on it.
He still hasn’t called or said hi. It bothers me and I can’t help but wonder why he bothered to come along or kiss me that night if he was going to go awol.
I am about to return my phone into my pocket when it begins to ring. I glance at the caller ID and see that it’s the agent in charge of my apartment. It’s an unexpected call, and I quickly answer it, hoping that there isn’t a problem with the place.
“Hello,” I greet him, trying to sound calm and composed.
“Hi, Sophia,” the agent says warmly. “I stopped by your apartment earlier today, but it was still empty. I thought you mentioned that you’d be moving in today. Is everything alright?”
I take a deep breath, realizing that I’ve been preoccupied with the events at the store and haven’t made any progress on moving in. “I’m sorry about that. I just have some personal issues going on at the moment, and I won’t be able to move in today. But I promise I’ll be there first thing tomorrow morning.”
The agent’s voice carries understanding. “No problem, Sophia. I understand that life can get in the way sometimes. Just make sure you’re careful when you move in, and keep an eye out for any nosy neighbors. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out to me.”
“Thank you for your concern,” I reply sincerely. “I appreciate it, and I’ll definitely be careful. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
With that, we bid each other goodbye, and I end the call.
As I slip my phone back into my pocket, I pay for the goods I picked and make my way out of the supermarket. I make my way to a nearby taxi stand and hail a cab. As I settle into the backseat, my thoughts drift back to the events of the day. The encounter with the children and the thoughts of meeting my own kids- it’s all a whirlwind of emotions.
Just as the taxi starts moving, my phone vibrates in my pocket, indicating an incoming call. I retrieve it, expecting it to be another unexpected interruption. However, this time it’s my mother calling. I’m surprised by the timing but quickly answer, pressing the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Mom,” I greet her, trying to sound composed despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
“Hello, Sophia, my dear,” my mother’s gentle voice reaches me. “How are you doing? Have you settled into your new school? I hope everything is going well for you.”
A warmth spreads through my chest as I hear the genuine concern in her voice. It’s been a while since we last spoke, and I’ve missed our conversations.
“I’m doing fine, Mom,” I reply, grateful for her call. “School has been keeping me busy, but I’m adjusting. Actually, I just finished getting the necessities for my new apartment. I’ll be moving in tomorrow.”
There’s a pause on the other end, and I can almost sense my mother’s concern through the phone. “Sophia, dear, are you sure you’re ready for this? Moving can be a big step, and I don’t want you to overwhelm yourself. Take things slowly, okay?”
Her words resonate with me, reminding me to take care of myself during this transitional period. I appreciate her concern and her reminder to approach things at my own pace.
“I understand, Mom,” I assure her. “I’ll take it one step at a time. Thank you for your advice and support.”
My mother’s voice softens. “Of course, dear. Your well-being is important to me. By the way, your father and I are planning to visit you soon. There are some matters we need to discuss in person.”
My curiosity is piqued, and I’m eager to know what she’s referring to. “What is it, Mom? Is everything okay?”
She hesitates for a moment before responding. “It’s a bit complicated, Sophia. I think it’s best if we talk about it face to face. I’ll explain everything once we’re together. Maybe when you come for the holidays or we can come see you for the New Year. We can discuss everything then.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Yes, Mom. I’ll make time to meet you and Dad. Just let me know the details, and I’ll be there.”
“Thank you, dear,” she says warmly. “I’m looking forward to seeing you. Take care of yourself, and remember, your father and I are always here for you.”
“I will, Mom. Thank you for calling. I love you.”
“I love you too, Sophia. Take care. Goodbye for now.”