C6 You're trying to steal my dad

Rubi loved the chicken soup. She even thanked Dan. Her body was still weak so she needed a lot of rest. Mai looked at her mother sadly after she had fallen asleep. She hoped the wounds on her face wouldn't leave a scar.

"Do you want me to call up any of your relatives, miss?". Dan asked. "No - there's no need. They don't really care". Mai replied. Dan was speechless for a while. "Um.... What about the guy who came over last night? He's a friend of ma'am right? Why don't you call him. I'm sure he'd be happy to help. You could return to get some rest while he stays here with ma'am. Besides the doctor said she's stable".

"I can't call him. It feels like I'm demanding too much from him. After all he isn't my dad". Mai said in a sad voice. Just then, Paul walked in. "Did I ever say that you were demanding too much from me? Did I ever complain?. He asked. He sounded like he was angry. He walked up to Mai and Dan.

Mai was stunned. "Uncle... I... I well I just thought- ". Mai was stuttering... She had no idea that he'd be here. "You thought what!? Listen Mai... ". He knelt down next to her. "I love you just as much as I love Kath. You girls mean the world to me. I could never play favorites when it comes to you two". He said to her.

Tears stung her eyes. She didn't even realize she was crying already. "Bu...but Kath said that....". Mai kept crying, and Paul couldn't understand what she was saying. He tried calming her down, but it wasn't working. He went to get her some water, while Dan kept trying to console her.

"Please stop crying, miss. If not for my sake, then do it for your mothers sake. She wouldn't be happy to see you cry". Dan said to her. No matter what he said, her tears kept falling, and it was making his heart ache. He walked up to her and hugged her tightly. "You may not know this, but you give me strength. You're a brave little girl Mai. And I'm sure your mom is proud of you".

Her crying reduced and she looked up at him with red puffy eyes. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled at her. "Are you finally done crying?". He asked. She lowered her head. "Did you mean what you said? That I give you strength. Or you just said it to make me stop crying?". She asked. "Of course I meant it. Sometimes when I really wanted to give up, I'd think about how much you and ma'am were enduring together. Then I'd tell myself that if you could do it then I could too". Dan replied.

She smiled and hugged him. She almost suffocated him. He pecked her forehead. "Now tell me. What was it that Kath said that made you cry so much?". Dan asked. She refused to say anything, but Dan kept asking. She sighed. "Kath texted me earlier today. She sent a picture of herself with her dad at the zoo. Then she said "I understand that you don't have a father, but please stop trying to steal my dad from me".

She started crying again. "Dan.... I.... I never tried to steal her dad. And he's very nice. That's why liked talking to him". Mai said, as tears rolled down her cheeks. Dan pecked her again. He wiped her tears. "It's okay. It's a small misunderstanding". He told her. "Please don't say anything to Paul. I'll talk to Kath myself". Mai begged him. "Don't worry. I won't".

Paul had come in earlier with a bottle of water for Mai. He overheard the conversation between she and Dan. But he pretended that he heard nothing. He walked up to them, and handed her the bottle of water. "Here. I'm glad you stopped crying". He said. "Sometimes it's good to let it all out".

Paul shot death glares at Dan as he was still hugging Mai tightly. Dan understood and immediately let go of her. Paul then hugged Mai. After a while he was able to get Mai to return home, after promising that he'd stay with Rubi.

Paul waited for Dan and Mai to leave first, before he'd go home to teach Kathryn a lesson. He was extremely angry. While driving, he recalled the scene of Dan hugging Mai. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. Then he asked himself "Why am I getting upset because of that? Probably because I wish she was my own daughter. And no father trusts their daughter around boys". He said to himself.

Kathryn was in for it tonight.