An argument

Chloe's POV

"Why do you not like my mommy, Ethan?"

"Your mom... I like her. She... She is good." Ethan stammered, obviously taken aback by her question, and I stifled back my laugh.

"Then how come you don't get her gifts as well?" Ariana asked curiously, looking a little sad, and I found it comical how Ethan was thrown off balance.

"Your mom..." He pinched the bridge between his brows. "Your mom is a grown up."

"Grown up love gifts too. Mommy loves it when Uncle Dylan brings her gifts." Ariana said, and I noticed the frown that formed on Ethan's face.

"Who is uncle Dylan?" He asked her, his brows furrowing.

"He is a friend to my mommy. Aunty Bonnie said that he likes her and mommy likes him too."

"Ari, it is time for you to go to bed." I said quickly, before she would say more. "Come let me tuck you in."

She shook her head. "I want Ethan to do it."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Me?"

"Yes. Don't you want to tuck me in?" She asked him cutely, her big eyes round in expectation.

"Oh, of course I do."

He then carried her to her bed, placing her down very carefully, while I stood at the door watching them.

He covered her with some cute pink sheets, and bid her goodnight.

"Is that all?" Ariana asked, and a laugh escaped my lips. Ethan looked at me with a frown on his face.

"What do you want me to do for you, Angel?"

"Mommy would have kissed me and told me that she loves me." She innocently told him, and his eyes bulged.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." He then leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead. "I love you."

It was strange hearing someone else say that to her apart from Bonnie and I. I wondered if he meant it. Maybe he did. I could see the adoration in his eyes. And it made Ariana happy.

Ethan stood up to leave, but she caught his hand again. "Are you not going to read to me?"

"Read to you?"

"Yes. Mom usually read me stories before I sleep. Can't you read?"

Now I burst into laughter, seeing how confused he was.

"Are you going to ask for help now?" I asked him when he turned to me again. But I didn't wait for his response as I went over with one of her books.

"Give me that." He said, taking the book from me, and I frowned. I then stepped aside to allow him do whatever he wanted to do.

He began to read to Ariana, and soon she began to giggle. "You are too fast. That is not how to read."

"See? Ari is right. You do not know how to read." I then took the book from him, and began to read to Ariana, while he watched me, totally annoyed. I smiled smugly, enjoying his annoyance.

*****

"Where is your financee?" I finally asked Ethan after Ariana had gone to bed. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go to the living room, and it wasn't too long after that he joined me. He sunk on the couch next to mine.

"Why do you want to know about my fiancee?" He asked me instead.

I shrugged. "She is your financee, and I kinda expected to find her here. Plus she might get angry if she finds me with you. I don't think I will like it if I find a grown woman in my fiance's house without my knowledge."

"But here you are. Aren't you selfish?" He asked, tilting his head to look at me.

"You call me selfish, but you are the one that took my daughter from me. What do you expect me to do? Stay away from her?" I sharply turned to him, not bothering to conceal the anger in my voice.

"I took your daughter from you? I fucking took your daughter from you?!" His gaze bored into mine, and I the anger in them was palpable. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, not knowing what to expect. "You hid her from me for four years. Four fucking years, I had no idea I had a child, and here you are talking about me taking her from you."

"Oh, you accept that she is your daughter now, huh?" I asked, despite the fear I was starting to feel. "Or is your DNA result out?"

"Fuck the result, I know that she is mine. If she never fell sick, I was sure that you would not have told me!" He seethed, and I could feel the anger radiating from his aura.

I recoiled in my seat, feeling guilty. "I wanted to tell you. I really did, but when I learnt that you were engaged, I thought I would come between you and your fiancee. I didn't want to ruin it for her."

"Is that the lie you tell yourself? You were just selfish, and you will make up any lie for you to feel better. I will give you some time here with her, and after then, I will throw you out and you will never see her again."

My heart beat quickened, and I got on my feet. "You can't mean that."

"I fucking do." He got up as well and made to go in, but I followed after him and grabbed his arm.

"Do you think she will be happy without me? She loves me, and she will look for me." I said, hoping that it would be enough to change his mind. But the fear and dread in my heart seemed to grow with each passing second.

"She is just four. With time she will learn to live without you and forget about you. She will believe everything I tell her about you."

"Ethan, I was wrong for keeping her from you, I know. I am sorry. But please, don't take her away from me. I can't take it, please." I eyes were already gleaming with tears even though I tried to fight them back.

"You should have thought about that when you decided to keep her from me." He then pulled his arm out of my grip and walked away.

I gripped my hair tight, thinking of things to do. Should I get a lawyer? That would cost a lot, and I had spend almost every penny I had on Ariana. Plus Ethan can easily pay the best lawyers.

I walked to Ariana's room as I combed through my hair. My baby girl. She was sleeping soundly. I know that I would do anything for her, I will give up the world for her, but I didn't think I would ever have to give her up. Life would have no meaning anymore.

I wiped my tears as I walked to her. I leaned in and a placed a kiss on her forehead, careful not to wake her up. I then turned to leave, closing her door gently.