LUCAS POV

I don't know how long I sat there but I guess it was a pretty long time. I could see the sun was already up in the distance but it still felt like night time. The news Sophia just gave me felt like a spear had been pierced through my heart and it had only begun to bleed. My thoughts were running wild and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

My daughter was being bullied and I, her father did not know about it? I couldn't sense it? What kind of a father does that make me? How could I fail my daughter like that?.

The more I thought about it, the more painful it was. My heart sunk.

I remember those mornings or late nights she'd call to me and how I dismissed her so callously without even saying a word.

I remember the countless times I told her I was busy, that I was too tired, that I had to work. I remember the countless times I would apologize to her for being so dismissive and uncaring.

I remember the countless times I'd tell her that she wasn't important enough for me to be there for her when she needed me most.

"Baby, I'm late for work, why don't we talk when I come back?"

"Sweetie daddy's really tired, well talk in the morning."

"Darling, I've got to make a very important call, I'll be with you in a few minutes."

"Whatever it is talk to Nancy or Dominic about it, they'll let me know. I've got to run now."

A tear slid down my face. . I remember all of those things and it pains me every time because I know now that if I had just been there for her then maybe....

I was angry. At myself, at the school, at the teacher, at my job and mostly at Sophia.

She was their mother, she was supposed to be here to help me take care of them. How could she up and leave like that? She knew how busy I was. She knew it'll be hard on me. Why'd she leave? Damn you Sophia!

I was so lost in thought I didn't hear Ava come in.

"There you are! Why aren't you at the office. It's past 2pm."

"Something came up." I said without looking at her. I did not want her see I was crying. But I guessed she figured something was wrong.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, for starters you're not looking at me. Second I just said something and you didn't respond."

"I'm fine. What did you say?"

"Hmm. I was asking why you haven't called or texted me seeing how we parted yesterday. You knew I was mad at you. Right?"

"Hmmm." I said absent-mindedly.

"Lucas!"

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Okay this isn't normal. Spill it, what is the problem? Let me guess. Sophia?"

"Not now Ava....

"But it's true. Ever since she returned, you're either sad or angry. I was against her moving in back with you from the start but you didn't see reasons with me.....

I couldn't do this with her. I tuned her out and let her ramble on. I've got too much in my mind and I was feeling really overwhelmed.

The more she talked, the more I tuned her out. She didn't seem to notice that I wasn't listening, I was so busy with my own thoughts that I didn't have time to listen to her.

"Lucas!" she yelled hitting me. It was now I faced her. When she saw the tear stain on my face, she sobered up.

"Oh boy! This must be really serious. Luc, what's going on?" she asked coming to sit by my side.

"I just found out my daughter was being bullied in school."

She burst out laughing. "That's impossible. Whoever told you this must be lying."

"Ava!" I shouted.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound that way but you can't blame me. I mean you're Lucas Hernández l. CEO of Hernández enterprise. Who would dare bully your child."

I guess that's what I thought too. That's why I never bother to check on their school activities.

"I don't know."

"Then why are you still here? You should be over at the school causing havoc. You should even shut it down. Stand up. Let's go over there right now." she said pulling me.

"Never mind. Sophia has it under control."

"Sophia? Is there another Sophia I don't know about?"

I looked at her confused.

"Wait! What? So now you're letting her back into your life?"

"I'm not letting....

" Don't deny it Luc, it's clearly what you're doing. You're letting her talk to the kids. "

"She's their mother. She has the right to."

"Oh wow! I thought you said you wouldn't give her access to your life again?"

"And I'm not. She's only performing her motherly duties."

"And soon she'll be performing her wifely duties too?"

"Whats with your reaction? Don't you think you're acting a bit too much?"

"well, it's... I... Would you blame me?" she asked, becoming defensive. "We did have something in the past. Even if it's over, I still care about you....

"Ava? Whatever we shared ended a long, long time ago."

"I know that."

"So stop acting like a jealous girlfriend, unless you want to loose this friendship too."

"Lucas? It.....

My phone rang cutting her off. It was a strange number.

"Hello?"

"Daddy...

"Claire? Aren't you in school? How is it that you're calling me?"

I heard her sob and my heart began to race. My mouth went dry and my palms began to sweat

"What is it? Where are you?"

"I'm at the hospital."

"Ho-Hospital? Did something happen to Aiden?"

"It's mom."

My chest tightened. I paced about the room. Sweat formed dark circles under my arm in seconds.

I raked my fingers through my hair and tugged at my shirt collar; undoing it. There was this ache in my belly telling me that something was wrong.

"Your mom? Wh-What happened to her?"

"My... She....

She started crying.

"Hold on baby girl. Which hospital are you?"

"St Louis..

"Okay. I'll be there in a jiffy."

I ended the call and snatched my keys form the table.

"Lucas?"

I completely forgot Ava was here.

"Ava, I gotta go. Something happened to Sophia. I'll call you" I said rushing out.

***

I sat beside her bed, watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful, like hadn't annoyed the hell out of me this morning.

She is a really beautiful woman. She's about five feet, seven inches tall, with long, flowing, jet-black hair. She's got wide green eyes, and she has an olive complexion, with soft, soft, soft lips and a cute little nose.

I took a moment and stared at her, letting myself get lost in them for a second.

I love her so much.

I broke my gaze from her and came back to the present. My heart was pounding and I felt a warm rush of blood in my veins.

"I love you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

I swallowed hard. I shook with the realization that I still loved her. I wasn't some infatuated teenager who had just met his first crush. This was what I had wanted.

I had wanted to fall in love and be in a relationship with someone and have a life with her. And I did. She gave me two lovely kids. Why'd she have to ruin everything by cheating on me. Why?

At some point I Began to blame myself. Maybe I wasn't good enough. I didn't give her the attention she needed.

She is lying there, with a crocheted-blanket draped over her shoulders. Her breathing was steady and slow, her breathing a rhythmic snore.

I slide the hair that was on her face behind her ear, and her eyes flutter open.

"Can I have some water?" She asked, looking at me through bleary eyes.

I already knew it was the first thing she'd ask for when she woke up and had it prepared. I helped her sit up, and she sipped the water.

"Do you want to talk about this?" I asked.

She looked at me.

"I don't know," she said.

"I heard the teacher died."

She immediately clasped her hands together, shaking.

"It's okay. Calm down. Take a deep breath and count slowly to 10, in your head."

I felt the tension slowly begin to fade away as her muscles slowly relaxed.

"You saw it didn't you?"

"She was shot. Right in front of me Lucas. Her blood was all over me and...

"Shh! It's okay. It's okay." I held her in a hug. She looked like she would pass out again.

"Lucas, I need to tell you something."

"Not now, you're still....

"She was paid to do it." she said.

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Who was paid to do what?"

"The teacher. She was paid to bully Claire."

I pulled away from the hug so I'd see her face. She was serious.

"It's true. Right before she was shot, I overheard her discussion on the phone."

"Did she tell you who it was?"

"She was about to when she got shot. Do you think....

"You don't have to bug yourself with that. I'll get to the bottom of this. You need rest."

"You know I can't."

"That's why I came prepared." I said standing up.

She looked at me suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

Her eyes began to close slowly.

"What'd you do Lucas?"

"Don't worry, it's just Sedatives. You'll be fine."

She soon fell asleep