Chapter 23

Kia Harley was wearing a blue dress with a pink flowery waistband, looking adorable with a high ponytail, and I was searching for a dress for me, “You should wear that one” Harley pointed to the navy-blue gown which was lying on the bed.

I glanced at the gown before turning back to her. “I’ve never tried blue, and I don’t know how I will look in this dress?” I picked up the gown, examining it. “This is not what I want.”

She placed her hand on her hips, glaring at me, “I hate red, and I don’t want you to wear red to Kelvin’s birthday party.”

God, she was ordering me, “Okay!!” I gritted. After changing that gown, I studied my appearance in the mirror. The gown was a mermaid that snuggled against my hips and flared out from its slim waistband as I moved. It didn’t look that bad.

“Wow!! You’re looking great,” Harley said while gazing at me up and down. “But something is missing.”

I looked down at my dress. “What? Everything is wonderful.”

She smiled. “Your makeup and hair.”

I frowned, “Of course, without makeup, I can’t step out of this room,” I said and grabbed the moisturizer first.

“You should put on light makeup because you don’t look good in heavy makeup. And with red lipstick, you look like a witch.”

I smiled at her and faced the mirror while applying the foundation, “I love to look like a witch instead of an angel because that is what I am. And people living in this house need a witch. You know I wake up at midnight and walk around the house and annoy people who bother me, especially your dad and David.”

Harley’s face turned serious. “Really?” She fixed me with her big blue eyes, “You can do anything??”

I turned to the mirror and put on my eyeliner, “Yes, I can do anything.”

She came nearer to me, looking up, “Can you punish those who bully me?”

My hand jerked and eyeliner smeared my eyes, but I didn’t care because all my focus was on her. “Who bullies you?”

Her head dropped and her fingers played with her waistband because of nervousness. “My classmates. They often called me an orphan and dwarf,” her voice filled with sadness.

I sat down on my knees. “I’ll make them pay. Just tell me their names,” Vivian had told me about Harley’s condition, but she didn’t seem short. She was perfect according to her age, even though I couldn’t realize that she was a premature child. She didn’t seem premature. I knew one of her body organs was not working properly, but it would be improved with the help of medication. And from the outside, she was beautiful like her father. I had not seen her mother, but perhaps she would also have golden hair like her daughter.

********

We went down and Vivian was already waiting for us. He was in his three-piece suit, looking devilishly handsome. It had been a week since that night I had stitched his wounds and it was a horrible experience, as I had been struggling to focus because of his extra-powerful and desirable body.

He looked at Harley and his lips formed into a beautiful smile that was reserved only for her. “You’re looking stunning, sweetheart.”

“Aunt Ava has a brilliant choice,” Harley said and twirled in delight to show off her dress to Vivian.

“Blue suits you.” He bent down and kissed each of her cheeks. “Let’s go.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, looking away, angry. He didn’t even notice me. I had worn blue and made a lot of effort in my makeup and hair, and he didn’t even glance at me once. I just wanted to run out of here. No man had ever resisted my beauty and this man. I hate him.

“What about Kiara?? Isn’t she looking beautiful?” Harley said, and two pairs of eyes settled on me.

I ignored his scrutiny. “Shall we go now? We are getting late,” I said and walked out. I didn’t care if he didn’t notice me.

I slid into the passenger seat while Harley was in the back seat. At last, Vivian took his seat, smirking. I crossed my arms over my chest and fixed my gaze through the window. When his hand rubbed against my thighs, I quickly looked at him, but his focus was on the road. Was it a mistake? I slightly shifted my body at the edge of the seat, “Don’t act as if you haven’t liked it,” he growled, and I looked back at Harley in case she was listening to us, but she was listening to songs through her tablet.

“What do you mean? Are you taking me as your whore?” I snapped, “Keep your hands to yourself” I pushed my hair back and looked out, ignoring his stony expression. We didn’t speak a single word in our entire ride. He pulled the car in front of an elegant building and a man in a black suit approached us and opened the door for me. “Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure, young lady,” he said with a polite smile and went to Harley, “How are you, little princess?”

“I’m good as usual, Joseph,” she smiled widely.

Vivian startled me by touching my bare shoulder. His lips turned up seeing my expression, “Let’s go inside” he said and led me towards the entrance. I didn’t protest him and let him lead me.

We entered the hall where hundreds of guests were already gathered. “It seems like a big party,” I murmured.

Vivian nodded to me. “Today is Kelvin’s first birthday, so it is obvious Henry has organized a big party.”

I looked around for Harley, but she was nowhere. “Where is Harley?”

“Joseph has taken her to a children’s room.”

I frowned. “Didn’t you tell me she is not like the rest of the other children? Then why did you leave her alone?”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Joseph knows about Harley’s condition. He’ll take good care of her. He has been working for Robinson for over twenty years, I don’t doubt him.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. “Just show them you’re my girlfriend.”

“Didn’t you ask me if you don’t want me as your girlfriend?”

“Then what do you think? Why did I bring you here? Keep your mouth shut and do what I said.”

