I look around, finding someone. I can't be in ease, I don't know her face but I know her name. I should've looked for her picture. I am empty-handed here. All I want today is to see her and to get to know her. In that way, I can gain her trust and can know her plans.
"Lia," Hunter called. I look at him. "Father asking you." I look at dad by my side.
"Sorry dad, I am a bit amazed by this room." He chuckled and nodded. "What are you saying, dad?"
"I'm asking you if you were okay because you keep on looking around. Are you comfortable here?"
"Yes, dad," I retorted. He nodded again and look in front where an MC talking about the business.
Hours passed, I still can't spot her. This is making me frustrated. I should've asked for her picture so I can spot her easily. I only had her name. This is not a classroom where everyone had to use a name tag to get to know each other.
"Did you by any chance saw her face or any picture of her? I can't see her here. Or maybe, she was here but I don't know her face," I whisper at Hunter.
"I also don't know. As I said, I never get to see her face because I was just a year old at that time." I scoff and lean on my chair, bad mood. Then my plan wouldn't get started tonight. "Relax, enjoy this ball," Hunter whisper.
I shook my head and let a heavy sighed. How can I start if I am lack information about her? What a shame on me. I should have complete my information before planning.
"Let's welcome, Mr. And Mrs. Clifford," the MC shouts through his microphone. I didn't give it any attention and keep on blaming myself for not getting the important information about her.
A clap of many people echoed and a gasp from Hunter make me look at him. He was looking directly at the front. I heard a curse from dad and it makes me look at him too. There, he had his face with irritation and pain. My brows furrowed and decided to look at the front.
There's Hunter's father in a tuxedo with a smile on his face. Beside him, there's mama, Mrs. Eleanor, wrapping her hand to the back of his elbow. What is happening? I thought Mrs. Eleanor is just a servant in Hunter's house but why is she standing beside him? And she was called Mrs. Clifford?
"That jerks," Hunter whisper. I look at him and saw he was clenching his palm on the table. I hold it and it makes him look at me. There was pain and irritation, just like dad has. "I already knew it."
The ball goes on, Hunter and me dance. He refuses to tell me about what he just knew and continues spotting his dad with Mrs. Eleanor. I won't lie when I found some spot on her face that is exactly with mine and it is making goosebumps rise in my skin. I tried to console dad as he was a bit down after seeing Hunter's dad with Mrs. Eleanor. Seeing his reaction is making me confused.
Is she my mother?
This is enough for me to get irritated and wanted an answer to every question I have as soon as possible. I want to go home and confront Hunter with every question I had in my mind but it won't work in that way— it is rude.
The event was done by just me, calming myself. I also had to accompany Dad and Hunter as they both were having the same irritation in their faces and also pain. I wonder what are they thinking?
I wrap my hands in dad's elbow as we made our way outside the venue. Hunter excuse himself, he is going somewhere I don't know. We inform him, we'll be going to the car and he retorted to go home with dad and he will just follow us behind.
I felt a little worried. We both came here together and we'll come back without him? What will he be doing here after the event? Who knows?
"Hunter is a grown-up man. He knows what he's doing." My brows furrowed. Does dad know what he will gonna do?
"Where he will go, dad? Do you by any chance know where is he?"
"Nope but when he said he will go after us, he will go. He would stick to his words so don't worry about him." I look at the front, still not feeling at ease. He was got angry when he saw his dad. His palm was forming into a fist and his jaw was clenching. He won't do anything that will harm them, wouldn't he? He won't, right? He won't. He would.
Dad was fixing his sit in the car while I am in my thoughts. "Stop!" I shout. The driver stops the car and looks at me in the center mirror. I turn to my side and see dad, "I'm gonna be okay." I open the door and run towards the entrance while holding my dress for me not to get stumble. I groan when my heels were a little coward. Don't run with heels!
But still, I run. There's a bodyguard, dresses like dad's bodyguard's uniform and then there's security running towards the room where the ball was held a while ago. My heart starts to beat faster and that held me from running. Is he doing what I am thinking? Is he throwing his hand to his father?
No. It will put dirt on his name. These paparazzi were crazy and they were waiting for the Cliffords to go outside. If Hunter throws his hand, then I think it is the last for him for being a good CEO. I frown and start to run again while my heart is still beating faster.
