The two won stayed like that until late afternoon, with Hazel going down to the kitchen only once in an hour, to refill their glasses and her own snacks plate, since Shikera could not eat it.
Shikera had watched the video for over a dozen tis now and even though she would happily admit that her eyes were only on Ethan and admiring him most of the ti, she was sure she would be able to repeat everything he did in the video. Her photographic mory would be able to work till that extent.
She rose from the bed to go to the bathroom, when a loud scream from downstairs jolted her. She turned to Hazel, "Isn’t that Esther?"
"Sounds like her. But Esther never screams," Hazel replied.
Shikera checked the ti on her phone to see that it was thirty minutes past four, and Esther was supposed to be ho a few minutes ago.
"Were you not supposed to pick her up? Or did Ethan tell you not to worry?" Shikera asked.
"He said he will pick her up himself so—"
"Aaargh!!!" the loud scream from the living room, was quick to travel around the quiet villa again. This ti around, Shikera was convinced beyond asure that Esther was the one who scread.
She walked out of the room and towards the railings to look down at the living room, and there the little girl was.
Her bag was on the sofa, her lunch box placed on the floor, and her school tie lying on the floor right beside the box. This was so unlike Esther.
Shikera made to go downstairs but stopped when she saw Ethan. He ca back ho early?! But why was he not saying anything to Esther when she was acting like this?
"She promised , daddy! And I believed her, how could mummy betray like this?" She heard Esther ask.
’Mummy?’ Shikera thought, ’Were the father and daughter duo talking about another mummy?’
Esther continued,"She said Friday and I confird it so many tis only for her not to co today. Why are you so relaxed, daddy? Didn’t you co to see her?"
"I did, but since she disappointed us both, there’s nothing we can do. Get upstairs and change your clothes, I have to introduce you to soone," Ethan instructed. As if he could sense eyes on himself, he looked up and caught Shikera’s gaze, flashing her a mischievous smile.
Confused, Shikera walked over to the stairway to join them in the living room, with Hazel behind her carrying a plate of crackers. Was Ethan trying to surprise Esther with her presence? Then why did he still allow her to get this annoyed?
"What’s going on here?" she asked as soon as she got to the living room.
Esther turned to her, her eyes lighting up with excitent.
"Mummy!"
"That’s not your mummy," Ethan stated."She left ho on Monday, rember?"
Esther nodded slowly. Sohow, she felt like if she argued against her father’s word at this mont, she would be punished. Better to just go along with it since sooner or later she would be alone with her mother.
"That’s true. Who is this woman then?" she asked.
"Esther?" Shikera scoffed in disbelief.
Esther ignored Shikera and kept her firm gaze on Ethan.
"Who is this woman?" she repeated.
"I’m not sure. But she took my black card without telling . What do we call people like that?"
"A thief?" Esther asked.
"Correct, she—"
Ethan did not finish his sentence, for a barrage of crackers ca pouring down on him.
★★★
Liam frowned. For the first ti in a while, he was having difficulties making a simple decision. He was sure he would not hesitate if it was Shikera who had proposed this but...it was Elizabeth, his new found daughter who felt like a stranger wearing the mask of a familiar person.
It was to be expected though, since he did not raise her.
"I don’t think I can let you accompany , Elizabeth. It’s just a short trip anyway so there is no need for you to tag along with ," he stated, smiling gently at Elizabeth who was standing before him.
She was dressed in black coat and pants, just like a female office worker, a way Shikera had never dressed, and was requesting that Liam let her accompany him to work. He would not say he was not happy that she seed to have an interest in business, but still...
"It’s alright, daddy. I can just accompany you for the day. You will be leaving to continue your treatnt soon, right? I won’t be able to spend ti with you then so why not now?" Elizabeth asked, interrupting his thoughts.
"That’s true but..." Liam was about to co up with another excuse when his phone rang, distracting him.
"Excuse , Elizabeth, I will talk to you when I get back," Liam said, walking away from her to the front door of the mansion.
Elizabeth watched him leave, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Why are they all making feel like the villain? Isn’t it only right to get back my father?" She whispered to herself, in the empty ante room of the mansion.
On the other hand, Liam picked up the call as soon as he got to the car. It was Chris.
"Chris, what’s the problem?"
"Everything. I heard Shikera is not your real daughter," Chris said.
"Yes, Ethan investigated it himself," Liam replied.
"What becos of the contract now? There’s no way it makes sense for you to give half of your company shares to in return for taking care of girl who is not your real daughter."
"Yes, but we can find a way around it. She can divorce Ethan when the one year is up and—"
"No, your second daughter is sick too, right? You can just swap them out instead. The real one replaces the old one," Chris stated.
"And what happens to Shikera?"
"We take care of her, of course. Ethan would gladly do that since he doesn’t let people who know his secrets go scot free."
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