Chapter 118 Her child
Chapter 118 Her child
“Seen this?” Lucien passed a paper to Isabella, a small frown settling on his face.
They were both in the study, working, taking account of the deaths and everything needed to restore the Capitol to its original form, or even better.
Isabella’s eyes widened as she digested the content of the paper. “If I remember correctly, she's said something about this.”
She reclined on her chair. “Where did you get this?” But she knew the question was unnecessary for the information on the paper.
“Did you know?” Lucien's voice was firm and he watched as Isabella nodded slowly.
“She'd mentioned it once, if I remember correctly. Something along the lines of Damien keeping her hostage.”
“And if I guess correctly, she's not mentioned it again?” Lucien shook his head. “You think she has accepted it?”
Isabella exhaled, shuddering lightly. “Why on earth didn't she think to bring it up? We could have done something!” Her voice shook.
Lucien sighed. “It's not too late. We still can.”
Her eyes shot up in surprise. “You're not just knowing about this?” She stood up gently, suddenly feeling all hot. “You think she's safe?”
Lucien nodded. “Seth brought it to my attention two days back. Decided to find out and help rescue her.”
Isabella breathed loudly. “Oh my God,” she staggered, holding on to the arm of a chair. “That's such a relief. I…I just can't imagine, Elias…”
“Shh,” Lucien tried to calm her down. “It's alright,” his hands landed on her back. “Elias is safe and she is as well.”
“What's the plan?” Isabella asked after taking a deep breath. She was being irrationally fearful. What they needed was actions and not words.
“The men have been sebt to rescue her. They'll be here any moment.”
“And Victoria?” Isabella asked despite herself. What she felt for her stepsister was indifference and not hatred.
“We have to tell her.” Lucien said with certainty. “She deserves to know.”
“I'm sure she does.” Isabella curled her lips, reaching out to hold Lucien's hands. “It's surprising how much she can take.” She muttered.
“How do?” Lucien raised a brow.
Isabelka sighed. “Imagine having to live with the threat of your daughter dying at the hands of her father because of his greediness.”
Lucien grunted, caressing her hands. “It's pathetic.” He said for lack of words. Lucien's mind travelled to the number of armed guards that had been stationed to the safe house, definitely out there by Damien before his death.
He couldn't seem to fathom how a man could be so cruel and greedy to see his own daughter suffer for his own ambitions even after his death.
“You know what I think?” Isabella turned to him, removing her hands from his grip. “Finding out about this, makes me wonder the plans Damien had before his death. What has he done?” She lamented.
Lucien nodded in agreement. He couldn't agree less. He only hoped the damage wouldn't be too huge to correct.
The door opened and Marcus perked in. “She's here, your Majesty. She wouldn't agree to come all the way with us.”
“How?” Isabella was genuinely confused.
Marcus sighed. They could tell he was frustrated. The girl had probably given him a hard time. “Said she would remain in the conference room.”
Isabella and Lucien exchanged glances with one thought running through their minds.
The conference room would give her a higher chance of escaping if danger arose.
Isabella breathed shakily. This was going to be one hell of an experience. “Take us there.” She muttered, ready to move.
Marcus hesitated. “Your Majesty,” he glanced at Lucien concernedly. “We.
haven't looked her through. She could be dangerous.”
Isabella stared pointedly at Marcus. “She's a little girl, Marcus that had no hand in how she turned out. Take me to her.” She commanded.
Lucien nodded slightly at Marcus.
Marcus sighed in resignation as he led the way to the conference room. Isabella could be stubborn when she wanted and today was one of those days. Nobody, not even the king would try to stop her when she got into one of those moods.
He opened the door to the conference room, ushering Isabella and Lucien in. “There she is.”
In the centre of the room, close to the drawings, a little girl of not more than 5 stood, admiring the paintings. “Isabella?” She asked without turning back.
Isabella was surprised, realising that the little girl could recognise her without her having to turn back. She hid her reaction. “That's me.”
