Chapter 4

Aria

Leticia feels at home at my house.

After we ate the food she brought. We are sitting on the bed because there is no couch to sit on. We talked about their love story, her family, and her brother who owns a multibillion company. Mark and her brother are best friends. We shared a lot of girls' talk.

I was still thinking why out of the blue she asks to come into my house.

"I guess you are thinking about why I suddenly ask to come here?" Leticia said and my head tilted back at her.

She noticed it already.

"Uh...uh" she smiled.

"I have a proposal to make, but..." She said and I nodded for her to continue.

"I came here because I want too and half of it is my proposal. Don't think too much Aria. I am your friend. If I asked you this please bear with me and understand it. I hope we are still friends. It's really rare to find good people and kind-hearted like you even though you knew I am rich as hell. " I nodded with understanding and a bit frustrated.

I don't care if she is rich. Being friends with someone is not about the money, the fame, or the face.

You should accept him or her for what she or he is.

"I will try… Come on… No need to be sad." I told her.

Her face really changes when the topic is a serious one.

She took a deep breath and said.

"Marry my brother. Lucas Wighten."

I looked at her wide eyes and my mouth fell open. She took my hand and caressed it gently while my brain was still sinking about the words she dropped.

Yeah, calm before the storm... Here it is. Is she joking? --No, she probably not.

"Are you serious? How can I marry your Billionaire brother? We are not in love and he is rich as hell and I am just one-foot step and I am dead." I said to her, trying to catch my breath.

"Yeah, I am serious. No need to think low to yourself Aria. Money is not the basis for it. I don't care if you are poor or broke or whatsoever. Being kind-hearted is enough." she said softly.

"But...I" 

"Aria, please… Remember Luke called you Mommy?"

I nodded. I can’t ever forget Luke.

"That is the first time he spoke even if we try and try to talk at him. That child needs a motherly love and I saw it in you. Please… If you can break Lucas's walls in his heart, do it. His family becomes devastated because his Ex-wife messed up everything. Luke's future, Lucas dreams. " She pleaded.

"I will pay the debts you have. Please…" She pleaded again with tears continuously flowing.

"But you are there, Lily… Mark. Why do you need me?" I asked softly, wiping her the tears.

"Yes, you could say that, but I have my own family. Luke needs a motherly figure like you. I can see it in you. So please accept it. Bring Lucas back to his old self. Please Aria." she pleaded and kneeled at me.

She is very dead serious.

"Don't kneel at me, Leticia. You don't have to do that." I said, guiding her to sit on the bed.

I walked to the dining to get her some water and let her drink.

"What if I didn't do it? I didn't have any experience in children or babies."

I have doubts that I can do that.

'"Is that a yes?" She asks, her face lit up slightly.

"What if I didn't reach his standards? What if I had enough? What if I give up?" I ask her. I didn't know what to do.

"Just try, please Aria. If you need anything you can come and ask me. Please… Aria… " She begged.

"I want him to be back in his old self. Everything had been a mess up to him." She whispered.

If I did this I will be free of debts and help a family who needs me, right?

Jesus, please make my decision right. I prayed in my mind.

"I’ll think about it," I said softly to her making her face lit up fully.

"Please don't reject me." She pleaded in whispered.

" Yes, I'll try my best, but please tell me the whole story, and needs to be done just for me to adjust and understand," I told her softly.

"What if I fall or anything happens at the moment?" I asked.

You never knew what fate could do to you. I needed to be sure.

"Then, make it happen." She said with no doubt.

____________________

I am getting ready for work. Yesterday night has been a long day for me.

Thinking about the sudden proposal of Leticia. She will pay all the debts I have if I accept the offer. I needed to meet Lucas first of course. I just need to text Leticia about it. I need to live in their house and I don't need to work because I need to give my time and attention to Luke and Lucas. We had an agreement until I can. 

I will do it.

 If I give up then it will be the end I guess, but I never give up right?

Do I think I can?

“ You can, you are just scared of what will happen.” The back of my mind told me.

Leticia told the whole story about how Lucas’s ex-wife cheated on him since they are married and neglected her son.

The girl just easily abandoned her son. How can she be so heartless?

Remembering the middle age man giving me time to pay until next month. I think I really need this.

She was giving me until tonight to decide and if I didn't accept it, she will find another one. Looking into her eyes yesterday I can see the truth and she is not lying.

I know the feeling when you don't have a parent to love you the most and balance their time with you. I felt that… I have been through the worst when I have my foster dad. He didn't hit me physically. I never received love from him. Since the day I got out of the orphanage where he took me. He never showed me how to be a good and caring father.

I am from the Philippines literally. I didn't have the height like Americans here in New York. Just so you know, I found them 2x taller than me.

I wish I wouldn't regret my decision.

Getting out of my thoughts. I stepped out of the house and locked the door.

I headed straight to the cafe.

"Nice day. A" Brent chirped with a smile on his face.

"You too, what’s the reason behind that smile?" I asked playfully walking to the counter.

"I have a date later," he said playfully and winked at me. Making me laughed.

"Don't wink. Hahahaha… It doesn’t look like one." I laughed at him and he pouted.

His wink is always epic fail wherein his two eyes are closed. Before I started to prepare and rearrange everything.

I texted Leticia, that I will accept her offer.

I sighed…

Please guide me Jesus for this decision.

Minutes passed. I felt my phone vibrated. I checked it and it was from Leticia. She told me that she is really happy and will pick me up after my work here to meet my soon to be husband.

I took a deep breath to relax. Not to be nervous.   

Very... very good luck to me.