CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6

"We sure bought a lot of stuff today," said Brent as he placed all the shopping bags on the table. Allison looked at him momentarily with weary eyes, he doesn't even seem to be tired after almost a whole day of shopping.

"Yeah," Allison said with a sigh. "I'm exhausted," she muttered as she lounged her butt in the sofa. Her feet have been aching because of their long time of walking, good thing she wasn't wearing heels, her feet would've ached two times more.

"Do you want something to eat?" asked Brent as he walked to kitchen. You're still hungry after we ate lunch minutes ago? God, Allison thought before answering. "A glass of orange juice would be nice."

"Okay," she heard him reply. She heaved a sigh before covering her eyes with an arm, and suddenly, she felt like sleeping. Her lids were getting heavy and her mind was getting blank, she was trying to fight her urge to doze off when her phone suddenly rang. She sprang from the sofa and fished out her phone from her new Michael Korrs clutch, she read the caller's ID and realized it was from her parents. Without hesitation, Allison slid the answer button.

"Mom, Dad!" she greeted gleefully. She misses them so much, it has been days and weeks ever since she talked with them, the feeling of missing them was already eating her alive. It has been months ever since she has seen them and it was her three-month vacation from college. Aside from her parents, she also misses her home. She missed the fresh scent of the grass and flowers in the garden, the assortment of flowers the surrounds the whole area with diverse magnificent colours that gives the beauty and life to the whole garden, the prickling heat of the hot sun and the smell of the gardener's sweat as he does his job every day. She missed the mansion's huge library, the books that gave her knowledge that had lived in the shelves for many years, the odour of obsolesce and the coffee that butler, Mr. Marshall offers to her whenever she enters the chamber of knowledge and most of all, the delicious taste of Mrs. Brown's freshly-baked brownies during snack.

"Allison," her father's voice said coldly that rendered Allison to unconsciously quiver. Her father hasn't talked to her coldly like this. He sounded angry and disappointed at the same time. She already heard this low, demanding voice of her father's that he only uses

whenever he is extremely furious to the bone. She had heard that voice a few times as she flourished in her home, when something goes wrong in the company or he and her mother had a fight.

"Daddy?" she asked.

"I want you to come home, right now" her father's voice commanded, his voice menacing and getting uptight.

"Why? Is there somethi—" she wasn't able to able to finish what she was about to say because he already hung up. The gesture broke Allison's heart and it was clear that her father is furious. What had she done to make her father furious?

"Here's y— hey... what's with the face?" asked the newly-arrived Brent when he noticed Allison's face. She looked apprehensive and pale, like she could almost piss on her shorts.

Allison gripped on her phone as her fear starts devouring her, does her father know that she slept with a man that she barely knew? But how did he know? Her heart squeezed when she thought of her father feeling disappointed of her.

"Hey... Drew..."

No, her parents mustn't find out. What will happen if they will? What will ha—

"Drew!" Allison was taken aback when she felt Brent shaking her, calling for her attention.

"Dawson..." she trailed off, stopping herself from crying. She doesn't know what to think or feel. She feels so scared, so confused.

"What's wrong?" he asked, worry and confusion evident on his face. He wiped her cheek, that was then Allison noticed that she was already crying. Brent held her hand that was cold and shaking in nervousness, sharing the warmth of his hand into hers, giving her solace in just a small gesture.

"I-I need to go home," she said as she grabbed her clutch and hastily walked to the elevator. She needs to go home. She needs to know the reason why her father sounded angry and disappointed at her. She needs and wants answers to remove her fearsome assumptions.

"Hold on a sec," Brent held her hand, stopping her from walking to the elevator. He turned her around and held her by the shoulders for her to face him. Allison looked into his ocean blue eyes that were filled with concern and false impression. She knows he wants answers also but she's too anxious and perplexed that she doesn't know what to do first but to go home and face her parents' wrath.

"Listen Allison, I'm not letting you out of this penthouse unless you tell me what happened that got you pretty nervous. Look at yourself, you look like a beautified corpse that is ready to be brought to the morgue," Brent said, shaking her by her shoulders.

