Chapter 286 - Not a monster

"It's okay, Belle. Calm down." Clara said, but she was still shaking.

"What if he gets so pissed?" Belle asked.

"Belle, did he force himself on you?" Clara asked.

"No no mom. I agreed." She replied.

"Then, it's fine. You can't undo what has happened and your dad isn't how you're taking him to be. I understand you respect him, but he's not a monster.

Stop acting so scared of him. He was already worried about what he did to make you always scared of making mistakes around him. 

Dear, you can tell him anything. He will never make the wrong judgment, okay?" Clara pat her hair.

Her body was still shaking.

"I'm just worried he would be angry with me." She said.

Yeah. She loved him that much. 

"Then let him be. Moments like that happen. We're humans after all. Do you want to know something?" She asked.

Belle nodded her head.

"He likes the boy." She said.

"Micheal?" Belle was stunned.

"Yes. He doesn't take risks in situations like this and has observed him. He said he's a good boy but hoped you two could hold up and finish school first." She said.

"I…. am not done with school yet." Belle stammered.

"Yes, you're not, but only a few months away. When you enter the university, you two can take charge of your lives with less intervention or worries from us, so calm down." 

...

Leo ate, but the food wasn't as tasty as before.

Somehow, it hurts that she was crying so much because of him.

He was not okay with her being so forward concerning intercourse, but could already fathom this outcome.

The boy is good and calm. Comes from a decent family and yeah, he probed his life.

He did to ensure his child is in the right hand, but make sure it was discreetly.

Belle seems to like him so much as well and the way she talked about him, it was obvious one single moment could make what happened do.

He wasn't so surprised.

"Dad, are you okay?" Mia asked.

Daniel was also looking at him.

"Yes, sweetheart." He smiled warmly at them and soon, Clara and Belle came back in.

She was shaking at the sight of him again.

Leo was the one who avoided eye contact this time.

Clara kept looking between both of them. They look like they are having a love quarrel.

She smiled softly.

"I will head to my study to handle some doc.u.ment." He excused himself and left.

After they were done eating, Clara also left, while the children tagged with Belle as usual.

....

"Hey, big guy." Clara pokes her head inside his study room.

He wasn't sorting any doc.u.ment but just resting his head to the backrest and looking deep in thought.

He snapped from his train of thought as he heard her voice.

He stood up immediately and walked towards her, hugging her. 

"Are you okay?" Clara asked, patting his back.

"What am I doing wrong?" Why is she like that with me? I just think back to everything and all I recall was giving her the best that I could. Respecting her wish like a father should, with a female child.

Why do I feel like a monster now? Like I imprinted fear in her heart. Am I scary?

Did I do something I'm not aware of?" He couldn't help but let it out.

"She loves you too much, that's why." Clara said.

Leo was silent.

Clara pulled him to come sit on the couch and he did willingly.

"She values your opinion of her. She always wants to make you proud of her. She didn't want you to feel disappointed but her feelings for the boys got to her and she realized she didn't think too far to what you will feel about it.

That was why she's scared. She's not seeing you as a monster, but a father she doesn't want to see looking hurt over what she did.

She wants to be your perfect daughter." Clara said and Leo's eyes were already red.

Her reaction tore his heart, but he understood now. He understands that she needs to make sure he let her know she doesn't need to be careful with him.

"Do you feel better now?" Clara asked.

He nodded his head and she chuckled. "You're cute, aren't you?" She stroked his face and he kissed her hand.

....

"I told my mom." Belle typed.

There were over 50 missed calls within the short span she went down to eat.

Michael couldn't sleep. He couldn't concentrate.

"Did they say I'm not befitting you?" He asked worriedly.

"No. My mom said he likes you and that he thinks you're good." She said.

"Thank god. I was so scared. I can't wait to see you. I feel like coming to your place right now. If only you could give me the address.

Perhaps I should come and let him know that I will never leave you." He suggested.

This further warmed her heart, but she still raised her voice at him.

"How can you say that! Don't ever come here to table such matters to my dad." She said.

"Tell him to come."

Belle froze, hearing Leo's voice.

"D…..dad." She stammered, seeing him standing at the door.

"Oh my god! He's there? Let me talk to him please. I can tell him I won't ever hurt you.

I'm confident to confront him." He said.

The phone was on speaker, since she was making a WhatsApp call.

She couldn't find her voice.

Leo shut his eyes. "Baby, it's alright." Leo said and she finally came to her senses.

Walking closer, he took the phone.

Michael was still saying 'hello' continuously like an idiot.

"Michael, come to my office after school tomorrow." He said and Michael would have asked for an address if he hadn't done every research on him.

He's his role model after all.

"Yes, sir." He said and Leo ended the call.

He talked to Belle, asking her that same question he asks Clara.

The answer was similar.

She said she was afraid he wouldn't love her anymore.

"Why? Why would I not love you?" Leo gave her a confused look.

"Because I just want to always make you proud of me." She said.

"I'm always proud of you. Always ready to listen and advise you instead of judging you. I'm not a monster, so don't be scared of me.

If someone should be scared, then it's those that hurt you. You are still talking with him and he seems eager to prove himself, so why would I be angry?

You two should try to make it work out. Don't become memories of each other. Make sure you focus on your studies and your life. That's all I want from you.

If you think you want him as a part of your life, then fine. You own it and know what you want. If you want him, then you will always get my support." Belle has hugged him before he could finish.

"Thank you, Daddy." She said.

Leo patted her head.

He didn't like what happened to be honest, but knew it had happened anyway.

He acted to cool with him to erase the fear in her heart towards him.

That went well, same as Micheal's visit the next day.

He was sweating hard, yet looking so determined.

Leo just kept staring at him.

He soon couldn't help it and blurted. "I love your daughter. I will marry her." He said.

Leo still kept looking at him.

"And you couldn't wait till you two married first?" He asked.

Michael was silent after.

"I'm so sorry. She seemed very scared of you and I was worried when you decided to make her get together with someone from the same higher class, I will lose her.

It makes me decide to proceed that much. My original plan was to wait until I know about her background." Michael was honest with him.

That finally got to Leo.

This fear again…. Sigh.

"Well, I hum love her. I'm not saying I'm eyeing your wealth. I will get rich like you…. No no no. I will be richer than you are and give her the best.

I will never let anyone take her from me. Not even you, sir. I'm not meaning to be rude." He bowed his head.

Leo just kept staring at him.

"How many girls have you made this promise with? What made you unable to fulfill it?" He asked.

"No one, sir. My background doesn't permit me to let the love for opposite s.e.x sway me from my goal, but I was attracted to her the first day I met her. It's just her sir. 

Only her." He said.

Leo wasn't expecting that.

The boy was so good looking. He knew how girls flocked around him when he was around his age and obviously, it will be the same with this young man.

He was impressed by their meeting.

"I gave my consent to the both of you." Leo said and Michael was shocked.

A smile blossomed on his face.

"Oh my god! Thank you very much, sir." He stood up and now repeatedly.

Leo smiled. "Like you said, make it in life. Acquire things even I am still reaching for. Give her the best, because she said she doesn't want my support after she was done with school. She wanted to pursue her own future.

Since you happen to be a potential part of it, treat her well." He said.

He had no choice than to make this decision. He just hoped it wasn't a bad choice in the future.

"I will, sir." Michael promised and Leo saw in his eyes that he didn't even mind the part that Belle wouldn't accept his help after school.

He's a good boy indeed.