The CEO’S Forsaken Daughter

Chapter One: The Unloved Child

ERIS'S POINT OF VIEW

"Eris, wake up. Your mom is calling for you. Hurry up, or you might get scolded again, especially since it's a school day," Nanny Rose urged me as she gently tapped my arm.

"Alright, Nanny Rose. I will take a quick shower first and then come down," I replied to my nanny while stifling a yawn. I couldn't sleep well because of my unsettling dreams; they were somewhat eerie and felt real. After freshening up, I skipped wearing my uniform as Mom didn't prefer that. As I descended the stairs, I overheard my mom talking on the phone in the dining room.

"Of course, I'm excited. I've been waiting for this moment for three years. Selene is MY DAUGHTER, and I am overjoyed that she's finally back," she emphasized, gazing at me. It seemed like she was hinting at something, but I chose to ignore it because I had grown accustomed to her unsettling stare whenever she looked at me. I took a seat at the dining table, where one of the mansion's maids served me. Just as I was about to start eating, I heard Mommy lower the phone and speak.

"I don't want a repeat of what happened the other day. Your father and Selene will arrive tomorrow. I don't want you doing anything that would upset Selene or put her in harm's way," she instructed without looking at me. I didn't respond, just nodded in acknowledgment. The silence was deafening as none of us spoke. Only the clinking of cutlery could be heard. She suddenly stood up, and bid goodbye to the maids, without addressing me. I quickly finished my breakfast as I had to go to school.

After getting dressed, I said goodbye to Nanny Rose. Our driver took me to school, and as I was about to enter the gate, someone bumped into me. I looked to see who it was, a tall guy in a college uniform, staring at me with a furrowed brow. I returned his gaze, waiting for an apology, but he didn't apologize and was about to walk away when I grabbed his arm.

"Oh, big brother, aren't you going to apologize? You bumped into me. Apologies are free, you know," I said. However, he looked at me with a scowl and spoke abruptly.

"I am sorry. You're so short that I didn't see you. Secondly, this is a high school campus. What is a kindergartener doing here?" He said while suppressing his laughter. I left dumbfounded. I couldn't respond immediately due to my irritation. This guy is absurd. Just because he's extremely tall, he acts like he's someone special. He may be handsome, but his attitude is terrible. He's Goliath's buddy!

"You look familiar... It's like you resemble someone," I innocently said to him, my eyes narrowing as I gazed at him.

"H-Hahaha. M-Maybe I resemble that famous actor, right?" he awkwardly replied.

"Yes, that's it! Do you know Gollum of The Lord of the Rings? You look like him. You're tall, but you resemble him. Hahaha. Bye!" And I ran off after teasing him. He didn't look like Gollum. I was just messing with him because he called me short. I heard him say something else, but I didn't pay any attention.

I continued my way inside the campus. I was in the corridor heading towards my classroom when my best friend, Caleb Fuentez, called out to me.

"Good morning, Riri. It's good to see you here. Are you feeling better now? Your nanny told me you were sick, that's why you weren't in school yesterday," he greeted me with a smile. He always calls me Riri. It’s sounds so cute, right?

Caleb and I have been friends for a long time. We've been friends since elementary school. He's kind, polite, and handsome. He's quite popular in our school, and he has a lot of fangirls.

"I-I'm okay now, Caleb. I-I got caught in the rain yesterday, and that's why I got sick," I stammered in my response. The truth was, I didn't get sick yesterday.

FLASHBACK

"I EXPLICITLY WARNED YOU NOT TO MEDDLE WITH SELENE'S BELONGINGS! LEAVE HER ROOM IMMEDIATELY! RIGHT NOW!" Mommy shouted at me while forcibly ushering me out of Selene's room. Her fingernails dug into my shoulder.

"Mom, please, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to enter her room. I noticed it was open, so I checked. I didn't touch her things at all. Mommy, please don't be angry. Please," I pleaded with Mommy. I was speaking the truth. I was just passing by when I noticed Selene's room was ajar. My curiosity got the better of me, especially since there was no light inside. I didn't tamper with Selene's belongings.

"LIAR! NANNY KARINA INFORMED ME OF EVERYTHING. SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE WITNESSED YOU ENTERING SELENE'S ROOM AND TAMPERING HER STUFF!"