"D-Dad called..." she stammered, her fear crawling back again. He nodded, nonverbally telling her to go on, "H-He sounded angry, he said he wants me home. Dawson, I don't know what to do. I don't know what made him angry but I'm sure he knows that I slept with a man I barely met... God, remembering how angry his voice was kills me..." she murmured as tears started falling from her emerald green eyes once again. She felt Brent's arms wrapped around her shoulders, enclosing her into a hug.

"Don't worry, I'm going with you," Brent told her, his hand gently patting her small back. Allison felt the tenderness of Brent's voice. She remembered when they were still in grade school, how Brent got his first black eye because he fought her bullies just for them to stop bullying her. He told her with the same tender voice, "Hey, it's okay now. No more bullies," that affectionate, brotherly voice reminds her that she is not alone and he is always by her side.

"Thank you, Dawson..." she mumbled between her cries, feeling grateful and guilty at the same time. She wanted to say sorry for hiding from him Rebecca's secret. The pang of guilt was eating her heart out that she wanted to confess but she'll still feel guilty because she'll be breaking her promise to Rebecca.

"Okay, okay. Quit the drama now," he said as he wiped her tears, "Stop the waterfalls now, Ally" Allison nodded as she sniffed, "I'm okay now," she told him, staring at him with her puffy eyes.

"Just remember that whatever happens, I'll always be by your side. I won't leave you alone, I'll never leave you alone," he promised and Allison nodded holding unto his words.

"Welcome back, Miss Allison, Sir Brent," greeted Mr. Marshall with a bow, the family's butler for the last 35 years. He has already been working for the Taylors before Allison's birth. He has seen Allison flourish all over the years of his service to the family. Even though Allison's already 20, in Mr. Marshall's old, wrinkled and weary eyes, she's still the same little girl who asks him to lift her up so she can reach the mango fruit that was hanging on the garden's only mango tree, the same little girl with those big, round and cute smiling green eyes who hides behind his legs when she first entered school.

When he stood straight, Allison gave him a small nod and smile, knowing Allison, he knows that she's upset and she wasn't in the mood for hugging and crying out for joy and memories. He gave her a reassuring smile, as if telling her it's going to be all right.

"May I have your coats?" he asked them with a kind smile and both Allison and Brent gave their coats to him. He lifted an arm and pointed it at the mansion's drawing room, "let us head to the drawing room, shall we?" he told them as he began to walk there and they followed him.

"Your parents are both in the drawing room with your visitor," said Mr. Marshall that stunned Allison. She stiffened and stopped walking as if her feet were glued on the marbled floor.

"Visitor?" Allison repeated with her eyebrows meeting. Who could it be?

Mr. Marshall stopped his tracks and faced them, "Yes, Miss, Mr. de Vries came here half an hour ago before your and Sir Brent's arrival,"

Allison's heart jumped out from her chest in surprise, Mr. de Vries is here? Her fear crawled from her feet to her knees, was he the one to tell my parents that I slept with him? How could he? Instantly, anger ran into her blood, making her fear scurry away, giving her courage. Why did he do that? How dare he do that? He had no right!

"Drew?" Brent called for her attention when he noticed that her ears were burning red.

"Let's go," Allison said, her anger taking her over. She walked to the drawing room with her feet burning with speed of hatred, she wants to see Hades, ask why did he tell her parents that she had sex with him, what was his reason. She wanted to punch him, kick him, hurt him because of what he had done. Her fingers are itching to get her hands on him.

When they arrived at the drawing room, the saccharine aroma of tea invaded Allison's nose, it gave her the idea that her parents are having tea. When she went in further, Allison saw her parents, having tea with the one and only man who she had slept with, Hades Ezekiel Friso de Vries, sitting with all his glory, calmly sitting and drinking tea. He looked manly with his five o'clock shadow and large, chiselled muscles that could almost rip his dress shirt but Allison wasn't able to notice because of her overwhelming anger.

"The Young Mistress has arrived, Master Jonathan, Mistress Irina," announced Mr. Marshall.

"Thank you, you may go now, Mr. Marshall," said Irina Taylor's voice without even looking at Mr. Marshall. Her mother was chic and polite, she grew up from a good and well-mannered family, born to be strict and civil, taught to be a proper lady under strict and coherent rules. She grew up firm, sophisticated and class, however, her that attitude melts like whenever she's angry as fire.

