I walk slowly
but
never backwards
-
Abraham Lincoln

__________________

The rest of the day passed with all my senses dulled like I was underwater. Shock, I suppose. And denial. I just couldn't believe things were as bad as they apparently were. I hate that they're getting separated especially when they make me the reason for their separation. I could still remember the way my mother stared at my father with love. They always looked perfect.

"You all right?" asks Daniel with concern when he caught me staring into space, sitting on my bed, leaning against the headboard, sheets covering my bare legs.

"I'm..." What? What was I? There wasn't a word. Finally I settled on, "Fine. Just tired is all. Couldn't sleep last night."

Chuckling, Daniel patted me on the shoulder. "Liar," he mutters, getting inside the covers, beside me. "Looks like you been eaten by a fox and shit over a cliff."

When I turned to glare at him, he said, "Somebody had to say it!"

I threw my hands in the air. "Really? Somebody had to say I look like I was eaten by a fox and shit over a cliff? Something someone really needed to tell me?"

"You actually look like somebody died. Was it that bad? The conversation with your parents?"

My throat closed.

"Tell me," he whispers, wrapping his arm around me. A smile tugs at the corner of my lips when I hear his authorative voice.

I stare up at him with a wide grin. "Okay, this is a small story. Listen carefully."

"Bedtime story?"

I nod my head, eagerly. "Once upon there was a princess, her name was Allison. She was so beautiful, she was the cutest baby in this world and she wa-"

"Now you're exaggerating," Daniel comments. I hit him on the arm.

"Do not disturb," I scold him. "I was the eldest daughter of Axel and Leah, they loved me a lot and I was so happy but happiness always has an end. Mark, my dad's best friend brought a storm into my life. I still remember that day. Dad was playing with me but stopped when he saw Uncle Mark. After sometime they started fighting, I was so scared. When Uncle went away, I ran towards my father but instead of picking me up, he pushed me away. There started my actual life." Daniel continued rubbing my arm, pulling me closer to me.

I smile at him. "They forgot that they had a daughter and after few years, I was used to it. I stopped begging for their attention and that forced me to grow faster. I was out of high school by the age of fourteen, moved out of their house at sixteen, attorney at the age of twenty. They were never there for me. I felt jealous when I saw how much they loved Ashley. For years, I kept waiting for their love but I got nothing.

"I didn't know what was wrong until I was twelve. I understood the actual reason behind their behavior. Mom cheated on Dad with Uncle Mark. Continued it for a month but stopped when she felt guilty. She realized that she was pregnant but choose to keep the baby without telling the truth to Dad. When I was four, Uncle Mark came back from Canada only to spoil our lives. He told Dad I was his child and that Mom cheated on him." I stop, taking a deep breathe.

"They hated because you weren't Axel's daughter?" I nod my head.

"Mom choose Dad above me. She choose to stay away from her child to live a happy life with her husband. Dad forgave her and they started their life again. I never told them that I knew the truth. I choose to ignore them. When I was sixteen, I had some problems which stopped the silence between us. I still remember their concerned face when they saw me in the hospital. We started small talks but nothing serious. Ashley knows nothing about what has happened and I don't want her to know. I didn't want her to live there anymore when she started complaining about how they don't have time for her. I agreed for this marriage so that she doesn't have to struggle like I did but again I would have waited for another two years if you weren't the groom."

"What happened now?"

"They're planning to get divorced." It feels more real when I say it out loud.

"Mm. Does that bother you?" he asks, tangling his left leg with my right one.

I frown slightly. "It does. I don't care if they get divorce but that shouldn't be because of me. They still love each other so divorce is a stupid plan. Mom blames herself for loving Dad so much that she didn't care about my life. She's right in a way but still I don't want them separated. I have a life today, friends who love me, a wonderful career and an arrogant husband for another six months."

"I'm not arrogant," Daniel argues, glaring at me. "What did you tell them?"

"I told them that I forgave them long back and that I'd already let it go but I also told them to not expect me to be normal with them. It's not easy to act as if nothing has happened, I can't do that," I said, resting my head on Daniel chest.

My parents taught me so many things indirectly and one among those is to let go hatred. The hatred they had in them killed a part of themselves, I don't want that to happen to me. I can understand their circumstances but still that's not enough for me to forget everything that has happened. Judge always told me to try to built a relationship with my parents. I told him no everytime since I didn't want to beg them for any attention anymore. I'd decided long ago that if any relation is going to happen between us then it should be initiated by them.

Today, when they decided to reduce the distance between us, I couldn't accept it. I don't want them to be with me by abandoning a part of themselves.

"That's it?" Daniel asks.

I shake my head. "No. I gave them the DNA report which proves that Axel Hart is my biological father."

"What?" Daniel exclaims, looking perplexed. "When did you do that?"

