Chapter 44: Layla Angeles
Sophia's POV:
The moment we heard the sounds of the bell outside the church, Gelo and his bandmates behind me started to play their instruments.
Rian and Alex requested me to become their wedding singer, and I gladly accepted it as one of my gift to this very important day of their lives.
And when I saw their best man, my husband), started to walk towards the altar, that's our cue to start the song.
**On this day, I promise forever. On this day, I surrender my heart. Here we stand, like I planned, Please say you'll always look at me this way, like on this day...**
The song ended when both Alex and Rian were exactly right in front of the altar.
I can feel my husband's stares the song started even during the ceremony, but I just pretended oblivious and tried not to look in his direction.
It's kinda awkward but I have no choice so I just focused my eyes in front of the altar.
At the end of the ceremony, we all followed the couple out of the church.
I was walking along with Craig and Gavin when someone grabbed my hand from behind. I turned around to see Daniel wearing his signature smirk.
He intertwined our hands as we walked towards the entrance. I noticed Craig and Gavin whispering next to me and I raised my eyebrow at them.
"Sweet." They giggled after speaking in unison.
I took a deep breath and decided to ignore them.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
Everyone was cheering around when Alex and Rian finally reached their car. But before Alex can open the door, Rian turned her heels and search something from the crowd. But what I didn't know, she's actually searching for someone, and she grinned when our eyes met. Alex hold her hand when she started walking towards my direction.
I can't help furrowing my eyebrows when she held my hands and gave me her bridal bouquet.
"Rian?"
My eyes widened in confusion but she just smiled at me. Alex patted Daniel's shoulder who have the same expression as me, surprised and confused.
"Alla mia bellissima sorella e amica, ora ti sto passando la corona."
I was surprised when she spoke Italian, but it immediately turned to confusion when I realized what she had said.
"What did you say?" but before I could open my mouth, Daniel asked her. His brows almost knitted in one line.
"To my beautiful sister and friend, I am now passing the crown to you." She also translated it in english before rolling her eyes to her brother.
I hugged them both before we let Alex took her hand and walked back towards the car.
If I had just been in a different situation, I would probably be glad as she gave me her bridal bouquet, but no, because I'm stuck in an agreement that doesn't allow me to dream and feel more than I should.
This is the real world and this is the truth.
I need to keep things that are not included in this agreement. I had to focus on why I agreed to get married, and that was to find Layla and to move on from my past.
Everyone was shocked when Rian's water bag broke before we could start the celebration at the reception.
We immediately followed as Alex rushed her to the hospital.
"Wow! Her baby knows the perfect timing, huh?"
We all chuckled at my father-in-law's joke.
We had been waiting outside the delivery room for about two hours, but there was still no news of what was happening inside. So I decided to pull Craig to buy some snacks but we're just taking our seconds steps when we heard Daniel's voice.
"Where are you going?"
We looked at each other before turning to the frowning Daniel.
"We're just planning to but some snacks." I said looking straight in his eyes.
"I'll go with you."
My mouth hung open as he took my hand from Craig's hold.
"But they need you here." I said taking my hand but he tightened his hold.
"They're all here, my parents, Alex's parents and their friends, so it's okay for me to go with you."
"But----"
"Let's go before I kiss you here."
I immediately closed my mouth and turned my eyes on the floor. He held my hand tightly as we walked out of the hospital.
"Where do you plan to buy snacks?" He asked when we were walking towards the gate of the hospital.
"Outside the universe." I replied smirking.
He suddenly stopped so I had no choice but to stop too.
"Nice answer, sweetheart, keep it up."
And he surprised me by rolling his eyes at me. A loud gasp escaped my lips before I found myself laughing at him.
"Why?"
I shook my head while still laughing. I didn't know he can also do such things.
"Why don't we use the car?" He asked again after a few seconds.
"Why do we have to use the car? There's a convenient shop just across the road."
We crossed the road with four bodyguards following us. But we were just entering the store when I saw a familiar woman on the other corner of the street.
"Layla?"
My eyes widened as I felt my heartbeat raising inside my chest.
I immediately pulled my hand from Daniel's grip and ran towards the direction where I saw Layla. I heard Daniel's voice behind me calling my name but I ignored it and kept running. My eyes were searching from the crowd trying to see her again.
"She can't lose this time! I can't lose her! Oh, God help me!" I murmured while keep on walking and searching from the crowd.
My eyes started to water as frustration and disappointment started to form inside me when I didn't find her.
I felt a hand on my arm but I swatted it and screamed in frustration.
"Argh! Where are you?"
"Hey, who are you talking about and why did you run?"
Daniel asked trying to hold me but I kept on struggling and I didn't notice I was loudly repeating the same question...
"Where is she?"
"Who's she you're referring to?"
Tears are now flowing down on my face and I bite my lips to control the sobs that wanting to escape from my throat. I closed my eyes and let the tears to flow freely from my eyes.
"I lost her again." I said shaking my head. "I lost her again."
"Who are you talking about, is it your mother?"
I opened my eyes and looked at him in shock as I realized he had heard what I said. I immediately wiped my tears and turned around to go back the convenient store.
"Wait! You didn't answer my question." He grabbed my hand and spin me to face him. "Who is she and why are you chasing her?"
I shook my head and avoided his gaze.
"She's just someone from my past. Let's go back to the store." And I left him standing confused in the middle of the sidewalk.
I can't believe what just happened. I finally found her after more than six years of searching for her, but in a matter of seconds, she disappeared again!
I didn't notice I zoned out the whole time we were inside the convenient store, I was pulled back in my thoughts when a pair of lips covered mine in a quick kiss.
I gasped and looked at Daniel who's seriously staring at me.
"Let's go back to the hospital."
I just nodded and didn't complain when he intertwined our hands.
I could feel his gaze as we walked back to the hospital but I pretended didn't notice it and kept my eyes on the road.
"Where have you been? Rian will now be moved to the regular room." asked his mother when we returned to the waiting area.
"Really? Where's the baby?"
I can't help not to laugh when I saw the excitement on Daniel eyes.
"They will bring the baby when Rian has moved into her room."
Everyone was excited to see the new member of the family. We were all waiting inside Rian's room with a smile on our lips. But I still can't shake the disappointment as I remember what happened earlier. But what I didn't know, Daniel was studying my every move since earlier and he's starting to get confused about what happened.
They all cheered when a nurse came inside with the baby in her arms. She gave it to Rian who's really excited to hold her baby. And I also couldn't help but shed tears when I saw how happy they were while holding their angel.
I was about to wipe them when Daniel did it for me.
"I don't know why you're crying, it's just a baby." He said wiping my face with his both thumb.
"Belle, Dani." We both turned when we heard his sister's voice. "Do you want to hold my baby?" She asked smiling.
"Huh?"
I shook my head and smirked when Daniel's face turned pale.
"Tsk.tsk. sweetheart, it's just a baby." and I pulled him towards Rian's bed.
"Here." Rian gave me little baby and I excitedly get it from her hands.
"What's her name?" I asked playing with her cute hand.
"Joanna Angela, but Jona is her nickname."
"Wow! She so beautiful. Hi, baby Jona." I smiled and kissed her forehead. But that smile immediately fades when I realized I didn't really belong to their family.
Maybe Rian noticed my reaction as she patted my arm and shook her head.
I just gave her a half-hearted smile.
"Let's take a group picture!"
Craig exclaimed aiming his phone camera on us, while Gavin pushed Daniel closer to me.
"Okay, say cheese in one...two...three..."
At first, I couldn't understand what was happening, but when I noticed the kind of smile of everyone else in the room, I finally understood everything.