"We should go now, Mister Brent," whispered Mr. Marshall to Brent. Brent looked at Mr. Marshall and nodded before asking Allison, "Will you be all right?' and Allison answered him with a stiff nod. Brent heaved a small sigh before leaving with Mr. Marshall.

As soon as their footsteps weren't heard, Allison's mother, Irina, turned her head saw her daughter, standing right before her eyes. She stood up and sauntered to her daughter with full sophistication and grace with the curls of her red hair bouncing, she almost looked like Allison. They had the same auburn red hair, pouty pink lips and upturned nose. Allison looked into her mother's hazel brown eyes, the only feature she hasn't acquired from her dear mother, they were smouldering with rage.

"M-mo—" Allison wasn't able to finish when a hand landed on her cheek with a loud SLAP!

A stingy sensation promptly crept on Allison's cheek, she held her cheek lightly, looking at her mother with her surprised and scared eyes. Her mother had hurt her a few times before but it was only a small spank that can cause no pain, it was the first time that her mother had hurt her with so much force that had caused so much pain.

"I can't believe you, Allison," Irina Taylor seethed at her, rage still burning in her brown orbs, anger making her lips tremble and blood boiling inside her veins, making her sophisticated fair white face red, then she continued. "I am so disappointed of you."

Her words struck Allison like a knife. There's nothing that makes her sad but only making her parents disappointed of her, her heart felt heavy of guilt. A tear fell from Allison's right eye. She was always the perfect daughter, every parent in the world would want her. She was beautiful, obedient and smart. If teenagers out there talk back to their parents, Allison was different, when her parents scold her, she would bow her head down, listen to every word they say and apologize to them. She always does everything to appease them, she practiced the violin, flute and piano even though all she wanted to do was to play outside with Brent. She studies every night even though she doesn't want to, she works hard even though they haven't given her all the attention she needs.

"I'm sorry..." she apologized while looking down on her shoes with a hoarse, crying voice.

"Well sorry doesn't fix it, young lady. Do you know what the society will think our family if they knew that our only daughter lost her virginity out of wedlock?" That stung Allison, all this time, her mother had only been thinking about the family's reputation? How the people would think of them? That's what she's only been concerned about? She isn't mad and disappointed at her because she cares? Not because she loves her daughter? She thought her mother would be the one to defend her, she thought that her mother would be the one to give her solace but those are only assumptions and assumptions don't come as we least expect it. That gave Allison a bitter thought, since when did her mother act like that, anyway?

"Irina," Jonathan Taylor's menacing voice roared in the drawing room, making Allison shudder in camera. She met the angry side of her father when she was high school. She escaped the mansion to join a party where she and Brent were both invited. She remembered how angry he was that she almost pissed on what she was wearing that time, she doesn't want to meet that side once again but it looks like she's going to.

Irina Taylor turned her back against her daughter and ambled away to sit beside her husband. Allison followed, she was about to sit beside her mother when an enormous hand caught hers and a strong force pulled her that made her land and sit on the sofa opposite to her parents', the sofa where Hades was sitting. Allison wasn't able to stop herself and slapped his chiseled face with all the force she could muster. Hades turned his face to look at her, his stormy grey eyes filled with surprise.

"How dare y—" Allison seethed but she wasn't able to finish when her father, Jonathan Taylor suddenly spoke.

"Allison," her father's voice boomed, she looked at her father reluctantly and almost cowered in fear when she saw the anger scorching in his green orbs, it was more than how her mother's angry eyes looked. Her father is a man of his own words. He grew up coarse and bitter, like Hades, he was a business tycoon and was forced by his parents marry Irina Pendleton to gain more connections and money. The business world always revolves around competition and money, you will do anything to gain more, even if it means sacrificing your own freedom of marrying the person you love.

"D-dad?"

"I am very disappointed of you," Allison felt the same nasty and hurtful feeling when her mother said the same words, the pain on her chest was more than what she could take. Tears started streaming from her eyes to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," that was all she could say between her sobs while looking down, staring at her fists that were resting on her thighs. A warm hand stroked her back, soothingly, gently. She knows it's Hades, even though she was furious of him, she let him touch her. The weird waves of electricity that his hand sent to her skin feels weird, she doesn't know why but she feels comfortable and safe with his hand on her back.

