Chapter 30
1518 Words
{LIAM}
I TAKE a sip from my teacup before redirecting my gaze to the newspaper I'm holding. This is my pastime when I have nothing else to do. I just finished my last case, so I was able to take a day off today. Ever since my family joined me here at home, whenever there's an opportunity, I bring my work home, especially if I'm handling flexible cases, and I try to make the most of my day off.
I flipped to the next page of the newspaper I was holding, but I paused in my continuous reading upon hearing a voice. I furrowed my brow because what I heard wasn't clear. But on the second attempt, I heard my daughter's voice clearly.
"Dad! Mommy!" Demi's high-pitched shout made me hurry out of the mansion.
Earlier, she had informed me that she would play alone in the garden. Victoria, on the other hand, was asleep in her room. It's truly tiring around one in the afternoon, so it's not surprising that she dozed off, especially considering the numerous wedding gowns she's been sketching.
Upon reaching the garden, I was shocked by what I found. Ella tightly gripped my child's right wrist, who was nearly in tears due to the pain. I quickly removed Ella's hold on Demi. I positioned myself between them, shielding my daughter from this woman. How dare she touch and do that to my daughter?
"Demi, go to your mom's room. But don't tell your mom yet about what happened right now. Okay?" I instructed my daughter while keeping a stern gaze on Ella.
"Okay, Dad," Demi responded, and I felt her leave my side. I heard her quick footsteps entering our mansion.
I briefly glanced in the direction she went to ensure she was gone. It wouldn't do for her to overhear my conversation with Ella. Demi, being four years old, could understand things, and I didn't want her exposed to the situation between Ella and me.
I gave Ella a stern look, grabbed her arm, and pulled her out of the gate at the back. We couldn't use the front gate, as Victoria or Demi might see us. The back gate was small, fitting only one person. I maintained a tight grip on her, even though she winced in pain, until we were outside the gate.
"How did you get in?" I angrily questioned her.
"Let go of me!" she retorted irritably. Only then did I release my hold on her, leaving a red mark on her arm. When she noticed it, her eyes widened, and she gave me a sharp look.
"What have you done to my skin? How can you be so cruel to me, Liam?!" she lamented, but I had no interest in hearing her drama. She repeatedly portrayed herself as the victim when, in fact, she was the villain. She was getting on my nerves. If I were a woman, I might have slapped her by now.
"Don't you dare touch my daughter again if you don't want that to be the least of what you'll face from me," I threatened her.
She scoffed in front of me and smirked. "So that kid was really your daughter, huh? And now you're a happy family?" she taunted.
"How dare you look at her knowing that you defend her grandmother's—"
Before she could continue, I quickly covered her mouth. I was really losing my patience with this woman. If only I could put duct tape on her mouth, but unfortunately, I don't have any.
"Sir?"
We both turned to Terrence, who looked surprised as he stared at us.
He was just right in time. "Perfect. Go get the car. Bring it here at the back. Get the key from my guest room, in the drawer upstairs," I hurriedly instructed him.
I needed to get this woman away from my mansion before Victoria could spot her. Given her loose tongue, she might reveal her own secret, and I couldn't let that happen for the sake of my marriage.
Ella struggled against my hand covering her mouth, but she couldn't do much against my strength. Soon, a car pulled up, and I promptly pushed her into the passenger seat. She was about to get out, but I blocked her and sat beside her.
"Take us to the Smiths' mansion," I instructed Terrence before he could start the car again.
He promptly followed my command and began driving my car. He was allowed to drive without violating any rules since student licenses were widely accepted now, even for minor drivers.
"Stop the car, Liam!" Ella screamed.
I quickly covered my ears. This woman was really pushing my limits. My head hurts because of her irritating voice.
"Can you please shut up?" I angrily pleaded with her.
"What do you plan to do, Liam? Get rid of me? You always did that, but look, I'm still here. You won't be able to get rid of me! And for what? To cover up your big mistake to Victoria? How long can you keep trying to save yourself?" Ella bombarded me with consecutive questions.
I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Terrence sneak a look at us. Heck! I forgot Terrence was here. He didn't know anything about this thing, and he shouldn't find out.
"Terrence, stop the car," I said. He pulled my car to the side of the highway.
I got out of the car first and opened the door on Ella's side. I pulled her out of the passenger seat, then went back inside and locked both car doors. Ella tried to open the door, but I had it locked.
"Sir, are we leaving her here?" Terrence asked, sounding concerned as he watched Ella repeatedly tap on the window and pull the door handle.
"She won't die there. Let's head straight to their mansion," I said with a cold voice.
Terrence had no choice but to follow my orders. I felt guilty for snapping at him. Ever since I saw Ella hurting my child, I've been completely out of sorts.
"I'm sorry, Terrence. I'm just not in the mood right now. Forget what you heard earlier. Ella was just making up stories to try to separate me from Victoria," I explained to Terrence after a moment.
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "It's okay, Sir. I understand," he smiled at me.
"And by the way, please don't mention what happened to anyone, especially to Victoria," I added, and he nodded in agreement.
"WHY did you pay a visit, Liam?" Mr. Louis asked as soon as he saw me. He was not happy to see me, nor does he doesn't want to see me.
He was currently sitting on the couch, with Mrs. Leonna, Ella's mother, beside him. Mrs. Leonna was a kind woman, making it puzzling why Ella behaved the way she did. Well, her father wasn't a good one. They were both sipping tea while engrossed in their respective cellphones.
I smiled at Mr. Louis, but it was insincere. After all, he was the one who threatened my Dad, forcing me to do the dumbest thing in my life. Even though he didn't tolerate Ella's crazy affection for me, I couldn't find it in me to be grateful to him.
I approached them and kissed Mrs. Leonna on the cheek as a greeting. She's my godmother in my baptism, and she's been like a mother to me. That's why I feel a bit guilty sometimes when I manage to hurt Ella. But she doesn't give me any choice.
"Uncle, I want to talk to you in private. It's important," I straightforwardly stated.
"Both of you, it's always private conversations between you two. It's getting annoying! It's like you don't want to talk to me," Mrs. Leonna pouted at the both of us, making me genuinely laugh.
I sat beside her and hugged her. "We just don't want to burden you, Auntie. Stress is not good for you, you might get a lot of wrinkles on your face," I said with a teasing smile.
"You're just teasing me," she said, and we both laughed.
"Let's go to my office," Uncle Louis stated seriously.
I bid farewell to Auntie Leonna before finally following Uncle to his office. I closed the door behind me as I walked to the couch inside the office and took a seat beside him.
"I know you've heard that my wife is back, and we have a daughter. I want you to send Ella out of the country if you don't want your daughter to end up behind bars and tarnish your family name. Just earlier, she slipped into the mansion, and I don't know how she managed to do that. She was willing to reveal the truth just to ruin my family," I directly told him.
He slammed his hand on the table, and his demeanor immediately darkened.
"That ungrateful child. She's really gone mad. Leave it to me. I'll have my men search for her now, and tonight, I'll send her back to California."
- Writer
