LOVED BY STEPDAD

[4]

"Ugh!" Susan winced in pain. She was unable to hold back the flow of her tears. In addition to the pain, especially the part of the head where she felt that many strands of hair were forcibly removed, she also felt stinging around the corner of the eye. Her hands were also scratched by long scratches.

She was afraid. She couldn't fight back because besides the fact that the middle-aged woman was her grandmother, she felt a huge sense of intimidation. Moreover, his uncle took away the vase that would be used to hurt Lucian. Had it not been for a neighbor who intervened, Lucian would have been lying in the hospital with several stitches in his head.

"Hold on," Lucian said patiently. His eyes glazed intently and warmly at Susan. "I really can't understand that woman. Why beat up a girl as cute as you."

"I'm not a Mommy you can seduce, Dad," Susan said with a frown.

"You're not." Lucian smiled slightly. "You're the good-hearted Susan Barlow. You didn't fight back even when they treated you cruelly." Once again, Lucian applied ointment to Susan's horrible-looking face.

What was supposed to be a peaceful breakfast that Lucian would use to talk about their future had instead ended in a drama-filled ruckus. In the man's mind, the incident kept replaying in his head and demanding attention. How could such absurd accusations be made by his wife's family? Did he look like a high-class criminal who would hurt a loved one?

And where did those accusations come from? Just because Yossie was using her car, she was accused of causing the accident? Meanwhile, the police said that the accident was purely due to the driver's negligence. Although...

"Slow down," Susan moaned while wincing in pain.

The moan made Lucian blink. "I'm sorry." He immediately focused his thoughts on the treatment of Susan's injuries. "Are you sure we don't need to see a doctor? I'm afraid your wound is quite severe."

Susan chuckled. "Shouldn't you be worried about yourself, Dad?" She stopped Lucian's hand that was trying to apply ointment on her right cheek. The delicate-fingered hand unconsciously touched Lucian's jaw, which was covered in fine hair. "Uncle Idris made this part of your face hurt." Susan stared at the wound with a sad gaze. "That man hasn't changed at all. Always rude and never deterred despite being reported many times to the police, for acts of violence."

Lucian was amazed. At the tenderness he had just received. Especially when Susan patiently tended to his wounds. It didn't matter that the girl had more scratches and bruises from her grandmother's actions. Lucian didn't know if the violence they had just experienced should be reported to the police?

It seemed like a good idea.

However ... there was one thing that suddenly bothered him. Their close proximity was such that Lucian could clearly see the look on Susan's face. He admitted, for a girl of Susan's age, this girl had a certain charm. Her magenta hair was one of Susan's beauty complements. The girl's nose was sharp. Her eyebrows were neatly lined up without the need for any makeup tools to decorate them. Her eyes shone with warmth and tenderness, reminding Lucian of the morning sun coming through her window in the morning. The girl's eyeballs were jet black. They twinkled with vigor and had an innocence that no one should tamper with carelessly. The girl's eyelashes were very long. Not to mention Susan's lips that looked full at the bottom. They were beautiful like the petals of a seductive rose.

Made Lucian not want to move away from the fact that he was admiring the beauty of his stepdaughter. Especially Susan's lips. Which must be sweet and not boring to... Oh my God! Is there anything crazier than his thoughts right now? Why did thoughts like this even cross his mind?

"What's wrong, Dad?" asked Susan while looking at the man in front of her with confusion. She had been concentrating on treating her father's wound with great care. But why is her father now avoiding her? Did he do something wrong?"

"No," Lucian cleared his throat to get rid of his dirty thoughts. Had it not been for Susan in front of him, he would have hit his head hard. Let there never be any strange thoughts in his head especially with regards to Susan.

She's your daughter! Lucian cursed inwardly.

The sound of Susan's stomach again became the most perfect distraction. The girl immediately held her stomach as she scowled; embarrassed.

"Ah, right." Lucian laughed. "We need to eat. Our stomachs should already be full. Unfortunately, the arrival of those two shameless people made us miss our breakfast."

"I suppose so," Susan said in a quiet tone. Still unable to believe how embarrassing her behavior was in front of her father. Why did her stomach have to chirp at this inopportune moment?

"How about I order some food? Can you tidy up the kitchen area? I think my cereal and coffee have gone cold. They're no longer good to eat." Lucian got up from his seat. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." Susan nodded immediately. "I'll tidy up the living room too. It must be very chaotic because of Uncle Idris."

"No need," Lucian interrupted immediately. "There's a broken vase that could hurt you. You'd better take care of the kitchen if you don't mind. I'll finish our meal order soon."

Susan no longer argued much. Immediately doing what Lucian asked especially because of her heart's desire to get away from her father. not without reason, but her heart had been pounding. Maybe it was because of their sudden closeness.

Is it because they both lost so they need each other? For Susan, who else is her closest relative except Lucian? Does... Lucian thinks the same thing?

***

"At least this pizza is enough to fill your stomach," Susan said with a laugh. She saw that her father was still enjoying another slice of pizza that he took from the box. "Do you mind if I make some coffee, Dad?"

Lucian's chewing slowed down. His eyes looked at Susan with some surprise. "Can you?"

Susan frowned. "Why can't I?" She rushed to the coffee maker. "Don't let you get addicted to the taste of the coffee I make."

"Oh, okay." Lucian laughed. "I thought you couldn't joke like this."

Susan still wore a scowl that gradually disappeared as she concentrated on the coffee maker and the dose. At least for Lucian's kindness today, she should be appreciative.

"Go ahead," Susan said with a cheerful smile. A cup of homemade coffee was served in front of Lucian. And the man seemed to enjoy the aroma of the coffee coming out of the cup.

"I hope it tastes right," Lucian said as he lifted his coffee cup. Taking a small sip and tasting every drop that washed over his taste buds. Meanwhile, Susan sat with a tense face, afraid that her coffee would not be acceptable to Lucian. She realized that it was impossible to match her mother's skill in making coffee. But at least her coffee could make Lucian happy today.

"Not bad," Lucian says with a smile. "It's not bad and I can enjoy it."

Susan let out a sigh of relief. At least, this was her way of thanking Lucian for defending her in front of her family. Suddenly, Susan remembered Luna's remark that she was Yossie's adopted daughter.

And because of that, the smile and joy on the girl's face disappeared. Lucian immediately noticed it.

"What's wrong?" the man asked cautiously.

"I..." Susan averted her eyes. For some reason, her eyes suddenly heated up. If what Luna said was true, then she was very sad. Much sadder than the fact that she was now alone. Why did Yossie hide Susan's status all this time.

The ringing of the bell signaling the arrival of a guest made them gasp. They looked at each other but couldn't find an answer as to who was visiting today? They rushed to welcome the visitor but... Lucian immediately rejected the visitor.

"What do you want?" Lucian said loudly. "I won't hesitate to call the police and report your violent behavior in this house!"

Luna grinned slightly. "I happened to bring the police and my daughter's lawyer. Today is the reading of the inheritance deed of Yossie's legacy which, damn it, has to be read in front of you bastards!"

Lucian growled in annoyance but Luna didn't care. "Move aside. We want to go in."

There was nothing Lucian could do but let them enter with his arrogance. Including two men in full uniform.

"After the reading of the inheritance deed is complete, you are required to accompany us to the police station, Mr. Lucian Bernandes."

"What makes me have to fulfill that summons?"

One of them pulled out an arrest warrant. "Charges of premeditated murder from Mrs. Yossie Barlow, your wife."