Filed To Story: Dumped by Scumbag Adored by Billionaire
“You’re here,” A beautiful girl emerged.
“Isabelle Sparks,” I profiled her, “A famous prankster, the only child of Niles from his late wife – well not her only, she had siblings now. ” A golden yet rebellious child to the point of being a thorn in Niles’s side”.
Amid everything I found out about Isabella, the only thing that warmed my heart is, “Maria’s diehard supporter”. Apparently, the little girl had been a shield and protector to me, no Maria. And for that, I was grateful.
“Yes, I am, “I flashed a smile and thrust out my hand,” Nice to meet you, I’m Reina Armani, “
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Isabella Sparks, ” She enveloped my hand with hers.
While we shook hands, I felt this strong flash of memory; Isabella was much smaller and younger and it looked like I was trying to get her downstairs as part of a challenge or something.
“Are you okay?” Isabella asked out of worry when she saw me wince, stumbling slightly.
“Yes, I’m okay,” I said, gripping onto her for support, ” I just feel dizzy and a need to rest a bit,”
She led me to the living room where she helped me to a couch, I lay back.
“You look sick, do I need to get you medicine?” She gestured and all.
“A painkiller would do the magic, thank you,” I told her.
“I think I have one upstairs, I’ll get it,” she said and zoomed off before I could even say thank you.
With her gone, I closed my eyes and rested. This wasn’t the first time I had this mind of migraine. Each time I remember a piece of my life as Maria, it gives me a headache.
But today’s own was so strong and overwhelming that I felt like crying. It was as if a hammer was pounding down on my head and I was so grateful that Niles was not around. I prepared myself for nothing or so I thought because fate always found ways of messing with me.
“Isabella, where did you say you dropped my….” someone’s voice descended the stairs and only stopped when his sight rested on me.
Niles. I didn’t need to guess that twice.
I unlidded my eyes, staring straight at fiery amber ones, he looked like he could use me for dinner right now.
For a minute, none of us talked nor moved, just stared at each other with emotion till Isabella broke the moment.
“Here’s the painkillers – oh, Dad?” She looked genuinely surprised by his appearance. It was impossible to think that this performance was planned.
“Why’s Reina here and why does she need painkillers?” Niles seemed ignorant of my coming. Was it all planned by Isabella?
“Oh, about that…”She scratched the back of her head, “I need Reina to design a masterpiece for me, so she came over to check the details with me. She just didn’t premeditate she would get sick,”
“I’m not sick, it’s just a slight headache,” I corrected her. I don’t need anybody looking at me like I’m some fragile, Chinese ware. Most especially, that look shouldn’t come from him Niles, he’s a great womanizer and actor.
“Headache shouldn’t be taken lightly,” He said with a look of disapproval, “Some people die from so claimed simple headaches,” Niles pointed out.
I looked away with a murmur, who was he to give me lectures?
“Here,” Isabella handed the tablets to me alongside a glass of water which I used to push the medicine down my throat and laid back again.
“Just so you know, I have a method to help with the headache,” Niles offered, already going to the back of the couch and tried to touch my hair but I grabbed his hand tight.
Does he think I’m stupid? How could I not know Niles wants some strands of my hair for testing.
“What are you doing?” I asked him fiercely.
Niles scrunched up his face, “Why are you so jumpy and untrusting? I just want to give you a good head rub, what’s so bad in it?”
“H-head rub?” I narrowed my eyes at him in both confusion and suspicion.
“Yes, a head massage,” He explained, freed his hands from my grasp, and began to massage my scalp in a way that felt good.
Niles point of view:
I thought I was dreaming when I saw Reina on my couch. But when she held my gaze, staring back at me fearlessly, I knew this was reality.
How and why was she here? I was puzzled. She had been avoiding and canceling my offers to meet in the past days, so why would she suddenly come here all alone and by herself.
But that was until Isabella arrived, it was her doing, no doubt. Guess I wasn’t the only one who was skeptical of Reina’s identity. For once, I was happy to say that I’m proud of Isabella’s underhanded tactics.
Isabella was gravely devastated by Maria’s death. Personally, it would have seemed awkward if she saw someone that looked exactly like Maria and did nothing.
“What are you doing?” Reina cast fierce orbs on me.
I gulped yet didn’t show it. Instead, I covered it up with a smile, “Why are you so jumpy and untrusting? I just want to give you a good head rub,” I lied.
I had ulterior motives and that had been stealing some strands of her hair to use to conduct a DNA test later to confirm her identity.
“Head rub?” she still regarded me suspiciously.
“Yes, a head massage,” I freed my hand and began to massage her scalp before she brought up her guard around me.
At first, Reina was cautious of my action. However, by the time I used very firm pressure and a tiny circular motion, gradually moving my fingers up along her hairline until they met in the middle of her forehead, massaging her entire forehead and scalp, she relaxed into my touch. I inched along, massaging her untiringly till she fell asleep.
I only withdrew my hands when she was sound asleep and looked up to find my daughter giving me a knowing look and smile – it was quite creepy, to be honest.
“Urm,” Isabella slapped her head as if trying to recall something, “Imma go check if Jennifer and Neon are done with that visit to the dentist, I suddenly need to do some heavy shopping,” she said, winking at me. I understood that gesture, Isabella was buying me time.
When Isabella left the house, I carried Reina off the couch, careful not to wake her up. I didn’t go to my room, rather took her to Maria’s room.
Every room in the house was renovated except that one and kept off-limit to everyone – including Jennifer and she knew better than to disobey that one. Only Amanda was the one who came in to keep it tidy.
I placed her on the bed slowly before lying down beside her. The motive of stealing some strands of her hair was still fresh on my mind and I was set on accomplishing it when a better idea struck me.
I moved closer to Reina, pushed away her hair on her left shoulder, and found what I was searching for; the scar on her left neck.
Dumbfounded was an understatement to describe how I felt, I was struck numb – so much for pretending to be who she wasn’t. After the cat and mouse game, I found out about her this easily.
Amid all, I was greatly relieved to know that she was alive. Maria had survived that fall? It was a huge miracle to me. All those years, it had been my guilty conscience tormenting me instead of her supposed ghost.
“Thank God, you’re alive,” I kissed her forehead, lingering there while tears slipped from my eyes.
********************
Reina’s point of view :
I woke up with a startle, how had I fallen asleep that easily? That sly manipulator, luring me to sleep so he can have his way with me must have been his intention.
However, when I turned to the side, my soul almost flew out of his body when I saw the face staring back at me. He was probed upon his arm and staring back at me with red, swollen eyes.
What the fuck? Had he been crying? Why was he crying? Most of all, it was a relief to know that I wasn’t exploited sexually.