Chapter 88 Chapter Eighty-eight

Chapter 88 Chapter Eighty-eight
Elena's POV

"Stop lying I know you were at a party with..." The moment the words left my father's mouth, I practically jumped off the bed, the blanket slipped from my lap and pooled around my feet as panic shot through me.

"Dad," I called trying to look for every possible excuse to explain my actions, but they all abandoned me and were replaced with fear of someone seeing me and Nikolai, and telling father about it and the worst part is, if Dad had found out, how long would it take for Rafael to find out as well? I opened my mouth, ready to explain myself before he could scold me, after everything that had happened in Russia, Father had been crystal clear that there were to be no unnecessary outings, no attending gathering and no parties, our leaving Russia is to keep us safe, he had only sent Shannon and me away because he wanted us safe while he cleaned up the mess our enemies had created. Seeing the terror on my face, my father suddenly burst into laughter, a deep, hearty laugh.

"Oh dear," he chuckled, shaking his head, "did you really think I wouldn't know if you attended a party?" I squeeze my eyes shut, there was no point denying it anymore.

"I'm sorry, Dad." The words came out in a whisper, "I know you warned Shannon and me to stay away from parties because of what happened to Shannon." I lowered my head in Shane, "but I swear this wasn't one of those mafia parties where everyone is waiting for a blood bath to happen." Father laughed even harder.

"I know,"

"You do?"

"Of course," he smiled reassuringly, "Rafael wouldn't dare take you to one of those parties after everything that happened at his father's Christmas Eve party." For all the things he said, only Rafael's name had hit my ear, my heart skipped. He thinks I went to that party with Rafael not with Nikolai.

"Rafael?" I picked the name subconsciously.

"Yes," father continued casually, "aren't you with Rafael at the party?" I nodded instinctively before he could possibly find out the truth.

"Yes," I stuttered, forcing a smile, "Of course, Dad, have you forgotten that I'm the only one here?"

"I'm sorry, dear, for separating the two of you." I just nodded, relief flooded through my body so suddenly, that if I were standing, my knees would have given me away. But I am glad that my secret is still safe, and whoever had informed father must have only seen Nikolai and me from behind or perhaps from a distance and assumed that it was Rafael and me. Either way, my secret was still safe. No one knew that Rafael had barely spent any time with me since I returned here; he didn't even try to protect me, and thankfully, Father had no idea that the man he had thought would protect me was out there exchanging gifts with another female. Not like I care because at this point, I know his brother was the one occupying my heart no longer Rafael.

"It's fine, Father, I understand," I said, then Father smiled warmly through the screen.

"Good," his expression softened, "I have been worried, especially when Rafael didn't take my first three calls."

"I know, sorry, I told him not to pick." I lied and he waved it off, probably still believing that I could still manipulate Rafael.

"It's okay, as long as you are safe."

Safe! The word echoed in my head, if only he knew how dangerous my own heart had become, he wouldn't think I was safe. I swallowed hard, trying to distract myself. I smiled, "So," I tilted my head, "are we finally coming home after the new year?" Father's eyes brightened.

"Yes," a genuine smile spread across his face, "I will be there tomorrow." My own smile widened.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I will be taking you and Shannon home." The excitement bubbling inside me almost erases everything that had happened earlier tonight. At least I will be back in my home where I will be welcome.

"I have missed home."

"I know you wouldn't, if Shannon were there." I giggled, covering my face with my palm, while my father chuckled. He was right; if Shannon were here, I don't think I would have felt lonely. Sometimes I wondered what life would be like when we both had our family and started living apart from each other. "That reminds me, your grandfather has been driving everyone crazy," I laugh.

"That sounds like Grandpa." Father smiled.

"He insists on organizing a family celebration.

"A family party?"

"Yes," his smile grew mischievous, "he specifically asked that you and Rafael attend." At the mention of Rafael's name, my excitement dimmed slightly. I don't even know where Rafael is right now.

"I will let him know." I force a smile.

"And..." Father paused dramatically, "he said he has a surprise waiting for you." I frowned.

"Surprise?" He nodded, "What kind of surprised?"

"I have no idea."

"You don't?"

"He refused to tell me," I narrowed my eyes suspiciously,

"I don't believe you." He laughed at one.

"I swear, I really don't know. He only said, ' Bring my granddaughter home." I couldn't help but smile, grandfather always loves dramatic entrances, "so don't ask me." I giggled.

"I won't."

"That's my good girl." For a few moments, neither of us spoke. I simply enjoyed looking at him, even through a screen. Seeing his face made me feel safer than something he had said. Finally, it registered in my mind: tomorrow, he was taking Shannon and me home. That could only mean one thing, "Dad?"

"Hm?"

"You said we are leaving after the family party?"

"Yes." I bit my lower lip.

"Does that mean..." I hesitated, "The person who had kidnapped Shannon has finally been caught?" Father's expression turned serious.

"Yes," a breath I didn't know I was holding escaped my lungs.

"Thank God, the threat has been dealt with." Relief washed over me. I could still remember how scared Shannon was, even though she tried to act strong. I knew she was terrified, and she blamed herself for the reason we had to leave this place. "So who caught them?" I asked curiously, father smiled.

"Amara," I blinked

"Amara?"

"Yes," my smile disappeared, a strange knot formed in my stomach, if Amara had helped father, then did that mean they were back together? My mind immediately drifted back to Russia, to the day everything exploded, I could still remember everything that happened that day, after Amara crossed every line imaginable, she had even tell father that I was misbehaving that he should discipline me Instead, father had simply looked at Amara with such cold disappointment that even I was surprised, he hadn't shouted, he hadn't argued, he had simply ordered her to leave, and since then I haven't seen her anywhere near my father. My father never officially said they had broken up but he also never brought her home. Which was why hearing her name now felt so strange before I could stop myself, the question nearly slipped out. Are you two back together? But before I could ask that, Amara's face suddenly pushed into the camera.

"Happy New Year, Elena!" She smiled brightly as though nothing awkward had ever happened between us. I forced every muscle in my face to cooperate.

"Happy New Year." My smile felt painfully fake. Inside, however, I couldn't stop glaring because her mere presence had taken the smile off my face. God knows I hated this two-faced woman, I hated the way she had self-declared my dad as hers. I thought she was gone for good, and now she is back, perfectly comfortable crawling into my dad's bed, too comfortable leaning against his shoulders, the sight made something unpleasant twist inside my chest, maybe I was imagining things, or maybe, she was no longer just my dad's secretary anymore, she is back to be his woman. I refused to think about it; instead, I looked back at my father.

"I will see you tomorrow then."

"It's today." He corrected me. I forced a smile. Father is right. It's past one in the morning, which means we are already on the next day.

"Sure, see you later then."

"I can’t wait." He smiled warmly, "Sleep well, love."

"You too." He puckered his lips exaggeratedly before blowing me several kisses through the camera, despite everything I laughed. "Good night Dad"

"Sweet dreams, sweetheart." The call ended, and the room became quiet once more. I stared at my reflection on the dark phone screen, what a strange way to start my new year. I had confessed my feelings to a man I shouldn't have, cried over a man I could never have, pretended everything was fine to my father, and now we were finally going home, I was still trying to process everything when my phone vibrated, it was a sound of a new message, I picked it up and slide open when my eyes caught the sender's ID