Chapter 6: Contention
Tension crackled in the air. I knew it would escalate soon enough, but before anything else could be exchanged between this woman and me, the private room door opened.
Father walked in, and with him was my stepsister. With one look at him, the woman changed her expression, creating a clear picture in my head.
“Darling!” she exclaimed, smiling broadly as she approached father and linked her arms with him.
‘Ah,’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Of course. That explains who she was now.’
I turned my gaze to the stepsister, who I think also recognized me. The tension with the other woman earlier was nothing compared to the new hostility that was much more prominent. I curled my hands into fists, hiding them behind my back.
I offered a tight-lipped smile to my father and my stepsister, Elsie. Her scent wafted in my nostrils, reminding me of that fateful night we first crossed paths.
Father gently extracted himself from the woman who called him darling and stood by my side. He put an arm around me, exchanging pleasantries before he faced the woman who gathered Elise in her arms.
Their similarity allowed me to conclude what kind of relationship they have.
“Louvel, Elsie, I apologize for making the announcement here tonight before I could tell you the great news,” father looked at the women in front of us. Louvel, the woman he married after my mother died, eyed me head to foot.
She obviously masked the dislike with an insincere smile.
“I’m quite disappointed, Richard. Things like this should be discussed first among family.”
Father nodded, sighing wistfully.
“I know. But I hope you understand what it was like for Leila,” he paused, patting my shoulders. “Before I found her and what it would be like to suddenly bring her into our family. She’s used to living independently. I didn’t want to suffocate her and put pressure to adjust to a new life.”
There was a pause. I glanced at father and found he was looking at me lovingly. I could feel how much he cared for me; it was overwhelming.
It never once occurred to me that I was a missing child. The only thing I knew was that I was alone in the world.
Thus, having a father who completely adored me despite being parted for a long time needed adjustment.
“But, yes, you are right. I should have discussed this matter with you and Elsie,” father continued, turning to Louvel. “To make up for it, let me reintroduce you again. This is Leila, my dear daughter whom I thought I could never reunite with, but here we are.”
Father had been staring at me this entire time. I offered another tight-lipped smile, looking at the mother and daughter before me. Neither of them shared the same sentiment as my father. And that should be fine.
I didn’t like them either.
“Leila, this is Louvel and Elsie. They are your mother and sister now.”
The three of us eyed one another. I sure didn’t want to step forward and hug them first. Gratefully, Louvel broke the silence and dragged Elsie with her in approaching me, crushing me in a tight hug followed by her cooing affectionately.
“You do not know the kind of things your father had undergone to find you.”
I wish I could appreciate her fake fondness, but after the earlier happening, I couldn’t put myself to do it.
Still, I gave her back a pat before she let me go and cupped my face in her hands.
“Welcome to the family!” she exclaimed cheerfully, giving me cheek air kisses.
After which, she pushed her daughter to do the same. Elsie and I stood awkwardly before she followed her mother’s orders.
“I had always been wanting to have a sibling. Welcome to the family,” Elsie expressed, a smile on her beautiful face, but her eyes told me something else.
I exchanged fake enthusiasm, squeezing her arm as she and I pulled apart.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” I said, laying the sarcasm thick. My hold on her arm tightened, but if she was in pain, she didn’t bother to show it. “Sis,” I added it for the sake of pretense.
Father clapped his hands, oblivious to the tension between us. He grinned while glancing at his current wife and Elsie then his eyes landed on me.
I let Elsie go, the two of us sharing a subtle look of disdain.
“We should all celebrate this happy reunion. Come! Let’s rejoin the other wolves. Tomorrow, let’s have a family dinner with Alpha Matteo and discuss wedding plans.”
My heart fluttered at the sound of his name. I mentally cursed myself for being excited to see him again. My hand found my abdomen.
‘Should I even try to tell him again?’ the question lingered in my thoughts.
The moment he pushed me away that night and treated me like trash, I concluded that he had lost all rights even to be known as the father to my child.
I won’t let him come near my baby once it is born. But does he deserve a second chance?
While I was musing about this, father opened the door and ushered us out. Elsie gave him pause, clearing her throat.
“Would it be alright if I have a few minutes with Leila?” she asked, sounding all innocent. But the goddess knows, and whoever else was listening to her thoughts, that she perhaps plotted something in her mind. “I’d like to get to know her. Plus,” Elsie paused, eyeing me up and down.
I didn’t let her faze me and offered a grin.
“I’d like to get her as my maid of honor. I think it’s only right for my beloved sister and me to get to know one another.”
“I’d love that too,” I answered, countering her attempt to show me who has the upper hand between us two.
Father looked at me and then Elsie, a smile spreading on his lips.
“My two girls,” he gushed like a proud parent. “Of course.”
“That’s so sweet of you, Elsie. Come on, darling.” Louvel added, her fake smile never leaving her face. She ushered father out.
Elsie and I watched them leave. When they were out of sight, she turned to me.
“I don’t care who you are,” she glared at me. “But Matteo is mine. He will be my husband. If you try anything like you did last time, I will make you regret ever coming into our life.”
I considered her threat for a minute, shaking my head a few minutes later.
“Do you want to hear my opinion about you two?” I challenged her, stepping closer. “I think he’s only marrying you because he has to and not because he likes you,” I paused, letting it sink in before adding, “Prove me wrong. I dare you.”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone