Chapter 21

**CHAPTER 21**

**Irina sighed;** she already knew the answer.

Of course, they had been bad parents. According to the servants, mostly from Mr. Marshall, Allison had been a good girl. She wasn't a pain to anyone and she wasn't fond of complaining. Because of her timid personality, she caught everyone's heart without even noticing it. People have praised her countless compliments and said that she was the epitome of a perfect daughter. On the other hand, they weren't the perfect parents for her. Their daughter was the type of child everyone could ever want and Irina is very proud of that, but she wasn't proud of herself as a mother.

They did have the power and riches, she could give Allison whatever she needed and wanted but there was an exception, her presence. The child lacked their presence, the only thing she wanted.

She remembered what happened earlier. It was the first time she brought a hand on her daughter and spit out hurtful, heart-breaking words as well. Yes, she was disappointed in her daughter for being irresponsible but she couldn't help but feel disappointed in herself also. She did succeed in her career as a businesswoman but she never succeeded as a good mother to her child. She never meant to slap her daughter but she did. She wasn't able to control her anger and did what she would regret.

"Do you regret it?" she asked her husband again, curious of what he was thinking.

She heard her husband sigh once again. "I don't know either..." she was about to speak again when he continued, "I only made the decision that I think is for the best."

'That's what I think so too,' she wanted to answer but only remained silent and continued to maneuver her fingers in rings and loops on his temples, meticulously. They may be rich but they couldn't reach what Hades de Vries had achieved, that was why it was such a surprise that a powerful man like him would visit them. What was more flabbergasting was he asked for their daughter's hand! They never expected such a thing would happen. They weren't supposed to say yes even though he impregnated their daughter but the man was born a businessman. He managed to coax them, saying that he wanted to take responsibility for the child that Allison was bringing. He didn't want his first child to be a bastard and said that he loved the child.

His sweet words touched her heart. She heard conviction, determination, and passion in the young man's baritone voice. It made her realize that Hades will turn into a good father and husband. She sighed once again, hoping they made the right decision for their daughter.

"So... your parents accepted Hades' proposal for your hand in marriage?"

Allison nodded at Brent's question. She had always imagined her wedding proposal would be romantic, a surprise filled with squeals and drama. She thought it would be like the scenes she saw in movies and she read in books. She hadn't expected that it would turn out like earlier, and it disappointed her.

"What will happen now then?" her concerned friend asked another question and she shrugged her shoulders. She was not in the mood to open her mouth that had already been shut for hours long.

Brent immediately sensed that she didn't want to talk so he decided not to press the subject and asked her another question instead, "I'll make hot cocoa for you to feel better?" it was his only way to comfort her. He knew she wouldn't listen and be convinced with words.

She nodded in response. Her mind was blank and so was her heart, she had gone stoic. She heard him heave a heavy sigh before hearing his footsteps become distal. Allison stood on her feet and ambled to the glass walls of her penthouse.

She stared at the view outside the glass walls, the night was supposed to be dark and silent but the city lights gave glamour to the whole urban, making it luminescent as the noise of the cars' honking horns and roaring engines made the whole metropolitan completely polluted with noise. The moon shone with its fair brightness, boasting its irrevocable, insuperable beauty along with the stars that gave their fullest to shine brightly at the deep, night sky. The scene was refreshing for her but it wasn't enough to render her head and lurching heart to toil.

Everything just happened so fast. She didn't have the time to absorb everything that was happening. The only thing she could absorb was her hatred for Hades. Beforehand, she feared him because of what he could do, and he did. He destroyed her life by confessing to her parents that they had sex and by coaxing them to give their blessing to for them to tie the knot. It was fine if the man told her parents about them having sex but asked for her hand in marriage? He already crossed the line. Her heart smoldered with despise and loathing for him. He was despicable. She didn't know what she would do to him the next time she saw him, probably more than just a slap.

"Here's your hot cocoa, Drew," said Brent that startled her. Reluctantly, she turned her head to face her childhood friend and gave him a weak smile before taking the hot cocoa from his hand. She was about to lift the cup to her lips when she heard a sudden ring. She looked at him with her scrunched nose and meeting eyebrows as if asking who could the caller be. He just shrugged at her before striding to the telephone to answer the call.

"Hello...Yes, it's me...What... No... I'll make Allison come right over..." Brent ended the call before looking at her. She gawked back at him and raised her brow.

"It's the receptionist. She said your fiancé is creating turmoil at the lobby, you better go and calm him down," he panicked. In an instant, she scurried to the elevator and pressed the 1st floor. Her heart was hammering in her chest and her hands were quivering not in nervousness and fear but of anger. 'What is he doing here?' she angrily asked herself. She didn't want to see him. She couldn't bear the sight of him, the pain he had caused her. He could ruin anyone's life but why choose hers? Why was he making her miserable?

Finally, the elevator stopped, made a small ring before opening the doors. In a blink of an eye, she saw Hades. It was conspicuous on his face that he was livid, his face was dark, and his eyes were cold and angry at the same time. He was sitting on the finest chair in the lobby, his legs crossed and his large, brooding yet intimidating figure conquering anyone else in the area. Behind him were men in suits and earphones, Allison knew they're his bodyguards.

The people were already looking at him in both admiration and astonishment, wondering why someone who looked like a big shot was waiting in the lobby. She took a deep breath before striding to the receptionist's counter.