I went inside the room and the loud growl coming from Hunter echoed the room. I can't understand what he was shouting but the only thing was that he was angry. He won't talk like that to someone if he wasn't angry. I saw the bodyguards were trying to pull Hunter away from there but he just don't want to stop.
I sighed and felt my heart had a little pain. "Isn't it fun?" I heard his dad spoke while having his mocking smile. "Continue your relationship with the daughter of the Crawford, you're doing great. It will make our company on the top."
My eyes shot wide. Am I hearing, right?
I saw Hunter was ready to throw a hand at him. I run towards them and push the bodyguard who is blocking my way to stop them. I back hug him, my eyes were tightly closed, waiting to be a jerk. "Stop," I whisper.
I am putting my guard up to get hurt but after a second, I didn't feel anything. Am I in heaven now? I slowly open my eyes and luckily, I can open them. I look up and see Hunter was looking at me. His angry eyes were softening after I look at them. His hand is still in the air. "Calm down," I said. I slowly pulled from my hug to him and look at his hand that was still in the air. I hold it and wrap my small hands to his fist and put it down. I look back at him and he was still looking at me with the same position and gaze.
"Boo!" I move my face closer to him to awaken him. He blinks his eyes numerous and stares at me. I smile before standing straight. I face his father with Mrs. Eleanor. "I didn't know what is happening between you but I think let's wrap the thing in private places not here?" I look at them while moving towards Hunter more and wrap my arms to his bicep because of his dad's glare. "There's paparazzi outside, we wouldn't like to be famous because of this thing, wouldn't we?"
"Why? Are you worried your name will get involved in us? Well, it is nice, we will fall at one time." Hunter's breath was getting heavier than before and I felt his palm turning into a fist. I caressed his hand, telling him to calm down.
"We don't care if we fall, because we always rise." I lick my lips, "The only thing I am worried about here is that this is a public place. It would be a big issue on the internet. Does the internet eat our system that we want the netizen to know that you both had a grudge at each other?"
"Many knows, the more it would be fun." I grit my teeth because of his immaturity. Isn't he embarrassed by his answers?
I shook my head and turn around and walk while dragging Hunter with me. It has no use if we go stay there. Mature people tend to ignore immature people. I think I am going crazy by just staying here and talking with his father. "We aren't done talking, aren't we?
I halt on my steps and close my eyes in frustration. A smirk crept on my lips. I turn around and sees him. "Try to be mature before talking to us." I turn around and drag Hunter with me as the bodyguards were following us from behind.
"Let's take the exit door, for sure they knew that you and your father is the last person who will go out the venue and would know that you both fought." I look at him when he stops walking. "I'll scold you later," I said.
"Why did you do that? Do you know there's paparazzi outside, waiting for the two of you to come out of the venue? They all knew what was happening there because of the bodyguard rushing there. Do you know how much worried I am about you? You are sitting on your dad's chair, you had a big reputation on your shoulder! You're now a CEO, Hunter. CEO. You can't just roam around and ask for a fight. Don't you know when you punch your dad your name would fall! You will fall bankrupt!" I crossed my arms to my chest and would hold my waist and vice versa while scolding him.
He sat on my bed while I am standing in front of him. I am fuming, I am aware of it. I can't control my anger because worriedness is adding my anger that I end up like this.
"I can't control my anger, he was the one who first move." He looks down.
"That's not a right reason, Hunter. I don't know why you're so mad at your father but at least, treat him as your father."
"Why would I? How much do you hear a while ago?" He was also getting angry. He looks up at me with his burning eyes. "He just makes me look like I am just faking my love to you! He told me I continue my relationship with you so our company would merge, it wasn't my plan, Lia. I got angry and I can't help it." He looks down again, this time tearing up. "I had enough this day, I knew about a lot of things. This is making me frustrated."
My gaze softens after seeing him wiping his tears. I bite my lips and guilt took over me. I should have also control my anger toward him. I should have asked what happened there. I should have to remain calm because I know he was still angry.
I sat beside him and pat his back. I pulled him into my arms and he silently sob. He is soft inside but had a hard as stone on the outside.
"After divorcing, that man got abusive and would date a random woman. I saw him doing all his dirty games in the living room back then. And now, I know who was his girlfriend for 3 years," he paused. He pulled away from the hug, there are no tears on his face but still, his eyes has a small tear on them. I look at his eyes that were already looking at me. "It was your mom," he continued.
