Chapter 143: What has your papa been up to?
What would he say to the daughter he had never spoken to before in his life? He had never held her. He had never seen her face to face. He had never touched her.
The only picture of her that he had was that of when she had just come out of her mother’s.
That picture was right there on his desk, framed in a pink flower frame. She was such an angel.
And she was the reason he was doing his best. She and her mother.
When he saw that picture, it was as if something inside him broke. But that broken piece did not bother him. He was relieved.
They were both fine. And healthy.
There was no problem.
His family was safe.
That was what he thought at that moment. And even though it bugged him so much to the point he wanted to just drop everything and rush towards their side, he persevered.
He could not waste Michael’s efforts. He had waited for so long. If he just gave up now, on his own, how would he face Michael who had endured alone?
He shut his eyes, rubbing them with his hand, and then made the call.
No matter what.
The heavens had given him this opportunity so he could talk to his daughter. So he would take it.
The phone connected and he prayed that one of them, be it Michael or Olivia, would pick up the call.
He wanted to hear their voices.
"Hello." The voice of a little angel coming from the other side of the line sprang flowers in his head and his eyes welled up emotionally. "Hello, who is calling?"
She sounded so sweet and pure and gentle.
She was definitely an angel.
"Hi," Noah said.
He didn’t know what to say at a time like this but he decided to just go with the flow.
He hoped his daughter would not end up resenting him for never being by their side.
"Is your mother at home?" He asked and then Olivia paused.
It was as if she knew. She knew that the person calling was her father. The tone of hesitation, nervousness, and the connection she felt... It just had to be him.
She smiled, her face beaming happily.
"Papa is not at home." She said. "But I’m here, Daddy. I... I miss you."
Noah heard this and covered his mouth.
Tears. There were tears. He couldn’t believe it. He was finally talking to his daughter and she said she missed him.
’The way she calls him Papa is so cute.’ he thought.
She was such a bundle of joy... This was his daughter.
"Olivia," he called her name and then gulped, the words throwing hot coal down his throat. "I... I missed you a lot, my dear." He wiped the tears with his palm.
If anyone walked in on that scene, they definitely wouldn’t believe that someone like him could shed such tears.
He was considered cold, ruthless, and finite in his dealings. But for such a man who showed no emotion to be in tears during a phone call... It was as if the sun would rise from the North on such a day.
But Noah couldn’t help it.
When listening to his daughter’s voice and hearing it from such a clear and childish tone that she missed him, despite having never met him, he was brought to tears.
Tears of joy.
His daughter did not resent him. He was so happy.
"How have you been?" He asked.
"I’ve been fine. Papa has been fine as well. Uncle and Aunty have been taking care of us so we have no complaint." She said, her tone cheerful and sweet. "How are you, Daddy? Are you eating well?" She asked, her words touching his heart once again. "I heard from Papa that you’re working hard and we can’t afford to disturb you, but I..." She pouted her lips. "I miss you so much that I wanted to talk to you. I didn’t do bad, did I?"
"No, no, Olivia, you didn’t do anything wrong." Noah said. "You didn’t. In fact, I’m glad. I’m grateful that you reached out to me. I missed you both so much that I..." He stopped talking and realized he was starting to go mad with want.
"Daddy?" She called, noticing his pause.
"How have you been?" He repeated this question. "What has your papa been up to?"
"Well, Papa runs a flower shop downstairs. Aunty and Uncle are helping out in the shop as well." Olivia explained. "Uncle and Aunty argue a lot, though, but I guess it only means they’re very close." She giggled. "Papa said if they continued like that, they might give me a niece or nephew."
Hearing that, Noah laughed.
He didn’t know how things came to that but it was funny hearing such innocent words from a child who had no idea how babies were made.
His child.
He felt proud.
"But daddy," Olivia called, her tone suddenly growing sad.
"What’s wrong, sweetheart?"
"It’s just... Sometimes Papa looks very sad." She said. "He doesn’t want me to know, so he smiles, but I can tell that he cried. I cry a lot, so I know what it looks like after someone cries, and Papa does a lot. I think he missed you too, daddy."
Hearing this, Noah’s heart ached.
He knew it. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy and Michael wouldn’t be okay. But hearing it as a confirmation from his daughter, his heart just couldn’t take it.
He wanted to be there for Michael. He wanted to wipe away those tears and hold him in his arms. He wanted to take away his worries.
Why in the world was he taking so damn long?
"Daddy?" Olivia called. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, sweetheart. I’m just sad that I’m working instead of being with you. I... I will do my best. I will make sure to come to you as soon as I can and we’ll be one happy family."
"Promise, daddy?"
"I promise, Olivia."
After then, Michael found out about their secret conversation that went on for days because the landline bills were suddenly triple the usual amount.
He just didn’t expect Olivia to pull something like that.
’I can’t believe my child keeled before I did.’ Michael thought. ’I guess I’m that strong, haha.’ But it was nothing to be proud about because he... Was already reaching his limit.
