Chapter 77: Chapter 77

**

The much anticipated weekend came with a bit of its stress. Frank was able to get Daniel without much of an objection from his ex which was a lot of relief.

Whatever her reasons were? Frank could care less about any of it. All that mattered was having the boy over for the weekend and he had succeeded without any hindrance.

Aria on the other hand was finding it difficult getting the boy to warm up to her. He won't even allow her the chance to feed him without a struggle.

Frank was out that morning for some last minute work and she was left to deal with Daniel during breakfast and to be honest? She was wishing for Frank to be home right now because she can't seem to get the boy to do anything.

"Hold still Daniel or you are going to spill your drink" she called at him out of frustration after trying to get the little boy to eat his food.

His tray of food contained, four slice of peanut buttered bread and a cup of richly cream cocoa drink and he won't even touch it.

"No! I don't want to eat" Aria took a deep breath to calm her nerves before trying again. They have been at it for the past one hour now and still no changes.

He won't even look at his breakfast.

"C'mon Daniel. It's past 8am and you still haven't had anything to eat" she appeal again for the hundred time.

"Mom said I shouldn't eat your food" the little boy had uttered with so much conviction before crinkling his nose upward in disgust.

Okay that does it as she quickly leaned back against her desk with a baffled expression_wondering if she heard correctly or the boy actually said those words out loud. "And why is that?"

"Mom said you are bad. You are a very bad person. I hate you" he yelled on top of his lung while partly throwing tantrums which would have earned him a good fall from his chair if not for Aria who quickly leaned forward and grabbed him.

Instead of holding still, he just wiggled out of her grip and scooted all the way back from her reach.

Her lips parted but no single word made it out. She doesn't even have the energy to stomach the reality of what was playing before her.

Hate is a very strong word for a child to utter so freely without understanding its full meaning and much less_implications.

Daniel mind has been poisoned against her and she can very much see that. But how could she blame him.

His innocent mind believed whatever he was told. I mean_why wouldn't it be when it was from his own mom.

He trusted the woman to always tell him the truth but she choose to fill his little mind with hatred.

What could possibly be worst than that?

He hate her enough to want to starve himself of food. But that's not going to happen. Heck, she won't allow it. Not under her watch.

"What else did your mom said Daniel? Did she also mentioned how good of a cook your dad is? Because he was the one that made breakfast not me and oh, he will be so disappointed if he finds out his favorite son didn't even touch his food" she ended with a sad pout

Her untapped acting skills was needed at that point.

Daniel had a thoughtful look on his face as he looked back at her convincingly sad expression. There was no doubt he was contemplating hard on not disappointing his dad as his expression was suddenly conflicted.

"Should I call him and tell him you don't want to eat his deliciously prepared meal?" She had chirp in after picking up her cellphone while giving him a sideways glance and waiting for his decision.

The little boy was wiser than his age as his brow furrowed in confusion_giving his decision a second careful consideration before shaking his head "No"

"No?" She asked again just to be sure.

"I will eat" his words coming out in a soft whisper.

"Good choice. Now let eat shall we?" She quickly placed the phone away and reached for her plate. Her stomach was starting to growl as it is and can't wait any longer.

He hesitated for a moment before reaching out a hand to pull his tray closer before taking a bit on his buttered bread with peanut spilling from the side of his lips.

He continued to chew carefully until the brown creamy butter hit his sensory bud and the unexpected happened. He began to take bigger bite with a slip of his cocoa drink.

Aria couldn't help but chuckle under her breath at the little boy seating beside her. He was still a naive little boy after all and hunger was still in fact hunger and not something to ignore for long.

**

"How did your day go with Daniel?" Frank gave her a quick kiss on the lips before plopping down beside her on the cushion some hours later.

He got home really exhausted. His work load at the office was getting worst by the day. Seem he was starting to neglect too much work at the company for her sake.

Aria has been meaning to talk to him about it for a while now but that wasn't the right moment as she turned to him with a shrug.

"Went well I guess? I got him to eat without thinking its poisoned"

Frank raised a brow at her statement "Daniel thinks our food is poison?"

"Not exactly but refusing to eat because am bad could almost meant the food could be poisoned right?"

Frank gave a deep sigh when he digest her word probably. He wouldn't doubt it if the boy thought that way.

He can very much see his ex imprint in that statement even without asking.

Sandra is capable of such nasty comment and even worst but planting such evil seed on the little boy thought was borderline unacceptable.

"Where is Daniel?"

"Up in his room playing video game?"

"I will go talk to him" he got up to leave but paused when he felt Aria's hold on him.

"Be nice and gentle. He is just a kid" she cautioned with a stern look.

