Mommy for Billionaire's Baby
Chapter 29

Helping Naina with her homework was actually much harder than finishing the report Nathan gave. Not only because this little Raptor kid is more talkative than I can handle, but Naina is also hard to please. There's always something that, according to the little girl, isn't right. It's missing this, it should be exactly like that. What's even more ridiculous is that sometimes she breaks the rules and ignores the instructions.

Oh my goodness! Luckily, Tasya can handle it. It hasn't driven her crazy yet, dealing with Naina's annoying antics. Kids and their dads are all the same. That's all Tasya can think to herself. Nevertheless, spending time with Naina is actually quite fun, even though her patience has to stretch a bit.

Occasionally, their togetherness is interrupted by Robin's phone call. Tasya's youngest sibling asks her to come home right away, but she can't just leave Naina like that. It's tough, but... considering the word "home," sometimes Tasya wants to be a little selfish.

Just for a moment. But what can she do when her two younger siblings still need her? Ignoring any discomfort because of the meaning of "home" in her life now.

"I'm heading home." Tasya lovingly rubs the top of Naina's head. "I already texted Aunt Seira that we're going to her place on Sunday." The term "Mommy" has really been corrected by Tasya. She doesn't want to associate that woman again. Naina is already lying down. Wearing Hello Kitty pajamas. Her school bag is ready; she can't afford to make Naina late again like before. Tasya also ensures that her drawing assignment is safely tucked into the brightly colored pink and purple bag.

"Alright." Naina tilts her head slightly, giving Tasya a quick peck as a thank-you for all that this pony tailed girl has done. Grateful because of Tasya, her homework is completed with very satisfying results.

"See you on Sunday," Tasya chuckles from the peck.

"Don't come over tomorrow, okay? I have English homework. Math?"

Tasya smiles. "We can call later." She picks up her bag, which is not far from Naina's bedside table. "I'm heading home." "Be careful. Will Mr. Jack take you?"

Tasya doesn't say anything except for ruffling Naina's hair again. "Goodnight, Little Rabbit. Sweet dreams."

She hoped that Naina would like the goodnight message and her recent special nickname. Not for any particular reason, but just because small gestures like this made her lonely heart feel less alone. Seriously, Tasya could sense it. In the past, her mother sometimes did what Tasya had just done for Naina. The term "Sweetie" made her dreams so beautiful. Too bad... the Abigail from back then was so different from the Abigail now. She wondered where that warm person had gone. Tasya had tried her best, but still, she was only human with her limits. There was a point where she didn't want to go back home if it was just about being a money-making machine. They said all of her father's bankruptcy came from her. Tasya wondered, how was she correlated to her father's collapse? Clearly, her father had a serious gambling problem, and the stakes were no joke. Not to mention the debts at the bank, in an amount that made Tasya furrow her brow in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Nathan, who had been sitting in the living room for a while, was deliberately waiting for Tasya to come downstairs. He didn't want to disturb Tasya and Naina studying.

"Are you sure you don't want to get closer to Mirah?" Sunny suddenly asked, making Nathan turn his head.

"I thought Mom was already asleep." He immediately got up from his seat as his mother brought a tray with two cups. He could smell the tea that he had tasted once at the office. "From Aunt Alexa, right?" "Yes. Is the tea good, huh?"

"Tea is good when it's made by someone smart, Mom."

Sunny sighed in annoyance and gave Nathan's ear a tug. Let him whine in pain if he wanted to. Instead of gratitude, he was mocking her.

"My ear could've been torn off if Mom had pulled it as hard as earlier," Nathan complained, pretending to be in pain. Sulking was his current thing.

"Try me then." Sunny still frowned, but then she waited for Nathan's response, thanks to her motherly insistence. Despite not really liking sweet food or drinks, Nathan had taken a liking to Tasya's tea. The strong aroma she made was just right, especially with a touch of sweetness. Nathan wasn't a fan of overly sweet food or drinks. Just a bit was enough. But the tea Tasya had made at that time, which she had somewhat insisted on, made him enjoy it a bit. So now he was trying it again, also to make a comparison. Whose homemade tea was better.

"See, I told you." Nathan immediately set his glass down. Not because it was rude to his mother, who had gone through the trouble of making and serving it. "This is too sweet, Mom."

"Really?" Sunny raised her cup and took a slow sip of the slightly thick, warm liquid. She savored the aroma emanating from it. "Uh... yeah, you're right. This is too sweet for you." "Mom shouldn't drink too sweet either. Watch your sugar intake."

Sunny frowned but then smiled broadly. "I'm glad you're paying attention to me again, Nathan. You're way more spoiled than Noah Sinclair was back then."

Nathan opted to lean back and make himself comfortable because he knew he had to prepare his ears to listen to his mother's rants tonight.

"Because Mama was so busy that she forgot she had a child, Nathan."

"Being this big, I can be forgotten. What's up with you, Mom?" Nathan grumbled in frustration.

Sunny laughed. "What can I do? You're the kind of kid who won't leave the nest unless pushed to meet Mama or Papa. What's so great about living in an apartment?" "Privacy," Nathan replied succinctly.

Sunny let out a soft sigh. "I know, dear." She gently stroked Nathan's arm. "It's not good to keep everything to yourself. I know it's tough for you right now. There's a lot you have to bear." Nathan remained silent.

"But Mama and Papa never left you, did they?"

The man, dressed in a black casual shirt and knee-length shorts for the evening, still didn't want to speak.

"Mama knows it's hard to lose Noah Sinclair. You're not alone in feeling sad, Nathan. Mama and Papa feel the same way too."