I grin wide. "I just wanted to know. I did it when I was twenty, they didn't know. I had my ways and the report wasn't very surprising. Deep inside me, I knew he was my father." I chuckle, my voice low. "It's really funny that they decided that I was not his child because I had black hair. Both my parents had blonde hair and Uncle Mark had black hair so they ended up deciding I was Uncle Mark's child."

Daniel chuckles. "Maybe they were scared. They didn't want to confirm anything. They didn't want to change anything. Does it hurt you?"

I shake my head. "It doesn't matter now. Back then, I was angry but now everything seems fine to me. Five years has brought a lot of changes in my life and that includes maturity."

"It does hurt you," he states, his grip on me tightens. "It hurts you that they didn't bother giving you a bright future. It hurts you that the thought of a paternity test didn't even cross their mind. It hurts you that it took so long for them to finally see you."

Butterflies starts their work in my stomach after hearing Daniel's words. Am I that transparent?

I think opaque is the correct word.

Shut up!

"My mother was raped."

I freeze, my breathe hitches hearing his words. Daliya was raped? When?

"I was four, she was a teenage mom. Worked hard. I saw her getting raped, they pushed me to the ground, hit me. I don't remember much but it was horrible. When Sienna's case came up, it affected me a lot. I couldn't bear the fact that you were supporting some criminal who had hurt her just like my mom had been hurt. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and I'm really sorry for what I called you. It was unforgivable, judging you, not hearing what you wanted to say and calling you a whore."

My memory flashes back to the time when Daniel barged into my office, shouting at me and accusing me of sleeping with Jacob. "Okay," I mutter though I have thousands of questions in my mind. Daliya was a teenage mom? Where was Caniel? I didn't dare ask these questions because I knew that he would say everything when he was ready.

"Why did you bring those portraits to your room?" I grin wide as my hand slowly moves towards the shirt buttons of Daniel's shirt without him noticing.

"Your maid likes Annabelle and I wanted her to know that I wasn't affected by few portraits." I smile wickedly when I'm successful in unbuttoning the buttons. "Don't worry, it's just a response from her after releasing our wedding photos."

"What do you think you're doing?" Daniel questions when my hand touches his bare chest. He frowns at me.

"Just checking your fitness," I mutter, roaming my hands all over his chest. He groans when my finger tips touches his right nipple.

"Stop," he growls but I ignore him as I explore him. "You've a perverted mind, Allison."

"I know right," I tell, straddling him and pressing my lips to his which he accepts gladly.

Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me in, parting my lips with his tongue and tasting me. I melt down onto his chest with a sigh, and the kiss goes wild immediately. We battle for control, tongues tangling.

I moan against his mouth. He eagerly drink up the sound, kissing me hard and deep while in the back of my mind a voice shouts for me to slow it down. But fuck, he's amazing. In fact, every time we break apart for air, there's a shine of wonder in his eyes, as if he can't believe we're doing this. My hands are now tracing his pecs and abs, as if I'm trying to memorize every plane and ridge of his torso.

I stop abruptly when the door opens revealing Hope and Ryan, eyes wide. I expect them to go away but they don't, instead they choose to stand there, ogling us. I sigh as get off Daniel. "What?" I snap, totally annoyed with the interruption.

Hope clears her throat before stepping inside the room along with Ryan. They both sit on the black couch, grinning wide at us. I scowl at them before leaning against Daniel's chest, his arm immediately comes around me, holding me close.

"Your phone is off so I get tons of call and I'm tired of brushing them off. You have a court hearing within a week and there are things we need to discuss. Moreover, you need to tell me about your schedule. I'd cancelled all your appointments for the next three months but still we need to appoint certain people to handle things. And Daniel needs to get back to work," Hope states, her eyes fixed on the iPad.

I sigh as I turn towards Daniel. "You have to work today?"

A smile tugs at the corner of his lips. He rises to his feet, abandoning me in the bed. "I have to work, Allison. I'll see you later," he informs, before buttoning his shirt. No! Open it.

Pervert!

Daniel walks out of the room with Ryan trailing behind him. I glare at Hope. "You're a cock blocker, you know that?"

She rolls her eyes. "Thank you for the compliment. Now, can we work?"

I raise my eyebrows. "You're not going to ask me if I'm okay or not?"

"After watching what you were doing before five minutes, I'm pretty sure that you're more than fine. Looks like he's a good listener."

A smile kisses my lips. "He is."

"Well?" Hope prods. The smile on her face is downright giddy.

"I haven't told him about the accident."

"Hmm. Now can we work?"

I sigh. "Call Greta, my cousin. She completed her studies but choose not to work because of Grandma. Conduct an interview, if she's fit for the job then appoint her to manage things in my absence."

"Got it," Hope says, making a note about calling Greta in her iPad. "But do you think she's up for the job?"

"She is," I confirm, pushing the sheets away from me. "Cassy will help her to start and then she can manage."

"Okay, now we've t-" I cut her off immediately.

"The foremost thing you have to do is find the location of Annabelle," I instruct her, my voice firm.

"Now?"

"Now!"

What're up to?

Something evil!