07

Chapter 07

I stood in front of Fabian's room door. I knocked on it, and when I heard Fabian's voice, I opened it, carrying a tray.

I saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing glasses and pajamas, looking like he was reading a script.

"Sir Fabian," I called. Fabian paused and looked at me. He told me to just set the tray down on the coffee table.

"Have you had dinner, sir?" I asked after placing the tray. Fabian said he had a light lunch earlier. He shifted the script and seemed to be having trouble focusing.

"Anyway, are you busy, Sonia? Can you help me with my script? If it's not too much trouble for you," Fabian said, exhaling heavily. He mentioned having difficulty with his new project.

I just stared, so he glanced at me and then said he would increase my salary.

"I'll agree, sir, on one condition," I said. There was suddenly hope in his expression, and I couldn't help but laugh because he really looked so much like France.

"Let's have dinner with France first. Join us downstairs," I said. Fabian wondered if that was what I meant as a condition. I immediately said yes. I didn't want an increase in salary because the Martinez family already gave me more than enough.

Helping Fabian with the script was just a small thing. After coming downstairs to the living room, we saw France humming and waiting for me to join him for dinner.

I followed Fabian, who quickly pulled out a chair and greeted his son. I prepared two more plates and filled them with food.

"Did you talk to the Manager? Wasn't he rude to you?" Fabian asked. I smiled and shook my head. Fabian's manager was nice and easy to talk to, just like Fabian.

"We didn't talk about anything else except that he wants me to return to the industry," I whispered before sitting in front of Fabian. I was just grateful Fabian didn't ask further.

I admit that I can't hide what happened forever, especially from Fabian, but for now, I want to keep it hidden and tell Fabian when I'm ready.

After breakfast and since France didn't have any classes, I went straight to Fabian's room, of course with France. The child didn't want to leave me, so I had no choice but to take him along.

When Fabian saw him, he tried to send the child away, but France refused and clung to me even more. Father and son exchanged glances.

"France, how about you promise me you won't fidget while we're in daddy's room?" I said after facing France and kneeling in front of him.

"But! I want to play too!"

France complained, saying that daddy was taking mommy away from him.

"I hate him!"

Fabian was taken aback. I just laughed when father and son argued.

"Let's do this. We'll act out a scene with daddy. How about you act along with us? Sir Fabian will be Big Florence, and France will be Mini Florence. France, you'll imitate daddy. What do you think?" I asked, then glanced at Fabian.

"Big Florence and Mini Florence?"

I think it's okay with Fabian. He laughed when I mentioned it earlier. I remained poker-faced.

France immediately jumped and said he liked it. I stood up and took a copy of the script Fabian gave me.

I was surprised because the scene was so common. I looked at Fabian, who seemed to be struggling.

He had to approach the girl in the first scene, grab her wrist, and then hold her by the waist.

"Are we just going to practice the conversation or—"

"There's no problem with the conversation as long as we maintain our distance. I can hold my character," Fabian interrupted. I stayed standing in front of Fabian and asked what the problem was.

Fabian swallowed. I was confused because I couldn't see any problem. I've watched many series with Fabian, and all of them were hits because of his acting skills.

Fabian said he wasn't good at explaining, so it would be better to start.

"I told you, let's talk!"

Fabian pulled me, part of the act, and our bodies touched.

Fabian gasped, and I barely pushed him away when our faces got close.

Flatly, I asked Fabian if I needed to put the cloth over my face. I didn't put it on because Fabian said not to since it was just the two of us there.

I touched my arm. I was sure his push and the awkwardness in Fabian's expression weren't part of the act.

"N-No— because—"

Both Fabian and I stopped when France suddenly cried. We looked at France, who burst into tears.

"France!"

I quickly approached and cupped France's cheeks.

"Bad daddy! I hate you! You're hurting my mommy again!"

I didn't know how to react when France suddenly broke free from me and started hitting Fabian's legs.

He repeatedly said that Fabian was hurting his mommy. I stood up and looked at Fabian, who seemed just as surprised.

"France, Daddy's not hurting Sonia," Fabian said, trying to calm the child. He knelt and held France's arms.

I quickly took France as I was worried he might hurt himself. I hugged him and tried to calm him down.

"France, Daddy's not hurting mommy. It's just acting— like in the dramas," I explained, but France kept crying and throwing a tantrum. I had no idea what was happening, and I found myself standing by the edge of the bed.

Fabian tried to calm France down and then took an injection.

"Sir! What are you doing?"

I panicked and grabbed Fabian's arm. He was about to inject something, and I didn't know what it was. As far as I remembered, France didn't have any illnesses.

"It's just a normal inhibitor. If I don't inject him with this, there's a higher chance that France will hurt himself," Fabian said. After injecting France, Fabian removed the towel he had put in France's mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue.

I held onto my arm. I wanted to ask since I was the one taking care of France, but— based on what happened earlier, it didn't seem like a good idea for me to ask first.

Fabian laughed and looked at me. He asked me what I was thinking, which surprised me.

"You probably thought I was really hurting France's mommy," Fabian said. I closed my mouth. If that were true, it would really be surprising.

But who am I to judge a person I just met? If we're talking about judgment, I'm always on the losing end.

That's proof of my decision to marry Victor. A few years of being together isn't enough to fully understand a person.