Mommy for Billionaire's Baby
Chapter 36 b

Tasya was as tough as a rock by the seaside, but as fragile as jelly in Naina's favorite pudding. She could never bear to see someone in front of her suffering. Especially not when Tasya was stared at with a resentful gaze. The only exception for tonight was that she didn't care about Nathan's complaints.

She ignored him despite being called repeatedly, bumped on her shoulder, or followed every step and move. Tasya pretended Nathan wasn't even close. She didn't want to deal with, let alone respond to, all his parrot-like words. "Tasya," Nathan called once again. "Come on. Don't treat me like this." He continued to follow behind Tasya. Dinner, which Nathan usually experienced full of intimacy, though mostly competing for attention with Naina, was different this time. Instead, he was met with Tasya's sulking face.

Tasya still refused to speak.

"I can't have you just being silent, Tasya." Tonight, Nathan had no shame. Persuading Tasya to speak again was a necessity. He didn't care if the two siblings sitting in the living room were watching.

Logically, Nathan wouldn't lower himself for any woman. He wouldn't beg and plead just to provide an explanation. He only did it for Tasya. If this pony tailed girl wanted to talk as long as a KRL (a type of commuter train) to vent her frustrations, Nathan wouldn't mind.

If she stayed silent? Nathan was getting annoyed.

"Tasya," Nathan called once again. This time, Nathan felt the need to take action. He gently took Tasya's hand, which had just finished tidying up their dinner plates. "Listen to me first."

"No need," Tasya quickly interjected. She promptly brushed off Nathan's grip. "You can go home. I want to rest. My little brother also needs to rest without any disturbances." Nathan sighed deeply. "No."

"Whatever." Tasya chose to leave Nathan behind. Nathan's presence had been giving her a headache since earlier. The conversation in Nathan's office, which Tasya accidentally overheard, had truly surprised her. Plus, the desk where her usual pile of report files was kept had two pregnancy test kits. And Bonnie's words echoed loudly in Tasya's mind.

Nathan halted his steps. He allowed Tasya to move further away. Until that small figure disappeared behind the stairs, Nathan couldn't seem to get Tasya's attention at all. He sighed deeply. "Feels like a year in just one day," he muttered unconsciously.

"Mr. Nathan," Ronan called. Nathan didn't realize that Tasya's second sibling was already nearby.

"Huh?" Nathan grinned awkwardly.

"When Tasya's angry, she's like that. She doesn't want to be questioned at all," Ronan patted Nathan's shoulder gently. "Maybe it's because you're too imposing, Mr. Nathan?"

If only he could tell Hari, "Don't say that, I'm getting more sinful." But the words got stuck in his throat. Nathan could only offer a thin smile.

"I'll take my leave now, then." Nathan wanted to sleep here. Until tomorrow morning, he wanted to be the first-person Tasya saw. But he couldn't be selfish, right?

"Who knows, maybe tomorrow Tasya will be better. She's not the type to stay angry for too long."

If that were true, Nathan would be grateful. Nathan wasn't sure how to handle his current situation. He had never faced a situation where Tasya acted coldly towards him, ignored him, and refused to acknowledge his presence. Especially not to the extent of avoiding eye contact.

Nathan was getting frustrated.

"I'll come here tomorrow, maybe earlier than usual."

Ronan just offered a faint smile, wordlessly allowing Nathan to do whatever he wanted. Ronan thought of them as a couple facing a problem. Whether it was a big or small problem, Ronan didn't want to know. As long as his sister wasn't hurt or crying, he could understand. After all, women had a tendency to be moodier. Maybe his sister was going through a phase like this.

Although Ronan felt like laughing out loud. Tasya rarely showed her vulnerable side. It meant the guy in front of her was quite lucky. After Nathan left them, both Robin and Ronan headed to their rooms. It was time to sleep anyway. They didn't realize that a pair of eyes at the top of the stairs were observing.

***

"You look exhausted," Sunny said with a puzzled frown. Her son had just returned after ten o'clock at night. Sunny became suspicious, wondering if the issues at work were overwhelming Nathan.

"Yeah, something like that." That was all Nathan could say. He evaded his mother's gaze and dragged his feet wearily. His mind was still stuck at Tasya's house. Tasya's voice seemed to have become an addictive sound he needed to hear all day. Unfortunately, her voice had suddenly disappeared because of Bonnie.

That damn woman.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mom." Nathan gave a faint smile. "Is Naina already asleep?"

"Yes, she is. She seems exhausted from her school activities."

Nathan stopped in his tracks, his smile fading, even if only briefly. "I'll go to Naina's room first."

Sunny let Nathan go to his granddaughter's room. There were many things she wanted to ask, especially about Tasya and Faldom. No, Sunny had no intention of interfering with Nathan's activities there. She understood now that Nathan had sacrificed a lot to run Faldom.

