[chapter 11. Ice cream and new home]
trigger warning: child abuse and human trafficking
The world was bright, and the girl was the happiest person on the planet.
The six-year-old girl and her aunt walked hand in hand as she got lost in her bubble of happiness. Her aunt, the red-haired woman, tended to many sisters and brothers similar or younger than her age. She looked after all of them.
The little girl adored her aunt. She was the kindest person she ever knew.
The red-haired woman laughed, watching the girl halt on her steps, her doe eyes wandering to a stall. "Here," the woman said and went down on a knew and handed her a cone of her favorite strawberry ice cream.
Having the desire to eat more than necessary, the little girl risked taking a big bite of the sugary blob, her brain froze, and the woman giggled. "Slowly," she laughed.
"Tasty?" the woman asked.
"Twasty," the girl replied with her mouth full of ice cream as her eyes filled with delight. Her hand intertwined with her aunt as they walked while she happily munched on her ice cream. She could not be even happier. The red-haired woman laughed, shaking her head; the little girl had the sweetest tooth.
"So tell me, what do you like more? Strawberry or your aunt," the woman asked with a mock stern look, leading the girl.
"Strawberry."
"My, my, what a heartless girl," the woman gasped as if hurt by the blunt words. Taking a bite of the pink sweetness, the little girl giggled. Her pigtails bounced with every step she took. No one could ever match her love for strawberries.
They would always be the number one.
Her face fell as she completed the last bite of her ice cream, and she was too shy to ask for more. Her curious eyes wandered as she noticed they were by the sidewalk in an alley she had never seen.
After fifteen minutes of walking, they entered the dark narrow streets near a black car. The woman stopped the kid and brought her near to the SUV. Two men stood against the car.
"My child," the woman crooned. "You have a new home now," the woman said, catching the girl off guard. Her eyes widened. What did her aunt mean? Home? Didn't she already have a home filled with many other kids like her? What's going on? An eerie feeling hit her stomach.
She did not like it.
"You are going with them. Get in the car," she smiled and patted the child's head with utter love. The little girl looked at her aunt with confusion splattered across her face. She did not want to leave her aunt.
"I don't want to leave you," she hugged the legs of the woman and looked up with her doe watery eyes, unwilling to let go. She pouted like a spoiled kid and shook her head vigorously.
The woman let out a sigh. She pinched the bridge of her nose. Why can't she get rid of this nuisance?
"You need to leave, baby," she forced a smile and spoke in a sweet tone. "They are your new family now." The girl looked reluctant, betrayed. She was always a good girl; why was her aunt giving her to someone else? Her six-year-old mind could not process it.
Her olive eyes darted to two means she flinched and hid behind her aunt. They looked big and scary.
"She will miss me," the girl spoke, her eyes turning red and teary. "I won't go," she shook her head.
The red woman's eyes hardened. This bitch. "Sweetheart, you need to go," she cooed, controlling the anger bubbling within her.
"No," the child refused.
"We will get you another strawberry ice cream on the way," the man offered. The girl looked swayed; her mouth watered for more strawberry-flavored things. Her eyes sparkled with interest, and the man smiled at her reaction.
"Hmm, Carl don't we have strawberry candies in the back of the trunk," he hummed, looking at his partner. How stupid, Carl rolled his eyes. But to his benefit, the girl was buying into those foolish words.
Oblivious to the dark intention the girl bubbled with excitement; her pigtails swayed as her eager body moved to the trunk, searching for candy.
"Here," the man handed a thick packet to the woman who coyly hid it inside her jacket. Her eyes curved into a smile. "If you have more, let us know," he mumbled, looking at the child who walked towards the trunk.
"Of course. It's always a pleasure doing business with you.
The girl's lips puckered, and a frown etched on her face. There was nothing in the trunk. Before she could turn around, someone hit the side of her head, making her hit the metal frame. A cry left her lips as she saw black dots in her vision.
Blood trailed down the metal as the small body collapsed inside the trunk. A cruel chuckle was all she heard before the boot door got shut closed.
