Difficult Choices

Agatha nodded as soon as the car door was open. Before she could step out, a sharp warning voice was heard echoing in Agatha's ears. She waited patiently for the man to finish speaking. "I remind you once again, if you can't control your feelings for my son, leave from there. Wouldn't that be better for your mental health? Well, it's up to you. Whether you choose to stay and be pressured, or leave freely." Agatha smiled thinly, then nodded calmly. "I also hope I never meet you again. Thank you for the ride. Excuse me, and good evening." Without waiting for any further response, Agatha got out and closed the door with a loud sound. Ignoring the man's sharp gaze and his improper behavior, Agatha quickly walked towards her apartment without looking back. Agatha was extremely frustrated. She even felt like cursing out loud in front of that man. If only she had a higher position or at least equal status, Agatha wouldn't have followed his threatening orders. "One problem solved, but now another issue arises that makes me want to scream," Agatha grumbled as she walked towards the elevator. "Why does he have the audacity to dictate other people's feelings? He doesn't even seem to care for his own son," Agatha muttered as she pressed the elevator button, then stepped in and closed the door. She was alone inside. "Why do I have to meet someone whose behavior is not much different from Grace's? Rich people who love to belittle the poor," Agatha muttered, crossing her arms and taking a deep breath. "He even threatened me. Does he have spies watching me? If so, I could really feel oppressed. But if I leave, I can't bear to see Layla sad." Suddenly, Layla's smiling face flashed in her mind. Then Agatha fell silent for a moment. Something in her chest suddenly ached. "But... is Jayden really like his father? Do I not have a chance? Do I not deserve to like him even for a moment?" Right after those thoughts were spoken, the elevator doors opened again. Several people were already waiting, and Agatha quickly straightened up and walked out. Passing through the long, quiet corridor, Agatha's mind still wasn't at peace. "If the only way to survive is not to like him, what can I do?" Agatha thought to herself, her hand unconsciously clenched. "Moreover, I've never fallen in love before, right?" After a brief pause, Agatha took a deep breath. "I can surely bury my feelings in silence." Agatha nodded confidently. Her lips formed a faint smile. "Yes, that's right. This is the best choice rather than ruining my life by getting fired." Arriving at the door she aimed for, Agatha's hand felt heavy to push it open. She paused for a moment. Calming her breath and composing her facial expression as best as possible without raising suspicions. One thing was certain, she had lied today. "I thought my life would finally be peaceful, but it seems this is the beginning of a bad start," Agatha sighed sadly, with a wry smile, before opening the door in front of her. ' Auntie! I've been waiting for you!" Layla shouted, running as soon as she heard the door open. Agatha instinctively smiled upon hearing her. "Ah, even if at least she makes my day a little better," Agatha thought to herself as she saw Layla already in front of her, the girl's smile wide. "Hi, sorry, I came home late. I had lots of assignments today. Can you forgive me?" Agatha crouched down to be at eye level with Layla. She placed her hand on the girl's shoulder with her left hand, and her right hand caressed Layla's head. Agatha felt guilty for lying to the little girl. A sweet smile immediately formed on Layla's lips, followed by a nod of her head. "Of course, this place would be boring without you. Until I grow up, Auntie will still be here, right?" At that moment, Agatha was stunned. Layla's response was beyond her expectations. "Heum? Why are you suddenly asking that? Are you afraid I will leave?" "Yes, I'm afraid you won't come back. That's why I keep waiting for you here. Don't you know? I keep looking at the door because I'm afraid you won't enter from there again," Layla said honestly. She slightly pursed her lips at the end of her sentence. Agatha flinched reflexively. Suddenly, Layla said something that made her feel even more guilty. Without waiting for approval, Agatha brought Layla into a hug. She rubbed the girl's back, hoping to calm her down. Both Layla and herself. "I won't go, Layla. Don't worry, okay? I'll always come back here, even if I travel far. Because how could I leave you?" Agatha planted a kiss on Layla's forehead, then released her from the hug and looked at the girl with a warm smile. "Even though I'm afraid I might not see you again," Agatha added to herself. She smiled, but her chest felt tight. Layla's smile grew even sweeter, she truly liked the woman in front of her. "Auntie, have you had lunch?" 