19 - Confront

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

***

Midas stood in the middle of the brightly lit pharmacy. The sterile scent of antiseptics mix with the faint, sugary aroma of vitamins and medicines, but none of it made sense to him.

He tapped his fingers against the counter, impatient but composed, as the pharmacist finished helping an elderly woman. The second she turned to him, he didn't waste time.

"I'm buying milk. For a 5 year old."

The pharmacist blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sharp, no-nonsense tone. What's more is that she recognized him.

Midas Yzaguirre.

"Um---are you looking for formula or regular milk?"

Midas frowned, glancing at the overwhelming wall of options behind her. His jaw tightened. How the hell was he supposed to know the difference?

"She's five. Do five-year-olds still drink formula? She's not Plankton."

His brows furrowed as he muttered to himself, "Shit. Kalonice didn't say anything about formula."

The pharmacist gave him a polite but slightly amused smile.

"Most kids that age drink regular milk, but if she needs extra nutrients, there are growing-up formulas." She gestured to the shelves.

"Do you want cow's milk? Almond? Oat? Goat? Fortified?"

Midas exhaled slowly. He could close billion-dollar deals in his sleep as his father's proxy, negotiate with the world's most cutthroat businessmen (still as his father's proxy), and yet---he was losing to milk.

What brand of milk does his siblings drink? Should he ask his parents? No, he mustn't. His father will make fun of him and his mother will scold him.

Like, why is he buying milk and gifts for someone else's child??? Why would he take 'responsibility'??? For what? Because he's bored or into something?

His patience snapped. "Just give me the best and most expensive one."

The pharmacist chuckled softly, grabbed a carton, and handed it to him.

"This should do."

Before he forgot, "Chewable gummies, too. For 5 year olds. Probiotics and prebiotics for all-ages, also. Give me lots."

"Please wait a moment, Sir."

As Midas wait for his orders, he took a photo of the box and posted it on his IG.

'Is this milk good? #ForCandice' he captioned.

Gwynedd's brow raised when she saw the notification on her phone. She tapped the notification to see her son's post. Soon, she received consecutive pings from their group chat.

Just_Larry: I think he's in love

Domi_Cassy: Who's Candice? He's got a baby!? When????

Eightvius: I believe that's Ms. Montecristo's youngest sister. Is it true that she was abducted?

Just_Larry *replying to Eightvius*: Poor girl was very traumatized

Just_Larry: Midas told me she sprinted like crazy to find her sibling. She found her! Amazing, like a mother's instinct!

I Cain So I Will: She raised the girl. She's her mother

I Cain So I Will: The girl reminds me of someone. What if she's my granddaughter?

Larry's Goddess Empress Queen: Y'all delusional. Why is my son taking the role of her father? Larry??? What's the meaning of this?

Larry Zeno Yzaguirre cleared his throat. Suddenly, he's put on a hot seat. Why must he be the one to explain it and not their son!?

Just_Larry: Mommy, I don't know. Ask him. I did my best to stop him

Eightvius *replying to I Cain So I Will*: Why would he be your granddaughter??? Are you insane?

I Cain So I Will *replying to Eightvius*: Because I know Kalonice???

The other two were bothered, moved.

Cain knew Kalonice Montecristo?

HOW?

Cain Alterio laughed and turned his phone off. He will leave them hanging, confused, and wondering about how he encountered Kalonice.

Well, he's not really the first to know her but Caedmon.

Kalonice Montecristo was the first and only girl he's brought home and introduced to them all his life. Cassandra, his wife and Caedmon's mother, likes her so much.

Cassandra, 6 months pregnant with Cain Alterio's twins, crawled on the bed to join her husband.

"Do you think that little girl is...?"

Cain Alterio rolled on the bed to get to her side and roamed his hands on her body.

"I don't want to jump into conclusions, but blood will call for blood."

"And Caedmon? Does he know?"

Cain Alterio chuckled, but there's something about it that's ominous.

"Domi, if he knew, then they'd be living with us by now. But they don't, yet. Let's see how things will unfold. Let's see how your son will handle this."

"Why not take the initiative, Subby? It's a little girl. GIRL. The very first baby girl in your lineage if ever. From your first ancestor to these two! She will be the first Alterio lady! And to think she went through something traumatic just recently---" Cassandra got up, furious.

