A Father's Stance

Senator Graysen enters Athena's room. He finds Rosa sitting in the bed watching the little girl while Nana Amor sits on the sofa. Graysen inquires, "How is she?"

"She is sleeping now. Let's take a walk. We accidentally finished all the chocolate custard in the refrigerator." Rosa shows a sheepish smile.

Rosa clings onto Graysen's arm as they leisurely tread the lighted path of the villa.

"Who is she?" Rosa voices out.

Graysen promptly answers, "Athena's mother."

"So, she is your ex?" Rosa teases.

Graysen did not grasp Rosa's playful tone. He seriously tells her, "Ex means the past. You, equals to my present and future, always remember that."

Rosa rolls her eyes. She forgot that Graysen is a serious person most of the time. It's different when she talks with Brie. "I know, right? What does she want?"

"She tries to claim custody of Athena." He relays to her probing her reaction.

Rosa pauses for a while then asks, "Do you think she can take care of Athena better than she is being taken care of here in your household?"

"Our household," Graysen corrects Rosa. "Right now I cannot afford anyone from our family to leave my sight. I have to doubly secure all of your safety. The election is nearing."  

"Then, don't give Athena to her."

Senator Graysen mulls over the day Crina left them. She does not have any right to their daughter after abandoning her and running away with another man. Graysen does not have any feelings for her anymore. But not to look up for your child for almost a decade, it says a lot.

She is an irresponsible person. After all, she abandoned her child after giving birth and did not even show up to share the responsibility of raising a child.

Getting Athena's custody to take care of her suddenly? What a sham! He would not budge with her demands.

"I won't. Athena does not like sudden changes. She can't take Athena but I can allow her to visit her. It is up to Athena how she would respond to her biological mother."

Rosa feels satisfied with her husband's reply. She remembers, "Whose the guy with her?"

"The man introduces himself as her fiance."

Rosa shakes her head. "I thought she came with a lawyer."

Senator Graysen pulls his wife inside the house, "Come on time to take a rest. We have a long day ahead tomorrow."

People move fast going to and fro in the mid-afternoon fixing the set. They need to finish the shoot on time as Magnus, one of the most in-demand photographers has a flight to catch.

Rosa sits idly waiting for the photography set to change.

A woman approaches her holding a cup of coffee.

The woman greets, "Hi, Rosa." 

Rosa turns her head and looks at the woman. "Yes? Do I have to change now?"

Brie comes to Rosa's side. "Is that for Rosa?" Looking at the coffee. "But I asked a frappe for her."

The woman looks perplexed. "I'm sorry. I am not a staff here."

Brie questions her again. "If you are not, then are you one of Rosa's fans?"

The woman tightens her grip on the coffee cup.