"A daughter should not have to beg her father for a relationship." ~ milk and honey book.

-

"Is it really necessary for me to come along?" Della asked her father with a sincere expression. "I mean I love working extra shifts and this gala is a great opportunity for that." She explained as Garreth continuously typed on his laptop. After sometime he looked up and gave his new long lost daughter a smile.

"Adela, i want to introduce you to all my close friends and everyone else who needs to know you are my blood and heir. I will not allow my only daughter to be cleaning up tables while I dine with the upper crust." He said giving her an assuring smile.

"This is to make up for lost time, my darling you are a McCarthy." He said with a grin on his lips and a glimmer in his grey eyes.

"I have already sent for Donato Vivaldi to have your outfits for tonight set." Garreth said in an excited tone. Della looked rather confused maybe because she didn't grow up with the beau monde moneyed class. She had always longed to be wanted and loved, of course her abuela gave her that but this was different because the very same man whom she thought abandoned her was here making her feel like a priced ruby.

"Who is Donato Vivaldi?" Della asked anxiously. He had to be one of the upper crust people she thought to herself.

"That's one of the best designers in the business, he usually makes me custom made tuxedos whenever I am to attend a pretentious event like the one happening to night." Garreth said proudly.

"Oh but you don't have to spend alot of money-"

"No no Adela, do not worry yourself money is not a problem and you shouldn't have to ever worry about that okay?" He asked a hint of his British accent coming into play. It amazed Adela, she never thought that her father was from Britain. She always imagined he was some Mexican mechanic who wore blue work suits and had a mustache. That was initially the idea her mother gave her whenever she described him with the worst Mexican insults.

"But I don't want to stop working, I mean I enjoy being occupied." She composed herself.

"Yes yes dear but I want you to focus on your writing. I know you have a few drafts planned out, have you thought of finally looking for a publisher." He asked.

"No, i felt like it wasn't ready to be published yet." She said with a hint of doubt in her voice.

"Your work is excellent my dear. How about you continue working seeing as you don't want to stop but also let me help you look for a publisher. Your story could help other people out there suffering from depression." He told her with a genuine smile making her feel a certain feeling that she had always longed for. She always wanted her mother to say she was proud of her and now it was even much better because her father was the one who was saying it.

"Not to cross the line or anything but what about Leo's father.. Is he maybe around?" Garreth had been meaning to ask but didn't want to push any boundaries. He knew this was something that really hurt Della. Remembering the first time she told him about it, how she cried showing how broken she was. Allowing him to see her at her weakest.

"He is —uhm— he is around." She said looking away. She didn't want to ever think about Andre, he made her feel dirty, stupid and above all worthless. She didn't want to be reminded of the hurt that he made her feel, she didn't want to feel whatever she had felt back then. She just wanted to move on and that was far from impossible considering that he had started asking questions. What relieved her was that he had stopped, she had not seen him ever since their encounter at the park.

"I always thought Andre Levetté was a well respectable young man until I realised what he put your through." Garreth said in deep thought.

"No, he is a respectable person. Don't let my view about him change the way you see him." Della didn't know why she was defending him but she just wasn't the type of person to purposely hurt others because of bitterness.

"I can't help but be maddened by the way him and his family treated you. I read the papers and when you told me your side of the story... I finally understood what type of vultures those French imbeciles are." Garreth was beyond angry, he was a down to earth person but when anyone crossed the people he loved, he became the worst.

"Don't mind them, it's in the past." Della said putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I can't help it my dear but I won't let that ruin my night." He said grabbing his glass of whiskey and gulping the rest down. Della had never felt so appreciated... this was different. Garreth had told her that he wanted to introduce her to his world but it didn't mean she should stop being herself because he had grown to love her the way she is.

-

"You have nice curves, yes?" Donato said in a deep Italian accent. Mila wanted to laugh hysterically at his behavior because he would jump back and fourth with a dress in hand then wonder around for the jewellery that matched with a certain dress. He was certainly serious about his line of work.

"I'm jealous of that ass too." Mila pouted making Donato give her disapproving look.

"I wasn't talking to you young lady." Donato rolled his eyes acting quite dramatic. Mila laughed with Della who stood in a red dress that shaped every curve of her body. It molded her like a hand in glove. When she walked in even Leo gasped.

"Mommy you look beautiful like a Queen." Leo said making her mom feel all emotional.

"I knew this one would be perferto." Donato said clearly proud of himself.

"You look amazing." Mila said out of words. When Della stared at her self in the huge full length mirror, she almost didn't recognize herself. The dress was sleeveless and strapless. leaving her beautiful collar bone out for show and her breasts shaped well in this dress as well as her curves and ass that now even looked bigger. She felt beautiful and she hadn't felt that way in a long time. Her eyes were glossy with tears wanting to fall. Her hair looked beautiful in waves and her makeup not too much but a hint of natural look carefully done. Her dark red lipstick making her look beyond alluring, graceful, divine, elegant, refined, dazzling even pulchritudinous—

no word could describe how beautiful she looked.