'Yes, I have, and I'm very full," Agatha responded promptly, but then apologized silently as she actually hadn't had lunch yet. "We're wearing the same clothes today, Auntie, aren't we?" Layla looked at her with hopeful eyes. And Agatha had no intention of refusing. She smiled playfully while gently pinching Layla's right cheek. "Sure, Sweetie." Layla blushed shyly. Then she quickly ran to her room as her cheeks turned red. Agatha chuckled at the sight. Although she didn't do much, it seemed to embarrass Layla. Agatha stood up, intending to follow Layla. But her steps were abruptly halted when Jayden spoke up. The man had been sitting at the dining table, busy on his laptop all this while. Agatha felt relieved for not having to engage in conversation with Jayden, but the man instead posed a question that made her heart race. "Have you really had dinner?" Jayden asked, without looking away from his laptop screen. Agatha bit her lower lip, clenched her hand, then without turning, she simply replied, "Yes, I did." Without waiting for any further response, Agatha hurriedly walked away, her emotions mixed. She only hoped Jayden wouldn't care to notice her slightly different behavior today. Unfortunately, that was beyond Agatha's expectations. Jayden's fingers that had been typing stopped abruptly as he sensed something off. Frowning with suspicion, Jayden was filled with questions.   Just like the night before, Jayden was leaving for the office after eight o'clock. So before that, he tried to spend time with Layla. Even if only momentarily, Jayden would give his full attention and affection. Like now, Jayden invited Layla to watch TV while joking around. The girl asked to sit on his lap. "Does Daddy have dinner every day?" Layla suddenly asked, looking up at her father's face. 'Why? What makes you so curious today?" Jayden furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes. This was the first time Layla asked such a question. "Daddy is forgetful, what if you forget to eat? Daddy won't be able to work again because he's sick." Jayden was taken aback, a reflexive smile appeared on his face. He affectionately ruffled Layla's lush hair. "Oh, you're so sweet. Daddy won't forget about meals. You don't need to worry, Daddy is independent and can take care of himself." Layla pursed her lips, partly due to her father's playful banter, and partly because of her slightly annoyed reaction. 'I know, but make sure you don't forget, Dad. Usually adults always forget about their health because they work too hard." Jayden smiled even wider, the attention from his daughter suddenly made his heart very pleased. "Daddy promises, Sweetie. Daddy will always remember to eat on time. For Layla and Daddy's health too." Layla lifted her pinky finger, which Jayden reciprocated by intertwining their fingers. Layla smiled sweetly until her eyes narrowed, then Jayden pinched both of her lifted cheeks. Absolutely adorable. Their interaction was heartwarming. But Agatha, who had been sitting on a separate couch since a while ago, remained silent and played with her phone. Although all she did was swipe the screen without anything important. Agatha had her reasons for this. If she looked at them as usual, she wouldn't be able to hold back her smile. And of course, Agatha's heart would beat faster seeing how sweet Jayden was at the moment. If that happened, her intentional decision to conceal her feelings would only backfire and her affection for Jayden would only grow. Especially with Jayden's charm multiplied when he was with Layla. 'Oh, right. Tomorrow we're asked to go back to grandma's house. We're going to stay there overnight. You—' Before Jayden could finish, Layla quickly interrupted. "No! I don't want to go there!" Layla shook her head forcefully, a sign that she really didn't want to go. Jayden sighed, it was always like this whenever he mentioned going there. With patience, Jayden gently stroked his daughter's head. 'Layla, you're growing up. You have to understand. It's not polite to refuse your grandparents' request. That's why—" "Isn't Daddy lazy to go there too? Right?" Layla cut off Jayden's sentence again. And in that moment, Jayden was taken aback by Layla's sensitivity. It wasn't just the girl who didn't want to go back to the main house; he himself didn't want to go there either. Jayden didn't expect Layla to hit the nail on the head so accurately.