Chapter 14 His call
Dahlia.
" This house is technically mine." Swallowing the hurt, I wore a smug smile as I revealed, and I watched with satisfaction as my father's face went pale with disbelief.
Well, a part of me, a part that I didn't know I possessed was weirdly satisfied when I saw him in pain. Well, I never knew that a day would come when I would use my house ownership against him, but since he was also hurting me, why not return the favour?
And for the first time, I clapped for my Mom in my heart. Back before my Mom divorced my Dad, we were living in a different house, expensive but slightly smaller compared to our current mansion.
And a few months before the divorce, Mom bought us our current house, and she was the sole owner. When I turned eighteen, I only received the ownership transfer documents. My Mom had swiftly changed it, without words or warning.
Back then, her actions surprised me, especially when I saw how disappointed my Dad was, but I chose to ignore it all.
Now though, I was very glad my Mom took such drastic measures, she already knew the kind of a person that he was, after all.
" What is the meaning of that, Dahlia?" There were tremors of anger in his voice as he asked, and I just smiled nonchalantly.
" I thought you were smart, Mr Brooks. " I mocked, my lips lifted into a disdainful smirk.
If we had decided to become enemies, there was no harm in going all out, no?
" Well, I will be kind enough to elaborate it all to you."
" This house is in my name. If she wants, let her take a guestroom, but if she is unwilling, then I won't force her. She is my sister, after all." My words were edged with sarcasm as they rolled out, and rage contoured their features.
Sister? What an insult. I would never acknowledge Sofia as my sister, not even in my nightmares.
" My house my rules. If you lots are dissatisfied, feel free to move out and go search for a better house. Money has never been a problem for you, Mr Brooks " I threw in, casually, as if I was talking about a mere change in the weather.
Of course he could afford another house, but, not the same as that one. My house was one of a kind. The perfect example of a house you couldn't buy with money. And yet, somehow, my Mom had ended up owning it.
Well, now that I was aware of her connections to the famously rich Banks family, I was no longer surprised. With just the Banks' name, she could afford a hundred such houses without even bleeding a coin. The power of influence, name and authority, like they all called it. Not to forget, the Banks were an old-money family.
" Don't tell me the famous Brooks Firm is facing some financial issues?" I didn't know where I got the idea from, it was wild and almost untrue, but after seeing my father's reaction to the question, I couldn't remain composed anymore.
His face was red with anger and humiliation before my words, but after my wild financial crisis speculations, his face went deathly pale.
Well, if it were in the past, I would have been beside myself with worry and concern, but after seeing his true colours, I couldn't help but rejoice, and I didn't even care to hide it.
He deserved it, after all.
" Well, for the kind of people that you are associating with, these gold diggers, I wouldn't be surprised. My apologies. I hope you can find ways to fix the crisis, Chairman Brooks. " I whispered, my tone dripping with fake sincerity and he was lost for words.
" Enough, Dahlia!" For the first time," Gwen spoke, her voice so high-pitched that I instinctively covered my ears.
It was wild how she had only spoken when she was called a gold digger. I guess my words had struck a chord within her.
" You are not only a gold digger, but also uncultured. It's not womanlike to shout like that." I berated, the calmness that evolved me a giant insult to her all worked-up state, and she raised a hand, ready to strike me.
" If your mother didn't teach you manners, I will " She shouted, but before the slap could land, my father intercepted it.
He was not completely stupid, it turned out.
"Another foul word about my Mom and my upbringing, and you will lose your ability to talk." It was not even a threat. It was a promise, one that I intended to see through.
I was done being kind and soft. And since I was about to join the Banks, and the Riggs, I wanted to act like it.
"You three were seemingly enjoying a great time before I showed up. I hope you are still in the mood to carry on." I chirped, before I leisurely took the stairs, seemingly in a good mood.
My phone was vibrating, and the caller? Just the sight of his familiar name had my heart missing beats.
Yeah, you guessed right. It was Dalton, my soon-to-be husband, and I could confidently say that before I met him, before Jason's betrayal, I didn't know what being in love felt like.
Because just the thought of listening to his familiar voice had my heart skipping beats, and my fingers trembling.
And then there were the butterflies that were gently fluttering in my stomach, something that I had never experienced in my years of blind devotion to Jason. What a waste of time!
" Did you take a rest?" Deep and magnetic, his voice seeped through my ears when the call connected, and my heart beat went haywire.
Talk about charm, even from so far, he was already rendering me breathless, and for a moment, I just stared into the distance, silently.
Did I rest?
Absolutely not. How could I when there were intruders in my home? When my father joined the enemy camp?
But I couldn't tell him that. We weren't that close, after all.
" I was about to," I whispered, softly, and the line went silent from his end. Comfortable and warm silence, one that you could calmly breathe through without feeling like you were sinning.
" If the place is not peaceful, you don't have to stay." Calm and composed, his voice came up again, and I swear, all the pent-up frustrations almost erupted.
He didn't even need me to tell him, and he already knew what was happening. What was he?
Was he living the future? Well, it didn't even matter. What mattered was that I liked him.
" I have a Villa on the southside. "
" My driver will come to pick you up."
" That's your new home. Go rest there while you wait for our wedding day."