"Don't ruin the make up." Donato said cheerfully. " You will have all the man in a trance even the married men." Donato said with a quirky smile.

"Thank you." Della said showing off her pearly white smile.

"Now that I'm done with the first lady, young man get in your suit and Milano get in your dress." Donato demanded.

"It's just Mila." Mila said rolling her eyes.

"Sì, Your parents failed at Italian class because it's Milano." He said in an nonchalant tone. Della and Leo held back laughter as Mila cursed some incoherent words in Spanish.

"Idiota." Mila muttered under her breath as she walked in to the dressing room. Luckily Donato did not hear any of that otherwise hell would have broke loose.

-

It had been over fourty minutes and the guests were becoming in-patient.

"McCarthy is never on time." One of the guests muttered to the other guests who were dressed formally for the event. When Garreth finally arrived with Leo walking right behind him, all the attention turned to him. He spoke to a few business man and welcomed them. Andre was beyond bored, after his second glass of wine and looking around the servers hoping he would see his Della but nothing. Luc had talked to half of the single women in the room and grown tired. Classical music played continuously by the orchestra and the guests chattered amongst themselves.

Andre felt someone tap him and turned around only to see nothing, that was until he faced down... Leondre. "Hey little man." Andre said surprised to see him in a suit and his hair gelled to perfection.

"Hey we look like twins." Leo said making Andre think obviously, you're my son. They practically had the same features. He wondered where Leondre's mother was before he could ask, Garreth McCarthy was on the stage and asking for everyone's attention.

Adela and Mila walked in the middle of the announcement not wanting to draw any attention. They both looked magnificent. Everyone had their attention focused on the person who was standing at the stage.

"Evening everyone." Garreth greeted and everyone responded in incoherent replies. He apologized for being late. Went ahead and talked about his latest charity campaign against women abuse and also about the donations he was holding for the people of Puerto Rico that had a devastating natural disaster. Everyone listened attentively, he mentioned how important it was to be a helping hand especially if you have the resources. Della felt proud to have a father like him, he was so kind and Mila on the other hand felt guilty for having called him a cunning bastard but never mind that, she had to look for her own millionaire around here.

"And lastly I would like to introduce to you, my long lost daughter who is here tonight. Adela, I'm sorry for not being there all your life but I'm going to make up for lost time and hopefully be the father you have always wished for. Everyone the beautiful Adela McCarthy, my daughter and my heir." He said with a proud smile on his face.

The spotlight went on Della and she felt beyond nervous but Mila gave her a gentle squeeze. Everyone was amazed by how beautiful she was they gave an applause. Garreth moved from the stage and went to stand beside his daughter.

"She is a McCarthy." Jeanine said to her husband clearly shocked.

"There always was something about her." Ben replied. Andre was shocked infact dumbfounded, he couldn't believe it. This had to be a dream. "That's my mom." Leo said tugging Andre who stood there astonished not only by the words that had came out of Garreth's mouth but because of the way his wife.. ex-wife looked, she didn't look beautiful; it was beyond that and her smile lit up the room. The way she talked to the guests who came to hug her and introduce themselves had him in awe. He knew he had made a mistake and wasn't quite sure if he would be able to ever fix it.

"In a great romance, each person plays a part the other really likes." ~ Elizabeth Ashley

-

After being introduced to almost everyone in the room personally, Della felt tired but happy. Her father wasn't embarrassed of her in anyway, infact he wanted to show her off to everyone he knew.

"If it isn't the Levetté family." Adela's father said nonchalantly. Della immediately felt a shiver run down her spine. She didn't want any trouble hopefully they would all act civil.

"Garreth." Ben Levetté gave him a nod. Della turned around and the first thing she met was his blue alluring eyes. She quickly looked away.

"Long time no see, Garreth." Jeanine said in a monotonous tone. Della could feel his eyes all over her even though she wasn't looking at him. She felt self conscious. Her father had his hand laid gently on his daughters back as he tried not to show his anger.

"Yes yes, I must say I'm quite embarrassed by what my daughter did." Garreth said and Della knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Adela won't you greet your old family dear?" He said his British accent going unnoticed.

"Uhm Evening." She said before looking anywhere else.

"You look very beautiful, I must admit." Jeanine said in a low tone.

"Dells you look poping." Luc said giving her a wink and she gave him a brief smile. She didn't want to look at Andre infact she didn't want him to even say anything to her.

"Hi Adela." Andre said trying to look into her eyes but she quickly nodded and looked away.

"As I was saying, I'm very embarrassed by what my daughter did..." Garreth said faking hurt. "She cheated on your son and stole so much money from your family, goodness Adela. How could you ?" Garreth added. Della felt very uncomfortable.

"Oh no its fine really.." Jeanine faked a smile while her husband almost choked on his beverage. Andre and Luc felt a pang of guilt.

"That is why she is going to apologise and I'm willing to pay you back the money that she stole and the money you wasted on a wedding that never availed to anything but you can't bring back her innocence can you? Andre." Garreth smirked at his ex-son in law who seemed a bit taken aback. Della felt worse and this little encounter they were having was starting to turn heads.

