Chapter 194 Blue Eyes (CALIA)

Chapter 194 Blue Eyes (CALIA)
“Mommy, why are you taking out my clothes?”
Lea stood in the doorway, clutching her beloved stuffed bunny. Her eyes followed me curiously as I took her clothes out of the closet and piled them onto her bed.
“Because we’re going to see Papa?”
“To Papa’s house?”
“Yes. We’re going to meet Papa in Chicago. Are you excited?”
She ran over to me, her eyes sparkling.
“Yippee! Are we going to live with Papa?”
“Hmm... Not exactly. We’ll be staying in our own apartment.”
“Why aren't we living with Papa? He usually stays here with us.”
I gently stroked the top of her head. My baby girl was so inquisitive. Sometimes her questions made my head spin, but I was also proud of her for growing into such a smart girl.
“Papa stayed in our apartment while he was in Amsterdam because he didn't have an apartment here. Besides, we have a guest room next to yours, so Papa could sleep here.”
“Doesn't Papa have a guest room for us, Mommy?”
I laughed.
“No. Papa only has one bedroom in his apartment, so we’ll be staying in our own place.”
She nodded in understanding.
Lea sat quietly beside me, playing with her bunny, while I sorted through her things—separating what we’d take to Chicago from what we’d donate. Lea had so many clothes because I couldn't help buying them whenever I saw something cute at the mall. She was like a living doll to me. I loved dressing her up with cute accessories. Her vanity was overflowing with them. I even had a few new accessories for her that I’d bought while in London.
“Mommy, I want some pudding.”
“You can have pudding after dinner. Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make you some fried fish and rice balls.”
“I love fish!”
After I finished cooking Lea’s dinner, I sat her in her special chair, and she ate heartily. She had been able to feed herself since she was two and refused to let me spoon-feed her anymore. Even though I loved doing it, she would always shoo me away whenever I tried.
"Mommy," she said, picking up a piece of carrot from her plate.
"Yes? Eat your carrots and broccoli, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy. Aren't you eating?"
"I'll eat after I clean up the kitchen."
As I was wiping down the stove, the apartment doorbell rang. I frowned, puzzled, since I didn't have any appointments this evening.
"Mommy, someone's here."
Lea started to climb down from her chair. She loved opening the door to welcome the colleagues who visited our home.
"No, you stay right there and finish your food. I'll get the door."
She pouted, but she obeyed and finished her meal.
The bell kept ringing. I was getting annoyed with whoever was pressing it. They weren't giving me a moment's pause.
"Just a minute."
I was a fool to open the door immediately instead of checking the peephole first. I froze when I saw him standing there.
"Hello, Calia."
"Elion. What are you doing here?"
God, I hated that smirk of his. He stood outside my apartment, looking dangerous in a black shirt and dark jeans. He rested his palm against the door, blocking me from closing it.
"Get out of my apartment. I have no business with you anymore."
"Well, I do. Let me in."
"No. Get out of here. Don't mess with my life anymore."
I pushed him away and tried to close the door.
He wedged his foot into the gap, then forced the door open. I stumbled backward, nearly hitting the floor before he grabbed my hips. Our bodies were pressed together. His face was right in front of mine.
"Careful."
I shoved hard against his chest and edged away from him.
"Don't touch me."
He smirked.
"It looks like you enjoy it."
"No, I don't."
I glanced back over my shoulder, relieved that Lea was still eating her dinner in the kitchen. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if she had followed me to the door.
"Why? Are you afraid Dimitry will find me here?"
"Just tell me what you want and get out of here."
"I want to talk to you."
"We've talked enough. Now get out."
"No, we haven't."
He gripped my wrist and pinned me against the wall.
"Elion, let me go. What the hell are you doing?"
"Why did you lie to me?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You never married Dimitry, did you? Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
"It's none of your business whether I married Dimitry or not. Let me go."
"Of course it's my business, because you're mine."
I kicked him in the shin, but he didn't budge an inch. It was as if my kick hadn't hurt him at all.
"Huh, that's funny. You're obsessed with me because I'm the only woman who never chased after you, right?"
"You're the only woman who left me and trampled on my ego like trash."
"What? I never did that. You were the one who hurt me first. You and your father."
"I killed him. Arthur is dead."
I wasn't surprised that the evil man had died at Elion's hands. It was only a matter of time, really. But even though he was dead, he had already wreaked havoc on my life.
"So what if you killed him? Isn't that a good thing? No one to mess up your life anymore. Your throne is safe. You're the sole heir to Gerrald Starling's entire fortune."
"And then we can live happily together."
"We? In your dreams. I’m happy with my life as it is. I don’t need you."
"But I need you."
"No, you’re just obsessed with me."
"If that’s the case, then so be it."
"No, Elion. I can’t let that happen. I’m not a toy you can play with whenever you want and then toss aside the moment you get bored. Get out of my life, and don’t come back."
"Mommy... Papa is looking for you."
I froze, and so did Elion. His gaze shifted from my face to Lea, who was standing right behind me.
"You have a daughter?"
"Mommy, Papa is calling you."
I turned around. Lea was waving my phone in the air; Dimitry’s face was on the screen.
"Calia, do you have a guest? Who is that standing behind you?" Dimitry’s voice drifted from the speaker.
Before I could take the phone from Lea’s hand, Elion snatched it first.
"It's me. Surprised to see me?"
"Elion? What are you doing at Calia's apartment?"
"That’s my business, you motherfucker."
"Leave Calia alone. She—"
Elion cut the call. His face flashed with rage.
"Is she that motherfucker's daughter?"
"Don't say things like that in front of my daughter."
I snatched the phone back from his hand, glaring at him.
"Is she?"
"Yes. She’s Dimitry’s daughter. Now you know why I don’t want anything to do with you anymore, because I’m happy with my own family."
Elion’s gaze shifted from me to Lea. My heart pounded wildly, like war drums beating in unison inside my ribcage. There was no way Elion wouldn't notice the resemblance between them. But I couldn't let him know the truth.
"Mommy, who is he?"
I shielded her body behind mine, blocking Elion from looking at her any longer.
"Get out of here. Leave us alone," I said, shoving him back by the chest.
He groaned, clutching his stomach. I narrowed my eyes. There was no way he was in pain just because I’d pushed him away. He hadn't even flinched when I kicked him in the shin.
"I said get out of here. Leave me and my daughter alone."
"If she’s Dimitry’s daughter, why does she look like me? She has blue eyes. Are you trying to lie to me, Calia?"