Daddy's Princess

Don't Tell

"Whoever did this to you—... f*****g sick bastard." He muttered as he kept on gently caressing my back while I sob in his embrace. I don't know if he's being genuine but I haven't felt an embrace like this for such a long time that I wanna believe it's genuine.

All the feelings I've been concealing for so long erupted just because a stranger noticed I was hurt. I haven't even said a single word to him and just burst out crying.

I wasn't the type who share my feelings with other people, especially strangers. Even my closest friends doesn't know what I'm going through. I never admitted anything when my friends questioned where I got the bruises and wounds from. They're not aware that Damon beats me, but they had an idea that it was my father who beats me. I never confirmed anything nor denied everything when they ask, but I never let them see me cry. I was always able to hold it in.

I don't wanna cry in front of them. I don't want to cry in front of anyone.

"Just let it out. I'm here for you." He mutters. His voice soothing to hear, and his embrace is warm.

I couldn't help my tears anymore. They just continue to fall even if I'm trying my best to collect myself together. But his soothing voice and warmth made me lose control over myself. The more he tries to calm me down, the more I cry and I just let it all go in the form of tears, tears I thought already went dry. 

But my moment of breaking down was interrupted when someone came knocking on the door as we have locked ourselves in a cubicle comfort room. Adam locked the whole place.

"Excuse me, if there's someone doing inappropriate things in there, can you please just take it to the motel or something... some of us needs to take a leak you know?" A female scoffed from beyond the door.

I quickly pushed myself off him but he was quick to cup my cheeks and wipe my tears for me.

"I'll take you home. I know you can't face our parents like this right now." He stated.

"No... I can fix myself... I'm really sorry." I said, voice shaking and hoarse from crying too much.

"Ugh! C'mon! Seriously! I'm almost bursting out here!!" The woman then banged the door.

Adam then turned and reaches for the lock and as soon as the door was unlocked, the woman immediately swung the door open and stepped inside. But she stopped instantly when she laid eyes on him, surprised at the man inside the ladies' room.  However, she looked like she was dazed for a moment, standing by the door, frozen, not even seeing me standing there.

"Go on, do your business. The cubicles have doors." Adam scoffed back with brows all furrowed before turning his attention back to me. She looked curious when she finally laid eyes on me but proceeds to her way going inside one of the cubicles anyway.

"I think you need to rest. I'll just tell your father-"

"NO!" I exclaimed, cutting him off with his words.

"Please don't tell him! Please!" I pleaded and started crying once again.

His eyes squinted, looking as if he's in disbelief before uttering, "He did this to you, didn't he?"

For the first time, I wholeheartedly admitted I was being abused and it earned another hug from him. And for the longest time, I felt comfortable and safe within someone else's embrace besides Damon.

But, I'm still terrified. I know after this night, once I got home, my father would still be there and he would ask why we left early if we leave now.

And I know what's coming next...

"Mia... please trust me. I'll make an alibi for you so you could go home and rest."

"No, please, please... let's just stay here. I'll be able to pull myself together quickly. I can't go home yet. They'll tell my father." I cried, pleading desperately.

Back at home, I have no one on my side. All our helpers sides with my father because they're also afraid of him and they do not want to receive the same beating from him or worse, to be fired from their jobs.

He then let out a sigh, "Okay... let's just go on for a ride or, if you want, you can stay in my place so you can rest. I'll just tell your father I wanted to be alone with you... Don't worry, I'm not gonna tell him what I've found out."

I felt safe in his embrace. He's a stranger yet I was willing to be hugged by him. I've missed the warm hugs and gentle touches so much and I'm more than willing to receive it again from this stranger, dismissing the fact that we just met. I don't even know what I'm putting myself into. I just desperately need to hide from them.

I knew it's too fast for me to trust him but his words, his voice, his warmth... it all felt genuine.

I quickly nodded in response and tried to pull myself together. Once I've completely controlled myself and my emotions, he asked me to meet him outside and wait for him.

Hand on the cheek with the hanky he lent me in between and covering the bruise he found, I waited for him while standing outside just beside the entrance of the place.

His hanky had a whiff of his perfume I was able to smell when he hugged me. It feels like he's still around me as I held this hanky close to my nose and it's calming.

Suddenly, my gaze locks to a form coming towards me from afar.

"Hey! Emilia!!" He called out loudly, growling.

"Damon?" I gasped but immediately run towards him as soon as I recognize him.

My heart leaped with joy, knowing that he was safe after a few days of silence from him. But before I was able to hug him, he grabs me on both my arms tightly.

"You're father's such a scum for paying me to break up with you. Tell him I cannot be bought." He blurted out as soon as he was able to hold me and then took out a thick envelope from his leather jacket.

"He paid you?" I asked.

"Yes, but I realize that I can't exchange you for anything or anyone in this world... so I'm telling him to go f**k himself and his money."

So that's why he didn't respond to my calls and messages?

I'm glad he didn't take the money in exchange for our relationship. And once Damon decided on something, he'll definitely do it.

However, his eyes darted down on my form, by my whole appearance. His expression then changes to something I feared,  "Who are you trying to impress with this tight dress?" He questions with a glare.

"Damon, I told you everything through text... if you were able to read them, then you wou-"

"Yes, I've read them all but you chose to wear this dress? For what? To impress him?"  His grasp tightens and it begins to hurt.

