Stefan and Reuben talked most of the time while Ingrid observed the place that the couple stayed. There were pictures of Cayenne and Stefan all over the place and there were things she found cute but she couldn't have. For example, when she got inside, there was a cabinet on the side of the door containing lots of slippers and shoes.
There were two boxes of slippers with the same style but different colors. There were shoes of the same style and same color but different sizes. They're obviously some couple items that Stefan and Cayenne owned.
In her decades of marriage, she never had any couple items with Reuben. She loves him but he doesn't love her. Although he was forced to stay with her, Reuben never blamed her – not even once. He remained respectful to her and he tried to understand her but there were things that he'll never give in to her. He won't love her, won't have a child with her and he won't have those couple items with her.
Ingrid didn't force him on anything that he didn't want. When the elders of both families forced them to have children, she always had an excuse to divert their attention away from them.
Is she happy? Sometimes, she was. Sometimes, she wasn't.
When she decided to let him go, Emerald already found someone she loves. And even though life was hard for her and her family, she didn't ask for help and she didn't use Cayenne against Reuben to get some money. And so, Cayenne grew up without meeting her biological father until the funeral.
"Mrs. Montefalco, are alright?" Stefan asked which brought Ingrid back to reality.
She looked at him and faintly smiled. "I'm fine. I was just looking around the place and got lost in thoughts. Did Cayenne choose those cute slippers at the door?"
"For the couple slippers, I chose those. The slippers for guests were chosen by my wife."
"You chose the couple items? Was the video in the social media true, then?" Ingrid questioned with a teasing smile. "I watched that video of you and Cayenne in the mall."
"Oh! That? I never thought it would go viral. Hahaha." Stefan chuckled while scratching the side of his face awkwardly. He didn't expect that Reuben's wife would watch it, too. "I like having matching items with her and Cayenne just let me do whatever I want."
Reuben looked at his wife and then to Stefan. He seemed to realize something but he didn't say anything.
"Stefan?" The voice sounded so close yet so far and there was still traces of drowsiness in her voice.
"Excuse me. My wife is calling me." Stefan stood up and ran upstairs to get back to Cayenne. He had been away for almost half an hour already.
Reuben watched him fled the living room and ran upstairs in a hurry. "I didn't hear any sound coming from upstairs. How did he know that Cayenne was awake and was looking for him?"
"I always thought you're smart. How come you're stupid, today?" Ingrid berated but she still explained it to him. "Stefan had his earphone on since he arrived and his cellphone was blinking. Obviously, he was having a call. And if I guess it correctly, the call was from his wife's phone. He left it open so that he could hear her if something happens or if she needs him."
Reuben was at loss. He never expected that Stefan would be this concern to the point that he'll have an ongoing call just to respond to her as soon as needed.
"I guess, it's really too late to be her father now." Reuben commented. "She no longer needs her father. Her husband and her brothers are more than enough for her."
Ingrid wanted to say something but she hesitated. She didn't want to hurt him but she also wanted to make him realize something. After seconds of deliberation, she still asked, "Did you forget that her stepdad has come out of the jail?"
"Basically, the crime involved Alexander Dumrique, Stefan's older brother. However, Stefan asked someone to reinvestigate this matter and it turned out that Jonas Slyvester wasn't really a criminal. He was freed from jail not long ago and he's currently staying in Peach Wood Subdivision, specifically in the house that Stefan and Cayenne used to live."
Reuben took a deep breath and sighed. 'How many more things have you done in my behalf?' In the past years, he found out that Ingrid helped Cayenne with her studies. She told the school to offer a scholarship to her without letting her know where it came from. She also helped her find decent part-time jobs when she was studying.
And the recent event that she paid a lot was Emerald's hospitalization. She paid the medical bills under someone else's name which led back to him. She has done so much for him but Reuben couldn't remember a time that he's done something for her.
"Ingrid, are you happy with me?" Reuben asked out of the blue which stunned his wife. "I mean, I haven't done anything for you in our years of marriage."
"Ah? Oh. You don't have to do anything. I won't ask you to do anything, too. I'm doing fine." Ingrid waved her hands in front of her to dismiss everything. It didn't matter how it hurts her as long as he can help Reuben.
After all, she stole him away from the person that he really loves.
"Dad!" Cayenne called out happily and walked down the stairs with Stefan. "Sorry, I was sleeping earlier."
"It's fine. It's fine. Are you doing okay now?" Reuben asked.
"Hn. Stefan took care of me." Cayenne looked towards the pretty woman beside her father and guessed her identity already but she still asked his father, "Who is she?"
Reuben looked towards his wife and back to his daughter. "This is Ingrid. She's my wife." Then, he turned to his wife and introduced his daughter. "This is Cayenne. My daughter."
Ingrid didn't know what to do facing Reuben's daughter now. The little girl that she robbed off a father was now standing in front of her.
"Hello, auntie. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my father." Cayenne bowed her head in gratitude. When she raised her head, there was no trace of disgust or hate on her face. She was smiling genuinely at her.