Page 2 of Daddy’s Accidental Little Heartbreak

“It looks like everything is in order,” I stated as I looked up at Ralph, the real estate agent that was helping me sell the house. “I’m ready to accept the deal.” Sarah whimpered as she hoisted the baby on her hip.

“Please, you have to leave us the house,” she whined, her big brown eyes pleading as she begged me. “Where will the bab and I go? Where will we stay?” As heartless as it sounded, I truly didn’t care.

“Unless you’re buying the house from me, you’ll need to go back wherever you came from,” I informed her as I signed the documents. “I don’t know where you have been staying ever since we broke up, but I don’t see why you can’t stay there.” As soon as I was done signing the documents, I handed the papers over to Ralp, and he reviewed the documents once again, making sure he had all the signatures needed to proceed with the sale. Seeing that everything was set, he rose to his feet and offered me his hands.

“Congratulations, Mr. Chase,” he said as he shook my hand. "I'll alert the buyer, and I'll call you after everything is taken care of." I thanked Ralph and followed him out of his office. Sarah trailed behind me, carrying the baby in one arm while struggling to help the diaper bag and her purse in the other.

"Wait for me," she protested breathlessly. I noticed the various harsh looks I got from the associates while on my way out the door, and I already knew that they thought I was a cruel man who made his wife or girlfriend do everything while he watched her fail. "Nathan, please!" I stopped and turned to look at her.

"Why should I wait for you?" I asked calmly, refusing to let any emotion show. The last thing I needed was accusations of abuse when I was so close to getting out of here. "We are not together, nor have you been any of my concern for a year now. If I have to, I can always go back to the judge and press charges for harassment." Her mouth hung open like that of a fish as she stared blankly at me.

"You wouldn't," she stammered. "You wouldn't do that to your child." I looked over at the baby, a polite baby boy with gorgeous blonde hair and blue eyes.

"That is not my child," I reminded her coldly, the bitter sting of the year old betrayal fresh in my mind. "I have the paternity test to prove it, and the baby daddy already admitted it was his. Considering the fact that I never adopted the child nor intend to, that baby is none of my business." Her eyes searched mine, looking for any form of weakness she could use against me as I stood my ground. After a few minutes, her shoulders sagged in defeat, and she lowered her gaze.

"Please, don't leave us," she pleaded one final time. "We need you… I need you." Not wanting to be around much longer thanks to the scene she created, I shook my head.

"Goodbye, Sarah," I responded coldly. "I hope you have a great life." With that, I turned around and walked right out the door, leaving the stunned Sarah to deal with her fussy child.

As soon as I reached the driver side door of my silver Lexus, I took a deep breath of the fresh city air and looked up at the clouds. Selling the house had lifted a terrible weight off my chest, and I actually felt like a new man on a journey of self discovery. As the sun hovered high in the sky, I opened up the door to the car and drove off into the city.

CHAPTER THREE

Bernice

I couldn't believe I was on the front step of my ex's house, about to accept help from both him and his current Little after my twin sister ruined our relationship. It felt like the storyline for a terrible sitcom. Not the kind that I loved to watch on the weekends but the kind that dragged on for years and earned a large following thanks to the terrible taste of the viewers. Remembering that it was the best plan I had since everything took a while to get approved for a place to live and the hotels were expensive, I took a deep breath, swallowed my pride, and raised my hand to knock on the door. Before I even had the chance to knock on the door, it flew open, revealing Stephanie.

"There you are, Bernice," she beamed as she smiled at me. "I was so worried about you, especially when it started getting dark." Before I could even react to the shock, she took me by the hand and yanked me into the house before closing the door behind us. Once inside, she pulled me to the living room and sat me down. "So, tell me everything. What exactly happened?" Taking a deep breath, I started my tale of woe.

As I explained everything, I watched Stephanie's expression carefully and realized just how awkward and crazy everything was. I knew I should have just gone to get a hotel room, but, thanks to it being summer, I knew that the rates would be through the roof, especially for an indefinite stay. The least I could have done was call Skye, but I realized afterwards that I didn't have her phone number. As soon as I had explained everything, Xavier had come into the room with Auntie Marie, Stephanie's new Auntie, bearing a plate of cookies and milk for the two of us. Reaching for a cookie, Stephanie shook her head.

"That's terrible," Stephanie mumbled as she bit down into her cookie. "I can't believe Bianca did that to you. That's terrible!" Xavier scoffed and shook his head as he nibbled on a cookie as well

"I can," he told us. "Bianca's a real piece of work. I'm surprised that you stuck around after we broke up." I stopped and stared at him a moment, wishing I could do something to make him regret pointing out what I already felt.

“She was my business partner,” I reminded him. “After I left you, I started working on everything in order to leave, but it took a bit longer than I had hoped. I’ve got more than enough to buy a house with cash, but it’s going to take a while to find one and get them to accept an offer. So, between that and needing to leave the company so that my sister will quit stealing my life from me, I thought I would take to you and Skye.” Stephanie seemed lost for words as she exchanged looks with Xavier. After a long, awkward silence, Xavier finally spoke.

“Well, you’re welcome to stay with us,” he agreed without waiting for Stephanie to respond. “At least until you find your own place and everything.” Stephanie agreed immediately.

“You’re always welcome here,” she informed me. She then looked at Xavier. “Which room should we give her for the time being? The one right next to the playroom?” Xavier thought for a moment.

“You mean the one right next to Auntie Marie’s room, right?” he asked, and she nodded. “I don’t see why not.” He stopped and turned his attention to Auntie Marie. “That is if you’re okay with that…” Auntie Marie’s kind smile never went away as she spoke.

“I don’t have a problem with it,” she reassured me. “It will be nice to have another Little to look after. Stephanie gets so bored on her own, especially after you started working the weekends on your latest project.” Stephanie glanced at the clock, eager to change the subject.

“It’s too late to call Skye,” she stated as she continued to think through what we could do. “Why don’t you come to the office with me tomorrow? Now that Derek found an in office legal consult, we’re looking to expand our staff. Considering everything you’ve done for your real estate company, I’m sure Skye would love the extra help at the office.” I felt relieved as I thought about this opportunity.

“Oh, thank you,” I told her as I bobbed my head at her. “I would really appreciate it.” Xavier frowned when he saw the time.

“Speaking of tomorrow, it is past your bedtime, Stephanie,” he stated, and Stephanie pouted.

“Do I have to?” she asked as her lip quivered. “Bernice is here, and I want to get the chance to hang out with her before we go to bed. Please, Daddy?” Xavier chuckled as he looked from me to Stephanie and back. After considering her request, he finally agreed.

"Alright, but only for a little bit," he told her. "We have work tomorrow, and I don't want you to be late because you stayed up too late." Stephanie squealed in excitement and leaped into his arms, giving him the biggest hug she could.

"Oh, thank you, Daddy," she exclaimed before letting him go. Xavier looked at Auntie Marie, who was waiting for instructions.

"I'll get them to bed in an hour," he said to her. "You can finish your work and retire for the night." Auntie Marie nodded and made her way to the kitchen while Stephanie sat down next to me.