I ignored him and looked at the couple, Alice and Henry. She laughed when her husband murmured something to her. Henry’s hand wrapped around her waist possessively while he kept staring at her and passing her one of his rare smiles. No doubt this is called true love. Will I ever find true love? I glanced at Vivian. I would find true love only after his death.

“You look amazing, Kia,” Alice said when she noticed us. She embraced me first. “Glad to see you here.”

“Me too,” I smiled. “You too look beautiful in black” she was wearing a black satin gown that set off her pale skin and brown hair beautifully.

Vivian and Henry didn’t say anything, just shook hands. As usual, they both were the same, talking less. Alice turned to her husband. “Doesn’t she look like one of your supermodels?”

I paused for a moment as I waited for Henry’s response. He frowned and shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t remember any of my supermodels” he bent down and kissed her lips, “I have only eyes for you.”

I looked away while Vivian passed them his charming smile. “I know both of you are in great love, but at least you could pay some attention to your guests,” he said.

Alice smiled awkwardly, giving her husband a knowing look. Seeing them in deep love, I felt envious too. “Why don’t you take a drink,” she said. The server carrying a tray of drinks stopped beside us, and Vivian gripped a glass of Champagne for me and a whiskey for himself.

“Vivi” I heard a loud voice of a female from the other side, and the next moment she hugged Vivian. When she pulled back, I recognized her face. I attended her wedding ceremony that day with Vivian.

“Sarah” Alice embraced her next and her face lit up with joy. “I missed you so much.”

“And I missed you too,” she said and hugged Henry, “Hey devil.”

“Shut up,” he said and hugged her back.

She came next to me, “Do you come from the Kardashian's family?” She scanned me up and down.

I frowned. “Excuse me?!”

“Every single man in this hall is staring at you like you are the only piece of ass.” She winked at me playfully. “Do you like any of them?”

I grabbed Vivian’s arm. “I already have a boyfriend.”

“You’ve stolen my crush,” she nudged Vivian, who was sipping his wine, “I’m happy finally you’ve moved on.”

Vivian raised his brows. “Where is your husband?”

Before she could say something, a man cleared his throat, catching our attention. He was dressed in a brown leather jacket and ripped jeans, not formal as Vivian and Henry. “Take your hands off,” he eyed Sarah.

She quickly withdrew back her hand and stepped back from Vivian. “Please excuse us. I would like to talk to my wife,” he said and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the corridor. He was behaving too cold to his wife. They didn’t look like newlyweds let alone a loving couple.

“I should not have allowed her to marry him. I didn’t know about him. If I had known, I would never have allowed this marriage to happen,” Henry’s hand clenched into a fist as he gritted to that man. Alice squeezed his shoulder softly and signaled him something through the eyes.

And on the other side, Vivian was glaring at the point where Sarah and her husband disappeared a second ago. “I could have made him on the track, but he is the mastermind even though he has all legal support. And I couldn’t risk my men’s life and my position.”

“Any other way??” Henry looked at him in the hope, “I can’t see her like that.”

Are they talking about Sarah?

“You guys won’t do anything!!” Alice glared at both of them. “She loves him.” She turned to her husband. “And you. If you allowed her to marry him, then it would be better if you treated him like our family.”

I couldn’t understand what they were talking about? I ignored their conversation and sipped my wine. I didn’t care, I just cared about myself and my revenge.

*********

We were taken to another hall that was decorated with various types of balloons, toys, and various children’s playthings. The entire hall was so colorful, along with soft piano music in the background.

“Wow!!” Harley said while examining the hall. “It is wonderful.”

Kelvin was in his father’s arms clapping his small hands together and Alice watched her small baby full of admiration the next moment, her eyes filled with tears, tears of joy, love, and affection for her child. She murmured to Kelvin something like ‘I love you baby.” And kissed his cheeks and in return, he giggled. The photographer captured this beautiful moment. After that, they cut the cake, and people congratulated them.

Alice took a microphone and cleared her throat, “Ok, today is our boy’s birthday and he is one year old now” she glanced at him briefly, “Even though he doesn’t know what’s going on around him but still I want to make this day beautiful. I want to thank him for coming into our lives and making it even wonderful” tears formed in her eyes. Didn’t Henry get bored by her unwelcome sobs? I went to the bar counter and asked for hard liquor because I was getting bored. I was listening to Alice. She was speaking about her married life and her son, blah, blah...

“One more glass” I giggled to the bartender, and he nodded with a smiling face. I had already gulped down five glasses, and this was my sixth. He set down the next glass and intentionally touched my hand. I ignored him and downed the last glass.

I flinched when someone gripped my hand. “Don’t you think it’s too much for you?” Vivian narrowed his eyes in irritation. “Do you want me to embarrass you here?”

I shook his hand. “Embarrass you? Huh? You take alcohol every single hour and I never ask you ‘don’t you think it is too much for you?” I mimicked his words, “Then why do you care about me?”

“Because you cannot hold hard liquor,” anger flared up in his eyes, “Now move your ass before Harley could see you in this condition. I have never allowed drunkards in my house, and especially a woman like you.”

