189 Having a Family

"Oh! Papa, you're awake! Come! The food is almost ready!" The little girl called Louella happily greeted him as he stepped out of the bedroom.

His towering figure almost reaching the low ceiling of the nipa hut.

"What's for dinner then?" His smile can melt anyone's heart.

The lady who was cooking with her daughter timidly smiled. "We're having fish stew. You two wash your hands. It won't be long 'til it's ready."

"Okay." He smiled and fetched some water from the nearby pump.

She was placing plates on the table when the two came back into the house.

"Papa, please take off the fishbones for me." The little girl requested with puppy eyes.

"Sure, Darling." He smiled gently at her, but was startled by the glare from the lady.

"Luis, don't spoil her. She can do it herself." She turned towards her daughter. "Louella, debone the fish yourself. Don't bother your father. He needs to eat well to regain his strength."

"Oh...okay..." Louella had a deranged expression, bur she started eating.

"Eleanor, it's fine. She's my daughter after all. Spoiling her a little won't hurt." He flashed his smile.

As they were having dinner, the man's thoughts were swirling around a lot of things.

He might have lost his memory, but he thought that the feeling of having a family seemed natural to him. He just regretted that he needed to know them again from the beginning. Eleanor had told him that he had gone missing at sea for a long time. That was why most neighbors do not recognize him, and that she was thankful that he had finally returned.

What convinced him more are their matching rings, signifying their marriage. When he tried to pull his, he had a mark on his finger that proved that he had worn the ring for quite some time.

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In the private plane bound to City S, Midori held her sleeping son, which she failed to do for several weeks. Her thoughts were running about several possibilities.

Earlier on, Vanessa told her that a fisherman had seen her husband in their small town.

The news of Dan's death took her in a state of shock. Since the body was burnt already, they proceeded with cremation. But even in the funeral, Midori never cried, instead, she became like a lifeless doll, to the dismay of her family.

Now, she had hope that he could still be alive. But what if they were mistaken? What if the body that they recovered was really his and this is just false hope.

She kissed her son on the forehead. She had a bitter smile on her face. She felt guilty for abandoning him and not being strong enough for him.

She turned her head towards where Aoi Xiu was seated.

Amidst her strange reaction to the turn of events, her mother stood by her and even took the role of taking care of Dmitri personally.

Midori is also aware of all the efforts she put in trying to make her come around.

She knew, but at that time, it was as if her whole being did not want to do anything purposefully.

She wanted to. She knew she had to. However, she was so depressed to do anything about it.

As if feeling her stare, Aoi Xiu looked towards her direction and flashed a gentle smile.

Midori mouthed, "Thanks, Mom!" And had a warm smile.

Aoi nodded as she smiled more.

Midori adjusted her son's sleeping position on her chest as she tried to catch some rest too.

Aoi Xiu pondered. If her daughter failed to bring back her son-in-law, it might be a bigger problem.

She looked at Takagi Ryuuji, who was asleep after few days of taking care of her daughter. She pitied him. If Dan can really be rescued, then this man, whose fault was only loving Midori, would have to get out of the picture again, whether he likes it or not.