Mark was raged with anger as Emmie was blabbing her mouth. He was really being tempted to hit her, since he had zero tolerance for insults. In a way, her words got to him because, it felt true and the saying that, the truth hurts, it really did hurt him.
He just stared at her like she was a monster hiding in a shadow for so long. The other part of her was now seen and honestly, it was terrible. Her makeup looked ruined from maybe sweating. Her hair was so messy that, he had to scan her again and again to be certain he wasn't blind.
All this he knew to the fullest because he told his assistant to lie to her considering his return.
Mark was about to say something to stop her from talking, but hearing his daughter's sweet voice, calmed him down. He turned to see her standing on the staircase with her eyes on her mother. He didn't hear her coming, he could have acted a trick or said something to make it seem like it's a joke, and they weren't really having an argument. He didn't want her to see them like that.
Eunice's question was directed to her mother. She was the one raising her voice and insulting him. They didn't know how long Eunice had been there. Or if she overheard everything. Emmie swallowed hard and turned to Mark while trying to make herself look representable.
“Oh no honey. I can't do that. Your dad and I were just having a little misunderstanding, but we are cool.” Emmie said in a smoothing tone.
Eunice looked around and then, at the two of them before saying, “Mum, where have you been? I called you and Dad did too. Even grandparents called.” She said, and Emmie blinked furiously. Her brain was thinking of something. She was drunk and was hardly controlling herself.
“I got caught up in traffic. My radio was so loud that I didn't see or hear the calls. I'm sorry, love.” Emmie apologized to Eunice after telling a lie to hide her wrongs.
Eunice didn't look like she bought it. Emmie hugged her, but Eunice focused her gaze on her dad. She was expecting him to say something or maybe give some facial expression but none.
“Daddy is superb at this. I already know she's lying, dad.” She said in her mind while her mother's hand was still wrapped around her.
“I love you, my baby girl!” Emmie said with a shaky voice, sounding like she was sobbing.
“Dad!” called out.
Mark turned to face them. While Emmie broke the hug and stood straight back. She began to wonder why Eunice was calling her dad. Maybe she wanted to ask him or something.
Mark, on the other hand, just approached Eunice without giving a glance at Emmie even if she was standing not far from their daughter. He was still provoked as her proud words hurt him deep. The only part of her his eyes caught was her bare feet.
“Honey, any problem? Do you want something?” Mark asked as he stood in front of Eunice with a fake bold smile.
“I'm still feeling sleepy, dad. Please, can you take me back to bed and help me sleep? I couldn't sleep.” Eunice said while rubbing her eyes, and Emmie's heart broke to pieces.
Mark didn't even say another word, he swept Eunice off her feet, making her to burst out laughing then, and carried her through the staircase, leaving Emmie behind.
They got to Eunice's room and the little girl yawned.
“Do you want me to get anything else?” He asked while scanning her but, she shook her head, disapproving.
“I heard!” Eunice muttered loud enough to be heard, and Mark raised his face.
“You heard her?” He asked. He had to because, it felt like he heard wrong. It was finally explaining. No wonder her reaction in the sitting room and how she called her mother to stop her from talking.
“All she was saying. I heard them.” She paused waiting for her dad to say something, but he remained quiet. Unsure of what to say or how to react, “I was on the stairs waiting for her too. But I couldn't just watch her shout at you like that.”
“Ermmmm…” But Eunice continued.
“You don't have to worry. What I don't understand is why she is behaving strange towards everyone. She doesn't love me or give me the attention like I see other kids with their mother. Can you imagine, today, she forgot to pick me from school? Everyone left, and most of them laughed at me.” Eunice complained with tears forming in her eyes while holding her father's hand. She looked so pathetic and exhausted. Her cute chubby face had on a sad mask.
“Hey, my love, don't say that.” He stopped and pointed his lap for her to sit on. And Eunice did sit. Then he continued, “You know she is going through some hard times. And she loves you. You do remember how she plays with you then. She even got you the biggest teddy bear after her last visit to China. This night, she said all that because she was tired and had a lot of drinks from partying with her friends. And, she didn't intentionally forget to pick you up, okay?” Mark lied as he tried to defend Emmie.
He didn't want their little girl to see her mother differently. He knew she wasn't going to buy his lies anyway. It's not the first time Emmie forgot to pick Eunice. It's slowly becoming a habit. And occasionally, she had to stay in the principal's office waiting for her mother to pick her up.
And as for the biggest teddy bear, Mark was the one who got it and asked his wife to give it over to Eunice since she forgot to get her a birthday gift.
Emmie was truly becoming someone else over the years. They are confused but, Mark didn't want it to be like she was cheating, and he also didn't intend to complain to his in-laws. He also didn't want his daughter to live without a mother. His parents got divorced when he was a tender and his dad became a drunkard. Surviving wasn't easy. And every so often, he would run to stay with his mother. He didn't want that for Eunice.
“Okay dad.” She said and yawned loudly again, making them laugh.
“You should go back to bed now.” Mark watched her climb back to her bed and smiled at him.
“I love you, dad!” She uttered and blew a kiss to him.
“I love you more.” Mark moved closer to her. He patted her gently then, arranged her blanket before kissing her forehead.
“Dad, please don't turn off the light. I'm a bit scared!” She whispered as he was about to click on the switch.
“Okay princess. Sleep tight.” He said, blowing a kiss back to her.
Eunice chuckled before closing her eyes to sleep.
Seeing she was asleep, he shut the door and went straight to their room just to see Emmie already asleep on the bed. She didn't even take a bath, and the whole room stunk of alcohol and sweat. Mark helped cover her, so she didn't catch a cold then, he took a bedsheet and a pillow before leaving the room to the second living room. He would sleep there for the night.