CHAPTER 56: TAINTED AGAIN

The following day, I was abruptly awakened by a persistent knock at the door and a shrieking voice calling out for me. It was Michelle. I made a promise to her that we will shop today, since we didn’t bring anything of her things, except her stuffed toy and a few pairs of clothes, which Carol packed nonetheless.


I lazily climbed down to bed, still lightheaded and groggy due to inadequate sleep, which brought about what occurred the night before at the pergola. The incident up to this time was fresh in my mind as my heart was yet unsteady with what took place. I tried to put it at the back of my head as I slowly opened the door for Michelle.


“Mommy! I had a good night's sleep! Did you?” She exclaimed as she quickly marched inside, carrying with her a highly energetic spirit.


“Not too much, Baby, but I’m excited for our shopping spree today.”


“Me too, Mommy! Will Grandpa go with us to the mall? I wish he could come with us.”


What she uttered made my feet halt at a steady pace. With the thought of my father coming along with us, it only means Lewis will be present as well. After the previous night’s occurrence, I don’t think I could withstand being with Lewis for the time being. I am doubtful if I can hide the mixed emotions in me if I were to face him now.


“I think it’s best if we won’t tag along your grandpa with us, Michelle. He might be tired even now after our long trip. We can schedule another day with him.”


“I guess. Let’s prepare now, Mommy, I’m so excited to choose my clothes.”


“We have to have our breakfast first. Come, let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll prepare something quick for us.”


But my plans of preparing our breakfast was postponed the minute I saw Carol, together with two more kitchen staff already at it when we reached the spacious kitchen. With someone doing the task at hand, I took Michelle to the back garden for a short walk.


“Wow, Mommy! Grandpa surely has a gigantic home! And look! He also has his own swimming pool! Can I swim there when we arrive later?”


“Of course! Laters.”


A huge smile appeared on her face before she merrily ran towards the pool. I watched her with utter astonishment. The indescribable feeling of content and ethereal joy enveloped my heart, while eyeing her movements.


Any mother would be delighted and would be filled with overflowing exuberance every time they see their children happy. No words could describe what I am experiencing now. Seeing Michelle’s smiles and hearing how enthusiastic she was is beyond anything else this world has to offer.


Minutes later, a servant approached me, conveying that breakfast is ready. I called out for Michelle and we headed back inside together. She was babbling with the things she saw outdoors when my eyes caught sight of my father and Lewis on their way to the dining room.


My heart swiftly somersaulter when Lewis took a glance at me before gingerly smiling. I suddenly became tense and jittery with the way his eyes bore at me. They were sparkling like the stars in the night and filled with affection and gentleness. My throat swiftly dried as I swallowed hard to greet my father.


“Grandpa!” Michelle swiftly let go of my hand and ran towards her grandfather, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek and light hug.


“Good morning, Little Munchkin! How was your first night in your room? Did you sleep well?”


“I did, Grandpa! I had the best sleep ever last night! My room was spacious for me, but I loved it so much!”


I didn’t wait for them to finish conversing and moved on to the dining room, because Lewis was still staring intently at me, which literally made me uneasy as my heart and mind went into turbulence and utmostly in a rumbling state.


I was startled when I saw Nicole already seated at the chair she used to fill in. Disregarding her uncanny gaze at me, I walked in towards the table. I didn’t sit in my usual place and let Michelle occupy it instead, which made me infront of Nicole.


“Good morning, Miss Hunt. You seem to look underslept. Restless?” She murmured intriguingly, void of any pleasantries and good vibes.


There was something about her today that I couldn’t specify. Something with the way she stares and how she conveys those words she just said were somewhat out of the ordinary. It made me wonder why all of a sudden her tone of voice was a bit hostile and harshful.


“So exhausted with the trip to sleep properly” I answered back nonchalantly, wishing not to have a much deeper conversation with her.


I am not misjudging Nicole whatsoever, but I am having this feeling about her, a bad one. She seems to possess something in her, which didn’t suit my taste from the first time I saw her. It was as if she was a bad omen or something.


“Was it just because of the trip, Miss Hunt?”


Her inquiry made me stare at her with inquisitiveness. She stared back at me without even blinking, her eyes were sharply focused on me. She was smiling, yet obviously a fake one. It was as if she was implying something that she has no liberty to disclose. Her face was emanating with unexplainable adverse emotions, unveiling a sarcastic appearance as well as annoyance.


“What are you pertaining to, Nicole?”


