Chapter 17: Denied
“What are you talking about?!” I suddenly yelled, pulling out from his tight grip. Honestly, I don’t even know where the hell I get the strength of raising my voice. I felt so weak, his grip made me weak. It’s just shocking that despite being conquered by his intimidating presence, I was still able to fight it.
“Enough with the shit, Alice!” He roared, slamming the table behind him. I step backward because of that until there is a fair distance between us. He stared at me madly, eyes were bloodshot, red color tinge his handsome face. “I talk to Lyndon earlier and do you know what he told me? He cleared that your child wasn’t his so why the f*ck that little shit looks like us!” With my anger suddenly taking over my whole emotion, I quickly strode towards him. And then slapping him that made his face turn side.
“You don’t call my child a shit, Logan! F*ck you!” I fumed, drastically heading towards the doorway, and then slammed it closed.
I hurriedly walked outside to the elevator, planning to leave his company as soon as possible. I even saw some of my colleagues staring at me as soon as my heavy footsteps are being heard in the hallway. On the ground floor, I saw Lyndon who strode fast towards my direction and then blocked my way. I stopped for a while, giving him my tearful eyes.
Confusion consumed his face, he asked, “What happened, why are you crying?” he asked, holding both of my elbows but later on, I burst his hands away.
“You promise me that my secret is safe on you, bastard!” I yelled, getting the attention of the others but I didn’t care at all. “Damn you, Lyndon! I trusted you because I thought that you can protect my secret like it was your own. But I guess I am wrong. Starting today, I don’t want to see your face in my house. I forbid you to see Aisle nor go near her, understood? And tell your asshole brother that I am resigning for damn good!” I passed through him, not minding the attention I attract because of what I have done.
At the parking, I was about to drive my car away when I saw Lyndon hurriedly running towards my car. And then my eyes landed on the man who is walking behind him. Oh, great! It looks like me versus these two assholes.
“Stop the car, Alice!” I heard Lyndon shout as I drove in their direction. Gripping tightly on the wheels, I continue to drive until they were both forced to avoid the car.
Because of fast maneuvering, I quickly got home. As soon as I opened the door, I was thrown off guard upon seeing Helena on the couch who immediately stood up and join me when she sees my current state.
“What happened to you? What’s with early off?” she fired away.
Not answering any of her questions, I asked, “Where is Aisle?”
“She’s still in school, why? And can you please first tell me what happened? You are making me worried, big time!” she ranted but I didn’t answer again. Instead, I hurriedly run back to my car and drive it to Aisle’s school. I even see Helena chasing my car and then stop when she got tired.
At Aisle’s school, I was still in the car, unbuckling my seatbelt when I saw her coming out from the school hate with a hand, holding her tiny hand. My eyes squinted as I tried to see who’s the man and then went wide when I realized that it was Lyndon. Rage controlling me, I jumped off the car and heavily walk in their direction. Lyndon’s eyes went wide upon seeing me while Aisle just give me her cutest smile.
“Come here, Aisle!” I strictly ordered, making her smile fade as she slowly pulled out her hand from her uncle.
Lyndon looked at me with protest in his face but I didn’t mind it. As soon as Aisle reach me, I dragged her hand in a way that unintentionally hurt her. I heard her complain followed by Lyndon’s complaint.
I locked my eyes on him. “I told you to stay away from her, didn’t I? Do I need to repeat myself to you or do you want me to file a complaint against–”
“You know you can’t, Alice?” I stiffened upon hearing the voice of Logan from behind. If it wasn’t because of Aisle who instantly pulled out her hand off me, I wouldn’t turn around.
“It was you!” Aisle cheered, settling her eyes on his father. Lyndon walked through Logan and patted Aisle’s head, making her giggle.
“Aisle, I said don’t talk to a stranger!” I yelled.
Aisle pouted at me. “But Mommy, he wasn’t a stranger. Right, Dada Lyndon?” Lyndon just nodded. “Dada Lyndon told me that he was his brother, my father’s brother too. He is not bad either. He even gave me ice cream and donuts earlier.” I looked Logan up and then saw him grinning at me in his proud way. While Lyndon is opposite with a grimace on his face.
Annoyed at them, I dragged Aisle away from there. With no further argument, I carried her in my arms and walked to my car. After shoving her to the passenger seat, I turned to another side and was about to hop in when a forceful arm stop me.
As I looked up, I met Logan’s serious face. “You don’t do this to me, Alice. Stop the bullsh*t and I am expecting you tomorrow at my company.” He glanced inside, where Aisle is sitting. “And please, don’t you dare hurt the child or else, I will take her away from you,” he warned clenching his jaw.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
I tugged out my arm from him. “Stop meddling with my personal life, Sir,” I sarcastically replied. “And just to inform you, I already resigned.”
“Uh uh, Nah, baby. You can’t resign without presenting a resignation paper and without my approval. So, yeah, I am still your boss and you are still my secretary. Drive safe, baby.” He winked before turning his back on me.
