I stood up and started pacing around the room, seriously disturbed.
“Well, I don’t blame you. Father’s traits are indeed very strong. Anyway, Ms. Valerie will be here any minute,” she revealed. I froze instantly and turned to her, my eyes wide in shock and awe.
“What?!” I snapped out loud.
“Yeah, I invited her so you can apologize and thank her for what she did for us,” she said carefreely, then walked to the couch to sit.
“Are you joking? You must be joking.”
“Calm down, you can do it. Or aren’t you man enough?” Before I could say anything back, a maid came in.
“Young miss, your visitor has arrived,” the maid informed her.
“Thank you. Please invite her in.”
I quickly turned to the other side of the room as soon as I saw her enter.
One of the personalities I hated most was feeling shy.
It made me look weak. “Shy” is a weak word; I’ll say I felt nervous and embarrassed.
“Hey, you, Val!” Zoey went to her and grabbed her hand like an old woman.
“How are you doing today?” she asked Valerie.
“Um… fine. You’re Zoey, the one who called me?”
I heard her ask Zoey, who nodded and smiled at her. I rolled my eyes in frustration and sat on the couch.
“You are so cute and adorable,” Valerie complimented.
Zoey chuckled.
“Yeah, I know. Let’s take a pic,” she said, calling her maid to take pictures of them.
I rolled my tongue in my mouth impatiently, staring at them with my legs crossed.
Zoey made a peace sign, while Valerie struggled to balance herself without revealing her arm pain.
“Enough already! Can’t you see she’s uncomfortable?” I blurted out. I didn’t want to say that. It felt strange—seems like I was concerned about her pain.
Zoey rolled her eyes like an adult.
“What are you now, the spokesman? She isn’t even complaining!”
That naughty little rat of a sister! This isn’t America. I’ll wipe her ass with a strong cane later. Finally, they finished with the camera.
“So, welcome! Have a seat. My brother told me about…” Zoey paused when she saw that Valerie wasn’t paying attention.
“Hello? Look here!”
Valerie was busy admiring the chandelier and wall designs.
“Wow,” Zoey sighed deeply, giving up in frustration.
“I’m sorry, the designs are truly astonishing.”
“I know, right? My brother knows every design, so we got the best piece. Now, as I was saying, he told me everything, and I decided to call you here to hear him out,” she replied, then turned to me.
“Prince?”
Can’t she be a little more respectful? We have a visitor for crying out loud! I raised a thick brow.
“Why are you embarrassing me, Zoey?”
“You’re embarrassing yourself. You were here hours ago nagging like a pregnant woman. Now, when it’s time to speak, you act like a shy baby.”
I got annoyed. Enough of that rat’s insults. What’s there to say—sorry and thank you? Zoey needs to shut up. I can do this, and I need to, if not for anything, just to shut that talking toy up.
I stood up in determination and walked toward them. “Yeah, we’re waiting.”
Zoey said and ordered her favorite popcorn, which was delivered by her cook. I took a deep breath, but when Valerie lifted her face and stared at me, I lost it.
“I… um… umm… I…”
“Umm, I… umm… I…” Zoey mimicked me. Gosh, that tore my heart.
“It’s okay, boss. I understand,” Valerie cut in. That statement added salt to my wound. When did I become such a child?
“Boss? In our house, I’m the boss here.” “Zoey!!!” I snapped.
“He’s just Prince here. When you get to the office, you can call him boss.”
Valerie chuckled, then apologized when she saw me glaring at her.
“Anyway, my brother may seem like a stone-hearted devil, but he’s really a cotton-candy baby. Trust me, you’ll get to know him better.”
She dipped her hand into the popcorn bucket and filled her mouth with some.
“Please stop talking, Zoey!!” I screamed in my head.
The Parrot continued.
"He loves me so much and can endure my troublesomeness. I love teasing him forever. He told me how sorry he felt for not listening to you and was even more grateful that you literally took a bullet for him. You need to see him crying like a damsel whose hero saved her from danger."
I quickly turned the TV volume up to the highest.
The two of them looked in my direction at the same time. I felt childish for my action, especially when Valerie started grinning. I lowered the volume and went back to my seat.
Valerie sighed and replied, "I just did what I had to. I saw it coming, so I had to do something, you know."
"You mean you have a gift to see the future?" Zoey asked excitedly.
"Or maybe she's possessed by a familiar spirit," I replied. Zoey frowned at my statement.
"I think it's a gift, but sadly, it has its bad sides too, especially when I can't stop the bad things from happening. It makes me feel so guilty," Valerie continued.
"Awww," Zoey replied, dramatically touched.
"I have an appointment with the doctor today. I should get going," Valerie replied, groaning as she stood up.
Doctor? Is her condition getting worse?