4. Found Daddy!

…

Five Years Later.

Sitting on a balcony across from the vast ocean, the gentle morning wind breezed past, dancing with her hair. 

The same as time, the wind blew effortlessly and fast, leaving one wondering about the rapid progression of events. 

Surely, a single incident could sway one's destiny, forging a new path towards either happiness or hell. 

Which path was she headed to?

“Ouch!” Violet winced, the sudden sharp pain from her finger snapping her out of her thoughts. 

Freya had accidentally clipped her nail deep, or maybe it wasn't by accident.

Freya didn't look a bit apologetic even as she whispered, “Sorry,” with a playful wink. 

“Careful.” Throwing her an offensive look, Violet blew on the spot. 

She studied her fingernails, appreciating the perfection.

Freya didn't have to go all out. 

It would have been a simple painting, and she would be contented.

“Relax, Vi.” Freya smiled, studying her face. “Getting engaged is only the beginning of everlasting happiness. True happiness happens when you tie the knot.”

Violet forced a smile.

Did that happiness ever existed?

Wasn't she about to commit the same mistake again?

What if he turned out to be the same as Clyde?

Or even worse?

Eight years ago, she'd ran from an arranged relationship. 

Funny how she was ending up with the same fate. 

However, if she disobeyed her parents this time, wouldn't things go downhill the way it happened before? 

“Vi…” Freya interrupted her thoughts again by tugging at her hand. “Quit spacing out.”

She sighed. “You’re afraid Asher will be the same as you ex-husband. Come on, be optimistic. Everything's gonna be fine.”

Violet didn't know. 

Part of the reasons why she was getting married again was for Mimi's sake. 

At least, Mimi would stop pestering her about her father's whereabouts.

Even telling her daughter that her father was dead didn't do the trick. 

In terms of personality, Asher wasn't a poor choice.

But, hadn't Clyde been the most perfect man on earth before Violet discovered his true color? 

“Here he comes,” Freya whispered. “Wipe off the gloom from your face.” 

Violet lifted her head, her gaze meeting his. 

Asher approached, both hands inside his pants pocket, a gentle smile on his face. “Am I interrupting anything?” He asked. “I can come back later-”

“No way! Please sit down.” Freya got to her feet and quickly gathered her things. “We're done, anyway.”

And her best friend left in a flash as if she couldn't wait to leave them together.

Before Freya's figure disappeared behind the door, she winked at Violet, mouthing the words 'Loosen up.’

Violet chuckled. 

Freya's eagerness in seeing her married wasn't less than her parents'.

Everyone was enthusiastic about Asher, but her.

Why?

“This Island's boring.” Asher took Freya's chair, and sat in front of her, his gaze sweeping across the vast Island. “Would have gone for a flashy engagement in the city.”

But this Island was Violet's choice.

The perfect place for them to be engaged away from the public's eyes.

“My recluse future bride…” Asher went on in a playful tone. “I can't wait for the day you'll open up about why you don't like mingling with people.”

The first reason was, Violet had a feeling that someone was watching her.

The second reason was that she feared the media might capture her face, either intentionally or by accident.

And the third reason was, what if she bumped into someone from IvoryHills Country one day?

All because of a single person.

Clyde.

She never wanted to set eyes on him again.

Ever.

“Have you seen Mimi?” Violet changed the topic, guilty in fact but more at ease to talk about something else. 

Asher maintained his smile as if he hadn't been looking forward to a reply anyway. 

He shrugged to her question. “She wandered off, I guess.”

On a vast Island like this, there could be sandstorms and dangerous insects lurking beneath the sand surface. 

Her baby wandered off.

To where.

Violet furrowed her brows, unease taking over. 

She shot to her feet to go look for her daughter,

Then Asher caught her arm.

“Relax. I've planted bodyguards on every corner of this Island.” He chuckled. “Quit being paranoid.”

Violet let out a sigh.

Right!

Why didn't she think about that?

“Mimi’s in safe hands. For once, stop worrying about her.” Asher went on. “Instead, let's discuss about us.”

Violet sat down.

Unease lingered in her heart, and her mind was torn. 

She still wanted to find her daughter.

“We know each other,” she murmured to Asher's request. “What else is there to discuss?”

“A lot,” Asher said. “I'm dying to know what happened five years ago, Vi… how you got Mimi.”

Oh, no.

That topic again.

An event she even dreaded to recall. How would she be able to speak about it casually?

“Asher-”

“You’re a strong woman.” Asher leveled her with a serious gaze, searching her eyes for answers. “I can't imagine a man taking advantage of you so easily.”

Sighing inside, Violet stared down at her lap, avoiding his gaze.

Of all days, why did he have to bring this up now?

But Asher had been pestering her about this topic for a while. 

Sometimes, he'd casually bring it up in a conversation. 

Sometimes, he'd mention it as a passing joke.

But now, he looked so serious to know what happened. 

An event Violet wasn't even confident to share with her parents, fearing their second round of wrath.

The only person she'd been okay with telling was Freya.

But now,

Could she continue hiding it forever?

Especially from Asher?

She couldn't continue keeping him in the dark.

After the engagement, they'd soon start discussing marriage, 

And…

Asher had the right to know. 

Violet looked up, staring into his eyes filled with thousands of questions. 

But the words felt heavy on her tongue even as she tried to speak them out. 

Where was she gonna start?

Was it from the time she went to IvoryHills Country?

Or was it when she met Clyde, or when he proposed marriage? 

Or probably when she discovered Clyde was cheating on her after finding out she was pregnant.

Everyone thought her baby was a bastard, and Violet was somehow at ease with that knowledge. 

Things would be worse if they knew who Mimi's biological father was. 

“Vi, I'm listening,” Asher said, urging her on.

Taking her hands in his, he gently squeezed them in a reassuring gesture. “Trust me. I won't judge you.”

Violet trusted him.

It's just that… she couldn't trust herself. 

As she opened her mouth to speak, however, a tiny voice rippled through the atmosphere.

“Mummy, I found Daddy!”