A gasp was heard in my mouth. My lips slightly parted as I froze in my place. His father was dating my mom? "Who?" My heart starts to beat faster that is making me deaf. The picture of Mr. Clifford with Mrs. Eleanor appeared on my mind. Was it true? Was Mrs. Eleanor is my biological mother?
"Eleanor," he answered. I feel my whole world fall as soon as I feel my body's energy drained. Everything makes sense now, how her picture appeared on my mind when I first read the name on my birth certificate. That dad's face change when he saw Mr. Clifford with Mrs. Eleanor. "I never knew she would be your mom. By what your father told, her personality was beyond nice and would give motherly love to every child she would bump into."
"I agree. That's still not making sense to me," I said.
I put my phone on the nightstand and decided to fell asleep. There's a paper that caught my eyes. My brows furrowed, I never knew there was kind of paper like that there days. I wake up from my bed and took it.
As soon as I open it wide, my eyes get teary. It was Mom— Mrs. Eleanor. It was her picture, wearing a wedding gown, the picture has a tear on it. Guess, the man standing at her side was da, it was their picture when their wedding happened. She was smiling but not full. I can't see dad's reaction because it tears and I don't know where it is.
She hate him, didn't she? What's her reason for hating him? Dad is very down-to-earth and had a great sense of humor. He is cheerful so why is she hating him? Why is she putting all the blame on dad? Why she wants him to die when they are both already divorced? When she was totally out of his, our life? Why she had to jump into our life again?
"Hey, are you okay? I thought you're going to take a nap?" Hunter requires. He stands up from the couch not far from me, he was doing his work here because he wants to be with me and to watch me. "It was noon, you had to tutor Adrian and Brian later, right?" I look up at him with my teary eyes which made him get more worried.
"Why? Why are you crying?" I didn't respond and just look at him. It was the only thing I think the reason why she wants to kill dad was because of me. I am a mistake, and I am not worth living. Maybe she wanted to kill me but of course, dad is blocking her from doing it so— she's planning to kill him first so she can point her gun at me, easily.
"I am a mistake," I whisper. I remember what Dad said when we went to the amusement park for the first time. They did me by force, dad was just saying it because he knew what would I feel when he tells me the truth. I am a mistake. "A damn mistake," I whisper again.
"You're not. Why are you saying that?" He took the picture from mine. He let a heavy sighed, understanding what was making her say that. "They were not fighting because of you. You are the same bloodline but you're innocent in this problem. It was there, problem."
"But I am also affecting in this, Hunter. I am their daughter, of course, I am going to be hurt by this." I burst into more tears after letting it out.
"I feel the same. My parents were still not on good terms, and I got affected by it, right? You need to ignore them and live your life to the fullest. If you wanted to help them both because you are their daughter— then don't plan it alone, you have me." He sat down beside me in the bed and hug me. The picture was still in his hand. I stare at it, I hate the thoughts I encountering right now.
"It's not easy,"
"It's easy, Alexandria. You are the most kind-hearted person. You've gone through many problems, and you will say it isn't easy? Remember Lia, you're strong. Strong can also feel weak but they will fight it and face it and you had to face it." He broke the hug and look at me in the eyes. I see his green eyes that were melting me inside. It is making my guilt for being weak. "Crying isn't mean you're weak, you're strong because you cried. Think positive as you always doing every day, Lia. Remember that I love you, don't you ever give up."
As soon as I woke up, feel my body all weak and my eyes were puffy— maybe because I cry so much last night. I take a gander at the sofa, there's Hunter, sleeping peacefully while in a sitting position. I and Hunter went back to his house in Madrid heights so I can tutor the two kids there. I miss them already, I won't lie.
Even if I went out of the house and had fun with the kids, I still feel down. I may sound exaggerated but it is still hurting— it's hurt. I try to think about what Hunter just had said yesterday but the pain was blocking my system and negative thoughts came rushing in. I want to be happy again, and this agony will fade. I want to end their quarrel. Dad is already silent but Mom is still conflagrating in anger.
While thinking about it and asking so many questions— I feel my system turning crazy. I change my mood every single minute. I feel the darkness surrounding me.
To be continued.