"Athena! We found your brother! We found him!" Lanny dashed in Athena’s direction, sharing the piece of good news.
Athena and Gael were flabbergasted after hearing that.
"Is it true? You found my brother, Enzo?! Is he alive? Where is he right now?" Athena bombarded Lanny with so many questions, her hands holding her shoulders tightly.
Lanny bobbed her head frantically in response to her queries. Happiness was written all over her face. "Yes. He is alive. He is in Fortuna Grande Island. We can go there right now to confirm it."
"Fortuna Grande Island... is a faraway place. No wonder the n I hired can’t find his trace." Gael was amazed since Lanny managed to locate Enzo.
’Their n are more capable than ours,’ Gael thought to himself. But he was happy for Athena. She would finally reunite with her missing brother.
"Can I co with you?" Gael volunteered.
Lanny hastily turned in his direction. Even before Athena could say a word, Lanny imdiately turned him down. "No! You can’t!"
Gael: "..."
Athena: "???"
Lanny just smiled sheepishly at them. ’How can I allow him to join us when my brother is already coming along? Gael’s presence will just trigger my brother’s jealousy. He can’t stand seeing another man around Athena. I’m afraid he might toss Gael out to sea.’
"I have to ask a favor from you, Gael!" Lanny put her palms together, rubbing them in front of Gael.
Gael and Athena watched her in confusion.
"What favor?" Gael asked, smiling awkwardly.
"We can’t travel by air because there is no helipad on the island. We have to travel by road and sea. And it will be a long journey. We can’t bring the kids with us as they have a flight tomorrow. Can you take care of the kids on our behalf? The temporary babysitter will have to go ho at 5:00 pm. The children will be alone."
Lanny just found a perfect alibi so that Gael would have to stay behind. She knew that Gael wouldn’t be able to refuse her request.
"Sure. I can do that!" Gael didn’t hesitate to say yes.
But Athena glanced at him worriedly. "Are you sure about that? I know you are a busy person. You have a lot of work in the hospital." She didn’t want to burden him.
"Hey. I’m totally fine with it. Besides, I want to have a bonding mont with Aaron and Kimmy before they go back to Country M." Gael wholeheartedly accepted the task of babysitting the two adorable kids.
"Thanks, Gael! You are the best!" Lanny gave him a thumbs-up.
"Shall we go? We have to introduce you to the children first before going to Fortuna Grande Island." Athena’s excitent was reflected in her eyes. She couldn’t wait to be reunited with her brother, Enzo.
Without further delay, the three of them headed to Lanny’s condo unit. As they stepped inside the house, the two children were already packing their clothes together with their babysitter.
"Kimmy! Aaron! Co here for a mont. We have a visitor." Lanny called their attention.
Hearing their mother’s voice, Kimmy and Aaron imdiately stepped out of their room only to see Athena and Lanny standing in the living room with a handso stranger in the center.
Aaron: ’He is not the guy she kissed in the Happy Store.’
Kimmy: ’OMG. He is so handso. I like him! Is he my prince charming?’
Both children had different reactions as they observed Gael– one a bit disappointed, while the other was captivated by his masculine beauty.
"This is your Uncle Gael, your Aunt Athena’s best friend... and also my friend. Go and greet him." Lanny motioned for the children to co closer and greet Gael politely.
"Hello, Uncle Gael, I’m Aaron. It’s nice eting you. Welco to our humble ho." Aaron spoke first.
Gael’s eyes sparkled with delight upon seeing Aaron. ’He is Sabby’s son. So cute.’
"Hi, Aaron, it’s my pleasure to et you too." Gael extended his right hand for a handshake.
Several seconds had passed yet Kimmy hadn’t moved from her spot and didn’t make any sound. Athena, Lanny, and Aaron directed their curious gazes toward her, their expressions reflecting a shared sense of bewildernt.
Athena: ’Eh? What’s wrong with Kimmy?’
Aaron: ’What a splendid sight! A usually talkative Kimmy underwent a sudden transformation from a boisterous girl to a shy and reserved one.’
"Hey, Baby. Don’t be so rude to our visitor," Lanny reminded her daughter. She moved to Kimmy’s back, holding her shoulders as she gently pushed her in front of Gael. "Go and introduce yourself."
Kimmy found herself stealing glances at Gael, blushing whenever their eyes t. "I-I’m... Kim.. my." The once spirited and talkative girl now struggled to form coherent sentences, her heart racing with admiration.
"I’m thrilled to et you, Gael!" she exclaid, her breath catching.
"Ouch!" Kimmy groaned when Aaron gently smacked her head.
"It’s Uncle Gael. Call him Uncle. Don’t be impolite," Aaron lectured her.
Gael just let out a soft chuckle. "You are so charming, Kimmy!"
Kimmy’s already blushing face reddened further when she heard that. ’OMG! He complinted ! He thinks I’m charming!’
"Brother, I think I found my prince charming," Kimmy whispered to Aaron.
Aaron’s eyes widened in disbelief. "No. He is too old for you!" He whispered back, shaking his head.
But Kimmy just pressed her cheeks using both palms, smiling dreamily. "Age doesn’t matter."
Aaron just facepald when he heard that, choosing not to argue with Kimmy anymore.
"By the way, Aaron and Kimmy, listen carefully," Lanny continued. "Uncle Gael is here to take care of you while your Aunt Athena and I are away. We’ll be back tomorrow—"
"Yes!" Kimmy unintentionally interrupted her mother’s words.
Both Aaron and Lanny shot Kimmy a warning glare, causing her to pout her lips.
"You should behave... especially you, Kimmy. Be a good girl." Lanny emphasized to her daughter.
Kimmy obediently nodded her head. "I’ll behave, Mom, as long as it’s not Uncle Vlad!"
"Pffft!" Aaron tried his best to hold his laughter.
"Uncle Vlad? Who is he?" Gael asked them curiously.
"Lanny’s brother," Athena replied.
"Our terror and scary Uncle!" Kimmy added.
Aaron just bobbed his head in agreent.
"Hey, don’t say that. Your Uncle V is kind. I think he treats you well." Athena tried to defend Vladimir but Lanny, Kimmy, and Aaron shook their heads in unison.
’He is only good to you. He is a heartless jerk!’ Lanny thought to herself.
Kimmy:’He hates kids... like us in particular.’
Aaron:’Uncle Vlad has a bad temper... and short patience.’
Gael just darted his gaze back and forth between Athena and the children. ’I’m curious about this guy.’
"I would like to et him soday," Gael said, expressing his interest to know Vladimir more.
"Forget it! Don’t bother. You and my brother won’t get along well," Lanny confidently said.
"Uhmm... Don’t mind my Uncle! You can... talk to ... Gael... Let’s get to know each other more," Kimmy butted in, biting her lips while playing with her fingers.
Aaron rolled his eyes skyward. ’Oh dear lord, Kimmy is out of her mind.’
*****
"Ah-choo!" Vladimir sneezed, unaware of people talking behind his back.
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