“Oh, nothing, Miss Hunt. Your looks gave me the impression that perhaps your daughter took most of your time the night before, which prevented you from acquiring much rest.”


How her eyebrow arched didn’t escape my line of sight and also how she grinned mischievously like she was pertaining to something else rather than what she just stated, which abruptly irritated me as my blood started to boil from her haughtiness. She did that intentionally and on purpose for reasons I know nothing about. But whatever her purpose was, it surely soured my mood at the moment, in which bitter bile came out from my lips out of the blue.


“Speaking of which, I would like you to zip your tactlessness every time my daughter is around. What you harshly mentioned in the car when Lewis was hit back at Beechworth, wasn’t something pleasant to my ear. As much as possible, I don’t wish my daughter to learn bad words from her surroundings, not to mention people living now with her. Am I understood, Nicole?” I concluded with equal sarcasm, leveling her atrocity with equal harshness.


“I apologized about it seconds after, Miss Hunt,” She said contrastingly, increasing the timbre of her voice.


“Yes, you did, but not sincerely. It’s best for you to shut up when not spoken at every time Michelle is nearby. Am I understood this time?”


“What is the commotion all about?” Both Nicole and I turned our heads to the one who had spoken. The group of three entered the dining room, followed by Mr. McConnery behind them.


“It’s nothing, Dad. Nicole and I were just doing some adult discussions. Right, Nicole?”


“Yes, Miss Hunt. It’s nothing, Sir. You have nothing to worry about.”


“I thought there was some catfight going on in here with the volume and intensity of your voices. I prohibit any kind of fights inside my premises, especially now my little munchkin is living with us. Any adult discussions must be made in private.”


“Yes, Sir,” Nicole meekly responded, which made me huffed inwardly.


“Now let’s enjoy our breakfast as we will leave afterwards.”


“You’re going to the empire today, Dad?” I asked while placing food on Michelle’s plate.


“No, I would be coming along with you and Michelle in the mall today.”


What he declared made me swiftly gazed at Lewis, who was now seated next to Nicole. Our eyes met, but I hastily pulled mine in an instant and focused on Michelle’s plate.


“Why? You were supposed to be resting, right?”


“Why do I have the feeling that my precious daughter doesn’t want me to come along with them, Lewis?”


“I didn’t say that, Daddy. It’s just that…”


“I will join both you and Michelle today. End of discussion” Nicole loudly faked a cough, which made all our heads turn towards her. “Do you wish to say something, Nicole?”


“None, Sir. Something just got stuck in my throat.”


The thought of my father and Lewis joining us in shopping didn’t last in my head for minutes. What lingered inside of it was Nicole’s simple yet taunting mockery and her mordant sarcasm towards me. These thoughts occupy my mind as I eat.


There must be a reason why she was acting hostile to me. She wasn’t this rude on me when I first met her. But now, none was the gentleness she once had when talking to me and even the way she stared at me now totally differs from the previous ones. Out of nowhere, she became feisty at me for reasons I can’t grasp.


Then what happened the night before at the pergola struck back with the speed of light. It hit me with a thousand volts as visions of Nicole secretly watching both Lewis and I in a secluded darkness.


Did she see us the night before? Did Nicole witness what happened at the pergola? Was this the reason why she suddenly became ill-mannered to me? Is this why she approached me with sarcasm and rudeness minutes ago?


My head suddenly spinned at the thought, making me feel nauseated and sick. I could feel myself inwardly panicking knowing that she saw us last night and perceiving I placed her to be in a state of so much pain. She has all the right to act ill this morning, because she was hurting. Her reaction was basically normal for a woman who was suffering from heartaches.


This made me regret allowing Lewis to kiss me last night, not just once, but twice. I felt ashamed of myself, because I hurted someone else’s feelings just like what I did six years ago. I have done this before, I shouldn’t have let myself repeat the same stupid mistake and hurt others feelings. But since I did it again, utmost shame and hate for myself filled my heart as I lectured myself inside my head.


‘How could you let your indiscreetness ruin you for the second time around, Penelope? Haven’t you learned your lesson? You hurted someone again, because of personal interest. You were tainted once and yet here you are, stupidly letting yourself be tainted again. Although not intentionally this time, yet the pain was just as much as what you did six years ago. How dense can you be! You were enjoying your happiness, but others were suffering because of it. You are so selfish, Penelope! You didn’t deserve this happiness now, plainly because someone’s heart was breaking apart.’