Filed To Story: Dumped by Scumbag Adored by Billionaire
“Except that one” I whispered to her, a smirk tugging my lips to the side and lifted my hand as Isabella noiselessly gave me a hi-five.
But when granny turned around, I became mean with her, “You child, do you hear me?!”
I knocked her on the head yet winked at her from the corner of my eyes alongside a secret thumb up.
“Ouch” Isabella cried out in pain, rubbing that painful spot however winked back, signaling she perfectly understood what I was doing.
“Don’t beat the child too much. If I had punished you that way, would you have grown this tall?” Grandma scolded me for disciplining Isabella.
Hurhurhur, look at this woman! I couldn’t even count the numerous times she punished me during my childhood and to crown it all, I was quite naughty.
Spanking, pulling my ear, pinching, scolding, doing squats and sit-ups, solving maths problems- I hate maths, kneeling, and extra chores; I suffered in her hand – literally.
But she did those with love and knew the limit she should go. She never once abused me as my mother did.
“Grandma” Isabella’s character did a three-sixty degree turn leaving me dumbfounded. It was as if I was seeing an upgraded version of Anabelle.
She pouted and let three drops of tears fall down her face, hugging my granny around the waist with an aggrieved expression.
“I can’t believe you have the nerve to hurt such a cute, poor child ” Granny lifted her walking stick to beat me but I quickly pointed to my soaked gown.
“Granny, I’m a patient!”
And what the f*ck! What a cute child! Had she forgotten the cute child called her other granddaughter a witch minutes ago?
“Where are those doctors, they should come and do something about that” That old woman referred to my reopened wound yet her attention was fixed on Isabella.
Great, I forget grandma loved children more than her own life else she wouldn’t be bugging me to give her grandchildren at my age.
Nose wrinkled in displeasure, I reluctantly called for assistance through the intercom and they responded immediately – perks of being in a VIP room.
The doctor stitched me up with a warning not to go beyond my temporal limit.
Yeah, grandma didn’t tell him someone ripped my wounds open but lied that I tried to lift something heavy.
Truth be told, I sensed my wound ripped open that time Adam pressed his hand into my side, it hurt like a bitch then. Kim was just unlucky enough to carry the brunt of the blame.
“Granny, feed me,” Isabella demanded.
Yeah, that was the latest happening. Isabella has been sabotaging my granny’s attention for the past hour.
“Of course my little girl, who would resist this cute face of yours” she pinched her cheeks playfully and Isabella giggled.
A scene that freaked me out. Just a close glance and one could see the goosebumps appearing on my arms.
It was like watching Anabelle but with Isabella’s face as she and my granny communed. This little devil imitated Anabelle’s mannerisms so much I couldn’t spot any difference.
That was so creepy. I tried to imagine if Isabella was my doppelganger, she would imitate me flawlessly.
Gosh, I was spooked out.
“Aaah, open your mouth” Grandma signaled her.
“Aaah” Isabella widened her mouth, granting the spoon access.
She chewed on the fried rice with her mouth whining and her eyes rolled back to show how much she enjoyed the food.
“Is it sweet?” Granny asked with anticipation.
Isabella smiled sheepishly at her with a thumbs up, “Your food is the best, granny”
“What a cute child” this old woman smiled back and tousled the hair of that little imp who didn’t seem to mind.
My jaw dropped. That betrayer!
Each time I tousled her hair, Isabella would glare at me but here she was stretching her face to the point I noticed she has dimples for the first time.
I looked down at my food served on a tray, resting on top of my laps and waiting to be eaten.
For some reason, it suddenly looked unappealing to me instead, I wanted the one Isabella was eating even though it was the same food.
I was still contemplating the food when Eden returned as promised.
“Granny, you came” Eden switched on his flattering skills, “I now see where Maria got her beauty from”
“You’re not bad yourself young man” Granny laughed, “You must be Maria’s friend”
“Yes, I am “
“Alright you two have fun, don’t mind me,” she said, “As you can see, I’m having the time of my life with this little angel here”
“Yeah, it’s obvious” Eden was as shocked as I was the first time. No one could blame him, Isabella being this humble and totally unlike her? That was unbelievable!
He looked away with difficulty, finally settling his attention on me, and was quite taken aback to see my sulky face.
He frowned, “What’s wrong?”
“Feed me”
Niles’ point of view
I was sorry yet was not sorry.
I didn’t hit women but Tina made me break that tradition today. Women were delicate beings and meant to be protected not abused but some just bring the punishment on themselves.
I was just so angry and lost it; my hand moved of its own volition and swapped her across the face. I was embarrassed not because I hit her cause she deserved it – I wasn’t going to sit down and watch Maria get abused mentally and emotionally- but the kids were watching.
That was not a good example to set, especially to Isabella who was quick on picking all my negative traits. Moreover, I was trying to be a good father to her so I didn’t want to be known as the father who wouldn’t hesitate to hit women when angered.
But the thought of Maria made me angrier – the thought of her already giving up on me. This was selfish but I didn’t want her to date anyone else until I’m done dealing with Tina.
Heck, who was I kidding here? Even if I dealt with Tina, there was still my father Adam who for reasons known to him was blunt in showing his dislike for Maria- not to talk of Sakuzi.
God! Why was everyone against me and Maria? What did we do to deserve this? At this rate, it’ll take me years to sort this out before thinking of settling down with her.
These were the thoughts that surged in my head as I threw blows at the punching bag before me.
Knowing I’ll just end up transferring my aggression on innocent workers if I return to the office, I came back home to blow off steam in my gym.
My jabs grew fiercer and harder as I thought over my losses this past month.
Lately, aside from my improved relationship with my daughter – which Maria made possible- I couldn’t find a reason to smile.
I had all the resources and money I could ever wish for but still had no happiness. I could get anything I wanted, go to any place I desired, fakers and bootlickers surrounded me, people cowered at my sight yet I couldn’t find peace – I was not fulfilled.
Something was still missing from my life.
The sudden ringing of my phone interrupted the flow of my thoughts – yeah, I finally recovered it from my mischievous daughter.
“Hello” I picked up and listened to the message from the other line.