THE HEIR'S REVENGE

chapter 22

For the past few days, Lily has been getting better after that incident in school. I've asked her not to go to school for the meantime until we get the necessary security for her.

After breakfast on a lazy Saturday morning, she entered my office and played ‘queen’. She had asked me to join her but I was busy arranging some documents for a meeting with Anderson on Monday.

“Aren't you going to ask me when you'll start going to school again?”

I asked her when I looked up and saw how engrossed she was during her playtime. Suddenly she looked up at me, her face suddenly swollen.

It just seemed like her face was asking me why I was suddenly bringing up a sad topic. I looked at her again and smiled.

“Hmm.”

“I do want to go to school, I do want to see Mia but I don't want another woman grabbing me.”

She said I slowly but it meant so much to me. My heart broke again just hearing her say that.

“You don't have to worry. I'll make sure that no one grabs you ever again. You don't have to worry.” I stood up from my chair to go over to her.

I wanted her to feel safe. I wanted her to know that no matter what, that I was here with her.

“Brother, do you know what my mother told me?”

I was surprised. Lily didn't like talking about her mother and I didn't bother too. I was afraid it would remind her that she had no other family and yes, that was true.

When I had mentioned her mother once in our conversation. I had to convince her not to cry anymore, bought her ice cream and pet her. It was a lot of work but I did it because I felt guilty.

Looking at her now tells me of her mother, I felt guilty again for reminding her of the past. I'd only wanted to have a conversation with my little cousin.

“What did she say?” I asked, calmly.

“She told me that there are so many bad people in the world. They do bad things because they feel happy about it. Was that woman one of the bad people mummy was talking about?”

What was I going to tell this five year old? That there were so many bad people and that I'd experienced living and breathing with them for a long while? That the people I called family for years were bad people?

I looked at Lily thinking of what exactly I should say to her.

“She's right, my princess.”

“How do we know them?”

Here we go.

“We don't know them per say. I think you find out bad people because of what they do.”

I didn't know if that was a good enough explanation to give to a five year old bit that was exactly what I said to her. She looked at me like I didn't know what I was saying or was she confused?

“So bad people have to hurt me first? Is that when I'll know they are bad?” Lily asked.

I thought about it and I realized that my answer to the question was not totally wrong but too complex for a five year old to comprehend.

Lily didn't let me finish when she threw another question at me.

“What about Mia? Will she become a bad person to me?”

“No. No.” I answered immediately. “Mia is your friend, there's no need to avoid your friend.” I paused, and I bent to her level so I could look into her eyes. “Mia is a good girl just like you. Your mother was simply telling you the truth.

“In life, you'll meet a lot of people and some of these people don't want good things for you.”

She nodded.

“Just like Jasper.”

“Who's Jasper?”

“He's my classmate. He doesn't like me. He is one of those bad people you talked about?”

“What?” I glared at her.

What did I say to a five year old girl?

“Yes. He refused to give me his pencil the other day. Mia didn't have an extra so I asked him but he refused.”

I took a deep breath.

It really took a lot to raise kids because why would she interpret my explanation that way. I was suddenly feeling hot as she waited for my answer.

I looked around, hoping that Henry was close by and he was. He was standing right there at the door, just looking and trying so hard to hold back his smile.

My eyes were literally pleading for him to help me but he looked away right then.

I took a deep breath, knowing fully well that the ball was in my court now and I had to handle it with care. I also loved the fact that he let me take the lead. He must have noticed how I struggled with spending time and having tough conversations with Lily so he let me have this time.

“Lily, Jasper not giving you his pencil doesn't make him a bad person. It just makes him human.” I paused but Lily glared like I was saying nonsense. “I mean you don't know if he has an extra pencil or maybe he doesn't like sharing.”

“But I begged him for it.”

“Not many people listen to others begging.” I added to the rubbish that I was already saying. I didn't know when I blurted out all that nonsense.

“It doesn't make sense anyways.” Lily said and turned towards her playhouse leaving me to feel worthless. I had literally poured my whole heart out to her and she didn't even realize that she hurt me.

When I turned to Henry this time, he was smiling which was a weird thing because Henry never smiled, not when I could see it.

He'd always tried to act professionally in front of me and because of that, he rarely smiled.

“You are free to laugh, Henry.” I said, going back to just seat.

“I'm sorry, Young master. You did so well.”

“Henry.” Lily screamed in joy when she heard his voice. “I have a question for you, later. I don't understand what Brother said.”

That literally made everything worse.