I met his gaze. “Then you should also stay out of your house.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, now it’s time for the competition. As we all know, today is little Robinson’s birthday, so we have arranged a few games for children and parents as well. Raise your hand. Who wants to play?” The host announced through the microphone and half of the people raised their hands. Ugh! I rolled my eyes and looked at Vivian.

“Aren’t you going to play?” I felt a slight blurry.

“Viv!!” I heard Harley’s voice, “I want you to play the game and win for me” I quickly stood up stumbling to my feet.

“Of course, Harley baby. We will play the game and win the trophy for you” I hit my chest proudly, “Just wait and watch. I’ll beat everyone.”

Both Harley and her father were staring at me with wide eyes. “What? Let’s go before we miss the chance.”

And after a moment Harley’s eyes filled with excitement, “Let’s go, I’m very excited” she said and walked ahead.

Before I could step with her, Vivian pulled me to him. “Have you lost your mind? You can’t play with others right now! You’ve drunk yourself!!” he hissed. “Just get back in the car. Caleb will drive you.”

“Ugh, don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you. And please stop nagging me” I snatched away my hand and walked towards the stage.

“Ok, all mommies take their positions,” the host announced, and I paused. Mummy? I’m not someone’s mummy!! Why would I go?

“Kiara, what happened? Why aren’t you going?” Harley asked, looking me up.

“Of course, I’m not your mummy” I raised my brows looking at the women who were gathering for the game. They were very excited about the competition.

“Mummy??” she whispered sadly, and I could see hurt in her eyes, “I don’t have mummy” she shook her head and ran towards the corridor.

Shit!! I should have shut my damn mouth. I quickly ran after she grabbed her hand, “Harley, sorry I didn't mean to hurt you” I sighed, “I’m going to play in your mother’s place if you don’t mind.”

I don’t understand why am I doing this?

Her eyes were still fixed on the floor. “Why is she not with me?”

I bent down, “Maybe your dad didn’t want to share you with your mummy. That’s why she is not with you. And trust me, if I had a daughter like you, I would also do the same thing. I would never share a cutie pie like you with anybody else” I winked at her. “Then shall we go.”

She smiled widely. “Let’s go.”

Ugh, again I felt blurry. I went to the stage and glanced at Harley. She was waving her hand to me beside her, Vivian was glaring at me, “Gorgeous you can do it, ” Sarah said out loud and her husband eyed her coldly. And next there Alice was passing me a sweet smile and saying good luck through the eye. Last, Henry didn’t understand why I was on the stage?

“So ladies, we will tie your hands behind your back and blindfold you” she motioned to the empty pails on the one side, “Here is an empty pail you will fill with the colorful tiny balls” she motioned to the other side where colorful tiny balls were scattering over the floor. I stumbled. Liquor was affecting my body slowly. The team began the next process after quick instruction, tying our hands, and blindfolded us. I couldn’t see anything just hearing the people murmuring.

“Ok, ladies, are you ready??”

I drew a deep breath, but it did not relax my body.

“Go!” the host declared, and all the women lunged to the floor. I stepped slowly, not sure about my next move because my head was throbbing hard. I heard buckets filling some ladies filled their buckets already, and I got nothing, not even a single ball. When someone bumped into me, I stumbled and fell.

“Shit!!” I hissed. I just wanted to slap each of them. They were playing like wild cats. Idiots. I stood up snorting, “Let’s see bitches!!” I said and pulled out my heels and threw them away at the same time. I sat down on my knees and crawled on the floor. I am going to win the game and I don’t care if I’m embarrassing myself in front of hundreds of people and spoiling the expensive gown with all the balls I want. I groped around, trying to find the ball. Yeah, here, I got the first ball quickly. I put it on my top. I had always been disappointed with my breasts because of their small size, but now I was thanking my small breasts for giving me the space for tiny balls in my top. I had enough space to put the three-four balls at once.

I approached the pail, which was eight feet away from us, and filled it, then walked back, fell on my knees, groping around. This time I put four on my top, one in my mouth, and four in my hands.

“Only ten seconds are left,” the host announced, and my heart thudded under my chest. I had to win the game as I took my pace, “Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven” everyone was following the counting. “Three. Two.”

I ran towards the pail and emptied all the balls, “One!!! Stop everyone!!”

I sighed and withdrew back my hands. The hall was filled with cheers and applause after that. They uncovered our eyes. A few black dots were dancing across my eyes as I cleared my view. I looked at Harley and she smiled widely. Then my eyes went to her father, who was glowering at the man who was staring at me next to him. Alice smiled awkwardly while her husband’s expression was stoic. Sarah whistled, “You make me proud,” she said, and her husband gripped her hand tightly, threatening her.

“Here is the winner,” the host announced. I held my breath, “Mrs. Miller” and I paused. My hand clenched into a fist as anger flared me inside. And I was on the edge of bursting, but small hands grabbed my hand.

“You won the game” Harley’s eyes filled with light. Her excitement was undeniable. She pulled me down and kissed my cheeks and that’s when my heart healed a bit.

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