ESMERALDA saw the shock in Amadeus’s face. “Aiden’s here?”
"Yes. He said he'll take us to Manila, and we'll stay in his condo," Jeremy answered.
Aiden was behind Jeremy. He walked to her and kissed her cheek. “Hello. You are looking good.”
“How was your trip?” she asked, but she felt tense because she could feel the negative energy coming from Amadeus beside her.
“I am great. The trip was long, but the view was worth it.” He tapped Jeremy’s shoulder. “Let’s get inside so you can pack. Your sister and I still have something important to talk to.”
She nodded at him, and they entered the gate. The snack for Aiden was set in the garden because it was cool under the acacia tree. Amadeus quickly sat beside her. Aiden was forced to sit across her.
“You should not have bothered to come here. You are not needed here,” Amadeus dismissed. “I left you a task, remember?”
"Hello to you, too, brother. The tan looks good on you." Aiden tapped his older brother's shoulder, ignoring the threat in his eyes. "Just like you, I have a very capable staff. Lexie is even better at handling the job than I. I can't just neglect Esmeralda. She is very important to me."
“I’ll take care of Jeremy and Esmeralda. We already have a deal that she’ll stay away from you,” Amadeus said in a heavy tone.
"Yes, she left me because of your deal. But that does include me coming to her. I can't stay away from her, especially now. I am proposing to her again. I want to marry her again."
Anger spread across Amadeus’s face. “Marry her again? You already got what you want…”
“You can have the money back. If you want, you can take back my position from Brava Hotel, too. I don’t need it anymore. Esmeralda and her child’s future are more important. Make that our child,” Aiden said.
“Child? You’re pregnant?” Amadeus blurted out and turned to her. Esmeralda could not move from her seat. She did not know how to answer Aiden’s statement. That was not a part of their deal. He did not tell her his plan on how to drive Amadeus away.
Instead of answering, Aiden turned to her and knelt in front of her. “Marry me, Esmeralda. I will be a good husband and a good father to your child. I will treat it as my own.”
“You’re not the father?” Amadeus asked.
Aiden shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Esmeralda’s child will be no different to me. We are of the same blood after all.”
Amadeus looked like a bomb was blown up in front of him when he realized what Aiden meant. “Esmeralda is pregnant? I’m the father? And you’re going to let him assume my child?”
Even Esmeralda was hit by the bomb of Aiden’s declaration. She looked like the worst woman ever. She had not prepared a script for the story that Aiden made. She wanted to strangle her friend that very moment. She had no idea how that could help her drive Amadeus away.
“Why not, brother? I am the more responsible brother. I am ready to marry Esmeralda. What can you offer her? You have a different lifestyle. Jetsetting, different women every week, and Brava Hotels is your legal wife. You can’t bear to have a family. Can you imagine yourself as a father?” Aiden boldly asked.
Amadeus blushed in anger. “You know nothing…”
“I know a lot.” Aiden grinned. “I am doing you a favor, brother. As far as I can remember, you are allergic to women who wanted to trap you, pretending to be pregnant to fool you and marry them. Esmeralda did not have to go through that. I’ll take her away from you myself.”
“Shut up,” Amadeus roared and stood up abruptly. He was about to get Aiden if Esmeralda had not blocked him.
“Amadeus, please. Don’t start a fight here,” she implored.
“Let’s talk.” Amadeus’s words were heavy. His eyes were dark as he stared at her.
She turned to Aiden. “We’ll just talk. Get inside.” And a victorious smile curved his lips. As if he had already won.
Amadeus turned his back against her. He pressed his forehead on the cottage post. “Am I that evil to not let me know that we’re going to have a child? You let Aiden know first.”
“I just think that you won’t be interested,” she said weakly. She had no choice but to ride with Aiden’s story.
“You didn’t even try? Do you think I don’t have the right with my child?”
She clenched her fist. “You know what happened that night…”
“That night is irrelevant. We are always together here in San Luis. And I thought we are already close. That at times like this, you’ll let me know before you make any decisions. Or do you think that I am worthless that I don’t deserve to be the father of your child?”