IDTMB — Chapter four

The two are now on their way home and they were both sitting in front. Their atmosphere was quiet, with only the sounds of the car to be heard. Ellie keeps seeing Arthur, who is seriously driving on his seat, and she wants to ask him if they can stop at the restaurant, but she doesn’t mind asking because she doesn’t want to talk to him. Besides, they’re almost home, and they’ll be there soon.

Ellie heaved a sigh as she thinks something to distract her hunger. “Let’s turn on the radio.” She broke the silence, and a song is playing on the car’s aventador radio.

(The scientist by Coldplay)

Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry…

The two listen to the song, and only Ellie enjoys it, except for Arthur, who suddenly remembers the day before she left him and the years he needs to digest without her. It breaks his heart to think about all of them while listening to the song’s lyrics. He couldn’t take it any longer, so he turned off the radio without telling her.

“Why did you turn it off?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“I want silence.”

“But I want to listen,” Ellie contradicted, turning on the radio again, but Arthur turns it off. “

“Turn that on again, and you’ll go down in my car and find your own way home,” he threatened, his gaze fixed on the road.

“Kill joy,” she murmured in her side, staying perfectly still in her seat.

It was nearly evening when they arrived home, and Ellie had fallen asleep on the passenger seat while they on the road. Arthur attempted to wake her up, but she was fast asleep, so he had no choice but to carry her into her room. He placed her on the bed and took her shoes off before covering her with the blanket. He turned on the air conditioning before leaving her, and before closing the door, he caught a glimpse of her sleeping peacefully in her bed.

“Sir, Arthur.”

When the maid appeared out of nowhere, he looked to his side. “Yes?”

“Your father wants to see you in his office,” the maid replied respectfully, and he nodded.

“Please take Ellie’s things and luggage to my car and don’t wake her when you enter her room; she needs to rest,” he said, handing the keys to the maid before heading downstairs.

Arthur went straight to the first-floor mini-office, and as he entered, he noticed the solemn atmosphere between his adoptive parents, who were sitting together on a couch. “I thought dad was the only one who wanted to see me.”

“Arthur, please take a seat with us; there is something we need to talk about with you,” Anecita said, holding a cup of tea on her lap.

Arthur listened as he always did and sat on the single couch on their side. “What is this all about?”

“Since you are Ellie’s real family and her big brother, there is something you need to know first before we announce this later at dinner.”

A little girl tiptoed upstairs, giggling quietly. The tiny feet came to a halt when she came across a room with the door slightly ajar. She walked over there, not thinking about what was waiting for her if she dared to enter. She pushes the door open slowly, and there she saw Ellie sleeping who’s facing on the right side of the bed. She laughed as she closed the door and made her way to the top of the bed, which she couldn’t even reach.

“Hey, are you already dead?” she asked, shaking the woman’s body in front of her, “Wake up and let’s play!” she yelled, shaking her even more.

“Hmmm,” Ellie’s brow furrowed as she felt someone near her and slowly opened her eyes.

“You’re alive! Yay!”

Ellie jumped out of bed as soon as she saw the girl. “Who are you? How did you get here?” she asked, looking around as she realized she was already in her room. “How did I even get here?” she asked herself, returning her gaze to the child.

“Hello, my name is Andy, and I am nine years old,” she said, a sweet smile on her pinkish lips, “What is your name?”

“Ahm, I’m Ellie,” she replied, puzzled, “but wait a minute, how did you get here in my room?” Who is this child with me? She thought with herself.

“I saw the door open and you’re sleeping and I want to play with you, Ellie,” she says with puppy eyes.

“I’m not sure if we can play, Andy.” She covers her mouth as she yawns tiredly.

“Mommy doesn’t want to play with me, and you don’t want also to play with me!” Andy crosses her arms, pouting her lips in sadness.

“Andy, don’t say that. Your mom surely wants to play with you, and maybe she’s already looking for you, whoever your mom is,” she gently stroked her back.

“Mommy isn’t going to look for me. Hmp! She doesn’t love me.” She pouted more, almost melting Ellie’s heart with her cuteness.

“Aww, how come no one loves this cute little girl in front of me?” Her hands couldn’t stop pinching both sides of the child’s chubby cheeks. “Stop saying your mother doesn’t love you, Andy, because you know all mothers love their children.”

“She’s always chastising me, and my mother is a witch-“

“Andy!”

When the door opened and a woman in a red dress entered, the child didn’t finish what she was saying. Ellie’s brow furrowed once more as she noticed the woman thinking to herself that she must be the mother. She wasn’t familiar with her, which was why their presence in the house kept confusing her.

“I looked everywhere for you, Andy, and thank God I found you here with-“

“My name is Ellie.” She cuts her and gets out of bed.

“Yeah, I already know you; you’re Arthur’s younger sister who moved to Canada to further her education,” she said with a broad smile. “By the way, my name is Rebecca George, and I will be your sister-in-law soon,” she added, making Ellie’s jaw drop.

