CHAPTER 23


    "May I take her in my arms?" He redirected his focus to Ariana in order to avoid being devoured by


    rage.


    "Certainly, but be cautious with her, as she is a little heavier." She informed Marcus prior to giving


    birth to their daughter.


    It was his first time, and he wanted to hug her close, but he knew he needed to be cautious not to


    crush her delicate bones, as she was a delicate little angel. He gloated over AJ''s dimpled chin.


    When he smiled, the child smiled back, which was the most wonderful sensation, then his daughter


    reached for his nose and inserted her little finger into one of his nostrils, then into one of his ears,


    before inserting that finger into his mouth. "Eww, you''re so disgusting!" He reacted and attempted to


    reunite Danie with her kid.


    "Pa-pa?"


    Danie couldn''t believe what she was hearing! She felt cheated when her daughter''s first word was


    PAPA rather than MAMA but was overjoyed when AJ began to speak. "Did you happen to hear it?"


    Marcus was ovee with emotion and delight, and he silently told AJ that he would be the


    greatest Daddy he could be. "Indeed, baby. "Papa is here," he said as he fiercely held his daughter.


    He was just sad that he was not present on the day she was born and throughout her childhood.


    Marcus practically took over when it came to teaching AJ how to swim like a pro, and Danie


    wasn''t expecting Marcus to be so kind since he was too tough and difficult to deal with. AJ was


    having a good time in the water, and she hated to be a downer, but that was sufficient for the day.


    "What are your ns?" He inquired as to when Danie stole AJ away from him.


    "I''m on my way home, Marcus." She was less abrasive with him than she had been previously, and


    was more respectful in her interactions with him.


    "I will apany you," he urged.


    Danie declined his offer, but the man persisted on going regardless of the consequences.


    However, he was intelligent enough to wear his mask even without the rest of the suit. "It''ll be


    problematic if anyone sees you with me," she exined.


    "You''re being paranoid for no reason, Dani." He reassured her and volunteered to carry AJ for the


    remainder of their stroll. When she was in her father''s arms, the youngster squealed with


    happiness. "However, I questioned how you could hold her constantly since she was so heavy."


    "I''m ustomed to her stature, Marcus." She kept her response brief since she didn''t want to go


    into depth because it would appear as though they were rekindling their friendship.


    "I observe. Her weight must be one of the reasons you are so seductive," heplemented her


    figure, which rendered her unconscious. Danie repositioned the robe over the swimming suit she


    was wearing, and Marcus found her vanity amusing and endearing.


    She had not anticipated his carrying the infant up to their bedroom. "I appreciate your assistance,"


    she replied as she opened the door.


    "May I enter?" He desired to spend more time with her kid and to visit her more frequently.


    "Howe?" she inquired.


    "I''d like to watch you nursing my child," he stated inly.


    "Marcus!" Danie flushed at the prospect of the scene Marcus alluded to.


    "You''re simply being impure, Dani. Breastfeeding is a natural process," he reassured her.


    "Are we getting near now?" You act as though we are in close proximity! Perhaps you''ve forgotten


    how you broke my heart?" Danie saw a difference once she was no longer angry with him.


    "Perhaps you''ve forgotten what you did to me as well?" Without me, you will be without a lovely


    daughter." He reciprocated by reminding Danie of her error.


    "Fine!" She epted and allowed him to enter. Once entering the room, she requested Marcus''s


    assistance in watching their daughter while she changed her clothing. She then escorted her


    daughter to the nursing station she had established beside the window. She thought that providing


    her kid with afortable nursing station would go a long way toward providing her daughter with


    much-needed rxation and bonding time. Danie gazed at Marcus before allowing AJ to lick on


    her breast.


    "Go ahead," he responded when Danie hesitated to feed their infant while he was present, and


    then he witnessed his daughter take arge mouthful of Danie''s breast and begin sucking for


    milk. He was hardly a sex-crazed pervert, but seeing Danie nursing their daughter sparked his


    interest. Alternatively, it might be that his affections for thedy were always present.


    Typically, her daughter would fall asleep while nursing. Danie transferred AJ to their bed after


    ensuring she was deep sleeping. "Are you still here?" She inquired of the man who was snoozing in


    his seat.


    "I awaited your arrival. However, Dani, don''t you believe it would be better for AJ if he slept in the


    crib?" Yes, her bed was enormous given the room''s configuration of two queen-sized beds, but a kid


    must remain in the crib for safety reasons. asionally, adults move a lot while sleeping, putting


    the youngster in risk.


    "I''mfortable when she sleeps alongside me; why are you so concerned?" She became upset


    with his nosiness.


    "But the crib is safer," he insisted.


