The word father resounded over and over again in her head. She doubted she had one, but she did have one, a terrible one that Callan knew about.
"That was what I wanted and that was the only thing the man I call father did for me that's worth appreciation." The smile that played on her lips wasn't genuine.
Callan instantly knew it was fake.
"So why haven't you been practising?"
The question sounded lame to her. How was she to practise when she wasn't allowed to step out of the house? How could she have practised when she wasn't given the avenue to display what she's got within her? Her father had big connections that could blow her up, but he never for once acknowledged her. How then could she practise?
She shrugged her shoulders, gathering her thoughts before voicing them out. "There is no avenue for me to practise. The rejected daughter who's always indoors, what do you expect?"
Callan understood. He reached for her small hand on the table and lightly squeezed it to comfort her.
"I am sorry for being insensitive."
"You weren't." A tear dropped down before she could stop it. "I am fine, Callan. I am fine."
"I think we should end it here. I don't like it when you cry. We can discuss other things, you know?"
"Callan, it's fine." She cleaned up her tears and turned to him with a smile. "Architecture is my dream. I have always loved drawing. I love to develop new things. I started with flowers, houses and in my solitude I found out about Architecture—I read up about it and two weeks later, I was certain that I wanted to be an Architect. Although traumatized, I managed to get through school with good grades. I didn't do much but I always did well, a blessing maybe."
Callan smiled impressively. He knew there was more to Orla, there was a big brain within that Slow girl.
"After high school. I lost the zeal, but after reading about Architecture for a year and some months more. I knew I had to do it. I told Sophia about it. Sophia, the only sister who doesn't hate me as much as others do." She quickly reminisced about her cold–good days with Sophia.
They weren't the best of days, but she gave her listening ears even though it only lasted for twenty minutes in twenty-four hours.
She told Orla that she didn't want their other sisters to know that Orla was secretly meeting her in her room. She bluntly told her she didn't like her, but sometimes Orla felt the opposite of her words.
She was even the reason she ended up with Callan. If Sophia had not come to get her in her room that day, she might have probably never met Callan and would still be brooding in her father's house.
"So what did Sophia do?" He asked eagerly.
"She communicated my interest to my father. After thinking about it for months, he gave in. He let me take college exams to study what I love—and enrolled me in school afterwards. Though a much lesser school compared to the ones my sisters attended, I didn't mind. I was more engrossed in making my dreams come true and making my father proud. I worked hard, day and night. I was top of my class all through college—but I guess that wasn't enough to make him proud." Big folds of tears rolled down her cheeks again, flowing nonstop this time. "I," she faltered, sniffing.
Callan didn't let go of her hand. When she stopped crying, he smiled at her and she did the same.
"Crying doesn't suit you, Orla." He said mockingly, but she understood the sarcasm behind that.
"I look horrible whenever I cry, don't I?"
"Thank goodness you know that." He jerked her arms closer, setting her in between his legs.
Pressing a long soft kiss to her hair, he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and let her calm in his arms.
"You did enough, Orla." He rubbed her head like a father encouraging his little daughter. "I am proud of you, Orla."
She didn't know if she needed to hear that, but those words did the soothing magic to her soul.
"And all thanks to Sophia for talking to your Dad about your dreams. But maybe I would have made your dreams come true if he didn't, and..." He flipped her over so she was facing him.
"You wouldn't have met me too. Sophia orchestrated our meeting, she came to my room to call me that day you chose me as your bride."
"God bless Sophia." Callan's smile grew wide. "Arnold was not ready to let me see you."
She was facing him now, their hands intertwined, eyes closely on each other. A million things he wanted to do to her as she sat between his groin, but he controlled himself.
"He wouldn't have. I am not his daughter."
"You are too perfect to have someone like him as a father." He rephrased, melting Orla's heart.
She bent over and kissed his lips, lifting her head before he deepened the kiss.
"I am here for you, Orla. Here to make your dreams come true. Just tell me the necessary things that you need to set up your office and I will provide them for you."
She knew he would do it even beyond her expectations. But she had never thought about this, not even for once. She needed a lot of time to bring her skills back to life, work on them and decide if she wanted to embark on the journey after a long time of abandonment. She needed time to think it through.
"Think about it and get back to me." He added when she didn't respond to him.
She smiled. He was so gentle with her, she loved how he always gave her time to think about the things he proposed to her.
"Thank you, Callan." She moved between his thighs. Setting herself directly on his groin, she stared lustfully at him. "I-" his bulge was rubbing her tummy.
"I know what you want, Orla." He smiled, hugging her tighter.
He was close to placing his lips on hers when they heard the doorbell ring, followed by a swift opening of the door.
Orla jumped to her feet. "Are you expecting someone?" She asked, staring at the door.
"No, no one." Was his response.
They both fixed their gazes in the direction of the living room. Soon, they heard heels aggressively clanging against the tiles.
Callan grabbed Orla's hand, stirring her towards the living room.
They were a few steps in when the invader appeared in front of them.
Orla turned to Callan, his grip tighter on her hand. He pushed her closer and shared a glance with the invader.
Neither of them expected that she'd be in their home.
Hello guys,
How are you all doing?
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Can you all guess who the visitor is?
Chapter dedication goes to whoever guesses right.