The little girl turned, her eyes studying the two people in the room. “Daddy used to say when I saw you, I would know. Said we smell alike.”
Isabella held her breath as she beheld the child in front of her.
Adorable was an understatement. She was a child in every sense of the word. Her two front teeth were broken, her hair packed in twos, dressed in pink. She clearly had a nanny that had taken care of her
Isabella walked slowly to the child, crouching “What's your name?”
“Lila.” She muttered, peering into Isabella’s oceanic eyes like every child would do. “You're pretty. Even prettier than Daddy had described.”
Isabella gave her a soft smile. “That means a lot coming from you, Lila seeing that you're even prettier than I am.”
The little girl blushed. “Thank you.” She bowed her head.
Isabella glanced at Lucien as he gave her a slight nod, giving her the signal.
“I have a surprise for you, Lila.” Isabella’s voice was soft.
“Is it a doll? Something I'm gonna like? I like them blonde. It gives a special effect to their eyes, just like my Mommy's.”
Isabella’s heart broke at the child's Innocence. Damien had robbed the little child of having to know her mother.
She forced a smile on her face. “This is better than a doll and she is definitely blonde.”
She nodded at Lucien who opened the door, revealing Victoria. She had just been escorted by the guards to the conference room.
Her face was filled with confusion and she looked around the room, wondering why she had been summoned before her eyes settled on Lila.
Victoria dropped her bag, staggering a bit, she was saved from falling by the guard closest to her.
“Lila?” She gasped, feeling the tears that had pooled in her eyes in an instant, falling.
Lila turned to look at who had just called her name. “She looks familiar.” She said, turning back to Isabella. “Much more like the first doll Daddy had gotten for me.”
Victoria choked. She walked slowly to Lila. “If I'm right, you're talking about Vic, aren't you?”
Lila narrowed her eyes, her guard going up. “Who are you and how do you know so much about Vic?”
Victoria knelt, reaching for the girl's arm, but she pulled away. The hurt in her eyes could be seen from a mile away.
Isabella walked closely to Lila. “She means no harm, Lila.” She began, soothing the little girl who was clearly agitated.
She signalled to Victoria who picked it up in an instant.
“Vic has a small hole in her ears, doesn't she?” Victoria began, her voice shaking.
Lila was sceptical. “How do you know that?”
“Because I gave her to you.” She sniffed. “Hi, Lila. I'm Victoria, your Mommy.”
Lila glanced at Isabelka for help. “Daddy said Mommy was dead. She'd been killed for abandoning me.”
Victoria stopped the howl from coming out of her mouth. Damien had lied to her daughter. “You wanna see the hole in my ear?”
Lila looked at her strangely. It was obvious she was fighting a battle within herself. “What stops you from putting a hole in your ear. You, after all, know so much about Vic.”
“You're smart, much smarter than I was. I'm glad.” She said with a shaky voice.
Isabella walked close. “She didn't abandon you, Lila. It's all so complicated, but she's been searching for you all these years.”
Victoria nodded, hurriedly. She looked pathetic with tears and catarrh running in her mouth almost at the same time.
“I'm sorry I didn't look harder.” She whispered, moving closer to Lila.
“Well,” Lila shrugged like an adult. “It wouldn't hurt to have a Mommy.”
Victoria whimpered as she moved closer to the little girl, giving her a tight embrace. “And it wouldn't hurt to have a daughter again.”
Isabella smiled as she nudged Lucien, both of them stepping out of the room. She sniffed her tears away, giving him a small smile.
“That went well, didn't it?” The smile did not reach her eyes, they looked sad.
“It did.” He agreed, using his fingers to wipe a stray tear. “Even better than I expected.”
Isabella sighed, her gaze faraway. “Now, I really wish we had not killed him. I have a thousand and one ways to make his life miserable.” Her voice was venomous, sending shivers down the spines of people around them.
“I do too. But there are other people responsible for this, who can still be punished.” Lucien comforted, taking her hand as they walked to the other room where the men protecting Lila had been captured.