The following day, Misha invited her parents to their house.
"Ma, I'm having a baby shower. Come over with Pa later. I have something to tell you." she said happily. She's smiling as she caressed her belly while talking to her mother on the phone.
"Sure. I'll bring our gifts over. I'm sure you will love them." Michele said on the other line. She could not wait to see her grandchild. She bought a lot of baby products together with Shane when they went to the mall. They were even remembering the past when she conceived Misha while they were at it.
"How about Belle? Did you bought her things too?" said Shane when they arrived at the clothes section for infants.
Michele halted her hands mid-air and looked at her husband with a puzzled face.
Shane saw this and smiled then spoke again.
"I know, she's nowhere to be found now and even the old man had no leads about her whereabouts until now, but what if she will come back and ask our forgiveness? Will you forgive her? As for me, I will gladly welcome her with an open arms... I know she's not my daughter but she's yours and what's yours is mine too. Right?" with this, Michele teared up and hugged him.
Why did she not met the man earlier and fathered Belle? She could only say the what if's and nothing could be done now.
"She's my daughter and whatever her sin is, I will help her and not forsake her. She may thought I abandoned her but it's not the truth. They did not let me see her even when she's all grown up. I've tried to communicate with her throughout this years but it were all futile. She won't hear me out." she said it with sadness. She buried her face in his chest and Shane hugged her tightly.
Hearing this, Shane could not help but feel pain for his wife. During this time, she endured it all and he didn't even notice. He could not forgive himself for not being sensitive enough. He has to find Belle and help her clear the misunderstanding between them.
***
Shane frowned when he saw that Michele was lost in her thoughts again. It frequented this past few days.
He walked towards Michele who has been sitting on the floor with the scattered gifts they prepared to give to Misha.
From her behind, he called her out. "Baby? What are you doing?" as he asked he squatted down the floor and began picking up the gifts that was carefully wrapped by Michele.
Michele looked at her husband with a smile. "Misha said she will be having a baby shower later. We should go and I'm planning to give her these for our grandchild."
She sounded so excited as she's saying this. Shane smiled at her and nodded. He put the gifts over on a stroller and squatted down again to help her wrap the remaining items.
Seeing her in high spirits, Shane pushed back his thought of comforting his wife but instead he thought of a way to confess to her about Villa Rosa.
Heaven's Palace Villa no.9
After learning the plan of her wife, Lyndon called his mother to inform her about the baby shower. Rodora knew that it will happen sooner and had prepared everything already. The minute she received the call from Lyndon, she hastened her steps towards her car and drove away leaving Albert behind. The husband who was infuriated by Rodora's actions could only follow her sulking wife.
He knew it was his fault but he did not expect that it would escalate the matter into something like this.
It was because he forgot their wedding anniversary and he did not greeted her and also forgot about the dinner date they booked beforehand in Villa Rosa.
He knew that he would not be easily forgiven by the woman so he has to think of a way to appease her anger.
He did not know what he had gotten into him lately that he often forgot something and even the small things, he easily forgets them. He did not want to worry everyone in their family so he secretly took a brain examination and it appeared that he has high chance of having an Alzheimer's disease. His brain is rapidly deteriorating and he actually have been drinking his medication for about five months now.
He wanted to tell Lyndon about it but seeing that he's too busy in the company and Misha's eminent delivery, he dropped the thought.
He don't want to trouble his son over his problem.
That very afternoon, Michele and Shane arrived first because they were also staying at the Heaven's Palace. They actually occupied the villa no.1.
Rodora shortly arrived after them and followed by Albert. Seeing that his parents arrived separately is enough to tell Lyndon that something was up. He could tell that his mother is just controlling her anger and his father is like a helpless child.
What really happened?
But before any of that, he shove the thought aside momentarily as he focuses on his parents and in-laws who's having a great time talking about the time he and Misha were still babies. It helped Michele to relax and Shane is delighted seeing his wife not moping around.
Rodora did not talk to Albert at all and leaving the two man converse with each other. They could relate to the two were talking but not enough to talk about it. They just talked about the time they were still hot blooded teenagers. Then laughter echoed down the living room.
Old man Lewis is still out and he will be arriving late. He wanted to rush to the house but he had a lead regarding Belle. He wanted to find the woman because it might help Michele appease her depression. He knew about it because Shane called him and told about how low spirited the woman is.
It was always with them but Misha did not find it wrong because family is more important. She knew that and it was Lyndon who taught her how to value her family more than anything in this world.
She called the attention of her parents and in-laws. The four raised the champagne flutes filled with white champagne as they give a toast to Misha and to her incoming babies.
"Hey! You haven't told us yet the gender of the baby!" Rodora exclaimed. Misha smiled.
"Hmm... About that, let's have a voting game." she said while Lyndon assisted her with the white board she prepared earlier. The four became frantic and started thinking.
"Since it's a game, what's the price?" Shane asked.
"It's an all-expense paid trip to Maldives!" she incited.
The four became hyped up.
Lyndon secretly messaged his father but it's not entirely a secret. Misha knew it beforehand and already approved it. There's a consolation price anyway.
The game was simple. It was a voting game and whoever voted the correct answer will be the winner. It was only with three choices and they were four so, it will be least conspicuous to let Rodora and Albert win.
When Albert received his message discretely, he was delighted. He wanted to squeal like a teenager that had seen her crush but he needed to win first and talk to Lyndon about his condition.
Shane and Michele slumped down after loosing the game but they were happy because Misha is having a twin baby. Oh my gosh! Twins! Michele could not still believe it but given that there's a twin in Lyndon's lineage, this could be a possibility.
It was so late at night and Misha's parents went back to their own villa and Rodora and Albert stayed behind with the soon to be parents.
Albert wanted to find time to talk to Lyndon but his son came to him and asked what was the problem.
What could be Lyndon's reaction when he learns about his father's illness?
and any idea where has Belle? hahahaha... :)
Thanks for reading.. Last 9 chapters.. <3