Chapter 125 - The Only Condition

All the guests were then ushered into a five-star hotel to continue the celebration. It was not only the ship inauguration that made the event a hot topic in all the news portal but also because it was the engagement party of the ship's builder and designer. As Dr. Jane's name was already tied up to whatever fame and success the marine vessel industry brought about, almost everyone in whatever walks of life they may be in, knew who she was. Her marriage engagement to someone who was also inclined to their line of business made them happy for her.

While the Lopez's and Ajie gathered at the table at the left side, the Dioko's and Allie were on the left. The tables which were set in white and red were arranged in four rows, creating a wide space for the aisle in between the second and the third rows. The red -carpeted aisle separated the distance between the two families who concealed their discomforts through the masks of their fake smiles.

Allie kept staring at the door, waiting for the entry of her daughter and her parents. After her last talk with Ajie, she somehow managed to treat her longing to be with them through video calls. She knew that 'striking while the iron is hot' wouldn't always work since it involved a shattered emotion between her and Ajie. Though she was already impatient and couldn't wait to have her family back to her, she knew that their current situation needed more patience until their wounds would start to heal.

Through time and constant communication, Chloe quicky tamed off to her and the child even made constant requests for a day out with her. Seeing her now as she was walking in the aisle in a princess dress which enhanced her loveliness as a six-year-old child, Allie suddenly lost her grip on her emotion. She stared at her with tears streaming down her face and with what must had been a mother-and-child-instinct, Chloe immediately saw her and squealed as she ran towards her table.

"Mommy!" came the child's voice that rang into the walls of the function room, making all eyes turned to her.

Mary and Sam, together with Leo and Issa following close behind, hesitated and looked at each other before they resumed their march. Ajie must have sensed their awkwardness as he was also fidgetting in watching them. He suddenly stood up to ease out the tension in the air and with a big, fake smile, he walked up to them, ushering them to their table while their eyes were fixed on Allie. Everyone around knew about their marriage status and couldn't help themselves from feeling their discomfort.

As Allie placed her daughter on her lap and hugged her, she cast a quick and stolen glance at Ajie who was also looking up at her. Without the need to say it aloud, Ajie understood the message in her eyes. She was asking his permission to allow her daughter to sit down with her.

Ajie couldn't openly object as the crowd was watching them. Aside from that, they were trying to prove that everything between them was settled and that they should show their damn pretense of sportmanship to the world. However, he was figuring out a way to get Chloe back, after all she was his last trump card against Allie. No matter how would his coming remarriage be publicized, he was still willing to break it up if only Allie would accept.

The bittersweet feeling of hugging her child, heightened by her somewhat deppresive mood lately, made her want to flee from the place and cry out loud. She kept on inhaling slow breaths to calm herself down but the magnitude of her emotion prevailed.

"Darling, may I fix your hair at the powder room?" she said with a feigned excitement. It was the only way she thought she could come out from the hall.

"Yes!" Chloe answered, her eyes got wider than hers.

"Let's go!" she exclaimed, feeling relieved that Chloe cooperated.

The moment they went out through the side door near their table, she rushed out to enter a bathroom with Chloe in her hand. She placed her in the wash area and before she could pull out her brush and ties to fix Chloe's hair, she broke down into a bitter wailing. She couldn't shake it off from her mind that few hours from now, Ajie's engagement to Jane would be fornally announced and that would finally seal the downfall of a happy family she once dreamed to build.

Chloe stared at her with her confused and innocent look and with just a cupping of her face and a wordless murmur as an answer from her mom, Chloe's tender emotion was evoked and she cried with her.

"Darling, someday I'll let you understand why mommy Allie and daddy Ajie couldn't live together with you in a home. But always remember this, we both love you so much, " Allie tried to talk to her despite the difficulty of uttering a single word.

"Baby, daddy Ajie would soon be marrying..." she continued in between her sobs but was stopped by a male voice by the door.

Startled, she looked up to find Ajie standing at the door. His eyes were sharp, slicing though the innermost chambers in her heart. She was then wondering how long was he there.

"I'm taking Chloe back. You are insinuating lies in her innocent. mind."

Dumbfounded at his accusation, she felt insulted but the surge of her emotion for being caught up crying, rendered her speechless. For some moments of staring dumbly at each other, Allie finally broke the silence.

"By the way, congratulations but you shouldn't have named her 'Allyza'. In case you have forgotten, she's no longer a part of your dreams. You are only hurting Jane with that. Adrian, I'm also a woman and I understand her feelings."

Ajie smirked as he leaned on the door. "Jane understands."

She frowned. How could a woman understand the dishonesty of her man? However, there was no point to argue with him. It would only widen the gap between them and it wouldn't be healthy for their child. If they couldn't stay as couple then they should at least, stay as friends

"Congratulations also for the engagement. I want to let you know I'm happy for you."

"Happy?" he said as he let out a derisive laugh before he continued,

"Just say it now that you'll marry me again and I'll break off the engagement."

"You're crazy!" she muttered hoarsely under her breath, totally forgetting that their daughter was listening.

"Call me whatever you like, my dear. I also want you to know that I will forever bear the guilt and regret for destroying our home, for breaking our marriage. But if you'll give us a chance, we can always build it back."

As she was about to reply, Hayri appeared at the back of Ajie. Her eyes were drawn to him and her heart raced at the thought that perhaps he was listening all throughout their argument.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to disturb but I'm worried..." came Hayri's thoughtful words as he shifted his gaze from her to Ajie.

"Give me Chloe," Ajie interrupted, obviously disappointed at his intrusion.

"Ajie, please," she begged as Chloe quickly threw her arms around his neck as the child saw Ajie coming closer to pick her up.

"It's simple, Allie. You can have her all you want with that one condition I ask from you, " said Ajie as he pulled Chloe with a little force from her.

Their daughter shed silent tears as she unwillingly allowed her dad to take her up, her eyes never leaving her mom as if she was begging for her to plead out her case. Allie's emotion was torn again. Her heart went out to her daughter, hurting that she would be the one to be affected more in this break up.

She cried hard again and Hayri came to her rescue, pulling her close to him in a warm embrace. Seeing them in an intimate manner, Ajie couldn't help but boil up in his jealousy. Before he would be tempted to lose his temper, he walked away while Chloe was staring at them.