Chapter 67

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 67

'... Does that mean Larry, the one I saved, is related to the Governor who built the harbor?' Karlos asked himself, his brows furrowed slightly.

Based on what he knew, the current Vice Governor of Timog-Kanluran Province was also an Araneto. Did that mean Larry came from a family of politicians? The realization added a layer of unease to Karlos's thoughts.

'No wonder I found him floating in the ocean. He was probably caught in a political war.'

Karlos couldn’t pinpoint the exact story, but it was impressive that he grasped the overall situation.

'... Did I get caught in a bad situation?'

After thinking about it, Karlos felt that he was safe. He wasn’t really related to Larry or even to Roman. As long as he kept his distance, there was no reason for him to be dragged into their affairs.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Karlos Alejandro."

"Alejandro, huh... That explains a lot. You don't have to worry. If someone tries to bully you, you can contact me. I just have a simple request: if you find a moment to talk to the Araneto, please tell them the mayor sold parts of the harbor to the private sector, even though the harbor was meant to be public property."

The old man had been alive since the creation of this harbor, and he had witnessed how the current administration greedily sold something that was meant for the town. Even the people who extorted fishermen were working under the mayor. The old man couldn’t accept the corruption.

The harbor was created from the taxes that people paid, yet the mayor betrayed them, turning what should have been a source of community pride into a tool for personal gain.

"... Old man, you're expecting too much from me."

"I'm not forcing you."

"I'll try."

"That's already enough. Thank you."

The old man returned to fishing, his line slicing through the calm ripples of the sea, while Karlos went back to his job. The dock had missing planks, and the pushcart couldn’t pass through, so Karlos had to carry his belongings, each step creaking against the unstable wood beneath him.

Once everything was in the cart, he pushed it, bid farewell to the old man, and went back to the villa.

He smiled as he found his children having fun in the annex, their laughter echoing under the warm afternoon sun. They called his name and approached him, tiny legs wobbling as they ran (using the walkers), their faces full of excitement.

"You guys behaved well, right?"

"Yesh!" they both answered. Karlos was impressed that they could say "Yesh" now. Not a perfect pronunciation, but a clear improvement. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly, pride flickering in his eyes.

"You guys are amazing." He lifted them with ease, one in each arm, their giggles filling the air like music.

"I prepared new clothes for you to change into, they're in the room," Maya said to him, her gentle voice carrying warmth.

"Alright."

Karlos returned the twins to their baby walkers and let them play in the annex. The villa only had a Toyota truck, and the whole place was wide enough for two kids to walk around using the baby walkers.

As Karlos walked inside the house, he encountered a maid whose name he had forgotten. He slightly bowed his head as a greeting. The maid smiled at him as Karlos went to the room.

This house was big, as expected. Karlos didn’t know if a villa like this was supposed to have two master bedrooms, but Wanda did her best to make them agree to use one of them. Everything was luxurious in the villa.

He went to the master bedroom on the right side of the house, whatever you called it, and entered. He put the money in the cabinet that they owned, together with the receipt. He also took a quick shower, the water washing away the sticky sweat and salty grime from hours of fishing. He looked fresh and clean when he left the bedroom.

It was already afternoon when Karlos was done fishing. He had started his job quite late today, the orange light filtering through the windows marked the nearing end of the day.

When he went to the kitchen, he found the maids already preparing to cook a dish. The aroma of garlic and onions sizzling filled the air, making his stomach quietly growl.

"Mr. Alejandro, are you interested in eating? We left some squash soup and scalloped potatoes for you," Wanda asked in a polite but firm tone, her hands busy in the kitchen.

"I, um, I’ll just cook my own instead." Karlos awkwardly scratched his head, his modesty showing once again. He wasn’t used to being served like a guest. He went to the kitchen, hoping he could cook the red snapper that he didn’t sell.

"I had a red snapper that I wanted to fry."

"A red snapper? You can give it to us, and we’ll cook it."

"No, I think I’ll just..." Karlos was not used to this kind of situation, his voice trailing awkwardly, unsure how to refuse kindness politely.

Wanda didn’t listen. Instead, she pulled a dish from the refrigerator and heated it in the microwave, the gentle hum of the machine filling the brief silence between them. As much as Karlos wanted to say no, Wanda was adamant about giving him the food.

"We left a share for you. Don’t be shy. You’re young master Larry’s friend, we must provide you with great hospitality." Her insistence was warm but unwavering. She had been saying this sentence quite a lot since yesterday.

Wanda didn’t know the exact relationship between Karlos and young master Larry, but the fact that the young master personally called her and told her that Karlos and his family should receive the best treatment spoke for itself. Actually, Wanda also thought that Karlos might be related to the Alejandros because of his strong resemblance to them. However, she was professional about her job and maintained proper manners, her curiosity hidden behind a polite smile.

"I can just wait for dinner."

"No, you just finished your job, and you need something to eat."

The two maids also agreed with what Wanda said, their approving nods leaving Karlos no room to argue. Hence, Karlos went to the dining table and ate, the clinking of utensils in the background creating a homey atmosphere.

A few minutes later, Maya and the two kids showed up.

"Papa! Foohd!" Arabella’s eyes brightened when she saw her father eating. It meant she also had a meal. After being in this world for almost a year now, she realized that her father would give her food no matter what. And now, she was using that privilege, her small hands clapping in excitement as she toddled toward him.

"Alright," Karlos chuckled and scooped up the little girl, putting her in the chair next to him. He decided to feed her a scallop, the most delicious dish on the table. Arabella happily munched the food like a squirrel, her cheeks puffing adorably with each bite.

"How about you, Iñigo? You also want scallops?"

"Yesh."

The father had no choice but to raise the little boy and sit him down in the chair to his other side. Iñigo’s round eyes sparkled as he eagerly leaned toward the plate.

Maya watched their interaction and lovingly smiled, her heart swelling with quiet joy. As for Karlos, he decided to let them have the scalloped potatoes while he ate the squash soup with rice, content with simply watching his family enjoy their meal.

The scene in front of Maya was so lovely, her husband and two children, the best thing that ever happened to her. A picture of peace and love.