At 10 PM, Valerie successfully put Daniel to sleep again. She covered her son with a bluish-gray blanket, kissed his forehead, and left the room, heading to the kitchen connected to the dining area.
She spotted Hannah enjoying chocolate cake.
"When are we visiting your mom's bakery?" asked Hannah. "I think I'd love it there... Surely lots of pastries!" She continued eating eagerly.
"Tomorrow before the hospital. I want to check on the staff," replied Valerie, sitting across from Hannah, placing her hand on the table, and looking straight at her so seriously.
Hannah frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I weird?"
Valerie bit her lower lip, appearing nervous.
"Um... Hannah. I'm grateful for your help with Daniel, even though I can only pay you a little," she said softly. "But now... I'll take care of him without you. I don't want you to be dissatisfied with the salary I can offer... I think I can handle everything on my own, and my sister can help too."
Hannah immediately frowned, her face darkening, her eyes fixed on Valerie.
"You're firing me..."
Valerie shook her head. "I don't intend to fire you; I like having you here. But... I can't offer as much money as people generally pay babysitters."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because yesterday, you hoped I would accept Damian so he could pay you more," Valerie explained with downcast eyes. "Now, I've decided not to be with him. I won't get anything from him... So, I'll pay you as much as I can, but only if you want to stay here." She looked back at Hannah with a touch of sadness.
Hannah fell silent, her gaze focused on Valerie, seemingly deep in thought.
"Maybe you want to find a better job and be close to your family in Arizona," Valerie suggested again.
"I don't want to..." Hannah shook her head.
"What do you mean?"
Hannah sighed, reaching for Valerie's left hand.
"I work with you because I care about you and Daniel. Whatever payment you give is fine... Even if you don't, it doesn't matter because, most importantly, I have a place to stay, get food, and you treat me like family. I think that's much better than going back to Arizona... My family isn't kind to me there..."
Valerie bit her lower lip, considering Hannah's words.
"I'm more comfortable here than with my family," Hannah said with her melancholic eyes. "Please let me stay; I'll accept whatever you pay me," she continued.
"You'll stay..." Valerie nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, Valerie... You're my best friend. I promise I won't just help you with Daniel, but with everything..."
"Thank you..."
Hannah stood up, approached Valerie, and hugged her.
Knock, knock...
Valerie heard a knock from the front door.
Hannah quickly let go. "Let me open it," she said.
Valerie just nodded, choosing to grab a drink from the fridge while Hannah went to the living room.
Click...
Hannah opened the door, her eyes widening along with a smile on her lips. She saw Samuel, looking handsome in a white suit with a gray jacket.
"Has Valerie gone to bed?" Samuel asked.
"Ah, not yet!" Hannah refocused, quickly inviting Samuel in. "She's in the kitchen..."
Samuel glanced around the quiet place. "Are Mrs. Dominguez and others at the hospital?"
"Yes... She's taking care of Adriana and her husband."
"That's good..." Samuel nodded, then approached Hannah with a serious look. "Do you know what Valerie and Damian have been up to?"
Hannah swallowed nervously, feeling uneasy as Samuel was too close, their noses almost touching.
"Um..."
Samuel slightly tilted his head back. "Tell me..."
"This morning, Damian came and brought a new toy for Daniel. But I think Valerie didn't respond well... After that, I don't know what happened because I was at the hospital to deliver food... But a few hours ago, Damian's father came, and it seemed like he talked a lot with Valerie, and suddenly Valerie told me that she would never go back to Damian again," explained Hannah, looking down, hesitant to meet Samuel's gaze.
Samuel immediately smiled. "It's good..."
Hannah just nodded.
Samuel stepped back from Hannah upon hearing footsteps, and in a few seconds, he saw Valerie coming while sipping a juice box.
"Oh, hey... Samuel..." Valerie greeted awkwardly, instantly reminded of Samuel's act at Jerry's apartment.
"Valerie." Samuel smiled, while Hannah quickly entered the guest room. "I apologize for coming so late like this... I just arrived at the airport, and I thought of coming here immediately because I wanted to meet Daniel... But I guess it's too late, and he's probably asleep by now." He said nervously, rubbing his palms.
Valerie nodded, then invited Samuel to sit on the sofa while she took another one.
"He just fell asleep,"
"Ah, too bad... I'm late..."
"He sleeps a lot, probably tired."
"In that case, don't take him out too often," Samuel calmly advised.
Valerie bit her lower lip, appearing nervous. "Actually... I plan to go to Arizona this weekend."
"Didn't you decide to stay here?" Samuel asked, furrowing his brows.
Valerie nodded. "I'm going there just to get my stuff. And... Maybe I'll be with Damian."
"With Damian?" Samuel raised an eyebrow.
Valerie lowered her face, as if sad.
"Valerie..." Samuel reached out, holding Valerie's arm and looking at her seriously. "What happened? You don't look okay..."
"I don't know..." Valerie shook her head, her eyes suddenly teary. "I just feel so conflicted now. I came to reveal the truth, but it turned into old issues, and then I was demanded to make decisions... And I don't feel free anymore."
Samuel fell silent as if contemplating Valerie's explanation.
"I don't like it when Damian starts being overprotective of Daniel, but I also can't refuse..."
"You can't avoid that because he already knows Daniel is his son," Samuel whispered. "It's your risk because you've told him..."
Valerie nodded.
"But if you don't want him to keep interfering, then you have to accept a man who could be your partner, so he'll hesitate to keep coming." Samuel offered advice, his eyes now melancholic. "And I hope... You're willing to accept a man who is truly worthy of being with you and Daniel."
"I never thought about that at all... I'm not ready to commit to any man... I don't want to disappoint anyone because I'm still focused on Daniel and my family," Valerie replied anxiously, even the image of handsome Damian instantly haunting her mind, as if still unsure to replace him with another man. hmmm, does that mean there will be no hope for Samuel? there should never have been hope because Samuel was evil!