CHAPTER FOUR

After four long years of endurance and hardships, and at the end of the day, I still ended up divorced. Eight months ago, I thought I gained nothing from my marriage to Lance, but holding my daughter, Bella, in my arms made me realized that she was the blessing born from my pain.

Bella yawned, opening her small toothless mouth and I smiled as her tiny hand gripped my finger. I remembered the labor vividly; the pain was far more intense than what my mom told me about. But what I was thankful for was that I gave birth to her successfully with no complications, and we were both healthy.

The door opened, and Mom entered, carrying a tray of food.

"How are you?" She asked, and I smiled.

"She is fine," I replied, showing Bella to Mom but Mom immediately turned away, refusing to look at her. "I asked about you, not her," she said coldly.

"But Mom, how long will you continue like this? This child also shares your blood but you and Dad treating her this way isn't fair," I lamented softly as I was deeply hurt by my parents' attitude towards my child.

Throughout my pregnancy, I did not take a single step outside this mansion, just to ensure that no one saw me. Mom and Dad decided to let me have her after a long begging and even threatening to harm myself back then. They both took good care of me during pregnancy, but once Bella was born a week ago, their attitude changed and that was when I realized that they cared only about me, not her.

Dad entered the room with two women whom I did not know; an older woman and a younger one about my age. He wore a bright smile as he approached me and I think he was in a great mood.

"Is she awake?" He asked cheerfully, looking at Bella in my arms and I felt instant happiness seeing him finally acknowledge Brllay as his granddaughter.

Without hesitation, I handed Bella to him and he cradled her gently in his arms, smiling at her as Bella cooed happily. It really felt like a dream come true to see Bella finally welcomed into the family and I could not wish for more than this.

Dad slowly moved away from the bedside, and my eyes followed him. He approached the two women and suddenly handed Bella to the older woman.

"Dad, is something wrong?" I asked as I slowly rise from the bed. But Mom moved closer to me, climbing onto the bed and wrapped her arm around me, holding me back down.

My heart raced as I sensed something was happening right now, but no one was telling me anything. Then, the older woman holding my daughter abruptly left the room, and fear gripped me instantly. I struggled against Mom's grip, but she held me down firmly.

"Dad! What are you doing? Where is that woman taking my child?"

"Your child?" Dad chuckled softly. "Maya, what are you talking about? You didn't have a child." My eyes widened in shock by his statement and I glanced at Mom, who wore the same disbelieving expression as Dad and they both looked at me as if I was crazy, demanding for a child that I did not have.

"Dad..." I stammered with my lips trembling. "What are you trying to do?”

"Nothing much. That child will be given to a perfect family to raise, while you will have to erase anything related to that filthy man and his useless bloodline," he said without a hint of emotion and anger surged through me.

While I am still and alive, they wanted to give my daughter away and expect me to live happily as if nothing happened? Was this some kind of joke?

Without knowing where my strength came from, I broke free from Mom's grip and lunged at Dad. I grabbed his shirt and locked eyes with him,

"I never knew you were this heartless, but I will never allow you to do that to my daughter. She is mine and mine alone. I won't allow anyone take her from me! So, gve me back my child now!" I screamed out my lung at him as i demanded my daughter back.

The pain and emotion that runs through me cannot be explained as I was a mother that her daughter has just been snatched right away in front of her.

"Maya," Mom called out, but I was beyond reason, clutching Dad's shirt and demanding my child Immediately.

"Give her back!" I screamed louder as I felt my sanity already slipping away. My eye was already red with fury as I tugged at Dad's clothes, ready to tear them apart, but what brought me back to my senses was the smile on his face.

Gently, Dad patted my head with his right hand, and my body calmed immediately. "Remember this feeling, Maya; the fury and fire in your eye, I want you to remember it all. How you are being cast out onto the cold street, your child being taken away from you, and use that…” he stared directly into my eyes, “to drive my empire up because i.... will always be the number one in this world."

Slowly, my grip loosened on him and hot tears streamed down my face. "From now on, show no sign of weakness, No foolish feelings for any useless man and you will go to Italy, complete your studies, and return back to lead this empire," Dad nodded, gesturing to me if I understood what he had said and I cried out as I was do scared.

"Do you see that woman there?" Dad pointed to the young woman at the door and my eyes trailed after his finger. "She is the one who gave birth to Bella, and Bella will be registered under her name," Dad said and my eyes widen in shock. "Both of them will accompany you to Italy, but Bella must never know you as her mother."

"Dad!" I whimpered.

"We know it's difficult, but consider your reputation and our image. You must be perfect and flawless to reclaim your position," Mom added, approaching me.

I fell on my knees as I released Dad and Mom pulled me into a hug and weeped heavily on her shoulder. Returning to this house, I already knew I had much to lose, but this was just too much for me.