"If I pay back all the money she stole, will it be possible for you to bring back her innocence." Garreth repeated with a hint of coldness in his voice. Della had mentioned a few years back how she kept to herself so that she could give herself only to her husband. It made Garreth angry that she gave him, her all and it still wasn't enough so he wanted to give him a solemn reminder.

"No, i can't." Andre replied as he clinched his jaw.

"Father, i think-" Della was cut off by her father.

"So tell me, exactly how much did she take ?" He asked on a serious note then clicked his fingers. "Fabio bring my cheque book."

"Very well sir." Fabio turned on his heel.

"How much did she steal that's all I'm asking ? I want us to mend our relations and I can only start by fixing my daughters wrongs." He faked feeling guilty.

"I think we can resolve this in private." Jeanine said in a whispered voice because it seemed now everyone in the room was listening.

"When you threw my daughter out like a dog, that was private right because I certainly remember reading about it in the paper. When your son brought his new mistresses in the house while my daughter was there, that wasn't private was it?" Garreth spat, anger was the only emotion he felt. He never wanted anyone to cross those whom he loved.

"Garreth calm down." Ben said lowly.

"Calm down, calm down!! You mistreated my daughter and expect me to calm down. Your son took my daughter's innocence, he made her fucking pregnant and you all helped kick her out like a dog. NOW I SHOULD CALM DOWN." Garreth chuckled lightly.

"No, they were nice to me and-" Della tried to protest but was cut off.

"Adela, you don't deserve this and I'm sorry for putting you through this but I have to say this. No one ever stands up for you well that has changed I'm here now. I'm your father and I don't ever want anyone to hurt you never." Garreth whispered to his daughter but everyone else could hear it.

"Sir there is the cheque book." Fabio returned with a pen in hand and a cheque book. Thankfully the press wasn't allowed inside as this was a private gala.

"So how much was it Jeanine?" Garreth spat her name with bitterness.

"Grandpa is Mister Andre my dad?" Leondre asked taking all the attention away from their argument. Garreth didn't want to say the wrong thing so he looked at his daughter for help and she nodded.

"Uhm honey come here, let's go upstairs." She said calmly and the little boy still confused nodded. He understood that if his mother was pregnant it meant that there was a baby. All the boys in his class talked about how their mommies were pregnant and had big bellies. He watched a movie once when his mom was asleep, it showed his all the cringey stuff on how adults made babies and got pregnant.

"I will come with you." Andre said out of the blue. They walked towards the washrooms, Della lifted her son up and placed him on the counter. He looked so cute in his tuxedo but still that wasn't the point. Andre followed right behind them.

"Uhm honey, what were you saying before?" Della asked the little boy who only blinked feeling confused.

"Is Mister Andre my dad?" He asked once again. Andre cleared his throat, letting Della know that he was present in the room.

"What made you think that honey?" Della asked.

"Grandpa said Mister Andre made you pregnant, mommy." Leo whispered feeling shy because sex was something he would giggle about and hide his face.

"Do you want Mister Andre to be your daddy ?" Della asked caressing her son's cheeks and he nodded. Andre felt his heart tug, watching his son talk to his mother. He had missed out on alot and he didn't understand why but seeing the mother of his son and the three of them in one room made him happy. Without any disturbance just them, the three of them. He knew not alot of people wanted to see them happy.

"Mister Andre took me out for ice cream." Leo added and Della immediately stood up straight she glared at Andre, who was still caught of daze checking her out and her boobs weren't helping because they were only waking up his member down there. He needed to focus.

"Just one time." He lied. "Maybe a couple of times"

Della turned back to her son.

"So is he my dad?" Leo asked again and Della felt that she didn't want to be like her mother, hiding her father away from her son.

"Yes honey, Mister Andre is your dad." She said feeling a bit hesitant.

"You kicked my mom out?" He asked Andre who seemed taken aback by the six year olds questions. Garreth McCarthy was to blame but most of all he blamed himself for even doing it in the first place.

"Uhm honey your daddy loves you okay and he wants to spend time with you. He will even come to your soccer games, don't you want that?" She soothed him.

"I do mommy but if Mister Andre makes you sad then I don't want him to be my daddy." Leo said softly. He loved his mother so much.

"No no no, don't worry about me okay. I will be okay." She didnt realise tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Then why are you crying ?" The little boy asked.

"Something got in my eye, i guess." She said quickly wiping away the tears. she could feel Andre's presence behind her.

"I don't ever want to hurt your mommy or make her sad. I promise bud." Andre said to his son who looked at him expectedly. Suddenly the door bust open and Mila came in.

"Uhm sorry, I was just checking. Call me if you need me." She said quickly leaving the room the same way she came.

"Can I call you dad like other kids at my school ? it would seem weird if I called you Mister Andre." Leo asked and Andre had never felt so happy in his entire life except for when he saw Della walk down the aisle. No one could have ever imagined that this was how their night would end.