Nathan sighed softly. "Is the responsibility the same? I lost all my freedom, Ma. But Mama and Papa don't understand it that way. What can Mama do?" He looked at his mother with despair. "You even let just the two of us be." Sunny was left speechless, her eyes fixed on Nathan in disbelief.

"No matter how mature a child is, they're still a child, Ma. I feel like, even up to this moment, I'm the sacrifice for everything."

"It's not good to speak like that, Nathan," Sunny wanted to reach out and pat Nathan's shoulder. Tonight was the first time they had talked at length about losing Noah Sinclair. Usually, Nathan avoided it.

"That's why you shouldn't meddle in my relationship matters."

Sunny wanted to speak but decided against it immediately.

"Especially that ridiculous idea from the red-haired woman," Nathan grumbled in annoyance. "I consider it help that Mama can offer after everything that has happened."

"Mama is doing this for your own good, Nathan."

"Good from where?" Nathan scoffed in disbelief. "Fine, I get it that Mama and Papa left just the two of us. You're occupied with grief that's supposed to replace acceptance, while Naina and I have to fight for our lives. Mama knows what life means to us, right? What Noah left behind isn't trivial. At what age was I given such a terrible fate by God? And now... Mama boldly says this arranged marriage is for my own good?"

Nathan still wasn't ready to end his lecture. Whatever his mother was busy with, for whatever reason, or now Nathan was burdened with various responsibilities, he didn't care. He just did what he believed was best. But when it came to Naina, especially when her hearing wasn't impaired yet, he couldn't stand the child being scolded for being late for meals. That already made Nathan furious.

It was fortunate that a woman named Mirah was only teased like that. Although Nathan refused to sit at the same table with her, he temporarily set aside his annoyance for the sake of his mother. But don't expect him to see Mirah again. "Don't push me away even further, Ma."

"I'm sorry, Nathan."

Right as Sunny apologized, Tasya's steps reached the last step. Nathan immediately greeted her. "You're heading home now?"

"Yeah, Mr. Sinclair."

"Come on, I'll walk you out."

Sunny gave a faint smile. "Just stay over, Tasya. I'll prepare pajamas for you. It's okay to wear Jannet Sinclair's clothes for work. Besides, your clothes are also in Nathan's closet, right?" Tasya was taken aback.

"Well, Mama is right. It's better if you stay the night. What's our schedule for tomorrow?"

Before Tasya could respond, Sunny was already nudging her. "Come on, just stay the night. You must be tired too, keeping Naina company while she studies. So that you won't be late tomorrow with all the activities with Nathan." "But, Mom?"

"No 'buts.' Just say you're on duty."

Tasya looked at Nathan pleadingly, but as usual, Nathan shrugged without a care. It was as if he silently said, "Just go along with Mom. Besides, I'm tired."

Raptors and their mothers were equally annoying! If she had known, she would have just gone home earlier. She didn't need to accompany Naina in her studies!

***

"Naina, eat slowly. There's still a lot of fried rice," Tasya sighed in frustration. It wasn't a big deal. She didn't mind the hassle this morning. When was it, dealing with Naina and Nathan that didn't make things difficult for her? As long as she was around Naina and Nathan, when could she relax? It seemed like she was always on standby, ready to obey their strange requests.

"This is so delicious," Naina said, chewing while talking. Her hand also grabbed a piece of cucumber served in front of her.

"Yes, but what if you choke?"

Naina grinned broadly. "Okay." She raised her thumb as a sign of surrender. According to Naina, this breakfast was the second-best thing in her life. The first one was when Seira made her porridge. The second was Tasya's fried rice. "No prawn crackers, Tasya?" Nathan asked while looking around. "Usually Merry has them in that glass jar," he pointed to the empty glass jar.

"Does it look like there's anything inside or not?"

Nathan shook his head.

"Then it's all gone, Daddy." This time Naina spoke up.

"Daddy knows that, Naina. But why didn't you prepare it, Tasya?"

Tasya sighed patiently. "Do you want some?"

"Well, I guess so. It's been a while."

"I don't know." Tasya got up and went to the kitchen. Again. Even though she only needed to put the toppings and have her portion of fried rice. The clock already showed five-thirty.

In a hurry, Merry approached her. "Just leave it, Miss. Miss Tasya, just eat."

"No, Merry. Just show me where Daddy's favorite crackers are. I'll get them myself."

Although she heard Naina protesting, as well as many objections from Nathan, and even Sunny saying that Nathan had no feelings, Nathan didn't ask Tasya to return to the dining table. When the desired crackers were served, Nathan's eyes lit up with joy.

"Thank you, Tasya." He immediately took the crackers and eagerly took a big bite, savoring his morning meal. "So delicious."

"You're welcome, Nathan." Tasya smiled broadly. "Finish your meal. I'm tired from the kitchen."

"Yeah."

When Raptors were in their gentle mode, it made Tasya want to pat their heads. So that's what she did, gently, but it had a big impact on Nathan. And Naina too. The girl didn't want to be left out in grabbing Tasya's attention. There had to be something made for the bespectacled girl. Anything.

So a bottle of juice that Tasya quickly prepared for Naina was already in the girl's bag.

"Thank you, Tasya!"

Again, a peck on the cheek for Tasya, which made the bespectacled girl smile even wider.

"If I can't, can I?" Nathan asked casually.

"Don't push it!"

"Just one thing, Tasya." Nathan followed Tasya as she led Naina, who walked like a toddler. Naina didn't want to let go of Tasya's hand, and there was one protest that she loudly voiced.

"Why, Daddy? Don't annoy me, seriously. Don't tease Tasya, ew! So flirtatious for a guy!!!"