+25 Bonus
Cracks in the Facade
Junior fed Alina carefully, his small lips moving as he talked–probably telling Alina to “eat a lot to be strong.” Alina smiled–a genuine smile that Daniel rarely saw lately–as she fed Junior back.
They laughed together about something.
Bonding that was natural. Easy. Full of love.
Daniel felt something painful in his chest.
This was what he never had with Junior. This easy affection. This natural care.
Junior never worried about whether Daniel ate or not. Never checked Daniel’s temperature when Daniel was sick. Never looked for Daniel when upset.
But with Alina? Junior did all of that naturally. Because Alina taught him to care. Alina showed him unconditional love.
And Daniel just realized–with painful clarity–that he was missing out. He’d missed five years of moments like this with his own son because he was too focused on work, too closed off emotionally, too unable to move past Clarissa.
And now he was trying to force Junior to bond with Clarissa–a woman who was essentially a stranger–while pushing away the woman who actually raised him with love.
What the fuck was he doing?
“Daniel?”
Clarissa’s voice from behind made Daniel jump. He turned, seeing Clarissa and Margaret standing in the corridor.
“Why are you here? Where’s Junior?” Margaret said with a slight frown.
“Junior’s inside. I wanted to check on him,” Daniel answered.
Clarissa walked closer, peeking into Alina’s room. Her expression immediately changed–from soft to tight.
She saw Junior and Alina on the bed, eating together, laughing.
“Oh,” Clarissa’s voice became slightly cold though she maintained her smile. “Junior is with Alina. Again.”
Margaret noticed that tone and immediately became protective of Clarissa. The old woman stepped forward, opening the door wider.
Junior and Alina jumped, looking at the door.
“Junior,” Margaret’s voice was hard. “Why are you here? You should be downstairs with Mama Clarissa.”
Junior hugged Alina tightly. “Junior wants to be with Mama Alina. Mama is sick.”
“Mama Alina is not sick,” Margaret said in a dismissive tone. “She just didn’t want to join dinner. Now go back downstairs. Mama Clarissa is waiting.”
“Don’t want to!” Junior shook his head hard, burying his face in Alina’s neck.
Clarissa stepped inside now, approaching with careful steps, voice soft. “Junior, sweetheart… Mama brought special dessert for you. Your favorite ice cream. But you have to come down to eat it.”
1/3
110 kn the acade
Junior didn’t respond, still hugging Alina.
Clarissa glanced at Alina with slightly accusatory eyes, then looked at Daniel with a wounded expression.” Daniel… I think Junior doesn’t like me. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have stayed for dinner.”
Classic manipulation. Making herself the victim.
+25 Bonus
Margaret immediately intervened. “Nonsense. Junior is just confused. Alina, let Junior go. Let him Clarissa.”
go with
Alina looked at Margaret, then at Junior hugging her tightly, then at Daniel standing in the doorway with a torn expression.
“Junior,” Alina whispered softly, “Mama Clarissa is waiting. You have to go down.”
“No!” Junior started crying now. “Junior doesn’t want to! Junior wants to stay here with Mama!”
“You see?” Clarissa’s voice rose slightly now, frustration leaking through her careful facade. “He’s obviously been conditioned to reject me. Alina must have said something—”
“I didn’t say anything,” Alina said in a calm but firm voice, hugging Junior tighter. “Junior just needs time.”
“Time?” Clarissa’s mask slipped a bit, frustration leaking. “He’s obviously been conditioned to reject me-”
“Clarissa.” Alina cut in with a low but firm voice, her eyes glancing at Junior who was starting to tremble in her arms. “Not here. Not in front of him.”
Margaret stepped forward, pointing a finger at Alina. “Don’t lecture us about parenting! You’re just a contract mother! Clarissa is the real mother!”
Junior cried harder now, overwhelmed by the raised voices.
Daniel finally spoke, his voice loud and firm. “Enough.”
Everyone fell silent, looking at him.
Daniel walked in, approaching the bed. He saw Junior crying in Alina’s arms, saw Alina holding the child protectively.
Then he saw the food tray–mostly untouched except for a few spoonfuls that were obviously Junior feeding Alina.
And Daniel saw–truly saw for the first time–how Junior naturally cared for Alina. How the boy worried about Alina not eating. How he was trying to take care of her.
Because that’s what Alina taught him. Care. Empathy. Love.
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed, voice gentle. “Junior, buddy. Look at Papa.‘
Junior slowly lifted his head, eyes red from crying.
“Mama Alina really doesn’t feel well,” Daniel said quietly. “But she’ll be okay. And you need to finish dinner with Mama Clarissa. She brought ice cream for you.”
Junior trembled, looking at Daniel then Alina. “But… Mama…”
“I’m okay, sweetheart,” Alina whispered, though her eyes were teary. “You go down. Eat ice cream. Later when you’re done, you can come back here, okay?”
“Promise?” Junior wiped his eyes with the back of his small hand.
2/3
Crack in the focado
+25 Bonus
“Promise.”
Reluctantly, Junior slid down from the bed. Clarissa immediately took his hand, but Junior didn’t squeeze back. Just let his hand be passive in Clarissa’s grip.
Margaret ushered them out, glancing at Alina with a look that clearly said “this is your fault.”
Daniel stood to follow, but stopped at the door. He looked at Alina still sitting on the bed, staring at the food tray.
“Alina-”
“Just go,” Alina cut in without looking at him. “I don’t want to argue.”
Daniel fell silent, staring at Alina’s profile–a face that somehow looked thinner, eyes that somehow had lost their light.
“Are you really not feeling well?” Daniel asked.
Alina finally looked at him, and for a moment, Daniel saw something in those eyes–deep pain, profound exhaustion.
“I’m fine, Daniel. Just go.”
But Daniel knew Alina wasn’t fine. He could see that.
However, he didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to fix this. Didn’t know how to address the growing guilt
in his chest.
So he did the easiest thing–he left. Closing the door, leaving Alina alone.
In the corridor, as he walked back to the dining room, Daniel could hear Clarissa’s cheerful voice talking with Junior about ice cream flavors.
But what Daniel heard most clearly was the silence from Alina’s room.
A silence that was somehow louder than anything.
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