She's My Sleeping Pill

“Are you really sure you’re leaving me here?” Cayenne asked when Stefan told her she can’t come with him to his appointment.

“I already monopolize so much of your time with me. You should spend time with our family or they’ll start hating me.” Stefan answered calmly while she helped him put on his coat. “Besides, the place I’ll visit isn’t something good for a woman.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s a place for people with no morals.”

“And why are you going there?”

“Because I have to meet someone who’s very crucial to our safety.”

.....

“Oh. So, this is about the ongoing threat to us.”

“That’s right. So, just stay here with everyone else. I think Jade will be coming over with Ethan.”

“Travis allowed that?”

“Apparently, he’s busy and Jillyanna needed to visit Cielo who just gave birth to a baby boy. She didn’t want to remind Jade of her mother’s death in a hospital. Travis wanted to bring her to the company but Jade refused because she didn’t want to be exposed to company works. That little girl probably wanted to escape the possibility of being the next CEO.”

“I agree. She’s very smart after all. I heard she wanted to a nurse. I don’t know if that will change in the future.”

“Well, that’s that. I have to go now. I’ll see you later.” He kissed her cheeks and nose before kissing her on the lips to say goodbye. Cayenne just watched him leave at the door and when he was out of sight, she went back inside.

“That’s first.” Kyle commented upon seeing his sister.

“I know. It was really unexpected.” Luiz added before biting the apple he got from the kitchen. “You just got home and he’s already out for work. Isn’t he tired?”

“That’s why we have to work hard to help him provide for the family.”

“I already have a work.” Luiz retorted as he glanced at his wristwatch. “And speaking of, David should be here by now. Where is he?”

Stefan, along with Elena, they went to the address that Tristan gave them and to meet the little girl. On Elena’s hand, was the documents that Travis sent over to Stefan. It was the DNA test result and a huge positive was written on it. Before meeting with Simon, he wanted to see the child and the current guardian which was Denise’s mother.

“Boss, do you think she will agree for her grandchild to see her father?”

“I’m not really sure. However, there’s a letter that Denise made which Tristan forwarded to us. He couldn’t understand the letter at all but she said her mother should be able to. I also printed that letter.”

Elena knew how it’s like to be raised without a father. She’s okay with it. She already accepted it a long time ago. Her mother was more than enough. Thinking about her own mother, she also wondered how Denise feel all this time. Being away from her daughter, working far away just to earn money even though the father has money to raise the family. Only that, he didn’t know.

“Do you think Simon would be happy?” Elena whispered the question.

Simon didn’t know that he has a child with someone. He didn’t even know that he impregnated someone. That’s why, she could understand why the man didn’t visit the child or see her. Opposite to him, Elena’s father knew that his wife was pregnant. He knew that his child has a twin sister and yet, he didn’t even try to look for her. He only acknowledged one daughter and forgot the other one. Thinking about it, she felt a stabbing pain in her chest.

“...lena? Are you okay? Elena?” Stefan questioned while waving his hand in front of her.

“Ah?! I...yes, I’m fine. I just remembered my own mother who raised me by herself. Somehow, I can relate to the child.”

“Oh. Sorry for reminding you that.”

“It’s fine, boss. There are a lot of people like me in this world.”

As they continued to talk, they finally reached the place where Denise’s family live. Elena pressed the doorbell and a little girl poked her head to see who were at the gate. She only looked at them for about five seconds and left. Not long after, an elder came out with the child hiding behind her.

“Hello. Is this where Denise Amir lives?” Elena asked with pleasing smile on her face to put the woman at ease.

“Yes, I’m his mother. What can I do for you?”

“Ma’am, we’re here to talk to you about the child and Ms. Denise. She also asked us to give you a letter.”

“I see.” The woman opened the gate and let them in. “Come in. Denise never introduced her friends to me. Last time, a man came here mentioning about her job as well.”

‘That’s probably Tristan.’ Stefan thought to himself as he followed them to the house.

One guard stayed at the door and the other two were standing at the gate to protect them.

When they got inside, Elena introduced herself as Stefan’s secretary and Stefan honestly said his name and work. He didn’t want to lie to an old woman, thinking that she deserved the respect of being honest to her.

“Ma’am, it was really a coincidence that we’ve crossed path with your daughter. We don’t know much about her but when she found out that we come from the neighboring cities, she asked if we could deliver this letter to you. She said that we have to wait until you finish reading it. I also have another document to discuss here with me.”

