Ivy!
The name reverberated in Daniella's head and mind and she felt a tight knot twisted in her chest while her eyes glared holes at the sophisticated dressed lady standing in the entrance way.
What the hell is she doing here?
Looking at the woman at the entrance, Liam's handsome face was now carrying a tinge of indifference, emanating an arctic coldness.
Suddenly, he walked over to her and grabbed one of her hands. Like a clamp, his hand pinched her hand extremely tightly and then dragged her to stride away fast.
His usual tender golden eyes blazing with fire.
"What in God's name is your problem, Ivy? What the hell are you doing here again?" Liam yelled out as he roughly let go of her hand, causing her to nearly fall down but he seemed not to give a damn.
A pang burnt in Ivy's chest as tears built in her eyes wildly. She thought in her mind that this was the first time Liam would be yelling at her and acting recklessly toward her.
However, it was proper for him to behave like this.
"Please, Liam. I need you to listen to me just this once," Ivy implored through shaky breath, edging Liam's direction.
"I do not want to listen to anything you have to say, Ivy. Just leave me the fuck alone!" his eyes were like dark ocean, full of ferocious waves.
Finishing his simple but aggressive sentence, he turned around to walk back into the gym.
"The Trevor's sold me out," Ivy screamed out the truth, tears gushing out from her eyes violently.
Her statement ceased Liam's next step while his shoulders dropped at once.
"Believe me, Liam. The Trevor's were not willing to adopt a child originally; they only adopted me and sold me out for a ransom,"
Swiftly, Liam turned around to face her and he couldn't help but feel compassion toward her.
"I loved you so much, Liam. I would never abandon you even if it cost my life," Ivy confessed, more tears encircling her eyes.
"You know how much_"
"He doesn't know and wouldn't like to know," Daniella's ferocious voice interrupted Ivy's sentence as she came into view, looking like a furious lion.
Passing by her father and walking over to where Ivy stood, "Do you think my dad will believe your cooked-up story? And don't you think tears are a bit over the top?"
"Go back inside, Sweetie. I'll take care of it," Liam sighed and said calmly, walking toward them.
Daniella didn't spare her father a glance as she was too busy glaring holes into Ivy's body.
"Go away from here, madam. Don't ever come looking for my daddy again, do you understand?" she couldn't keep the hostility out of her voice.
"He's now a married man with a grown up child. So in case you're probably thinking of another chance with him, you_"
"Will you just shut up and keep quiet already?" Liam cut in rudely, startling both her and Ivy.
Daniella was suddenly rendered speechless as she had never expected her father would react like that toward her in front of this woman.
For a long moment, she locked gaze with Liam and without saying another word, she spun around and left their midst.
"Ella dear," Liam called after her in a low voice but Daniella hastened her footsteps instead, sticking a knuckle in her mouth as she ran.
Sighing, Liam dug his fingers into his hair and bit on his lower lip.
"Let's sit," he gestured his head toward a bench in the park and then began leading the way without a backward glance.
"Don't you think you should go after her?" Ivy asked in a small breath as soon as they got inside the Workaround Park.
"I'll take care of her later," Liam responded while sitting down and Ivy nodded.
Drawing a deep-long breath, Ivy began again, "I was sold out and was taken to Verona in Italy where my master gave my hands into marriage at twenty,"
Liam's full eyebrows furrowed at once as he readjusted on his seat and faced Ivy properly.
"If I should get this straight Ivy, the Trevor's sold you out to a complete stranger and then the stranger also... gave you out to another... stranger?" he questioned, almost sputtering with widened eyes.
Ivy bounced her head and then took her gaze to the wooden swing chair in her opposite in the park.
"Although, Liam. My master was a good man. He treated me like his own daughter and would grant anything I wish,"
It took Liam a full minute to say another word, possibly because he had trouble unlocking his jaw- he was really upset.
If he was a good man, then why did he forcefully give your hands out in marriage?"
Ivy smiled gently while tucking the loose strands of her silky hair behind an ear, "It was for a mutual benefit, Liam. He had no other choice than to put me through the whole mess and which I gladly accepted,"
"Fortunately for me, I got married to one of the best men in the world. He takes greatly care of me and our child. Also, he supported me in searching for you and believe me, he was the one who got your location,"
Liam then allowed his lips to stretch into a small smile as he let out a big sigh of relief.
"Good for you then. I'm happy for you," he said honestly, looking at her face bit by bit.
"Thanks, Liam," Ivy smiled openly for the first time.
"Okay, enough about me now. Tell me about you, Liam. How did you manage to leave the orphanage home? And I'm genuinely curious about your daughter. I mean, did you also get married at twenty like me?
"Also, that pretty lady that just left here looked more like your wife than your child or is it only my eyes?" she expressed with an arch of her brows.
Liam laughed out for a minute and rubbed the space between his eyebrows.
"We'll talk more later, Ivy. I also have a lot to share with you but right now, I need to look for my daughter," he told her and got to his feet immediately.
Ivy also stood up with a curt nod, "Can I come tomorrow then?" she asked in an expectant voice.
Liam rolled his eyes playfully, "Did you have my permission before appearing here today?"
Ivy smiled, "All right then. Tomorrow,"
After this, they both shared a parting hug and then parted ways.
***
Daniella gave a few loud hiccups while she poured herself another round of beer with tearstained face.
After exiting her father's gym center earlier, she had nowhere to go in mind and in the end, she found herself in a bar.
"One...two...three...four...five," In a slurred voice, she counted the number of beers she had drunk.
In her opinion, she thought it would help her block out her thoughts but it didn't.
*Will you just shut up and keep quiet already?*
Recalling her father's words for the hundredth time, tears pricked her eyes and she immediately gulped another bottle of beer, hoping it would wash away the sorrow in her heart.
The few people in the barroom especially the men kept stealing glances in her direction occasionally.
Although, she looked very drunk but she still emitted a strong aura which made them afraid of walking up to her.
Wiping away her tears with her palm and sniffing her running nose, Daniella took her phone and placed a call through Matthew who picked up almost immediately.
"Ella?" he sounded surprised.
"Matthew," Daniella paused. "Can I... love you back?" she asked in a small voice.
"Can I love just you and you alone without. without thinking of any other man?" as she said these words, more tears flowed down her cheeks hysterically.
At the other end of the phone, Matthew had become fraught with worry and all what Daniella had said didn't seem to faze him.
"Where are you, Ella? Are you okay?"
Daniella chuckled out bitterly, "I'm somewhere in the.city, drinking. all by myself and." she belched loudly. "Do you wanna come join me?"
Yes, Ella. I'm coming there right away just tell me where you are. Please,
"Ok...ay, I'll text the location to you now,"
Right after her last words, she hung up immediately and typed her venue to Matthew as promised.
Just as she was about to drop her cellphone, Mandy's name appeared on the phone screen.
"Hey, babe. Your best friend is about to drink herself to death here. Would you like to join me?" she answered the phone and screamed into it before Mandy could say a word.
"Will you shut up and tell me where in the part of hell are you right now?" Mandy scolded. "Uncle Liam has been looking for you. Do you mind telling me what happened this time?"
Daniella's smile threatened to fall upon hearing her father's name.
"Tell my Dad I'm really having a nice time here and I might stay out tonight,"
"With Matthew," she added, with a naughty smirk playing around her lips.
With this, she hung up directly and then lowered her phone back on the table.
"More beer, please,"