บท 14: Not my fault
Valerie walked along the hospital corridor, Damian beside her holding Daniel's hand, the steps slow and measured. Silent, they seemed like a happy family with no connection left between them.
"You'll get tired," Damian bent, shifting Daniel into his arms.
Valerie glanced at them. "He's not tired, but you're impatient with his little steps."
"You're the one saying that."
"It's a fact... Maybe you're not skilled at walking slowly." Valerie smiled faintly. "You're not good with kids."
"Because you never told me I had a child... So don't blame me." Damian turned away, focusing on Daniel's beautiful eyes. "Good boy... Kiss me..." He leaned in.
Daniel held Damian's cheeks, then kissed him gently.
"Muahhh..."
Damian grinned, embracing Daniel. "Good boy, you'll be Daddy's hero!"
"Dada..."
"What?"
Damian stopped abruptly, lifting Daniel with a surprised look.
"What did you just say?"
Valerie also stopped, looking up at Daniel with enthusiasm.
"Please, say it again!" Damian exclaimed. "Daddy... Dad... Dy!" He said it slowly as if teaching Daniel.
"Da... Da..." Daniel smiled shyly.
"Oh... Now proudly, I say you're my son!" Damian hugged Daniel briefly, then kissed his soft cheek. "My son... My best, my life... Emmhh... I love you so much!"
Valerie could only smile, seemingly pleased to witness Damian's happiness.
"Valerie..."
Valerie's attention turned to Dana calling her from the door. She approached, followed by Damian.
Dana saw Damian carrying Daniel, surprised at how close they had become.
"Mom... Is Adriana still awake, or did she go back to sleep?" Valerie asked anxiously.
"She's awake," Dana replied, glancing at Damian.
"Mrs. Dominguez," Damian greeted with a flat stare.
"You're lucky to touch your son," Dana retorted curtly, seeming to dislike Damian. "If Valerie hadn't pitied you, you might never have known he existed..."
Damian sighed. "I don't want to discuss our issues."
"No more issues..." Valerie entered the room as if avoiding an argument.
Damian followed, ignoring Dana's cynical look.
Adriana, with reluctant eyes, glanced at the figure entering the room. Slowly, she could see clearly and was immediately astonished.
"Adriana..."
"Valerie... Am I not wrong?"
Valerie approached Adriana and then bent to hug her gently. Instantly, tears flowed, touched to be together again after Valerie's selfishness and hiding.
"Where have you been?" Adriana whispered in tears, her trembling hand stroked Valerie's hair.
Valerie released the hug, looking at Adriana with melancholy. "I've been living in Arizona... I didn't dare to come back..."
"Why? What were you afraid of?"
Valerie glanced at Damian, still holding Daniel. Adriana also looked at Damian and Daniel, noting the resemblance but also the beautiful eyes like Valerie's, furrowing her brows in curiosity.
"What's this? Who's this baby... And why are you with Damian? Are you back together?" Questions spilled from Adriana's lips.
Valerie sighed. "He's my son with Damian, but I'm not back with Damian. Damian only met him today because I've been hiding in Arizona all this time... But my heart was touched to come back when I saw news of your accident."
Damian furrowed his brow at Valerie. 'So she's back not because she wanted to explain to me that Daniel is our son? She's a liar!' he thought.
"Oh God, so..." Adriana focused on looking at Daniel. "He's your son, he's my nephew!" She said excitedly.
Valerie nodded with a warm smile.
"Valerie..." Adriana cried, reaching out to Valerie who welcomed her. "Eduardo and I almost gave up finding you... But you're back... And back with this surprise..."
Valerie smiled, holding Adriana's hand gently. "I'm sorry for not coming back sooner... Now you don't have to worry about finding me again, I won't leave."
Damian looked at Valerie again. 'That means she'll stay in this town, and maybe I'll get to see her more often,' he rejoiced silently.
"Never leave again..." Adriana pleaded.
Valerie nodded.
"So, what's his name?" Adriana asked, glancing at Daniel.