"Where's Caedmon!? That bastard son of yours! Get off of me! I'm going to see him!"

"Domi! Wait---Domi! In the middle of the night!?"

Cain barely managed to bring his wife back to bed. She's cursing Caedmon out, jumping into conclusions when nothing is proven yet. Just so many 'what ifs' and nothing credible.

"My Domi, calm down. Let's play along for now, alright? We don't know for sure yet, but the time will come for the truth. Let's keep an eye on them for the meantime. Let Caedmon approach us about this matter. And you know Kalonice. From the looks of it, she's a lot stronger now. Maybe it's not her intention to hide the girl from us---IF SHE'S OUR SON'S DAUGHTER."

Now, his wife is crying, "But---But she's a baby girl! The first Alterio lady in history! What did Caedmon do? Subby, how could he let this be? He abandoned Kalonice and his daughter? Our baby girl!"

"Shh, Shh. Nothing is proven yet, so we can't be sure. Don't cry. The boys will be sad, too. Domi, stop crying."

She slapped him, "Don't tell me what to do, Alterio! You're dumb and annoying! Get out of my room! Go and find the truth! I want that baby girl! She's my granddaughter!"

"But Domi---!?"

Cain Alterio palmed his face in frustration.

He's gonna kill Caedmon once he sees him.

"I'm back," Midas intoned as he get into Kalonice's house. He came back on time since she's done cooking.

"I told you to use my card," Kalonice.

"I'm not letting a woman pay for whatever."

Kalonice raised her brow at him. She's arranging her siblings' food on a tray.

"Leave them on the counter. Where's the receipt?"

"I don't keep receipts."

Midas placed the bags on the counter and sat on his chair. He looked at the food and snacks she cooked. They smell nice. She didn't make simple nuggies. She put magic on it.

"I want these nuggets," he said when he was about to pick one. Kalonice smacked his hand.

"For the children. Are you a child?"

He frowned. Kalonice turned her back on him. When she came back, she gave him his own snacks and pasta.

"That's yours. Don't take the children's. Tss."

He only chuckled and brought his food to the living room. First bite of the carbonara, he's down bad. She, indeed, put magic on it. It's very creamy and good. But of course, he took a picture of it and posted it on his IG with the caption: 'An uninvited guest, she said. Down for these snacks🍝'

"After that, leave the dishes on the table. I will take it, okay? If you need help, call me, okay? Okay." She closes the door and left her siblings by themselves.

Now, it's just them.

"Let's talk," she said and sat in front of him. She's not eating, she's serious and ready to put Midas on a hot seat again.

"Tell me why you're doing this. I will give it a second thought if you were to tell me that you have fallen love at first humiliation with me." Her eyes were narrowing with suspicion. The weight of her words pressed heavily on her tongue.

Midas choked and Kalonice pushed the hot chocolate to him that had gone cold.

He didn't respond right away, his face calm, unreadable. He wiped his mouth while looking into her eyes. There was no sign of apology or hesitation---just a cool confidence, as though the past didn't matter to him.

"What if I have?" His ears were red but he's keeping a straight face.

Kalonice was taken aback.

Oh, he truly can't describe it, but there's an urge in him that wants to have Kalonice for himself. Urge that tells him to possess her, to want her, to need her. He can't get her off his mind, especially that one time.

Would it be weird if he were to say that it turned him on when Kalonice relentlessly stabbed the man to death?

A woman who can fight for herself. A woman with honor, principles, and dignity while still being a mystery. She's a saint with blood-soaked hands.

"What?" Kalonice can't find the proper words to say.

She's so lost---She don't understand.

"Stop questioning my intentions and see it for yourself. I myself is bewildered as well, so let me sort myself out first and be honest with you next. Aren't we partners, Kalonice?"

"Don't call my name like that," she warned him and he smiled, sheepish.

"How do you want me to call your name then? Breathless?"

Kalonice stole the fork on his plate and pointed it at him. Midas looked at it and smirked.

"Don't play games with me, Yzaguirre. Sort it out now or I will drill holes in your throat with this fork,"

This must be his type.