Chapter 13
2142 Words
“What are you talking about, B?” I asked her.
She only grinned at me.
“Why? Don’t you find Gov handsome?”
“Don’t you feel embarrassed asking me that?” I shot back.
“Why? What’s wrong with my question? It’s harmless. Gov really is handsome. And besides, even if he’s cold and he’s your stepfather for now, technically, he’s not anymore. You two aren’t connected anymore.”
I fell silent.
“B, I think I need to leave this place. Mama is gone, and I don’t have a reason to stay here anymore.”
Bulma became quiet.
“Let’s just wait and see what Gov plans to do.”
“What plan? For me? He doesn’t care about me anymore, especially after what happened. I have somewhere I can go anyway. I know I can still help at the orphanage.”
“What about your studies?” Bulma asked.
I went silent for a few seconds.
Then I took a deep breath.
That was the one thing I didn’t know how to answer.
“I’ll stop.”
“Are you sure?”
I gave Bulma a small smile.
“Do I have a choice?”
The older woman grinned.
“You have plenty if you’re willing to take them.”
My eyebrow lifted.
“I don’t know about you,” I muttered.
“Okay, okay. Go to sleep and get some proper rest. Always remember that I’m just here to annoy you. Good night.”
She left my room.
I was left lying on my bed.
I took a deep breath and remembered what Bulma had said earlier.
My fingers slowly touched my lips.
I swallowed.
Why did my mind suddenly go there?
I shook my head several times and lightly hit it with my palm.
“What am I even thinking?”
I pulled the blanket over my head and closed my eyes.
My body and mind were exhausted, so I quickly fell asleep.
⸻
The next morning, I woke up to Bulma knocking on my door.
“Wake up. We’re eating. Gov is already waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up. You know how much he hates waiting.”
“I’ll be there.”
I went into the bathroom, washed my face, and brushed my teeth.
When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I sighed.
My eyebags were horrible.
I fixed myself as best as I could before finally going downstairs.
When I entered the dining room, I saw my stepfather sitting there with a serious expression.
He looked at me.
I immediately took my seat.
We began eating.
Once again, the silence was almost deafening.
“You have to finish your studies,” Yoa finally said. “Your mother and I discussed this a long time ago. You’re not leaving this house. I am your legal guardian now. If there’s anything you need, you tell me. Everything will be under my care.”
He looked directly at me.
“I am hoping that you’ll do everything I say. Do you understand?”
I stopped chewing and faced him.
“I-I was thinking that maybe I could go back to the province. I-I could return to the orphanage.”
His eyebrow rose even higher.
I immediately felt uneasy.
He didn’t look like he was in the mood to argue.
“You can’t.”
I frowned.
“I already promised your mother that I would take care of you. And I’ll only allow you to leave my household once you’ve finished your studies and you’re capable of standing on your own.”
“B-But—”
He gave me a stern look.
I had no choice but to nod.
“O-Okay.”
A few moments later, he took an envelope from beside him and tapped it against the table.
“These are your mother’s properties under your name. There’s also a list of her bank accounts, her savings, and the foundations that should continue receiving assistance. You’re responsible for them now.”
“P-Po?”
His jaw immediately tightened.
I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry. I was just surprised.”
Yoa took a deep breath.
“How many times have you insulted me already?”
“I-I won’t do it again.”
“Do you have any questions? I still have a lot to do after this.”
I couldn’t immediately answer.
There was something I wanted to ask, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.
“I hate waiting,” he said.
“Ahm…”
I swallowed before finally looking at him.
“D-Did that woman move in here?”
His expression immediately darkened.
“Please don’t take my question the wrong way. I just want to know. Now that Mama is gone… is she going to replace her?”
Yoa scoffed.
“Why? Are you afraid?”
I couldn’t answer.
Part of me wanted to pull my hair out from frustration.
“Well, if you’re worried, you don’t have to be.”
He gave me a crooked smile.
“The Queen may have died, but the princess is still alive.”
“What do you mean?”
“You got it wrong, Adriana. I don’t sleep with women and let them infiltrate my house afterward. I pay them for s*x, and that’s what they’re there for.”
His voice turned cold.
“s*x. Nothing more.”
I swallowed hard.
“If you’re worried that you’ll be treated badly, don’t be scared.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Be scared for me. Because if you make me your enemy, I’ll make sure you regret everything.”
The hairs on my arms stood up.
“Why? What are you going to do to me?” I asked nervously.
He simply stared at me.
His eyes seemed to pull me in.
Then that strange, crooked smile appeared on his lips.
I couldn’t explain it, but somehow, it felt like a warning.
Don’t challenge me.
“Are you warning me?” I asked.
“Are you scared already?”
His smile widened slightly.
“I haven’t even started yet.”
I gasped.
“T-Then I’ll just leave. I don’t want to become a burden to you or anyone else.”
“And then what? Go back to the province again?”
“So what? At least I’ll be happy there. I’ll have peace of mind, and my life will be quiet.”
He laughed.
“Are you sure? You’ll only become a burden there too.”