"I will"

He found Daniel in his room with knitted brow. His eyes, focused on defeating his approaching enemies on the flat screen.

Frank settled down beside him on the floor before he turned to watch him.

"Hey buddy, what are you playing"

"Call of duty" he answered quickly without sparing his father a glance.

Frank continued to watch him for a while before picking up the second pad and began playing along as well.

"Did you have fun today?" He asked out of nowhere causing his little shoulders to tense up. "Aria told me how much fun you two had at breakfast"

Frank continued playing not paying attention to his reaction. Only when he stopped playing did he look back at him. His face glued to the floor.

Was it guilt? Frank wondered as he placed his pad on the floor and held him by the shoulders while cocking a brow to look at him.

"Is there something you will like to tell me?"

He felt him sniff back a tear. "I'm sorry Dad" he whispered. His voice filled with so much fright.

Maybe his grip was too tight as he quickly let go of his trembling shoulders.

"Why are you sorry son?"

"I_I____" his word got caught up in his throat causing him to tear up completely and throwing Frank off balance.

Was he too harsh with his questioning? He thought as he pulled him into a hug to smitten the crying boy. "It's Okay Danny. Stop crying"

The little boy just kept crying still and he let him cry some more before pulling away to look at his face.

His eyes looked so remorseful when their eyes met for a split second before he darted them towards the floor quickly.

Why was he so terrified though?

He couldn't help but feel a peg of pain stink his own heart at the sight before him.

Daniel reminded him so much of himself when he was little and how much he will tremble whenever his Dad would scold him for doing something wrong. He'd cry out of guilt just like he was doing.

He wished he was still alive to witness another version of himself as Daniel.

"Look at me son" he urged him. Tugging at his lowered chin to look up at him.

The little boy stared back at his father with wet lashes and very much unsure of himself before Frank reached out both hands and wiped his face clean.

Frank's action actually calm him down a bit but his eyes were still glued to his hands.

When his father was sure he won't burst out in more tears, he gave him a small smile in comfort. "Are you afraid of me?"

He said nothing but Frank could tell from his demeanor that the boy was indeed afraid of him. "Listen Daniel_you have no need to be afraid because I won't hurt you. Heck, such thought will never cross my mind because you are my son and I will protect and love you"

Something actually flashed in his eyes as he looked back at him.

"I know you are a very smart boy Danny even though there are some things we grown up do that you might not fully understand. I want you to know and feel how much Aria and I really love you even though it might be contrary to what your mom might have told you"

His little shoulders slumped down before he gave a curt nod.

"Do you remember how you hurt your wrist at your grandmother's house when we went visiting and she took care of your wound just fine?"

He gave another nod when his eyes settled on the fading scar across his wrist.

"There you have it son. A bad person wouldn't do that don't you agree?"

"Y_yes!"

"Now I dont know what you said to her but it made her feel bad"

"I'm sorry Dad" he paused and looked back at his father. "I won't say it again"

"I'm sure you won't my boy. But first thing first. When we say mean things and hurt others in the process. It's our duty to apologise for it"

"Okay"

"So what do you suggest we do to earn her forgiveness?" He asked with a raised brow.

"Go say sorry to aunty Aria?"

"Good my boy. Very good. We might even get some chill cocoa drink as reward"

His eyes grew wide at the mentioned of that taste of heaven from earlier in anticipation.

***

They met Aria in the kitchen preparing dinner. "What is going on?" She asked, raising a brow at them the moment they got in.

Frank had both hands on Daniel shoulders as he pushed him forward a little. "Daniel has something to say to you. Right Danny boy?" Cocking a brow to look at the little boy who had both his hands clasped in front of him.

"Yes"

Aria threw Frank a 'what is going on kinda look' but he just shrug with a grin.

By the look of things, she could feel something else was going on. Daniel looked somewhat down casted which was not the case a while ago.

"Are you okay Daniel?" She asked, looking at him intently.

"I'm sorry aunty Aria" He looked up at her with sorry eyes, waiting for her reaction even.

Aria shot Frank a quick glance after realizing what could be going on before reaching out a hand to pull Daniel closer. "Come here dear" she cooed at him.

He took two quick stride and covered the distance to where she stood before getting pulled into her bosom.

"It's okay Danny. Just Promise me you won't starve yourself like that again okay?"

"Okay!"

"That's good. Now, who wants to help me with dinner?"

"Me!" His little voice filling the entire atmosphere causing the two adult hawking at him to burst out in laughter.

"Alright then buddy. Let do some chores shall we?"

Daniel sat on the kitchen island peeling some onion scales while Frank took over from chopping some vegetables. Giving Aria time to stir the tomatoes sauce she had going on.

Everyone had their hand full at the moment as dinner promises to be better than breakfast.