04 ~ Mummy, Where's Daddy?

Daphne Nobel stood by the road frustrated about the fact that her car had broken down. This would be the third time it had broken down in a week and she was tired of it. However, Daphne had refused to purchase a new car. To her, the simple life she had been leaving all these years was her peace. Her father had requested she come back home for a father and daughter talk and although this was an odd request, Daphne knew it was company related.

She walked to the road side and tried stopping cabs but none was stopping. She had tried to order for a ride but her network was so bad she couldn't even make a call.

The place was kind of empty and Daphne was sure it wasn't safe for her, when she was almost giving up, a car pulled up in front of her.

"You look like you need a ride" Daphne breathed down and stared at the driver... It wasn't safe to enter a stranger's car but it wasn't safe to be standing here either.

"I do..."

"I might be going your way, you can get in."

Daphne muttered thanks and entered, shutting the door behind... Probably when the network is back on her phone, she'll request for someone to come pick up her car back to the repaid company. The ride with the stranger was quiet and Daphne was glad the stranger wasn't trying to bring up a discussion with her.

"Thank you for offering to give me a ride. It means a lot." Daphne thanked him but he had just nodded without a word, things were awkward but Daphne thought to bring up a discussion instead.

"So.... What did you say your name was?"

"I never told you my name." The stranger snapped making Daphne swallow the rest of the question she had for him.

"Sorry about that.... Work was stressful today. My name's Colin ---" he stopped.

Daphne nodded and now it was her turn to be quiet, she looks out through the window as the ride goes on.

_________________

"Thank you." She muttered and got out of the car.. Colin just nodded and drove off. He had had a stressful day at work considering the incident at work and the fact that his boss was not able to make his first appearance today.

Mr. Hills Sabastian was not only his Boss, he was also his best friend and they have worked and done things together. When Hills was growing up , His father had actually hired him "Colin" to be his (Hill's) personal guide , Hills was just a little older than him but they had bonded a lot. Enough that he'd know everything that happens in his life.

Daphne entered the family house and met her father on the dining table. "Hey Dad...."

She approached him and kissed him on the cheeks. "My car broke down, a stranger was kind enough to give me a ride here."

"You could've called and I'll ask one of the drivers to come pick you up."

"I can take care of myself. I don't think I need you to be doing everything for me again. So tell me, you said you wanted to talk."

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It's been two days since Mirabella's incident and so far, Regina has become more scared than she actually was before. It was more like her nightmares were coming through and as much as she tried to let go of the thought that Damon , her ex husband would not try to take Mirabelle away from her, it had seemed so hard. Her days had always been filled with fear of what might happen next. Most times she hides in her room and cries, hoping that she'd be able to give her daughter the best life that she, never had.

Daphne had been the most amazing thing that had happened to her. She was supportive and understands her better than anyone else, Regina wasn't sure she could've come this far Without the help of Daphne.

She had gotten off a phone call from the "HS" company asking her to come in for the final interview tomorrow. It made her scared, because she was informed that the CEO had decided to do the final screening by himself. Regina wasn't sure if she could make it through but she hoped because she wanted to have a good job this time and be able to give mirabelle the type of life she wanted.

Daphne left the house 3 hours ago and probably won't be coming back that night considering how late it was now, Regina was left with only her daughter. She was happy the injury wasn't that much and that she could go back to school without any difficulties.

"Mom... You've been staring into space for the past few minutes. Are you waiting for aunt Daphne?" Regina bit her lashes and flashed her daughter a smile.

Really, she hadn't realized how long she had been staring at nothing. She spread her hand open for her daughter to come in for a hug.

"No Dear, I was just thinking about work. Daphne won't be coming back today, probably tomorrow you'll see her when you're back from school."

"Can you ask her to come pick me up instead? You said you're going for an interview. You don't have a car and you're always late, I want aunt to pick me up tomorrow."

"That's not nice Belle." Regina laughs and pet her hair. "I'll tell you to pick you up. Don't worry, very soon mummy will have a car and you don't have to stay late in school again okay? If aunty Daphne is free tomorrow, she'll pick you up. I need to tell her first."

Mirabelle nodded and rested her head on her mother's laps. Silence followed as Regina strokes her while going through her phone as well, researching who exactly "HS" company CEO was but she wasn't getting anything. Regina was frustrated.

"Mummy?" Mirabelle called slowly, bringing Regina's attention back to herself. "Mmh? What is it baby?"

"Mummy... When is my Daddy coming to see me?"

Silence followed and Regina felt this huge lump on her throat that doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon.

"Your daddy is out of the country, I thought we've talked about this before? Are you still getting bullied Mirabelle...? You know you could always tell me anything."

"I want to sleep, Mummy. I'm going to my room, Goodnight."

Regina watched as she walked off, not making an attempt to answer the question she had asked. Right there, Regina knew that her daughter was getting bullied again.

She had tried , starting from changing schools for her, making complaints to the teachers but it had always been the case. It hurts her that her child had to suffer what she was running away from too. Regina had tried to be both a father and a mother to Mirabelle, however... Now she knows that it can never be possible.

Heartbroken , she stood up and turned the light off, while retiring to the room to check up on Mirabelle who by now, was fast asleep.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all this. But mummy is trying too." She talked and stroked Mirabelle's hair while trying to hold back her tears.

She hated being reminded of the past. Damon Salvatore was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. He broke her! And while she thinks she had recovered from the past... There is Mirabelle, the little girl who wanted her father yet still young to understand that her father was never a Man -- he was a coward and a shameless man.

And then there's Regina -- The woman that had wanted nothing but her daughter's happiness and the woman that had broken enough not to believe in the word love, again. Whatever it takes, one thing was sure in Regina's life.... She's never allowing Damon take Mirabelle away from her.