2025-09-11 17:38:41Chapter 8: JUST SETTLED
Diana stood at a loss, she stared dumbfoundedly at Harry and felt so confused. Her body froze as she looked at the healthy Harry and the woman he had called his mother. Suddenly, his words settled in her brain and she snapped out of it, her brows furrowed as she parted her lips, “No, I am—” “Diana!” Harry, who had guessed what Diana was about to do, cut her off, making her even more confused. She looked at Harry with so much confusion, then realised he was trying to tell her something, but it seems he didn't want his mother to hear them. Harry smiled at his excited mother, then turned to hug Diana and whispered in her ear, “Please, can you help me this one last time?” He gritted his teeth then explained, “My mother had a severe heart condition. She is gravely ill, and before passing away, her last wish is to see my girlfriend” he said sadly. Diane gasped in shock, her eyes turned sad and when she looked at the kind woman standing at the door still smiling at them happily, her heart clenched for the woman. Harry held her hand tightly, then continued in his soft voice, “This is the reason why I tricked you here. I'm sorry, Diana.” Diana couldn't bring herself to scold or reject him when she saw the guilt on his face, her heart ached for the woman and she knew if she was in Harry’s position, she would do the same, besides, its wasn't something so serious, so she squeezed his hand, and nodded her head firmly before she turned to his mother. “Hello, Ma'am, it's nice to meet you!” *** Kelvin had finished packing both his things and those of his daughter, he pulled the bags toward the sitting room where Mia sat waiting for him obediently. “Daddy!” Mia ran towards him when she saw him and hugged his leg tightly. It was like she sensed her father’s emotions and wanted to comfort him and truly, it worked. Kelvin stooped low, then picked Mia up and made her sit on his shoulders. He looked at the place where he had stayed for long, then with a resolute back, he walked away without looking back. He planned to look for a temporary place to stay with his daughter first. On getting to his car, he placed Mia inside, then also put the bags and other things in it, before entering and driving off from there. Kelvin’s car could be seen parked at the side of the road. Inside the car, he adjusted Mia’s cardigan, then put on her Bernie to cover her up properly. He hadn't expected the weather to be so cold and he had to stop by the side of the road to look for Mia’s cardigan. Done with his daughter, Kelvin prepared to start the engine of the car and continue to their destination, but the air suddenly froze as they heard a loud knock on the window of the car. Kelvin stiffened, he turned towards the car and saw a stumbling woman, his eyes flashed with coldness when he realised she might be drunk. “Knock!!” The woman knocked again and this time, she finally caught Mia’s attention. The little girl was startled, her eyes widened in shock and in no time, she screamed and jumped into the arms of her father. “What the—!” Kelvin paused his cusses when he remembered his daughter was with him. His chest heaved with anger as he glared at the drunk woman who kept on knocking on his window. He looked at Mia, then at the person who wouldn't stop knocking. Resigned, he whirled down the glass and that was when he saw the face of the woman clearly. Her eyes, which were filled with horror, stared at Kelvin pleadingly, “Please… Please, help me…” She slurred weakly but Kelvin could still hear her clearly. He was startled as he realised this wasn't a drunk woman but someone in distress. “You— Who are you? Where do you come from? What’s going on?!” He asked anxiously, then hid his daughter who was about to peek out when she heard her father communicating with the stranger. “Help…Help me…please..” Kelvin paused in shock as he heard the woman again. He was about to say something when he suddenly heard the urgent sounds of footsteps. His eyes widened and when he looked at the woman, he also noticed she was also stunned. Kelvin who had realized what was going on immediately pulled Mia out of his arms, then clamp her shoulders gently. “Mia… this aunty is in danger. What do you think we should do?” He asked like she wasn't a kid but an adult. Mia immediately looked at the woman who was getting weaker, her eyes stung and she immediately turned to her father, “Daddy! Quick, let's help her. Quick Daddy!” She repeated anxiously. Kelvin sighed in relief after getting his daughter's permission, he opened the door of his back seat where his bags were, and turned to the woman, “Quick! Come on in!” He said. The woman was stunned, and after showing a grateful smile, she immediately wobbled into the car. Kelvin immediately covered her with the bags he had placed inside the car, then he placed Mia back on the passenger seat, and like he expected, the footsteps became clearer and voices could be heard. He immediately turned to his daughter, “Mia, when anyone comes, don't say a word, okay? And don't be scared, Daddy will protect you.” He said determinedly and by the time he was done with his daughter, he felt the air turn stiff. Kelvin swallowed hard, his fist clenched, and when he released his fist, his whole aura and face had become calm and relaxed. “Knock!! Knock!!” Heavy knocks were heard on the window. Kelvin looked at both sides of his windows which had people and his heart pounded against his ribs. He wouldn't have been tense if it were just him, but his daughter… Kelvin took a deep breath then swirled down the window. “Hello… Do you need something?” Kelvin asked as he looked at the men who looked like gangsters. The men didn't respond to Kelvin, they kept on looking inside his car, then the one who led them paused when he saw Mia. He looked at Mia for a few seconds, then focused his attention on the calm Kelvin. “Did you see anyone pass by just now?” The man asked in a cold and fierce voice. Kelvin put on an expression of confusion, he looked around in anxiousness, “Is there a thief?! What do you mean by anyone? Are there any criminals around here?!” He asked anxiously, then immediately reached out to put Mia in his arms. The men froze seeing his natural expression. The leader’s eyes shook, then he looked at Mia who had a confused look on her face, then he sighed, “It's nothing. Go ahead with whatever you are doing .” He said, then turned to his men and waved his hand, “Let's go! She is not here!” Kelvin waited for a while and only after he was sure they had left, did he relax his tensed back. His back was covered in cold sweat. “Daddy…?” Mia’s voice snapped him out of his daze, and without any more time to waste, he stepped on the gas and drove off. *** Kelvin sat down on the floor exhausted. He had managed to find a manageable hotel for the night after searching for a long time. But a problem arose when it was time to go in, the woman they had helped had fallen half unconscious. Kevin and Mia had been so speechless, but since they had helped her at the start, they had no other option but to help her to the end. He had taken care of both her and Mia and it was almost dawn by the time he was done. As he sat there, his eyes slowly closed. The morning sun shone through the window, and the woman whom Kelvin had saved stirred awake, but when she turned, and she saw the sleeping Kelvin, her eyes widened in shock. “Ahhhh!!!” she screamed, then.. “SLAP!!”
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