Meanwhile, when Nathan's feet reached the door of Naina's room, a sense of hesitation washed over him. He was afraid of disturbing his niece who might already be fast asleep. "Ah, just a moment," he said, bolstering himself. He turned the doorknob of Naina's room, and he was taken aback.

"But is Tasya okay?" Naina asked, her gaze glued to her phone screen. On the screen, there was an image of Tasya laughing on the other end.

"She's fine. I wouldn't work if she weren't."

"I'm tired, but I can't sleep. I wonder why."

"Why are you tired? Too much homework?"

"Nah," Naina shifted her position, getting more comfortable as she found talking to Tasya tonight enjoyable. She had been waiting for Nathan to come home with Tasya, but it turned out that the girl chose to go back to her own home. "You seem tired, Naina. Lots of stuff going on at school, huh?"

Naina quickly nodded. "The teachers keep piling things on. Do this for the art project, form groups for that assignment. Ugh, it's giving me a headache."

In the background, Tasya's voice could still be heard.

"You're lucky you're working. It's not like me, drowning in schoolwork. Sometimes, I wish I could just start working."

"Come on, Naina!" Tasya couldn't help but laugh, listening to Naina's venting. The girl had been complaining a lot about how tired she was since earlier. School activities, the atmosphere there, and her friend Gio - everything seemed to overwhelm her. "Working isn't all that great."

"Where do you get that from? You earn money, you know. Naina wants to earn a lot of money."

"For what?"

"For lots of things, sis. To buy bags, shoes, books, oh... clothes too, so I don't have to keep asking Daddy for money."

"Is Daddy bothered by giving money to Naina?"

Naina shook her head firmly. "Daddy never complains, sis."

"Work when you can prove you're capable, okay? Focus on school first. Grandma Sunny and Grandma Alexa never asked Naina to be a top student, right?"

Naina nodded slowly.

"Daddy is the same way. The most important thing is for Naina to do well and be comfortable in school. Make lots of friends, socialize with many people - whether it's teachers, friends from tutoring, or classmates from other grades." "I already have lots of friends," the girl protested, pouting. "Speaking of friends, can you accompany me next week? Last week, Tasya couldn't because you were sick. You have to be able to this time." "Where are we going?"

"Ugh!" Naina sighed in frustration. "To meet Mommy Seira."

"But don't cause a scene, okay? Naina knows who Mommy Seira is, right?"

"Yeah, I know." Naina folded her hands in front of her chest. "Besides, I don't want Mommy Seira to be my mommy anymore."

Tasya shook her head, accompanied by a soft chuckle.

"What if you, Sis Tasya, become my mommy instead?"

"Huh!"

Perhaps Nathan was so surprised by Naina's recent statement that it made him slip and enter Naina's room abruptly. The phone that was still on hung in the air. "Daddy, what are you doing there?" Naina looked at Nathan with a worried expression. Not afraid of their conversation being overheard, but something bigger than just Nathan's question; whose phone call was it this late at night?

"Tasya, I'll finish for now. I'll call you tomorrow. I love you, Tasya," Naina whispered quickly. There was no need for a response from Tasya because Naina herself was starting to get scared as Nathan approached her. It was already night, and it was highly likely that Nathan would scold her.

"What does Naina think?" Nathan smiled thinly.

Hearing Tasya's unchanged voice throughout her conversation with Naina made him very relieved. It meant that only he was affected by Tasya's anger. That was fine. On his way home from Tasya's house, he realized he was at fault. Even though he was sure he hadn't impregnated Bonnie, if he had stopped his foolish play with women when Tasya came into his life at Faldom, he wouldn't have found himself in a situation where a woman claimed to be pregnant with his child. Ugh! Time couldn't be turned back, could it?

"Do you want to scold Naina again?"

Nathan laughed. "No." He gently stroked the top of the girl's head, who was staring at him intently. "Daddy just wants to know why you're not asleep yet."

Naina pouted. "I'm sure Daddy heard the conversation earlier."

"Well... something like that," Nathan laughed. "It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

Naina's hands folded in front of her chest. But a moment later, her eyes glanced at Nathan's appearance, still wearing his shirt. His hair was somewhat messy, and his face looked tired. "Daddy just got home." No need for words, Nathan chose to nod.

"Why so late? Why didn't you invite Tasya home? I've been waiting since earlier, but... Tasya was already at her house."

"Tasya must be tired, Naina."

"That's why you shouldn't give her too much work. Tasya said earlier that Boss Raptor has become a villain. So what was Daddy doing with Tasya?"

Nathan blinked slowly and then burst into laughter.

"See, that's it! Daddy must be mean to Tasya, that's why she doesn't want to come home." Naina squinted in disbelief. "I don't want to be friends with Daddy!"

Nathan's laughter echoed even louder.

"Daddy is a annoying!!!"