Chapter 88 Eighty Eight
AMELIA XAVIER
I remembered the scent of the Xavier's estate — flowery due to the large amount of gardens and rivers.
Owen slowly halted the car as we reached father's house. A young boy stood there tapping his feet on the ground impatiently. He exuded the kind of aura father did.
I smiled.
“That's Milan. My brother,” I whispered loud enough for Owen to hear. I stepped out of the car before Owen came out and rushed to meet him.
“Sister!” He squealed racing towards me. It hasn't even been a year and he looked taller than the last time I saw him.
Milan jumped on me, and I caught him taking two steps back to keep from falling.
“Father said you're coming home-” he searched around a little bit confused, so I asked.
“What's wrong?”
“Well, I'm looking for the bastard who hurt my sister. I've been seeing the news but father and mummy don't know,” he muttered as I dropped him.
Milan inherited father's keen foresight, but Annie's soft nature. I hoped that wouldn't cause trouble for him, not with the amount of things happening these days.
“He's dead. Daddy killed him,” I assured him and he seemed relaxed.
“They were two though, father killed one and the other got you preg…”
“It's enough, Milan. Aren't you going out to meet that girl you kept talking about?” A voice hollered, and I didn't need a fortune teller to tell me it was Annie.
I glanced up at her acknowledging her presence as she walked towards us.
“Mum, you're embarrassing me in front of Amy!” He whined and I laughed.
Milan promised to meet by evening and left probably to meet that girl.
Annie sighed heavily. “He's sometimes too much to handle… Amy, how're you doing?” She asked taking me in for a hug. She felt warm and healthy and I missed those days when she gave me those hugs occasionally.
“Where's…”
Owen appeared beside me surprising me for a second, but I calmed down knowing he was Owen Winters after all.
“Annie, it's been years since I set my eyes on you, yes? You look younger every passing day,” he teased, pulling her in for a hug.
She laughed, patting his back.
“You don't seem surprised that I'm here?” He asked releasing her from his hold. She shrugged.
“Dylan knew you'd come, his predictions are almost always correct,” she explained.
Annie was right about that. Father had a way of knowing how things would end, and instead of stopping it, he liked to watch things unfold — for the better or worse.
“Come on in, Owen, I'll show you to your room. Dylan doesn't really like that you're here,” she said, giving us a weak smile.
Owen followed her inside while I went into the basement to meet dad.
The way to the basement wasn't as complex as when I was little. All the twists and turns weren't hard to figure out and I could even be blindfolded and still find my way around.
As soon as I stepped into the room father called me.
“I knew you'd come here,” he muttered, turning to face me, a book in his hand.
A smile curled its way to my lips.
“I knew you'd be here,” I said walking towards him.
Father's face didn't look like he was angry or disappointed, but one could never tell what that man had in mind — what my father had in mind.
“I know you came with that moron, but it's fine. How're you doing, love?” His lips curled in disgust at the mention of the moron.
I sighed hating the fact that Owen and father never got along.
“I'm fine, daddy, and Owen's not a moron,” I answered sitting on the table.
“Did you take down the news?” I asked, trying to place the words written on the book.
Father nodded, turning to the next page. “I took it down, but you can't shut people's mouths and minds. They know and they'll talk,” he said, still focused on the book.
“That's nice. It's the truth anyways.”
Father looked up at me, his eyes boring deep into the depth of my soul. Those dark eyes of his were intense which sometimes made me wonder how Annie fell in love with it.
“You're right, I should be proud of my daughter for having an affair with that…” he let his voice trail as he let out an exasperated sigh.
“Let's change the topic. I spoke with Kayla and she agreed for an alliance!” I squealed, waiting to see his expression.
Father shut his eyes and laughed hard. “You really are Amelia Xavier, that lady was a hard nut to crack. Strange she agreed, she didn't really like you,” he exclaimed, placing the book carefully on the table and standing to give me a hug.
His embrace reminded me that I was always my father's daughter, someone he cherished more than anything.
Sometimes the feeling overwhelmed me, but this time it made me feel safe.
Even if everyone abandoned me, father won't.
I shifted the sentimental thoughts out of my mind, and snuggled close to father.
“We should celebrate, yes?” He asked and I nodded, breaking free from him.
“Only if Owen is there,” I added and he frowned.
“Come on, dad, after all he's an ally!”
It seemed like he was thinking hard about it, then he glanced at me and sighed in defeat.
“Yes, sure. Just make sure he stays out of my way,” he said.
As I opened my lips to say something, we heard footsteps and Milan appeared from the darkness and into the room.
“I knew I'd find you both here!” He said coming at me, his arms wide apart.
I carried him up with quick reflexes, hugging him tight.
“Don't do that in front of dad. It's uncool!” He yelled and I dropped him calmly.
“Sorry,” I said in between laughs.
Father picked up his book and kept reading.
“Were you looking for us?” I inquired and he dipped his head.
“Why?”
Milan leaned in, and I bent so he whispered into my ear, “Well, I met with Owen, you know, the other Winter guy. He seemed cool. I came to tell you that I approve of your relationship.”
I giggled, pulling him close to me and tickling him. He laughed, hitting my arm.
“I knew you'd like him, then why were you looking for dad?” I asked turning to check on father, freeing Milan from my grasp.
He adjusted his shirt and looked up at father.
“Mummy needs you in the kitchen. She said you've been curled up in this basement and deserves all the punishment this world could offer,” he said and father dropped his book at the instant.
He looked at me pitifully, and huffed.
“She's going to kill me. I'll see you later pumpkin!” Father marched out of the room in haste which sent us laughing.
The great Dylan Xavier, my father, wasn't afraid of anyone except Annie.
“Cute,” I muttered walking out of the basement with Milan by my side.