My Life as an Adopted One

Two

Chantal immediately gets her box and without thinking twice, she opens it, only to fall backwards as she dropped the box, crawling back to our parents, her body trembling as she pointed to the box and its scattered contents.

It was full of documents and pictures that I, myself couldn't see from afar, until dad gruffly picked up a picture and a file from it. He looked at it and his jaw immediately tightened, abruptly turning to mom who was cradling, Chantal.

"W-what? Why are you looking at me like that, honey? D-did I do something wrong?" Mom asked, her voice stammering as dad closed the gap.

Then, dad threw her the picture and the file. "Did you do something wrong?! Are you really asking me that, Hilda?! Who's that man and why is he 99.99% compatible with both Nolan and Chantal!" Dad roared.

The crowd erupted at dad's loud voice, now big brother and Chantal are looking at her too.

"I-I'm sorry, honey! I-I didn't mean to... I was just desperate to give you, your heirs... " Mom explained as she tried to reach out to dad, but it dodged and immediately sneered.

"Don't you dare call me honey, Matilda! You made me believe that we are happy and complete and now you are telling me that I had fostered kids that weren't even mine?!" Dad scowled, his eyes red, tearing up. "What more is that I had probably made the wrong enemy, I had aggravated this country's biggest tycoon, by treating his blood daughter to live in hell!" He adds, finally breaking down.

Mom continued to reach for him, but he shoved her away, but not big brother nor Chantal, probably under the idea that what mom did wasn't the burden for them to carry.

And as the drama continued, I remained stagnant and unable to move, watching it unfold, like any of the guests, but all of the sudden, someone tall, dark and handsome scooped me in its arms and lifted me up like I am no 160 lbs. lady.

I swallowed hard as I looked up to the man. "W-who?" I asked, my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.

"My name is Island Brooke, young miss. Your father, Mr. Hudson, ordered me to take you back to the residences now." It said, without looking down on me.

Then, I looked at my adopted family, looking like a proper mess and as much as I wanted to leave soon, I knew I couldn't just leave.

I looked at Island and muttered with a soft voice. "Can you please tell him that I would like to stay here tonight? I can't just leave like that. I had to pack my bags too."

But he looked down on me, his face stern but not rude, as he gently shook my head. "I am sorry but no, miss. Your father is under the impression that people of this family had been not treating you right, and from what I saw, he is right, so I am taking you back, to the place you truly belong." He said, already walking me out of the Rouges' residence.

I could feel everyone's eyes on me, as he did so, and I couldn't help but to feel embarrassed. I feel like I am the one who ruined Chantal's party because of the revelations that my 'father' had exposed.

I feel like that it could have been settled in a quieter way, but what can I do? The damage has already been done and the mistreatment of them were finally out, I know I should be happier, but somehow, I couldn't so I let out a heavy sigh.

We were already at the parking spot when Island opens the door of the backseat for me, but instead of taking it, I opened the passenger seat and get on in it.

"Miss, you shouldn't sit there." Island muttered, as he knelt before the open door. "You're supposed to be seated at the backseat."

But I shook my head at him and looked him in the eye. "Please let me ride shotgun. I don't feel like I can sit still at the backseat." I murmured.

Returning my gaze as if studying my intentions through my eyes, Island let out a deep sigh. "As you wish, miss. Please buckle up." He reminded me, before closing the car door to turn and get on the driver's seat.

Once he was buckled up too, Island started the engine and as he drove away, I just felt a sudden peace of mind, until my breathing evens out and before I knew it, I was already dozing off.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was already back in his strong arms. "W-where?" I mumbled sleepily, rubbing my eyes open to look around.

"We're inside the Hudson's residences now, miss. Do you need anything?" He asked, his voice is low, sounding like a whisper.

I shook my head. "No, I think I just need to rest." I replied, and he nodded softly, continuing to walk to the stairs, until we reached a room.

I thought he was going to put me down already as he stopped walking, but he didn't, instead, he lifted me in one hand, and opened the door for the both of us and carried me to my bed.

As he gently put me down, he immediately knelt before me and began undoing my heels, making me pull away carelessly, and finally reminding myself that I had sprained my ankle.

Island clicked his tongue, hinting that it annoyed him, and I, who was so used of being apologetic over the smallest things had apologized.

"Please don't be sorry, miss. I must have caught you off-guard, making you pull away. I should be the one sorry." He then replied, supporting my leg back down. "Can I remove them now, miss?" He asked this time.

Only then I nodded, stilling my foot to let him do so and as soon as he does so, he stood up. "Please excuse me for a while, miss, I'll just go get some ointment and bandages." He said and of course, I nodded.

As I am left alone, I couldn't help but to compare the room I am in, to the room I had been staying at the Rouges' residence.

"This room is so much bigger. It is fully decorated as well and it doesn't feel like I am being set aside... Is it really okay to be in here? When they are all suffering?" I mumbled to myself, my head reeling at the sight I had left.

I know I shouldn't be feeling guilty, because all of that happened in my favor and it feels like fate is finally on my side, but I guess I was just too soft, believing that everyone has their own kind of kindness, and that alone is what got me into that position.

Maybe I just couldn't believe that I am finally getting what I deserve as I felt it was too good to be true but the weird part is, I felt nothing but peace and ease, not even a single doubt that it could be a prank or something.

I was still in the middle of daydreaming when Island comes back with a first aid kit, and a tray of snacks and drinks. "I still don't know what your preferences are, miss. So I hope anything catches your eye." He muttered, settling the tray down beside me as he proceeded to tend on my sprained ankle.

Eyeing the snacks and drinks, I then smiled at him. "All of them looks tasty, thank you." I murmured.

He then sighed, relieved, making me ask. "Do you really think I would be a picky eater with this body of mine?"

My words hitted him like a freight train, making him lost him composure.