"I'm glad Mr. de Vries here, told us about the circumstance between you two," her father continued, his voice turning formal and bitter. "I'm very thankful that he followed you every day after you did that," that stunnedher, Hades was following her after all? She doesn't know if she should feel creepy or disgusted. Her father then continued. "And according to him, you are bearing his child."

Allison's eyes widened in bewilderment and her lips gaped open out of astonishment. Hades told them that she's pregnant with his child? Where did he get that idea? Does he even have proof? Why would he tell them that? What does he want?

"I-I beg you—" she wasn't able to finish when her mother showed a pregnancy tester containing two red lines. Allison's jaw gaped open; it was Rebecca's pregnancy tester. Her father said that Hades had been following her so that means he saw her throw that on the trash bin. She covered her mouth with her hand, he must've thought that she's pregnant with his child that's why he's here, to ask for hand in marriage in order to take responsibility.

Allison doesn't know what to do or to say. If she tells them that it wasn't hers, they would ask to whom does it belong and it would expose Rebecca's secret. If she tells them it's hers, there would be a possibility th—

"It seems that you are not denying that it is true," her father's voice brought her back to reality. Her lips trembled, she doesn't know what to tell her father, her heart was hammering inside her chest in panic. Jonathan Taylor closed his eyes and dropped his head for a moment before sighing, lifting his head and opening his mouth again, "So, after hearing this circumstance, your mother and I have decided that you and Mr. de Vries should get married."

Should get married

Should get married

Should get married

The same lines repeated over and over Allison's head, she had expected this but she didn't expect that it would twist her chest that it hurts so much. She felt the pang of regret, if she only she controlled herself from Hades' seductive, saccharine and drunk kisses, she wouldn't be here right now, she's probably in the penthouse, decorating with Brent with all the Christmas decorations she bought. However, the blood in her veins began boiling like hot water inside a kettle that wasn't pulled out from the hot stove, her anger has ruptured and she's now triggered. Allison turned her head and looked at Hades with full neglect and hate, she can't believe that he could do this to her, "Are you happy now?"

Hades looked at her lovingly that almost made her knees weak, "Lo—"

"Tell me are you happy now?!" Allison stood up, her voice getting hysterical. If she has an emotion that she can't control, that is anger. She may be timid and civil but like her mother, when she gets angry, she can't control herself and give in to her rage until it goes away. Her blood is boiling of anger at Hades, she was scared and nervous when his presence is near before but now, she feels nothing but pure abhorrence. Why did he tell this to her parents? Because he wants to marry her? For what reason? There are plenty of women who would drop on their knees to marry him!

"Allison," her mother chided while sipping tea from her cup, "Don't speak like that to your fiancé. Mr. de Vries wasted his precious time to come here to ask us for your hand in marriage and take responsibility of your child. You should be thankful, my dear that he is unlike any other men out there."

"Grateful? Should I be grateful? Mom, he's stealing my free—" she wasn't able to finish when her mother went on her feet and slapped her once again. The same stingy sensation came back once again, but this time, it was more painful. She looked at her mother with fury and wretchedness, she can't believe that her mother could hurt her with more than one slap and hurtful words at a time.

"Don't raise your voice on me like that, young lady! Remember, I am your mother! God, I never thought you would grow up like this, I never thought you would be such an ungrateful bra—"

"That's it!" Jonathan suddenly pounce his hands on the table, rendering everyone in the table to shut their mouths in silence. He looked at Allison with fiery eyes, "The decision is final, Allison. You're marrying Mr. de Vries whether you like it or not," he seethed before walking out.

"Jonathan!" Irina Taylor invoked and followed her husband whose ears and nose was already smoking.

Allison felt defeated. She felt her world was just smashed into crippling dust, never had she thought that it would come to this. Her life, her dreams, her plans, they slowly crumpled and faded into the pit of darkness, leaving her all alone with no light. She's a strong and independent woman but strong people have their own weaknesses too, hers is her parents. She respects and thinks of them highly, she loves them so much and she was afraid of them being disappointed at her. Suddenly she felt a pair of arms snaked around her, holding her gently, caressing her body soothingly, "don't worry, love," his smooth, velvety voice said that was more than enough to melt her little heart, "I'll take care of you, I promise."

She turned around and slapped him across the face, "I hate you," she told him with full rage before walking out.