Promised Not To Tell

The couple and their younger daughter, five-year-old 'Akira,' were already seated at the table waiting when the two boys arrived in the dining room.

Ashton walked straight to his place on the table and sat down without a care in the world.

Meanwhile, James stopped for a moment on the threshold and looked at his mother with somber eyes before looking towards his father's direction. He then swiftly averted his gaze to the floor.

Tanaga sat with his back straight and a stern-looking face. His right-hand finger was tapping on the top of the table, which scared James. He couldn't get his feet to move forward.

His pleading eyes caught Ashley's attention, and she smiled inside her heart.

She knows that her husband only tried to scare James, and it's working. However, her heart couldn't handle seeing her son so sad, standing rooted to the ground.

She intervened, "James, sweetheart, what are you waiting for? Dinner is getting cold. Come and sit down already." She winked at him to make him come forward.

When James heard his mother's voice, he slowly sauntered towards his place on the table. However, when he heard his father clear his throat, he stopped. He slowly turned around and walked towards the head of the table where Tanaga was seated.

He stood with an incredibly stiff posture next to his father's chair, waiting for Tanaga to say something. He could not look at Tanaga; instead, he had his eyes on the ground.

Tanaga couldn't bear it any longer and finally broke down, laughing out loud.

"Hahaha! Hahaha!" He then ruffled James' hair playfully. "Go and sit down so we could eat. The food is getting cold, and your brother and sister are hungry." So ordered Tanaga, still smiling.

James felt at ease when he saw that his father had a smile on his lips. It meant that he was no longer upset. He immediately walked toward his place on the table and sat down.

***

After dinner, Tanaga spoke with James. He asked James to follow him to his office to talk privately, and James followed quietly.

Ashley wanted to accompany them, but Tanaga refused. He wanted to have a father and son heart-to-heart talk. Ashley didn't like it one bit; unfortunately, she could do nothing but go up to their bedroom and wait.

"Sit down." Said Tanaga as soon as they entered the office.

James complied and sat on one of the two chairs before Tanaga's desk. Tanaga then sat down on the chair opposite James instead of behind the desk. He didn't want to intimidate his son; he wanted him to feel secure and at ease. He wasn't wrong; James loosened up as soon as he was seated.

"Son, is there something you want to tell me?" It wasn't a question but basically an order for James to speak. He said it with a straight face but kindly.

"D-Daddy… I'm sorry! I'm sorry that I didn't tell you the truth when you asked me. I was afraid that you would retract your promise. I was afraid that you would still make me marry her when we grew up. I'm really sorry!" Tears started to cascade down James's soft cheeks.

"Shh… No need to cry. You're a man, remember?"

Tanaga slowly embraced James and began caressing his head and back.

"Shh, stop crying. Be a man and own up to what you have done. You know I will need to punish you, right?"

James nodded in agreement to his father's words. However, he was afraid of what punishment his father would give him.

He knew he wouldn't get a spanking, but there was a chance his father would not let him play games for a while. That's fine; he can handle that. However, what came out of Tanaga's mouth was not what he was expecting.

"As punishment, I want you to keep quiet about your brother taking your place as her future husband. Do you understand?" James's eyes widened in shock. So many things ran through his mind, but he couldn't voice it out.

Tanaga continued, "I have spoken with her father and informed them of what you have done. Jeff is pretty upset and wants to cancel the whole thing. However, we decided to just put it aside for the time being and talk about it when the time comes. So, I want you to promise that you will not say anything to Ashton. Do you understand?"

James raised his right hand, showing three fingers while his thumb held onto the pinky.

"I promise, Dad. I will never tell Ashton, even if he beats me." He said with a straight face.

Tanaga almost laughs out loud, a good thing that he could hold it in, and only smiled slightly.

"Alright! I believe you, and I know you will keep your promise. So go ahead and get ready for bed." He then kisses his son before ushering him out of his office.

***

Meanwhile, back in the Philippines, Ann is still having a hard time getting Ava to come out and eat. They tried every trick in the book but with no luck. The little girl finally stopped crying, but she remained in her room, and no one could talk to her—not even her twin brother, little Jeffrey.

"Let her be for now. Prepare some food for later if she gets hungry and wants to eat. Tell the chef to also make all the desserts she likes, bring some to her room, and then place it on the nightstand so she can smell the aroma." Ann was giving orders to Rosa, Ava's nanny.

"Yes, ma'am Ann. Don't worry, and she will eat later once she sees all the desserts the chef will make. You know how much she loves sweets. He-he!" 'That's why she gets teased by her fiancée to lose that baby fat.' Rosa adds in her mind, but she can't say that to Ann, or she will lose her job.

Hearing what nanny Rosa said, Ashley left feeling at ease. Although her heart still aches for her older daughter…

~scroll to next chapter~