Liam stopped the car asking Ivy to wait. He got down before opening the door for her. He took her hand, helping her out.
"Your majesty," he said with a bow before releasing her hand.
Ivy giggled at his antics, "You spoil me too much," she said. His little action rejoice her and warmed her heart but reality always reminded her, he wasn't hers.
His average height took nothing of his charisma exhibited by his strong and firm built for his age. The marks of time were evidence on his face, removing nothing of the beauty he once had and still does.
"What have you being doing, you should have been here long ago!" Karl, Ivy's father said. A frown on his face.
He ran out of the house immediately he has been informed of their arrival. His was in fury, Liam took too long, he should have arrived thirty minute earlier.
"Don't ask me but your daughter. She is the reason at why we are late," Liam said. Himself wondered what took her so long to come to them. They had to wait for her way too long.
"What my daughter? she never cause trouble, it must be you're doing. I knew they were a reason why you insist to go to the airport," defended Karl. His daughter wasn't in the wrong.
"Calm down, aren't you exaggerating?" Sofia , Ivy's mother injected holding her husband hands.
Her soft and gentle voice matched her allure. Soft and gentle. The beauty of her aged face let one perceive how she looked once, before the experience of life started to show on her face. Her gentle look, reflected her kindness of heart.
"The most important is them being here now," she said looking softly at the two young people. She also worried but knew, with Liam at her side, there were nothing to worry about.
"I don't care." he folded his arms, refusing to think with reason.
" I should have gone myself. He went to I know where with my daughter without my permission." he glared at innocent man.
He has always be protective of Ivy and it won't change even if she was no more a child. He was especially weary of Liam, knowing his daughter feeling for the guy. He already hurt his daughter more than enough. If left to him to decide, he would have stop Ivy from seeing him but she was too stubborn to hear what he has to say and because of that, he had a little grudge against Liam.
Ivy, the main topic been discussed could only watch helplessly at the situation. Her father exaggerating behavior was all her fault. She was the one who took longer than necessary to come to Liam because of the apprehension. What would happen once she was back? The answer to it happens to be nothing. Nothing would change.
"Dad!!" Ivy called, running in her father arms.
"I missed you," she said. Trying her best to change the topic not liking where it was heading to.
Liam and her father used to be close like father and son but because of her, her father distant himself from him. She hated it but no matter what she says, her father won't change his mind.
"Princess," Karl said knowing exactly what she was doing but he let her be, how couldn't he? When he had his daughter in his arms.
"I missed so much," he added, tightening the hug.
He knew the reason why she left and it was another reason why Liam when on his bad side. He was the cause of his precious daughter leaving home for three years. If he didn't insist, he wonder if she would have come back.
"Liar!! Since I arrive you only argue with Liam paying no attention to me." she pouted.
"How can I ignore my princess? Someone didn't want to let me breath," he said sending a look at Liam.
Liam scoffed and looked away. He didn't understand the change in his uncle, they were so close before but now… It wasn't like they were not close but he could feel the difference in treatment. No matter how he thought about it, he found no explanation behind his change of behaviour.
"So you only missed your father," Sofia complained.
"Of course not!" Ivy rapidly detached herself from her father and ran to her mother.
"I missed you the most," They snuggled, enjoying the comforting warm that came from her. She missed her parents so much.
For love, she left love, wasn't it crazy?
"Me too dear, I'm happy you are back," Sofia said caressing her head.
"Let go in. Food is already serve and may turn cold if we wait any longer." she added as they broke the hug.
"And who is the cause of this?" Karl glared in Liam direction.
"Would you stop accusing the poor boy? You should be thankful he went to take your daughter because you could not," Sofia said.
"Who said I could not! I could have not went to that boring meeting and go to the airport. It wasn't a big deal." he brushed it off. Sofia shoot him a look, he shut up his mouth.
She understand her husband behavior since she also knew about Ivy's feelings for Liam but unlike him, she didn't blame Liam. For her, we didn't choose who to love. It wasn't his fault if Ivy love him and he couldn't reciprocate to her feelings.
Seeing that, Liam smiled and ran to her,
"Thank you aunt, without your help uncle would have keep on blaming," Liam said.
"Now I'm your aunt? It seem not to be the case when you fail to visit me during these three years. Now that my daughter is back you know me again." she complained with a frown on her face.
In the past few years he didn't step a foot in their house while in the past he won't make a week without coming. She understood well that it was Ivy he was coming to see and had no reason to come since she was absent but it hurt her that he didn't even considered her when he was like a son to her.
"Sorry aunt, I was busy…" he tried to explained but she wasn't listening.
Being busy wasn't an excuse. If you love someone you always make time for them and it wasn't as if she lived in another country. They always made time to go and visit Ivy who lived abroad even with Karl busy schedule.
"Let's go, lunch will be cold," she took her daughter arms in hers and they got in, with the men silently following behind them. They both have being turned silent.
The scene made Ivy happy, home really hit different. When they walked through the door, the entrance was filled with the employees and on the front line was the butler.
His matching figured with Ivy's parents transpired his age.
In his black suit, the elderly Asian walked forward to Ivy.
"as the representative of the whole staff, we wish you a happy returns home. We are delight to have back home miss Stone," he finished with a bow.
The moment he stood up, he was assaulted by Ivy, who jumped in his arms. A big surprise, not only for the elderly man but for the rest of the staff and her family. Ivy was never one to be overly affectionate to the staff. She treated right, that was it. Her sudden display of affection was odd.
"Old Ling, I missed you too. Even this ugly face of yours was missing me,"she said still holding him. Ugly, was what she decided to call him since he told on her to her parents when she broke a vase when she was six. It wasn't a reflection of his appearance but that of whom he was for a six year old who deed has been revealed.
The old man hugged her back, confusion all over his face. He questioned his boss but neither of them could explain what was happening. With no other choice, he let it go and enjoyed the moment.
He has always wished to hug her but never dare to do so. He missed her. How couldn't he when he saw her grow from a baby to the woman she now was
"Even your lack of skill in tieing you knot missed me," she said fixing his knot.
For the whole thirty five years of work, he never truly mastered the act. What was the used when his wife dutifully tie it for him every morning?
Ivy walked through the entrance and went to the living, quietly followed by the rest and under the confused look of the staff. The house was a mix of white, golden and had green plants at every corner. Warm was brought by the paintings and photos all over the place in a well organized order. Her eyes wandered on the big family portrait above the chimney, her cupboard made of glass on the side, containing all the trophy she ever won with the most important one at the top, on its own. It was a cup won by the three friends but the boy insisted on her taking it. They argued they were almost always at her place, it was the same as having it home.
"I'm home!" she exclaimed letting herself fall on the white sofa. Hands by her side, she took in every angle of the house, nostalgia filling her.
"yes, you are home " Liam said, taking a seat by her side. Their shoulders were touching.
Ivy look up, only to meet his gaze. He had been watching her all the long. His soft gaze, filled of love was what always brought her hope. It makes her think she was loved by him but what she forgot was the existence of multiple types of love. Liam loved her but not of the type she wanted.