    "Wait a minute, Marcus. Is it possible that I did not make myself clear? You have no right to criticize


    my daughter''s upbringing. You know, you''re rather amusing. Who do you believe yourself to be?"


    She became enraged when he insisted on the location of her child''s crib.


    "I apologize if I offended you, Dani; it was only a suggestion!" He had no intention of raising her


    blood pressure at a time when they had just begun to be cordial and nice, but he seeded. The


    woman waspletely taken aback by his idea.


    "Suggestion? To be honest, it did not sound like one. If you truly care about our kid, simply let us to


    live our lives as usual and make no suggestions, understand? Now, exit!" She walked up to the door


    and pushed it open for him.


    "But Dani, we discussed this previously; as her father, I have every right to ensure that she was in a


    secure setting!" Did she truly believe he would abstain from defending his rights? She was


    mistaken, for he was determined to reim his family regardless of the cost.


    "There you are again, doing the ''correct'' thing. However, I am stating that a dead man cannot im


    his right, Marcus. I''m sure you are aware of this." Danie was astounded by Marcus''s obstinacy.


    Marcus gritted his teeth as he prepared to answer. "If that is the case, you have left me with no


    choice."


    "What are you referring to?" Danie could hear her heart racing as Marcus vowed to take action


    over his position.


    "I assumed you were intelligent," he replied as he opened the door.


    "Wait! Put on your mask!" She reminded him, but the man had already exited, and the next thing


    she heard in the corridor was a loud scream. She rushed outside to find her stepmother


    inconsble and shouting about a ghost. When she realizes what has urred, her eyes widen.


    That wretched man! He truly put her patience to the test! "Would you kindly calm down, Ma?"


    "E, I saw a ghost. How am I to regain myposure?" Her yelling roused the rest of the


    upants of the house, and they all rushed to see what was happening.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Is there a ghost in the morning?" Usually, Ma, they arrive at night." Danie made light of the


    situation, but Paloma maintained that the ghost had even smiled at her.


    "Believe me when I say I saw him. Marcus was already dead and cremated when I saw him emerge


    from Danie''s chamber!" She informed the other guests, but it appeared as though nobody


    believed her and denied the possibility that she had been drinking. How could she be inebriated in


    the morning after only having coffee?


    He heard the hubbub outside but made no attempt to get outdoors. He grinned at the prospect of


    Danie being concerned that someone had seen him. Marcus donned one of his vintage t-shirts


    with a good pair of blue jeans and exited the corridor only after the corridor waspletely empty.


    Everyone had assembled in the main area following Paloma''s uproar upstairs. Danie instantly


    confronted him on the stairwell, ring at him.


    "I despise you!" She pped his knees, but the man brushed it off and walked downstairs.


    Marcus wrapped his arms around her waist and said, "No, you do not. Because you''re still in love


    with me," he replied, his grip on her waist tightening.


    Paloma yelled aloud for the second time, but as Marcus began to exin, she approached the guy


    and squeezed his flesh. "My God, you''re still alive!"


    "Hello, mother inw; it''s been a while." He was joking in his greeting to Paloma.


    "Wee home, Marcus! What transpired? Paloma continued, "We were informed that you


    perished in Syria."


    Danie looked at Marcus, a tacit warning not to divulge her secret in front of everyone, and she


    didn''t stop to pinch his side to ensure he didn''t do something humiliating.


    "It was someone else who died and I was fortunate," he said sinctly, yet everyone was relieved


    to find him alive and well.


    "Then let us rejoice!" Paloma made the announcement. "E, you should have informed me that he


    was returning; why did you withhold information?" Paloma reprimanded her stepdaughter but then


    retracted it. "I apologize; I forgot that you must have want some quality time with your spouse prior


    to informing us."


    Danie was shocked when Paloma and the rest of the room believed she had purposefully hidden


    Marcus in her room in order to spend some quality time with him. "Correct. We haven''t seen each


    other in much too long, and you can imagine how startled I am to see him again." She lied, but she


    noticed Marcus smiling, which enraged her even more. "That concludes our discussion, gentlemen.


    I apologize, Ma, for your prior fear. It was intended to be a surprise," she grinned as she became


    adept at concocting another fabrication to bolster her im. "I apologize for interfering with the


    celebrations, but please pardon us." She grabbed him and dragged him upstairs with her. He began


    this, but she would bring it to a stop!


    They were cheered on by her family and Paloma''s visitors, who were undoubtedly thinking she was


    going to perform that thing with him! She was mortified when they imagined she kept the man in her


    room. "Are you content now?" You obtained what you want!" She yelled at him, oblivious to the fact


    that her kid was nearby asleep.


    "I was powerless, Dani!" He reasoned his way out.


    "That is not the case. You could have walked away, but you didn''t!" She yelled at Marcus for being


    obstinate, and she was enraged.