My first love,
Hearing this, something knotted and painful released in Daniella as she stared at her father's face.
"We grew up together, did everything together. You know then, I never thought that we could separate one day," as Liam spoke, he allowed himself to dwell in the past as he continued to look onward into the void.
Meanwhile, Daniella did not know exactly what kind of mood she was having at that moment.
"I've always loved Ivy with my heart and every bone in my body, Ella," Liam continued, taking his eyes to his daughter's face but seeing how acid her expression had become, he knew instantly that she was no longer comfortable with the story.
"Talk to you later. I'll go have my bath now," Daniella notified glumly and spun around.
"Shall we go to the gym together?" Liam asked from her back in a low expectant voice.
Daniella then tilted her head to his face and the intensity of his eyes and slow grin forming at the corners of his thin lips held her speechless.
Without saying anything, she turned again and started for the door.
Sitting and staring into the space in the bathtub, Daniella has been trying not to recall her father's words about his first love since she had left his bedroom but it was so difficult for her not to think about it.
She splish-splash the water in rage and the lather extent everywhere, including her face.
"If he loves Ivy that much then why did he have sex with me last night? Was it because he had mistaken me for Ivy? And how could he even tell me about it- his fucking first love? Was he not ashamed? Doesn't he care about my feelings at all?"
The more she asked herself these questions, the more enraged she felt.
"Ivy or whatever in the hell your name is, I don't fucking know what your motive is about my dad and I do not care but believe me, the next time you appear before him, I'll make sure to kill you right there. Liam Brandon is mine alone, just mine, so just go to hell!" by the time she completed her words; she was practically spitting fire and felt like pulling her hair all out in frustration.
Right then, a soft knock came on the door, accompanied by the voice of her father.
"Ella, are you okay? You've been in there for the past two hours," his soft voice wafted to where Daniella was, simmering.
"I'm all done and I've as well finished preparing breakfast. So would you hurry?"
Seconds had flown by but there was still no reaction coming from inside.
"Or do you need my help?" Liam inputted and then tried to bend the doorknob.
"No, Dad. I'll be right down in a minute," Daniella yelled out, struggling to keep her anger in check.
A warm smile then appeared on Liam's face, "All right, dear. I'll go set the table."
That said, he spun around and started for the staircase, still smiling.
In his opinion, he thought his daughter was taking so much time in getting prepared because she wanted to look beautiful for him. She did that on a far more occasion.
Not too long, Daniella tramped into the dining room with a black look at the same time Liam originated from the kitchen, holding a jam jar. However, the moment her eyes came in contact with her father's, her heart started racing and blood ran hot in her veins as something roared into her chest.
Liam on the other hand had melted right in that spot; he admired Daniella in her pink satin dress. The end of the dress reached just an inch above her mid-thigh, manifesting every curve and dip of hers.
His shoulders tensed as the muscle of his sharp jaw clenched. His Adams apple throbbed wildly as he fight back the urge to throw the jar he was carrying, rush toward her, rip her dress and then fuck her right on that table.
As he thought of this, the scene suddenly put on a display in his eyes. He shut his eyes tightly and shook his head, as if fighting with himself in his head.
"Come on now, let's have breakfast," he said with a giddy grin, the heat of shame blooming across his ears.
Daniella did not know how she manage to release a low deep sigh before sitting herself on a chair in the opposite of Liam.
Watching how her dad dished out her meal and positioned it in front of her, tears burned her eyes as she thought that why was she unfortunate? Such a sweet and handsome man as Liam should be her man and not her father.
When the ambiance was too quiet, it appeared to be extremely awkward which made Liam to lift up his head to look at his daughter but to his amazement, he saw tears gently sloping down Daniella's face.
Sitting upright and letting go of his spoon, he reached out his both hands and took Daniella's hand on the table.
"What's wrong, Ella? Don't you like the food? No, sandwich and egg are one of your favorites. Do you need something? " Liam asked cautiously. He had become fraught with worry and didn't know what to ask or say to her.