"MOM, I didn't go into Selene's room on purpose. Nanny Karina is lying," I said to Mommy. Nanny Karina has taken care of Selene since she was a baby and has been with our family for a long time. She was kind to Selene but mean to me. Sometimes, she wouldn't let me play with Selene when we were younger. After what happened to Selene Nanny Karina got even stricter with me and scolded me a lot, because Mommy always supported her. Luckily, Nanny Rose was kind to me.

SLAP...

Mommy slapped me for speaking out.

"UNGRATEFUL CHILD! ARE YOU DISCREDITING NANNY KARINA TOO? AND NOW YOU'RE SHOUTING AT ME? HOW DARE YOU! PACK YOUR THINGS. WHEN SELENE GETS HERE, YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME HERE. YOU WILL SLEEP IN THE MAID'S QUARTER," Mommy shouted at me.

She walked away, leaving me standing outside Selene's room. I was being watched by the housemaids, including Nanny Karina. She smirked at me and followed Mommy. I felt embarrassment, anger, and sadness. I couldn't believe that Mommy sided with Nanny Karina, who wasn't even related to her, over me, her flesh and blood.

That evening, Nanny Rose arrived from her province. She was surprised to see my red cheeks and slight swelling. I didn't tell her the reason because I didn't want her to worry, but she found out from the other maids. Nanny called Caleb to inform him that I wouldn't be going to school.

END OF FLASHBACK

BACK TO PRESENT

Caleb and I swaggered into the classroom, causing a stir among our classmates. Caleb, the heartthrob of his fan club, had a gravitational pull stronger than a black hole. We froze in our tracks as we were ambushed by the "TRIPLE A" squad - Allison, Addison, and Amarah, the fashionistas of the school. It was like being caught in a stylish tornado.

"Hey, Caleb! You're looking sharp today," Allison greeted Caleb with a playful twinkle in her eyes.

"Thanks, Allison. You're absolutely slaying it." Caleb praised, tipping an imaginary hat. Allison, the head honcho of The Triple A, was already rocking a full face of makeup, and it was only the first day of school. She must have set her alarm clock to "glamour" instead of "snooze."

"Good morning, Caleb! Allison's right. You're seriously good-looking," chimed in Addison, who was Allison's trusty sidekick and carried her bags wherever she went.

"Hi, Caleb! I heard you joined the music club. Is that true? We're thinking of joining too," Amarah inquired. She had a knack for rumors and was known as the school's gossip queen.

"Yep, I auditioned last Friday and cut. Feel free to join if you're interested. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to find our seats," Caleb politely excused us, and we continued to our desks, ignoring The Triple A's disapproving glances.

"Oh, hey there, Eris! We almost didn't see you," Allison said with a hint of sarcasm. I chose not to respond and simply settled into my seat, with Caleb doing the same. The rest of the class proceeded as usual, but it was only the second week, so things were still relatively uneventful.

Shortly thereafter, our homeroom teacher, Ms. Guimoc, made her entrance, commencing her class.

"Class, please make sure to remind your parents and guardians about Parent and Child Day next week. It's scheduled for Wednesday," Ms. Guimoc reminded us. She served as our homeroom adviser.

"Teacher, may I ask a question?" Allison raised her hand with an air of sophistication.

"Of course, what's your question?"

"What happens if a student's parents don't show up? What's the protocol?" Allison asked a sly grin on her face, directing her gaze right at me. It was evident she was singling me out.

"It's a mandatory event. If your parents can't attend, you're encouraged to invite your guardians, such as an aunt, uncle, or even grandparents," Ms. Guimoc responded.

"Okay, Teacher. Well, good luck to someone here. Hahaha. I bet she won't bring her parents or guardians, just like when we were in elementary school," Allison taunted. I knew she was referring to me. During our elementary years, we used to be close friends, Selene, Allison, and I. However, her friendship with Selene soured, and I chose to side with Selene due to her being my sister. Ever since, Allison had been making things difficult for me, especially when Dad and Selene went to Europe, leaving me behind. Despite the school's numerous calls, my parents never showed up. Mommy was always tied up with her business, and Nanny Rose couldn't make it.

Allison used to be friendly, but her sudden animosity towards me left me baffled. While she didn't resort to physical bullying, the emotional toll was just as painful. Our class discussions meandered through various topics, none of them particularly noteworthy. With the school day drawing to a close, Ms. Guimoc left for a meeting with other teachers. Caleb also excused himself, heading off for Music Club practice.

"See you at the exit, Riri. We still have practice," Caleb informed me before taking off.

