For a moment, he didn't think he'd heard right. His eyes kindled and his chest expanded in an outraged breath.
It took a full minute to respond, possibly because he had trouble unlocking his jaw.
"What did you just say?" he asked in a deep-voiced, his eyes dazed.
"Yes, Dad. Both you and mum have always wished for me to have a boyfriend, isn't it? And I'm happy to tell you that your wish has come true now," Daniella affirmed, beaming so big.
Her eyes were bright and beautiful; they looked like a crescent moon when smiling.
"This is Matthew, my boyfriend," she repeated, wrapping her tiny fingers around Matthew's wrist.
Liam felt like collapsing with shock, his heart seemed to be grabbed by something, and was so heart-wrenchingly painful.
So, Dad. I'll catch you later" she then looked over at Matthew's frozen expression. Come on, babe. Let's go to my room now,"
Liam stood deep-rooted in that spot as he stared into the void, it felt like heavy rocks weighed on his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Reaching inside her bedroom, Daniella soon let go of Matthew's hand and when she turned her attention to him, the poor boy was damn stunned to see that the glossy smile that was radiating over her face earlier was now long gone.
"Have a sit. I'll explain myself,"
Matthew stared at her face and nodded at last.
The room looked like a modern girl's room. The wall was painted in pink and light colors and there was a white princess bed.
The curtains had ribbons on them and there was a round-shaped girly-looking dressing table.
Matthew took a few steps closer and sat himself on the stool while Daniella sat on the bed.
He felt light and didn't feel safe; he didn't know what was waiting for him.
Drawing a long breath, Daniella lowered her lashes demurely.
"I'm sorry for my false allegation back there. I didn't mean to hurt you," she said in a small voice.
Matthew giggled while itching his forehead, "What do you mean to hurt me? You are giving me a chance, isn't it? Or why else would you have introduced me to your dad if not..." he quipped nervously, meeting her gaze.
After listening to him, the tears that had gathered in Daniella's eyes within no second spilled from her eyes like pearls that had fallen off a spring.
There were hundreds and thousands of explanations, but she couldn't get them out of her mouth.
Moreover, how could she tell him that she was doing this because she wanted to stop thinking about her dad?
How could she tell him that she didn't love him but would like to use him to overcome her intense obsession with her dad?
Matthew swung on his heel, "Oh, no. Why are you suddenly crying, Ella?" he cooed and reluctantly sat beside her on the bed.
Daniella missed her cue to reply and she just wiped off her tears and shook her head vigorously.
"I'm fine. Can you please tell me some jokes?" she asked as she managed to squeeze out a smile.
Matthew quirked an incredulous brow, "Jokes?"
She nodded curtly, "Yes, jokes"
Matthew readjusted on the bed anxiously, "I don't think my jokes would be good enough to make you laugh, Ella,"
"Come on, let's hear you first," she elbowed his arm and persuaded with a snigger.
Matthew laughed quietly and began to run his fingers through his head, thinking of some jokes that might make her laugh. He had to put in his very best in order not to lose this great privilege.
"Okay," Matthew said and Daniella quickly straightened.
"What does a house wear?" he asked her with a crooked grin.
Daniella's mouth lifted in a wide grin, "Paints?"
"No, It's Address," Matthew told her and she break out in hearty laughter.
"Oh my, God," she enunciated amidst laughter while tossing some loose strands of her hair behind an ear.
Matthew stared at her face, feeling inexplicitly excited. It was like throwing a stone into a stagnant pond and the stone caused waves of ripples in the pond. Just like how he was feeling at the moment.
"Another one. Why do ducks have feathers?"
Daniella puckered her eyebrows, "To fly?"
"To cover their butt quacks!"
Daniella started to laugh again and then stuck a knuckle in her mouth, letting the hysteria take over.
Matthew was really enjoying this and he didn't have to think before cracking the jokes now.
"Did you hear about the painter who was hospitalized?"