His expression hardened.
“How selfish of you.”
He leaned back.
“You can leave. I’m not stopping you. But you should know that your mother signed an agreement with me. While you’re here, I will support your orphanage.”
I stared at him.
“I carry the responsibility for everything the two of you care about. But the moment you step out of this house, I will no longer support you or anyone connected to you.”
My heart sank.
“Your orphanage is already on the verge of closing because the funds are no longer enough. Where will you get the money if that happens? From your mother’s estate?”
He paused.
“You’ll only be able to use it if I give you the authority to do so.”
He looked straight into my eyes.
“I’m giving you a choice, Adriana. If you stay under my care, everything you need will be provided. But if you decide to leave, I will cut ties with you.”
His voice became colder.
“I won’t care what you do with your life anymore. Emma will never blame me for that.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
He was cornering me.
“You won’t gain anything from me,” I said.
“Exactly.”
His response came without hesitation.
“If it weren’t for your mother, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.”
He stood.
“So don’t assume I have something against you. I don’t even see you as my stepdaughter. Out of courtesy, I pretended to accept you.”
My chest tightened.
“You’re not a responsibility.”
He looked at me coldly.
“You’re a liability to my life. Do you understand?”
He turned his back on me.
“Oh, and whatever choice you make, I don’t care. Go on with your life. I f*****g don’t care.”
Then he walked away.
I remained seated, completely speechless.
I didn’t know what to do.
That man really scared me.
He wasn’t someone I could simply dismiss.
I had seen it in his eyes—the kind of anger I couldn’t explain.
What exactly was his problem with me?
Why was he always so angry whenever I was around?
I looked down at my food and shook my head.
Bulma suddenly entered the kitchen and grinned at me.
She smiled directly at me before taking the seat beside mine.
“Why?” I asked.
“I have some gossip for you.”
“What?”
“We’ve found the third and fourth Dragon Balls.”
“Huh?”
“You know, Gov already has two Dragon Balls, right?”
She leaned closer, clearly enjoying herself.
“Another Baltazar is moving into this house too. Let’s call him Izrael Baltazar Huein. He owns the two missing Dragon Balls.”
She clasped her hands excitedly.
“They’re almost complete!”
I stared at her.
I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
“Oh, you better be careful, Adriana. Any one of those Dragon Balls could destroy a home.”
She wagged her finger dramatically.
“Once that thing wakes up, it’ll probably leave your hair standing on end.”
I frowned at her.
I didn’t understand a single thing she was saying.
“Do you get it?” she asked.
I shook my head.
Bulma’s mouth fell open before she slowly nodded.
“Fine. You’re on your own, Adriana. You’re old enough now.”
I scratched my head.
“I seriously don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
The older woman sighed deeply and stared at me.
“Sometimes I wonder if your brain even knows what logic is. Such a beautiful woman with such a weak brain.”
“That’s harsh,” I complained.
“I overheard Gov’s phone call earlier outside. He was furious.”
She shuddered.
“I didn’t even dare come out of my hiding spot until he left. It’s terrifying when he’s angry.”
She lowered her voice.
“But anyway, what I heard was that he’s bringing his nephew here.”
I listened carefully.
“He said the boy is old enough to make his own decisions now. He doesn’t have to obey his mother or anyone else anymore.”
Bulma mimicked Yoa’s voice.
“‘I will take care of him. My house is open for victims.’”
I frowned, thinking about it.
“Have you seen Izra?”
Then Bulma suddenly remembered.
“Oh, of course you’ve seen him. That boy is a famous actor. Handsome too, and apparently quite experienced.”
I nodded.
“But Gov is still more handsome.”
She tilted her head.
“What do you think?”
“Hmm. Yes. He’s more handsome. I’ve never seen a man more handsome than him.”
“Oh, really?”
Bulma’s eyes sparkled.
“So you have a crush on him?”
I froze.
I slowly turned to her and frowned.
“Seriously, B?”
I shook my head.
“I only said what I see. That doesn’t mean I have a crush on him.”
My expression became serious.
“Doesn’t your skin crawl at the thought? He was my mother’s husband. He’s my stepfather, and I’m his stepdaughter.”
I looked away.
“Yes, I don’t know what their real relationship was, but it’s wrong. Completely wrong to put any kind of meaning into our relationship.”
I sighed.
“I’m already uncomfortable with this topic, B.”
Bulma only smiled.
“No one’s stopping you from being uncomfortable. Be uncomfortable all you want, Adriana.”
She shrugged.
“But we don’t control time. What if the two of you end up liking each other?”
My expression immediately fell.
“Stop it, B. It’s not funny anymore.”
I shook my head firmly.
“And besides, that would be completely messed up. I would never fall for him. Never.”
Bulma smiled knowingly.
“Don’t speak too soon. We don’t control what fate has planned.”
She pointed at me.
“If fate decides to play with you, don’t blame me when you end up eating every word you’ve said, Adriana.”
I sighed deeply and glared at her.
“Fine. What about Izrael? Don’t you like him?”
My expression became even more confused.
“What?”
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