Araceli POV
I glanced at Raphael.
He looked at my daughter with mixed emotions in his eyes.
I frowned slightly.
He turned around, put his hands in the pockets of his pants, and walked out the door.
Essel ran to me. I stopped and looked down at her.
She gently took Valeria's small hand and gently asked, "Valeria, can I be friends with you? I'll help you with your wound, okay?"
Valeria froze for a moment and withdrew her hand.
I looked at Valeria and said patiently, "Valeria, Essel is a sweet little girl just like you, and she has eyes as beautiful as yours. You two are going to be great friends. Baby, will you let Essel be your friend?"
Valeria hesitated and nodded her head.
I was a little shocked. Valeria could hear me, but she rarely responded to me.
I suppressed my inner ecstasy and said to Essel, "Let's go."
Essel turned her head to look at Raphael, who didn't say anything, so she took my hand and went inside with me.