"Sure, good luck!" I replied with a smile, and he returned the gesture before dashing out of the room.

As we waited for our final class to begin, I immersed myself in a book. However, my serenity was abruptly shattered when someone snatched it from my hands, causing the cover to tear.

"What's your issue?" I exclaimed, looking up to discover Amarah as the culprit.

"Oh my God. Hey, loser. Take a look at this book. Why's it so worn when the school year just started? Don't tell me you bought a secondhand one. Gross..." Amarah sneered. All eyes in the classroom were now on us, some classmates laughing, while others appeared concerned.

"Could you please just leave me be? I'm not doing anything to you," I implored politely, yet Amarah, accompanied by Addison, stepped even closer. Meanwhile, Allison stood nearby, observing the situation with a mocking smile.

"Look, a catfight!!!" our classmates chimed in.

"I'm betting on Triple A."

"Me too. Hey, you guys!"

"The loser will have to sniff my armpit after our basketball practice," hollered one of the not-so-good-looking basketball varsity members. Eww!

"If Jin Sinclair offered to make me smell armpits, I'd say, 'Sure, why not?' But if it's you, Robert, I'd have to decline. I might faint. Stick to Eris. Hahaha!" one of my classmates quipped, making hilarious comparisons.

"Come on, now! My armpit smells so good, you'd think it's a fragrance from a top-tier spa. Captain Jin may have a slight edge after one shower, but I'm not exactly a beast either," Robert retorted. Even I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter, but then Amarah shot me a look, so I choked back my laughter.

"Look at you! Even without practice, you already emit an odor that could rival a garbage dump and look like a walking pimple! Don't even try to compare yourself to Jin Sinclair, my future husband!" Addison chimed in, causing everyone to burst into fits of laughter.

"Hahahahahahaha," the whole class erupted in laughter, except for Robert, who was still deeply engrossed in the scent inspection of his own armpits.

"Hey, quit it. Instead of instigating, you should be trying to defuse the situation," a classmate from behind scolded.

"You're both nerds; that's why you're taking Eris's side!

"We might be nerds, but at least we're not bad-looking. Mind you, we don't even need makeup, unlike those Triple A girls," she taunted. I couldn't help but turn my head and take notice of her. She wore glasses and was undeniably striking. If you gazed at her too long, you might get lost in her allure. I had only just noticed her, as I wasn't particularly close to anyone, especially given the presence of the Triple A. Allison had a significant following, which translated into numerous friends here at EIS.

"Excuse me? You? Pretty? Your glasses are thicker than my grandmother's!" Amarah shot back, provoking more laughter from our classmates. She then refocused on me and added, "It seems you've found an ally. Both of you are nerdy and unattractive. Hahaha," she taunted, crossing her arms and glaring at me. I chose to disregard her and picked up my book, now strewn across the floor. I sensed someone else approaching and, when I looked up, it was Allison, wearing a hostile expression.

"You even bothered to pick it up. You're so pathetic. Don't you have any pride left in you? Gosh, I hate you," Allison sneered before turning her back on me. Addison and Amarah followed suit. The classmates' laughter gradually subsided, and I resumed my seat, attempting to regain my composure, and turned to Cassandra.

"Thank you, Cassandra," I said, smiling at her.

"You know my name?" she asked in surprise, her eyes widening. She was quite adorable.

"Yup, I saw it on your ID," I replied.

"Wow, hahaha, I'm embarrassed now," she chuckled. I laughed along

with her.

"You look positively stunning when you c***k a smile and let those happy vibes flow. Seriously, we should patent that expression! Hehehe. So, can we officially declare ourselves friends now? I mean, come on, we're both card-carrying nerds, right? Nerd squad, unite!" she exclaimed, laughing like she'd just discovered the world's best joke. She was undeniably cute, but her voice had the force of a thousand nerdy tornadoes, and her wit was as sharp as a freshly sharpened pencil. I simply nodded, grinning at her. I was on the brink of adding more when my name got blasted through the school intercom, interrupting our budding nerd alliance.

"Ms. Eris Discordia Lee of freshman section A. Please proceed to the faculty room immediately."

"Ms. Eris Discordia Lee of freshman section A. Please proceed to the faculty room immediately," the faculty officer repeated. I stood up and bid Cassandra farewell, feeling the curious gazes of my classmates on me. I left the room and headed to the faculty building. Upon arrival, I was promptly ushered into a room where Ms. Hannah awaited.

