Chapter 25
1519 Words
{VICTORIA}
"OUR dinner is ready!" I excitedly exclaimed to the four of them.
Demi, Mrs. Siobel, and her two nieces, Terrence and Sabel, were seated on stools facing the dining table. It's just sad that Lea is not with us tonight. I found out from Mrs. Siobel that Lea had left a long time ago as Liam's helper in this mansion. Her mother supposedly found a new boyfriend, and they were brought to another country to live there.
While Mrs. Siobel, since then, had been a helper in Liam's parents' house and took care of the three Davis siblings. She was an old maiden. Her sister passed away early, leaving Terrence and Sabel under her care. The Davis family didn't treat them merely as maids. Despite their role in exchange for being taken in by the Davis family and receiving a good salary every month, it was as if what the Davis family ate was what they ate as well.
"Finally, I'll get to taste your cooking again," Terrence excitedly remarked to me.
I served the three dishes in the middle of the table, along with rice. I also made gelatin for dessert and natural mango juice. The delicious aroma of my cooking wafted through our noses. This feels nice.
Liam was not present. He told me earlier, mentioning that he would be late coming home tonight due to an important case he was handling. I didn't ask him about it. He just informed me.
"You're truly the best, Victoria. I'm getting weary of my own cooking and the fast food Liam brings," Mrs. Siobel commented.
I smiled at them all. "Go ahead, eat before the food gets cold," I told them.
They began spooning food onto their respective plates. I removed the gloves from my hands and took off my apron. I sat on the stool next to Demi and assisted her in getting her food.
"Thanks, Mom," she said with a smile.
Then she pouted. "It's a shame Dad's not here now. We would have been happier. And I'm sure Dad would love your cooking" Demi regretfully expressed.
I smiled wistfully. "He'll be home soon. Besides, you can have breakfast together tomorrow," I reassured her.
She started eating. I watched her for a few minutes before deciding to get my own food. However, just as I was about to scoop rice onto my plate, my cellphone, placed in the living room, suddenly rang.
"Wait a moment," I excused myself from my daughter.
I quickly left the dining area and grabbed my cellphone, resting on the side table near the large flat-screen TV. I knew it wasn't Jackson calling because I had removed his number's ringtone. I couldn't talk to him yet. The situation was still too chaotic.
I saw Lion's name on the screen as the caller. I answered his call and headed to the mansion's veranda to keep our conversation private.
"It's good that finally you decided to answer my call," he emphasized, and I found myself biting my lip at his words.
In the past few days, he called me several times, but I happened to miss the sound of my cellphone ringing, or it was turned off. But I didn't dare to call back. I didn't know how to face him. My older brother can be intimidating, after all. And I'm afraid of him.
"I'm sorry, I'm just busy, and I couldn't—"
"Come home with Demi," he interrupted.
I sat on the veranda's couch, my knees weak, hands cold, and my chest pounding. I could feel his anger through the tone of his words.
"But—"
"Are you coming home, or should I come get you? If I see that jerk, I won't be able to stop myself from punching him in the face until he bleeds his own blood," he threatened, making me even more anxious.
I heard commotion on the other line. "Lion, calm down, Victoria might get scared," Samantha's voice came through.
I still couldn't speak. I didn't know what to say. Demi wants to stay with her dad. I can't just leave the mansion abruptly. There are many things I need to finish and fix before I can return to Jackson. But I can't let my older brother get involved in a fight because I don't want him to get hurt. I also don't want Demi to witness how chaotic our family is. She's too young to handle the emotions that the dramas in our family might result in.
"Let me handle this, Samantha," Lion calmly said on the other line.
I closed my eyes. I thought of Dad. He must be really worried about me because it's been almost three days since I last contacted them after the ball.
"So, Victoria?" Lion repeated the question.
"We'll come tomorrow morning," I replied, trying not to let my voice tremble. I can't afford to be weak right now. I chose this path. I won't let them see that I'm affected by what I'm doing now.
I heard Lion sigh heavily on the other end. "You know what I'll do if you're not home before 8 tomorrow morning," he said finally, and before I could say anything, he immediately ended the call.
I lowered my cellphone from my ear, staring at the screen. That's when I couldn't hold back the tears that I've been suppressing for a long time. I feel incredibly guilty for what I'm doing. Just to fix everything, I have to hurt the people who are important in my life.
"MOM, why don't we sleep together with Dad in this room? I thought Dad said you both used to sleep here back then before I was born," Demi curiously asked.
We were both lying on the bed. I gently stroked her hair. I knew Liam sleeps in the only guest room in his mansion.
"Do you want to sleep beside your Dad?" I asked Demi. She looked at me and excitedly nodded.
I got up. "Alright, I'll take you to your Dad now. You'll sleep beside him for tonight, okay?" I told her.
She gave me a thumbs up. She quickly got up, and I carried her out of our room. Fortunately, she didn't ask too many questions. The guest room is at the end of the second floor. I knocked on Liam's door.
It soon opened, revealing Liam with messy hair but still looking fine. He quickly smiled at Demi.
"Why are you two here? It's almost midnight," he asked us.
"Demi couldn't sleep waiting for you. Is it okay if she sleeps here with you tonight? She wants to be beside you," I said to Liam.
"Sure, no problem. Are you okay sleeping alone in your room? You can stay here too," he offered.
I lifted Demi into his arms. I gave Demi a goodnight kiss before leaving them without answering his question.
I returned to my room and lay back on the soft bed. I should be sleeping early because I know tomorrow will be a long and challenging day for me. But I find it even harder to sleep, thinking about what might happen tomorrow.
I AM currently in a taxi. I left my child with Liam. He won't be going to work today, he had planned on taking his work at home. I told Demi that I need to visit her grandfather, so I'll be leaving for a while.
I've made the decision to face Lion alone. I don't want to bring Demi with me. I don't want her to see her Uncle Lion getting mad at me. She's still young, and she wouldn't understand what's happening.
As the taxi approaches our house, my heart is pounding rapidly. I keep glancing at the time. There are still 35 minutes before 8 AM, but I can't seem to calm down. Maybe I misread the time, so I repeatedly check my phone.
The taxi soon stops in front of our house. As I step out of the taxi, Samantha rushes to greet me outside the gate, looking agitated. I approach her immediately.
"Victoria, I thought you wouldn't make it on time. Wait, where's Demi?" She greets me.
"I didn't bring her. I didn't want her to get involved in this mess," I reply.
She nods in understanding. "You did the right thing, but for sure, Lion will be even angrier now. What were you thinking, Victoria? Why did you do that?" She expresses her concern.
"I had to do it. Demi wants to be with her father. Should I deny her that?" I say.
Instead of responding, Samantha hugs me. "I understand, Sis. I know you have valid reasons for doing that. I just hope Lion understands you. Even I can't calm him down. Edward, too, has been in a bad mood since he learned about it, but he's calmer than Lion," Samantha informs me.
Oh no! I thought I would only have to face Lion. It seems even my younger brother, who rarely gets angry, is upset because of what I've done.
Victoria, there's no turning back. You'll have to face everything.
- Writer