"Daniel Trierweiler Dominguez," Valerie answered, stroking Daniel's hair.
"I'll update his birth certificate someday; he should use my last name," Damian said with a flat look.
"You can't do that!" Valerie protested.
"I have the right; he should use my last name because I'm his father!"
"But I'm his mother!"
"But typically, a child uses the father's family name!" Damian insisted while Adriana remained silent, realizing Valerie and Damian still had conflicts.
Valerie smirked, looking at Damian, crossed her arms. "We're not married... and he was born without you as his father... Of course, he deserves to use my last name, especially since I've been fighting for him all this time!"
Damian sighed. "I emphasize once again. All this happened because you hid from me, just because of one mistake... just one. You didn't let me be a good father to him just because you were hurt by my mistake... you're selfish, Valerie. And now you always say that you're struggling for him alone as if I neglected you both... If I had known about you both earlier, maybe I wouldn't have let you struggle!"
"Damian!" Dana approached them.
Damian turned to Dana. "And, just so you know, this is more painful than what she feels. She let Samuel and Jerry know about my son but hid it from me, yet they still treated me kindly... They're all like deceivers, betrayals... I can't imagine how they laughed at me all this time. They knew I was looking for Valerie, but they stayed silent and even participated in hiding her, along with my son.
Of course, it's wrong for her to say that she's been struggling alone and has the right to put her last name on my son!" Damian spoke with emotion.
"Your mistake was only one, but it has shattered her heart. Of course, she doesn't want her son to be with you!" Dana retorted firmly, her eyes glaring with anger. "She must also be thinking about what if you're with Daniel, then you'll give him a bad stepmother..."
"Why should there be a stepmother?" Damian pouted. "I'm not in a relationship with anyone..."
Valerie was taken aback; Damian's words hinted that he might want to get back together for Daniel's sake.
'So soon? No... I never even imagined!' she thought.
Dana sighed. "I thought you were in a relationship with Clara... Or maybe you still like playing with other girls. My grandson shouldn't see your bad habits!" She took Daniel.
Damian let Dana take Daniel a bit away, then reached for Valerie's hand.
"We need to talk!"
"I don't want to; I don't want to argue and compare our mistakes... I'm tired!" Valerie complained, pulling her hand away.
Damian continued to urge her to leave the room, while Dana approached Adriana.
"I'm worried they might argue," Adriana said anxiously.
"They actually should spend more time together to discuss the best steps to resolve their issues... But hopefully, it's also good for Daniel," Dana replied, glancing at the handsome Daniel in a yellow suit and white shoes, then kissing him. "You should pray for them..."
....
"There's nothing more to discuss!" Valerie exclaimed, pulling her hand away from Damian upon reaching the door.
Damian let Valerie free and looked at her with frustration.
"I'm not joking about the name change," he said.
"I don't think it's that important!"
"It's crucial to me because he's my first grandson, my firstborn's son, and it's an honor he'll receive when he carries my family name. He'll be respected by many, at school or anywhere," Damian explained, furrowing his brow, slightly leaning down to Valerie, who was much shorter. "It's not just my selfishness; it's also for his future... We may not be a couple, but we are his parents... He's my responsibility now... please..."
Valerie fell silent, seemingly unable to refuse Damian's reasons.
"I'll ask my lawyer to help with the name change..."
"His birth certificate is in Arizona... In the apartment I rented," Valerie whispered.
"Okay then. Maybe we can retrieve it together... Perhaps during the weekend..."
"I don't know... I'll let you know when I can..."
"Alright..."
Valerie nodded, about to go inside but hesitated, turning to look at Damian again. "Please don't discuss any issues with my mom or our entire family. I don't want anyone talking harshly or getting angry in front of Daniel."
"Okay... I won't do that... Besides, you've already agreed to the name change," Damian whispered, his eyes showing sadness.
"That's good..."
Valerie re-entered the room, while Damian remained outside. In silence, he smiled, seemingly content with Valerie's attitude.
'She allowed me to change his name... She never really could refuse me,' he thought.
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