Unknown to him, flames had ignited in the spot where he'd grabbed her by the wrist, searing up her arm and spreading like a flash fire through her chest.
"Daniella?" Liam called out again when she was not saying anything, only staring at his eyes intensely and more tears rolling down from her white cheeks.
Sniffing and wiping her tears from time to time, she lowered her head for a second and asked, "Do you love mom the same way you loved Ivy?"
Liam was suddenly rendered speechless. This was a very big question and which he was not really prepared for the answer. Moreover, he should have known his daughter would never let the matter of Ivy glide just like that.
Gosh! If I had come up with a neat lie back there then she wouldn't have anything to worry about now, right. He told himself mentally.
"First of all, please don't ever cry again, Ella. You know how much dad hates to see you cry, right? And just so you know, it breaks my heart a lot" his voice launched into a scolding while a small crease formed on his forehead.
Daniella lowered her eyes demurely. His words just now was close to set her mood right but she needed to know the truth. She thought that she had never seen that look in his eyes when he was talking about the so-called Ivy.
"Second of all," Liam paused, his lips curving into a genuine smile while toying with Daniella's fingers.
Daniella stared at his face, her heart pounding strongly as if it could jump out of her chest anytime soon.
,Just this once, Lord. Let him confess his desire for me also,' she prayed internally.
"You should know that Ivy is now my pasts while you and your mom is my present, Ella."
Actually, this was not the kind of confession she had hoped for but she loved the fact that she came first before her mom and for the first time since that morning, a small flashy smile emitted on her lips.
That means her father loves her much more than her mother. Her smile grew as she thought that what else could she ask for. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"Let's eat already, dad. I'm hungry." She let out with a bright smile and set to dig into her meal.
Liam was shocked. Her sudden lift of mood was even more scary than her down mood. Anyway, he was pleased to see that her good mood was now back.
*
Liam got down from the car gracefully, veered around at the same time Daniella also came down.
"Whoa, dad. I can't remember the last time I visited your gym center," Daniella said with an intake sharp breath, her eyes wandering the surroundings.
Then be my guest today, my sweetheart," Liam proffered, securing her hand in his.
Daniella glanced at their adjoined hands then back to her father breathtaking smiling face. Blood rushed to her ears as she quickly avoided his gaze.
However, she wished her father would stop showing his sweet smile once they arrive in the gym room.
"Shall we?" asked Liam.
Daniella nodded keenly and with this, they both started for the building.
Two minutes later, they arrived in the place and since it was a weekend, the place was a bit crowdie with a lot of men and women engaged in their physical training.
Daniella was glad to see this. No one would have the chance to steal a look at her dad.
However, as both father and daughter pass by, a feminine voice shouted from a direction.
"Look everyone; it's the handsome director,"
Instantaneously, the attention of all the clients zeroed in on Liam and every pair of the ladies eyes ogled him with love and worship.
"Who created such a good-looking man as this?"
He's so cute,
I hope he's not married, "Why is he so handsome?"
"I don't mind divorcing my husband for this handsome and broad man,"
As Daniella listened to the women remarks, a sour feeling appeared in mouth and she immediately linked her arm around Liam's, raising her head defiantly and glaring at those who had their eyes dancing around her father.
,Keep your eyes to yourself, bitches,' she resisted the urge to shout out.
Suppressing his lips in a tight line to stop himself from laughing, "Let's go, baby," Liam muttered to his daughter's hearing.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go already before they all rape you." Daniella said, pulling her dad to stride away very fast.
"Liam!" this sudden voice halted their paces and Daniella couldn't stop her eyes from rolling before turning around to see who it was this time.
"Ivy?"
Daniella heard Liam mumbled before she could even take in the person's appearance.
Ivy!
The name reverberated in her head and mind and she felt a tight knot twisted in her chest while her eyes glared holes at the sophisticated dressed lady standing in the entrance way.
What the hell is she doing here?