I may not cry much when my father hurts me but if it's Damon, my tears immediately fall like I have no control over it.

"I'm not... please. I've covered myself. Please..." I pleaded while trying to get out of his grasp but he's too strong for me.

"Let's go. We'll talk about this at home." He said, grabbing my wrist tightly.

I was getting dragged and I couldn't help but pull myself from him after feeling care from someone else a just a moment ago. But I couldn't resist his pull, he's too strong.

"Mia?" I then heard Adam called calmly. Damon suddenly stopped in his tracks and immediately turned his head towards the restaurant's entrance where we both saw Adam rushing his way towards us.

Damon sent death glares over at the man who called my name while I was trying hard to hold back my tears.

My feet suddenly refuses to go with my boyfriend as I started to back away from him and struggle against his grip.

However, Adam looked worried as he walks fast towards us, "Who's he? Is he bothering you?" 

He then grabs both my shoulders tightly but it wasn't as painful as how Damon did earlier. His touch was gentle.

Jungkook's grasp around my wrist tightened, even more, making me whine louder.

"Let go of my girl!!" Damon growled.

"Your girl?" Adam questioned, scowling at the other guy before looking at me. But I can't even look him in the eyes now.

All of a sudden, Adam grabs Damon's wrist.

"Let go of me,"  Damon snarled once again.

"You let go of her..." the taller man muttered, the gentleness on his voice now long gone.

I whimpered once again, instantly shutting my eyes as Damon's grasp on my wrists tightens even more.

"Excuse me, is everything all right here?" Someone asked.

"This one's not a customer and he's completely bothering her," Adam answered.

"f*****g let go of me, man..." Damon struggled within the man's grasp.

Somehow, Damon's grip loosened a little but he hadn't let go of me. Adam didn't let go of him either and it seemed like he's still grabbing him tightly.

"Sir, you need to leave before we call the authorities." The man said which I now recognize as security personnel from the restaurant. He then went towards Damon's side and grabbed him by the arm.

"He's the one bothering. I'm this girl's boyfriend and she's coming with me." Damon retorted back sternly.

Then, that expression on Adam's face quickly changes when he turns his attention to me, looking at me as he asked softly, "Do you wanna go with this guy, Mia?" 

But I'm conflicted right now.

I'm happy that Damon's going to take me from my father but, after tonight... after he had seen Adam and clashing with him... I'll definitely have my punishment when we get home.

My body then moves on its own. I love Damon but I realized, my body yearns for comfort and safety so much that it overruled what my heart wants.

I wanna be with Damon... I love him.

But I'm also tired.

I quickly pulled my hand from Damon's clutch and I retreated to Adam.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

The voice I'm terrified to hear snarled not far from us but it thundered inside my chest. Adam then let go of Damon's wrist then wrap his arms around me, pulling me with him as he steps away from Damon.

"What the f**k did you do this time?.... And you? What the f**k are you doing here?" My father growled at both Damon and me.

"I came to take your daughter and give you back your money!" Damon exclaimed as he threw the envelope hard on my father's feet, exposing a lot of cash as it hit the ground.

"Do you love this guy?" Adam asked, muttering softly...

Somehow, with all this commotion, all I can hear him. All the noise around us was suddenly inaudible as I concentrated on him.

"I do..." I muttered as I sob. A pained expression plasters all over his face before he cups my cheeks gently, the cheek were it once sting from pain is now being delicately caressed.

"But I'm so exhausted," I added, my hands slide from his forearms to his hand that's upon my cheek, desperate for help.

"Please...." I cried, pleading as I break down in front of him once more. "I don't want to feel this pain anymore..." 

He smiled softly, a kind of calming, assuring smile, "Okay, princess." He muttered before embracing me.

I felt safe in his arms again and I was suddenly living for it. It was all I needed to feel.  

But it was just for a brief moment.

Someone suddenly grabs my arm, pulling me from Adam's embrace, and to my horror, my father's furious face snapped me back from the temporary safety within that man's arms.

"You... You really have the guts to embarrass me like this? You good for nothing--" he then raised his hand and is about to hit me. I screwed my eyes shut in anticipation of pain, but then...

"If I may say so, you're the one embarrassing yourself in front of these people, sir, don't act like this," Adam retorted sternly but softly for only my father to hear and not embarrass him more as a crowed from outside this fancy place.

I opened my eyes slowly and saw him grabbing my father's forearm, stopping that hand from hitting me. My father let go of my arm and so did Adam, letting go of my father's wrist. My old man then looked around with a sheepish expression before glaring back at the man.

We have indeed got a lot of people's attention and based on the restaurant's class, these aren't just ordinary people.

"You do not have the right to stop me from disciplining my daughter." My father's teeth gritted in annoyance as he spoke.

"This is not how you discipline. And I'm saving you from embarrassment... So, if you want to have a harmonious relationship with me and my company, I suggest you stop now and don't even try to argue with me." Adam retorted sternly.

It's the first time I saw my father taken aback by the words of someone younger.

"Emilia! How could you choose him! You said you love me!!... We're not done yet! This is far from over!" Damon shouted. He's been shouting while he was being taken away by the security...

But I was too focused on Adam and my father.

I'm sorry Damon, but I'm so worn out...