Daniella became serious and shook her head sideways.
"The doctors say it was due to too many strokes,"
Her high-pitched laughter wafted over downstairs to where Liam was walking back and forth. He halted his frantic pace and looked up in the hallway, feeling a surge of fierce protective ness.
Sweats beaded on his forehead as he tried to articulate his feelings.
"Matthew!" there came Daniella's excited shriek from upstairs.
Liam rushed toward the stairs immediately, climbing them in twos. His heart was ablaze and he had no way of dousing the fire until he dragged that chap out of his daughter's room.
Getting to her bedroom door that was to the left upstairs.
He bumped a fist to knock on the door but his fist hang in the mid-air and he dug the hand into his hair directly, feeling frustrated with himself.
Crouching to the floor, "What would be my excuse? What would I say?" he groaned in distress, glaring at the door as if his eyes could tear it down.
"Go slow, Matthew. Don't kill me,"
Hearing this, Liam couldn't help but think that those two had evolved to be intimate. He was as overbearing as a kid who realized someone was competing for his favorite toy now.
So without any resistance this time, he knocked repeatedly on the door.
The swung open in a sec. and his heart stopped with terror instantly, feeling manipulated, frustrated, and aggrieved as he stared at the tendrils of Daniella's silky hair clung damply to her forehead.
He tore his gaze from her face to her body and saw that a white towel was wrapped around her chest.
"What were you doing with him, Ella? Where's your dress and why are you on a towel?" he went ballistic, blue veins standing out on his forehead.
"What do you mean, Dad? Of course, I'm still wearing my dress,"
Liam stepped back to inspect his daughter properly; a white striped jumper and jeans skirt. Just like how she was wearing them earlier. He felt a rush of relief. That was just his imagination.
"Why are you still home, Dad? I thought you were leaving for the gymnastic center," Daniella let out, looking straight at her father's face.
"We need to talk," Liam whispered fiercely, hauled her hand, and dragged her to stride away fast; leaving her no chance to protest.
Daniella allowed herself to be led around like a soulless puppet, only reacted when they got into the kitchen. "What's wrong, Dad?" "Everything is wrong, Ella" Liam shot back, "I need you to explain to me how you got a boyfriend overnight," his eyes were like a dark ocean, full of ferocious waves.
Collecting her hand from his grasp, "It doesn't matter, Dad. All that matters is that I now have a boyfriend," Daniella insisted and folded her arms around her chest.
The corner of Liam's eyes crinkled as he narrowed his eyes a bit.
"I don't know what has gotten into you but if you don't want me to lose my temper which you wouldn't love to see. Go up now and send him out of your room," he ordered in a grim tone. His eyes were cold and lacking any warmth, looking unruly.
Daniella's mouth mutinous line, and if her smirk was anything to go by, Liam had read that has victory.
"I'm sorry but I don't understand what you just said, Dad. Are you asking me to send my boyfriend..." she was saying but Liam pushed her backward and pressed her against the wall.
Before she could react, his body moved forward and pressed against her soft body and her body was entirely pressed against the wall.
She was cold but she was burnt by his fierce body.
Their eyes were level. Liam put his hands on both sides of the wall and leaned even closer, "Are you really in a relationship now? Or you just wish to see me like this?" he asked in an extremely low voice.
"Wish to see you like what?" the nervousness and uncertainty in her tone at this moment could not be hidden.
Instead of replying, Liam moved down his lips to her mouth, his steady breath fanning on her nose.
Daniella held her breath, her knees had grown weak and she gripped her clothing with clumsy hand.
,Just do it already, Dad. Only then will I go upstairs and send Matthew away,'
In a swift, Liam pulled away, stepped back continuously and, then hit his knuckles against the kitchen wall.
Goddamn it!" he swore in a pained voice.
Right then, Daniella had caught a glimpse of his bleeding hand but as she attempted to move close to him, he marched out of the kitchen.