"How are you today, Ms. Lee? Are you doing well in your studies?" Ms. Hannah inquired. She was seated at her desk, while I stood before her.

"Your mental health evaluation results came out today. Is there anything I can do to help you? Are there issues at home? Are you being bullied at school? I'm concerned about your results," she asked seriously, her voice tinged with worry.

"Everything is great, Ms. Hannah. My parents love me so much. We always spend time together. As for school, all the students are excellent," I replied with a smile. But my eyes betrayed me as tears welled up while I maintained that smile, looking at Ms. Hannah with gratitude.

Ms. Hannah continued, her voice filled with compassion, "If everything is great, then why are you tearing up? You are pretending to be happy, smiling, and laughing, even though you're hurting deep inside. I don't know what you're going through, but I spoke with your mom earlier, and I have an idea now. It seems your parents are neglecting you, but you're covering for them. You're such a good daughter, but I hope you won't keep your problems to yourself. You can talk to me anytime. It's not healthy for your mental well-being to bottle things up."

With those comforting words, Ms. Hannah embraced me. I didn't say a word but let her hold me as I absorbed her support and understanding. She showed me the complete results, which surprised me because I hadn't expected them to turn out this way. After spending an hour in her office, I finally left the faculty building. I had said my goodbyes to Ms. Hannah, appreciative of her concern and willingness to help. It was comforting to know that not all teachers and faculty members were indifferent to their students' struggles.

As the clock ticked closer to dismissal, I gathered my belongings, ready to head out. Cassandra was also packing her stuff nearby, and we chatted briefly. It turned out that our last class of the day had been canceled, which was a welcome surprise. Cassandra left the room first, mentioning that she needed to visit her sibling on the other campus.

I got a text from Caleb, letting me know he was already at the designated waiting area. With that, I left the classroom and made my way to the waiting spot, looking forward to some quality time with my friend.

Mysterious Person's POV

"How is she? Did you see her? Were you able to take a photo?" The woman in front of me asked, her tone filled with anticipation.

"I couldn't take a photo of her because she saw me," I explained.

"What? Did she see you? Did she recognize you? What happened?" She shouted, gripping my arms tightly.

"She didn't recognize me, which is strange. But it's better that way," I replied.

"What's better that way? She saw you. What if she recognized you? My daughter is clever. She could've pretended not to know you," she said, her worry evident.

"Don't worry. I can tell when people are pretending or not," I assured her.

"I'm just worried. She is my daughter, after all. I carried her for nine months, and I won't allow her to be taken away from me. She is mine," she said seriously.

"But she's not your—"

"Shut up! Don't continue if you don't want to be the target of my anger," she interrupted me, turned, and walked upstairs. I left the house, lit a cigarette, took out my cell phone, and made a call.

"Mmm?" came a response from the other end.

"She's starting to move. She's eager to get the young miss back," I said.

"I already know that. Is this the only reason you called?" the voice asked.

"No, there's more. I think the young miss is sick."

"What do you mean, 'you think she's sick'? We already know that. Isn't that the reason why I brought Selene here to Europe?"

"That's not what I mean. I'll tell you when I gather more evidence."

ERIS’S Point of View

"Bye Riri! See you tomorrow!" Caleb bid me farewell as he got into his ride, which hadn't left yet.

"Bye, Caleb. Take care! See you tomorrow!" I waved as his car finally drove off. Ten minutes passed, and Arthur, the driver assigned to pick me up, hadn't arrived yet. I texted him, but there was no response. Maybe he was stuck in traffic. I waited a bit longer until I was the only student left in the waiting area.

I tried calling home, but no one answered. After a while, I spotted the car that was supposed to pick me up. It parked in front of me, and Arthur got out.

"Ma'am Eris, I'm sorry for being late," he apologized as he took my bag and placed it in the car.

"It's okay, Arthur. By the way, why were you late?" I asked, feeling a bit puzzled. He didn't respond immediately, so I got into the car. He started the engine and then finally spoke. "We picked up your Dad and Ma'am Selene."

"Really? Daddy's here?" I asked excitedly. I couldn't contain my joy. Finally, I'd be able to be with Daddy again after two years of not seeing him due to his busy schedule in Europe, where he's the CEO of the Lee Corporation.

"Yes, ma'am. The entire Mansion is in high spirits because your Daddy is here, and Ma'am Selene is with him," he added. My body went stiff, and Kuya Arthur's words seemed to echo in my ears.

To be continued.