Like her fate
----
Selena woke up gasping for air from a nightmare that felt like a flashback. It's difficult to wake up from a nightmare if you're not even asleep. People don't realize how sleepless nights affect you or how overthinking can kill you gradually. People don't understand how it can morph your mind into thoughts you wish weren't yours.
She got up from her bed, her hand mindlessly running through her unkempt hair. "You stupid fucking naive Selena," she cursed.
"Seven hells," she groaned, getting out of bed. Her throat prickled as she coughed. Her eyes burned as she rubbed them.
Lazily she walked down to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. She greedily drank the cold water to ease her parched throat. Her body relaxed as she closed her eyes.
"I did not know you had a hobby of a stalker," she turned around, looking at the man hiding in the corner.
The man cursed himself and coughed awkwardly. He wanted to die of embarrassment after being caught by his daughter.
"It's my house. I am free to move as I please," he narrowed his eyes at her and pretended to be stern.
Selena responded with a hum and set the glass down, ready to return to her room.
"W-wait," he said, clearing his throat. Why did I stutter? He clenched his teeth.
Theodore felt sweat trickle down his back as his daughter raised an eyebrow and waited for an explanation. For the first time, he identified Liliana in her; how she concealed the fire behind a smile, how one glance from her had him sweating. The power his daughter held over him.
"Do you want to go for a w-walk?" he questioned, his voice tingling with an unknown hesitancy.
Selena felt a bubble of amusement inside her. She had no idea Theodore Mariano had a cute side. Her lips twitched, then froze. What in the world was she thinking?
Her instinct warned her to say no. But the voices in her head sang. Manipulate Theodore's concern for his blood, and you'll be able to abandon him whenever you want once his use is over.
It was true that Mariano's name provided her with impenetrable protection.
"Alright, Father," she said, her eyes curved.
She didn't give a damn about her family. They were nothing more than people who shared the same genes. Nothing more.
They walked into the lotus-filled water garden. Yes, Mariano's had multiple gardens in the house. Each one is properly cared for and preserved.
The elegant scent entered her body; something about this location was peaceful. With the illuminating water and the dim moonlight. The mud-grown lotus with the bird and insects chirping in the background. It calmed her down.
They walked around the garden without saying anything and fell into a mutually comfortable silence.
"I'm sorry," he said. His lips pursed. "I was wrong to snap at you when you were late. Instead of worry, my concern manifested itself as anger. It was unbecoming of a father. I apologize for that," he stated.
Selena lowered her head and bit her lips to keep a laugh from escaping. Even his apology sounded like a press statement from the CEO. He couldn't break his character. Somehow a part of her found it adorable.
"Hmm, apology accepted," she said, watching his tense shoulder relax.
"But that doesn't mean I agree with your behavior of expressing anger without justification. I was well-protected and returned home safely. It would be best if you had not blamed Garold; that was unbecoming of a boss. And simply because I forgive does not imply that I forget," she added, watching his eyes shine.
For a split second, her mind mistook it for pride.
They sat near the lotus-filled pond, taking in the scenery.
The maid offered her a wet towel to clean her hand. "Thank you," Selena said, taking the woman by surprise. Such compliments were rare, especially for background servants like her. It made her strive to serve the young girl even more.
"You used to enjoy eating strawberries as a baby. I requested that they make you some ice cream," he said as the maid set up two bowls of pink ice cream. The maid bowed and left.
Her olive eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him. As she averted her gaze from his, she felt a lump in her throat.
Selena's hand trembled as she held the bowl tenderly and brought the spoon adorned with her favorite thing to her lips. Her eyes stung as the sweet taste filled her mouth.
Though it brought back memories she wished to forget, she could not explain why it tasted sweeter than before.
"Here," he said, handing her the second bowl while watching her finish the ice cream in minutes. Without waiting for a response, she ate the second bowl happily.
He watched his daughter with a smile.
Her situation differed this time because she would not get abandoned after eating the ice cream.
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