“Oh. Okay. I’m glad she was able to meet people like you.” the woman said, trying her best to calm in front of them. For some reason, she looked tense and worried.

Stefan handed her the letter first and waited for the woman to finish reading.

At first the woman smiled tenderly and was even caressing her granddaughter’s head. She continued to read but then the smile was replaced with a frown. Her hand stopped caressing the child’s head and she was trembling. She gasped and clutched her chest and not long after, tears started falling on the letter she read.

“Ma’am, what’s the matter?” Elena questioned but the woman continued to cry. She was really helpless what to do. Stefan didn’t know what to do either. He didn’t understand anything written on that paper when he printed it. How could he understand what’s going on in the woman’s mind?

“Excuse for the intrusion.” Stefan stood up and walked to the little girl. “Can you tell me where the kitchen is? Let’s get your grandma a glass of water.”

“Okay.” The little girl jumped off the couch and led Stefan to the kitchen. “Is Nana going to be okay?”

“Yes, she will be fine. What is your name?”

“Monique.”

Stefan smiled at her and rubbed the little girl’s head. “You have a very nice name.”

“Thank you.” she replied curtly and smiled faintly. When Stefan pulled back his hand, she took a chair and brought it near the kitchen counter where the dish organizer was placed. “I can get the water myself.”

“I see. You are a good child.”

The little girl didn’t say anything. She took out a glass from the drawer, turned on the faucet and fill the glass with water. She gave it to Stefan and smiled proudly for what she did. “I’ll give it to Nana.”

“Okay. Just come down first.”

Monique got down from the chair and returned it from the spot where she got it. She was dependable for a young age. Stefan returned the glass of water to her and went back to the living room. Her grandmother already calmed down but her tears still continued flowing.

“Nana, you drink water first.”

Seeing her granddaughter, the old woman cried even more and hugged the child. Monique was confused what’s happening but she let her grandmother hugged her.

“Sweetie, can you go upstairs and change your clothes? They will bring you somewhere later. Choose something presentable.”

“Okay Nana.”

Monique placed the glass of water on the coffee table and went upstairs. Now only the three adults were left in the living room.

“Denise won’t be coming back.” Mrs. Amir started. “She did something horrible and was ashamed for it. She could no longer face me or her daughter. She didn’t want her daughter to hate her. So, she wanted the child to at least have a father. She said that you will help her do that.” Mrs. Amir didn’t say the details of that ‘horrible’ things. She wasn’t sure if they knew what Denise did but just in case, she wanted to protect her daughter’s reputation.

“I see. Tristan must have informed her about it.” Elena commented while taking another document. “Mrs. Amir, I don’t know if your daughter mentioned it in her letter but just to make sure, we decided to conduct a DNA test. Due to some circumstances, we needed to do this.”

“It’s fine. I understand.” She said but her tears never ceased. Stefan wondered if she was really okay with the truth being unveiled. When she opened the documents, she read it twice and opened the letter. “Yes, it’s Simon Summer.” She confirmed. “But, I’m not sure I’m okay with this.”

“What do you mean Mrs. Amir?”

“I don’t think it’s healthy for a child to live with a murderer. When I read the name in her letter, I remembered the case over a year ago. That man is the youngest son of the Summers. That family conducted human experiments. I don’t agree for my little grandchild to live with a psycho.”

Stefan recalled what happened and also sympathized with the woman’s thought. However, it was wrong to accuse Simon of something he didn’t really do. He never took part of the human experiment. He was on a different department but since he was part of the family and could be considered an accomplice for not reporting the matter to the law despite knowing the truth, he should be punished.

Stefan explained this matter to the woman, reassuring her again and again about the case. He also told her to trust her daughter. “Denise was aware of what happened but she believes that Simon didn’t do anything immoral. And I agree with her. In fact, Simon will be able to come out soon.”

“Still – ”

“With all due respect ma’am. Think of it in your daughter’s perspective. I’m not saying this to make you feel bad but, Monique is very young. She looked like five or six years old to me. You are already old and anything can happen. What will your granddaughter do? Where will she go? At the orphanage? Not anyone will get adopted. She has no one to rely on once you’re gone. Will you allow her to grow up alone?”

Stefan and Elena talked with Mrs. Amir for almost three hours. They asked the little girl to play while they talk and when they finally finished their conversation, Stefan and Elena took Monique out.