“What did you just say?”

“Which part?” Rebecca asked innocently.

“The part where you said you’re going to be my sister-in-law,” she responded, the atmosphere of the room suddenly becoming hot despite the air conditioning being turned on.

“Ah, yes, I’m going to be your sister-in-law soon after my daughter’s tenth birthday; I guess Arthur didn’t tell you that when he picked you up at the airport.”

“We haven’t talked in a while.” The fact that she will become her sister-in-law bothers her because she dislikes her aura, despite the fact that she has a cute daughter.

“Arthur and I have been dating for almost four years and we have been engaged for almost six years,” she said, showing him the diamond ring in her right hand. “And we decided to take the wedding if Andy, our daughter, turned ten, which she will be next month,” she said emphatically.

“I see, and I understand why you were here,” Ellie says, her mind reeling from the information she just received. It surprised her and made her realize how much she had missed while she was away.

“Now that you’re aware of my relationship with your brother, Ellie, I’m hoping for your support.” She walks closer and clasps their two hands together. “I’ve been waiting to meet you, and I’m glad I have the opportunity before our wedding because there’s something I want you to do for me.”

“What is it?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

“I want you to design my wedding gown-“

“Wait a minute,” she said, taking her hands and moving away from her. “Do you want me to design your wedding gown?”

“Yes, is there a problem? Auntie Anecita told me you’re a good designer, so why would I look for someone to make me a wedding gown when I already have one in front of me?”

It took a minutes before she let out a deep sign out of no choice. “All right, I’ll give it a try but I can’t promise that my designs will suit your taste.”

“Thank you, Ellie!” Rebecca exclaims and rushes to hug her. “I know you can do it, so I’ll hold off until next week for your sketch!”

“OK, next week I’ll show you.”

“You have no idea how happy I am Ellie; I guess for the time being, Andy and I will leave you here in your room so you can do your thing, and I’m sorry if she disturbed you here.” Rebecca signals the child to come to her. “We’ll see you at dinner, Ellie!”

“Bye, Ellie!” the child exclaimed as they left her alone in the room.

Ellie is left alone in her room, as if she is in shock. She simply cannot believe what she has discovered. She shook her head and went into the bathroom to calm down. It took her nearly an hour to leave the bathroom, clad only in a towel. She was so very preoccupied with choosing her clothes that she didn't notice the figures standing in the doorway.

“How did you sleep?”

“Damn it!” she cursed in surprise as she heard the voice in her back. “What did you think you were doing?” she asked, glaring at him. “Can’t you see I’m not dressed and you’re standing right in front of my door?”

“I just wanted to see if you were still sleeping,” he explained coldly.

“You may leave now that you see me awake, and I’m about to change.”

He grimaced and said, “Get ready, dinner is in fifteen minutes.” He reminded her before closing the door and leaving.

“Moron.” She murmured and start fixing herself immediately before she gets late.

As Ellie head to the dining area after she done in her room, she found out all of them in the long table who’s only waiting for her. She noticed that Rebecca was sitting where she used to sit in his right side and didn’t mind anymore and headed on the left side where she was facing her future sister-in-law. Andy was sitting next to her mother and their adoptive parents was sitting where they used to sit same with Arthur. There are lots of food in front of them serve by their maids like they will having a feast tonight or maybe a last supper.

“Let’s start with a toast before we start this dinner in honor of having Ellie with us again after ten years,” Luisito rises in his seat and raises his wine glass, drawing everyone’s attention. “My daughter did her best while she was in Canada and became one of the famous designers there, and now she is with us, and I am really proud that she is doing great like her brother,” he said, giving them a look that showed he is proud of the two achievements as what they expected of them. “Now that Arthur is engaged to Rebecca and they are planning to marry right after their daughter’s birthday, I believe it is time for Ellie to carry on our family’s legacy.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Dad,” she said, her gaze fixed on her adoptive father.

“We settled you in a marriage with Dominick Yuzon; he’s a very close friend of your brother and it won’t be difficult for you to know him because you can ask Arthur about him,” Luisito replied, returning to his seat.

“Woah, ha ha.” She’s at a loss for words as she loses her appetite.

“Wow, congratulations, Ellie!” Rebecca exclaimed, her face beaming with joy. “Look, your sister is going to be right after us, Arthur,” she said, reaching for his hand in the top of their table, but he refused.

“I’m sorry, but I forgot I had a meeting tonight with a very important client of our company.” Arthur rose from his seat and left the plate without taking a bite.

“Daddy hasn’t started eating yet,” Andy said from her seat, playing with the food with her fork.

“Just finish your food there and don’t mind your dad,” Rebecca replied, trying not to show how embarrassed she was about what had just happened.

“Let’s eat first before we continue the conversation; it can wait later,” Anecita says, brightening the mood as she senses the tension between them.