章 13: Chapter 13
"Hello Angel." Damon spoke, almost cursing himself. This boy was his son. Why was he so awkward around him?
The boy blinked a few times before his eyes widened in excitement as he pointed a small finger over. "Papa!"
He waited for Avery to confirm it with a nod, while Damon closed in and opened his arms. "Yes. It's me, your papa."
The servants had unloaded the car and brought over the bags of innumerable toys, one of which Damon took out to show the boy. "Look, I brought you toys."
"He doesn't like dragons. He has always found them disturbing." Avery snorted when Damon placed a silicone toy dragon in Angel's hand. He was about to retract the toy when Angel excitedly hugged it.
He smiled dotingly. "I'm glad he likes them now."
So this was what it felt like to play with one's son. Damon had never been happier in his life. He showed a few of the toys to the little boy and played with him while the rest were taken away to his playroom.
As they drove a firefighters truck, Avery watched at the side for her son's expressions. She could tell that he found it foreign to play with his papa but he loved it.
At some point, Damon gave him a custom-made plush toy. The toy was an adorable chibi version of Damon, and when Angel pressed its tummy, a voice recording played out.
"I love you, Angel."
The boy looked surprised as he pressed the toy's tummy over and over. When he heard his father's voice, he broke into a happy smile and hugged the toy. "Papa!"
Damon kissed his cheek contently. If he didn't get to see Angel again, at least the boy would have the toy and play the recording whenever he missed his papa.
"Angel, it's time for your bath and Damon has to leave." Avery broke the news about half an hour later, which was definitely not good news to the father and son duo.
Damon looked over at her. "I…"
She shut him up with a glare before he could say that he was not in a hurry to leave.
Angel held up his five tiny fingers to signal that he would like to spend time with his father for five more minutes.
Avery smiled dotingly. "Okay. But when five minutes are over, your papa really has to leave."
Angel joyously dragged his father to play for the remaining five minutes, before he reluctantly let his nanny take him away for a bath.
"You can take a cab. The subway is too far away." Avery dismissed Damon.
He frowned. "Aren't you going to drop me off? I can't get a cab in this kind of neighborhood."
She crossed her arms. "Then walk home."
He chuckled, having expected this kind of heartlessness. In truth, he already knew that she would dismiss him so he had contacted his chauffeur and had him wait nearby.
"Then see me to the door. Your villa is so grand I forgot the way." He exaggeratedly demanded.
She was in a good mood so she ignored his insanity and once again led the way.
"He is an active child." He spoke to strike conversation.
She shot him a glance but instead of the mean remark he expected, she shook her head. "Not usually. He is rarely ever this active and happy. It's great to finally see him smile. He rarely does. "
She paused before adding, "Sometimes, I don't know what he is thinking either."
"But at times like now, you know exactly what he is thinking." He guessed.
"Sadly, yeah." She deadpanned and let out a sigh. "He doesn't interact with other kids. At least not as much as they want to play with him. It was impossible for him to realize that he is different from them, until he saw you."
He felt guilty under her gaze. However, he didn't regret insisting on meeting Angel. If they never met, the boy would never have realized what he didn't have, but his life would never have been complete. He would have been sheltered forever and who knew what would happen in future? Perhaps he would still notice the difference between him and other kids at some point.
She slowed down as she added, "After seeing you, he realized that whenever we go to theme parks, zoos and the mall, the other kids would be accompanied by their parents. They would be a family of at least three with both parents present."
Her words sliced through his heart.
"On the other hand, he would only have me. I would hold his hand and accompany him to all the rides he wanted, buy him everything he needed and all the snacks he wanted to eat. But… other kids would have their tall dads carry them on their shoulders so they would see things from afar. I could only hold him in my arms."
"Avery…" His heart clenched at her words.
"You know what actually sucks?" She ignored him. "It's the fact that no matter how good I am as a mother, no matter how hard I try to fill in both roles, I will never be his father. And he will always seek his scumbag father."
____
AN
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