***
“What the hell, Alice? Why are you packing up all your clothes?!” Helena yelled behind me while I am putting my and Aisle’s clothes in the luggage. “Damn it, girl! Can you f*cking tell me what is really going on? I am so clueless here, you know?!” she ranted again.
I stop for a while and then drastically sat on my bed. “He knows already, Helena!” I frustratedly answered. I brush my hair with my fingers and then slightly pulled it out of irritation. “Damn his brother, I shouldn’t trust him with my secret. F*ck!” I groaned.
Helena remained standing while crossing her arms around her breast. I heard her sigh heavily, seems like she is also bothered about my problem. “Then what is your plan now?” she asked.
“Leaving,” I flatly replied. “I’ll go somewhere … anywhere … to the place where he couldn’t find us anymore.”
“And how about Aisle?”
“What about her? Look, can’t you see, I am doing this for her. I want to take her away from her father as much as I can because that is the right thing to do.”
“No,” she snapped which made me frown. “You are not doing this because you are concerned about her. You are not doing this because of Aisle, Alice. You are doing this for you!” She pointed her fingers at me which is very unusual of her. In fact, this is the first time where she do this.
“Are you telling me that I am selfish?” I asked in disbelief.
She rolled her eyes. “I am not telling you but if you are going to analyze everything you are doing, all of them will tell you that you are a selfish mother. How could you do this to Aisle, Alice? Yes, at first, I am on your side but now… God! I don’t know if you were still the Alice I have known. Look, Aisle is growing up. She needs to know about her father because she deserves it, damn it, Alice! Are you even thinking? You know what, if you are really doing this just to elude that dumbass and not really for Aisle’s sake, then forgive me. I’ll be the one on the list of stopping you from continuing your plan.” And with that, she left my room. But as soon as she opened the door, we both went rigid on our place upon seeing Aisle-standing there, seems like eavesdropping on our argument.
Her eyes landed on me before they watered. “I hate you, Mommy! I hate you!” she cried and then ran towards her rooms-leaving me unable to move.
My child… Oh, God! What you have done to hate by your child, Alice?
***
Those words are thrown by Aisle to me last night keep me awake. They hunt me to the point that I can even wipe out my tears totally. For the almost whole night, I cried. I tried to visit Aisle in her room but when I see her crying in Helena’s lap, it clenched my heart. Seeing her crying for what I have done pains me and it was a whole new pain that I ever felt for my entire life. I remember how my late mother always reminds me that no pain can surpass the pain when you see your child crying. No mother wants to see their child miserable. It felts like every tear rolling out from their eyes is like needles that are slowly pricking your heart. My mother is right, it was truly painful.
I was in the kitchen when Helena with Aisle in her arms, entered. Helena smiled at me but when I landed my eyes on Aisle, she avoided it. She even buried her face to her Mama Helena’s neck so just she can avoid my eyes. For our whole breakfast, Aisle acted on that way and God knows how much I tried to hold my tears. I even tried to fed her, I put her favorite omelet on her plate and even her favorite hot choco but all of them got wasted when Aisle didn’t even lay her hands on them.
“It’s okay, Alice… just let her for a while. She will forget it sooner,” Helena comforted but it wasn’t enough. I was about to reply when we both heard Aisle’s voice suddenly booming in happiness. When we step out from the kitchen, we saw Lyndon who’s currently carrying Aisle in his arms.
“Alice.” He smiled.
“What are you doing here?” I asked coldly.
“He sends me here to fetch you. Come on, Alice… let’s stop the argument and face what is really matters. For Aisle, for your daughter, finish this.”
In the end, I came to Lyndon going to the company. As soon as I entered the building, everyone looks in our direction or should I say, look at me. Their eyes show undeniable curiosity and judgment but I chose to burst them away. After all, I am here not for them.
“She’s here.” Lyndon opened the door for me. As soon as I walk inside Logan’s office, all I can see was his expressionless face. The face I used to see.
“Leave us, Lyndon,” he ordered. When we were alone, he pointed out the couch-telling me to sit but I refuse.
“Just go straight to the point, Sir. I still have something to do,” I said.
“Let’s talk while standing then. And just like what you want, be straight. So, Alice, I want you to be honest with me. Tell me that I am her father.”
My lips twitched, giving him a sarcastic smile. “He isn’t yours,” I hardly answered.
He chimed, shaking his head. “And do you think I would buy that? Yeah, maybe I forgot you but damn it, woman! I now recall everything so deny it or not, we both know the truth. Or should I tell you how you moan that night so you could remember everything as well?” He give me his evil smirk which made me gulp in both frustration and horror.
“I don’t k–know what are you t–talking about.”
“Go on, deny it for yourself, Alice baby.” He chuckled. “But once I get the evidence, there is no chance for you to escape.”