Chapter 18

**CHAPTER 18**

**"Thank you, Dawson..."** she mumbled between her cries, feeling grateful and guilty at the same time. She wanted to apologize for hiding Rebecca's secret. The pang of guilt was eating her heart that she wanted to confess but she wouldn't erase the guilt because it would mean breaking her promise to Rebecca.

"Okay, okay. Quit the drama now," he said as he wiped her tears. "Stop the waterfalls now, Ally." She nodded as she sniffed. "I'm okay now," she told him, staring at him with puffy eyes.

"Just remember that whatever happens, I'll always be by your side. I won't leave you alone. I'll never leave you alone," he promised and Allison nodded holding unto his words.

"Welcome back, young miss and sir Brent," greeted Mr. Marshall with a bow, the family's butler for the past 35 years. He had already been working for the Taylors before Allison's birth. He had witnessed the family's young lady flourish all over the years of his service to the family. Even though she was already 20, in Mr. Marshall's old, wrinkled and weary eyes, she's still the same little girl who asked him to lift her so she could reach the mango fruit that was hanging on the garden's only mango tree. The same little girl with those big, round, and cute smiling green eyes who hid behind his legs when she first entered school.

When he stood straight, Allison gave him a small nod and smiled. Knowing her, he recognized that she was upset and she wasn't in the mood for hugging and crying out for joy and memories. He gave her a reassuring smile as if telling her 'it's going to be all right.'

"May I have your coats?" he asked them with a kind smile and both the newly arrived gave their coats to him. He lifted an arm and pointed it at the mansion's drawing-room. "To the drawing-room, please," he told them as he began to walk and they followed him.

"Your parents are both in the drawing-room with your visitor," said Mr. Marshall that stunned Allison. She stiffened and stopped walking as if her feet were glued on the marbled floor.

"Visitor?" she repeated with her eyebrows meeting. 'Who could it be?'

The old butler stopped his tracks and faced them. "Yes, young miss. Mr. de Vries came here half an hour ago before your arrival." Her heart jumped out from her chest in surprise, 'Mr. de Vries is here?' Her fear crawled from her feet to her knees.

"Drew?" Brent called for her attention when he noticed that her ears were burning red.

"Let's go," Allison said, her anger taking her over. She walked to the drawing-room with her feet burning with the speed of hatred. Panicking why that man would be in their home and if he could be the reason why her parents called, telling her that they were disappointed in her. She wanted to punch him, kick him, hurt him because of what he had done. Her fingers are itching to get her hands on him.

When they arrived at their destination, the herbal aroma of tea invaded her nose, it gave her the idea that her parents were having tea. When she went in further, she saw her parents, having tea with the one and only man who she had slept with, Hades Ezekiel Friso de Vries. He was sitting with all his glory like he owned the entire place while calmly and drinking tea. He looked manly with his five o'clock shadow and large, chiseled muscles that could almost rip his dress shirt but she heedlessly ignored it because of her overwhelming anger.

"The young mistress has arrived, master Jonathan, mistress Irina," announced Mr. Marshall.

"Thank you, you may go now, Mr. Marshall," said Irina Taylor's voice without looking at him. Allison's mother was chic and polite as she was hailed in a good and well-mannered family, born to be strict and civil, taught to be a proper lady under strict and coherent rules. She grew up firm, sophisticated, and full of class. However, that attitude melted like ice whenever she's angry as fire.

"We should go now, Mister Brent," whispered the butler to Brent. Brent looked at him and nodded before asking Allison, "Will you be all right?' and she answered him with a stiff nod. Brent heaved a small sigh before leaving with Mr. Marshall.

As soon as their footsteps were no longer heard, Irina turned her head and saw Allison, standing right before her eyes. She stood up and walked up to her daughter with sophistication and grace, with the curls of her red hair bouncing. She was like an older carbon copy of Allison. They had the same auburn red hair, pouty pink lips, and upturned nose. Allison looked into her mother's hazel brown eyes, the only feature she hadn't inherited from her dear mother. They were smoldering with rage. She gulped.

"M...mo..." she wasn't able to finish when a hand landed on her cheek with a loud SLAP!

A stingy sensation promptly crept on her cheek. She held her injured cheek lightly, looking at her mother with surprised and frightened eyes. Her mother had hurt her a few times before, but it was only a light spank that could cause no pain. It was the first time that her mother had hurt her with so much force that it hurt.

"I can't believe you, Allison," her mother seethed at her. The rage was still burning in her brown orbs while anger was making her lips tremble and blood boil inside her veins, making her sophisticated fair white face red, then she continued. "I am so disappointed in you."