Chapter 2.16: Fatherly Love is Powerful

After some food, arguing, and teasing, Alek agreed with her trip. The older man only insisted on two things. The first is that she stays clear of Cale to avoid another near physical assault until she is off the estate grounds. Getting into a fight with the bastard wouldn't be helpful, so she was cool with his demand. This was something Leila could easily go along with. But the last requirement he had was more troublesome. Her older brother demanded she ask their father for permission to go. This was something the heiress found so infantilizing as she was in the body of an adult woman. However, when the jade-eyed girl tried to refuse, he gave her a stern talking-to. One that honestly shocked her a bit coming from someone so submissive.

"Father was stricken with guilt over what happened earlier this year. He felt like allowing you to go made him at fault for your attack. Mother even looked panicked when she saw his state. Please. Just go to his study and ask him about going. You know he'll always say yes to anything you ask of him. It's not hard to do."

Hearing those words and seeing how serious Alek looked made her shut up. The old man favored her quite a lot and let her spend as much as she wanted. Cleo's brother was right, he let her have anything she desired. And he had let her go with just Ezekiel at her insistence that fateful day. The heiress felt her cheeks warm with shame as she realized something. That she hadn't really thought about how her choices had truly affected the man. It was so obvious and because of her emotional turmoil; she hadn't thought to confront such a thing. In her heart was a burning, deep-seated hatred of his treatment of Ezekiel, but also the love only a child could feel for a parent. With an infinitesimal moment of hesitancy, she nodded her head. A one-on-one discussion between the two wasn't bad. Her pride wouldn't be shattered by simply going to explain herself.

This left her standing in front of his study with a nervous expression. She had brought with her a tray to serve him. On it was her favorite tea and soup she had ordered, along with tomorrow's lunch. The kitchen staff seemed to tell something was wrong by the way they worked extra fast. Leila didn't want to impose on them, but she knew a warm belly could soften up any man. Because even if her father signed off on the plan, it would still hurt him. Leila guessed that the indifference she felt towards him was because of the matter. That she was someone from another world in the body of his beloved child. The teenager had unconsciously misused the privilege of being loved so openly and now she felt embarrassed. The tray shook in her hands as she cleared her throat and knocked on the door.

"Father? Can I come in? I brought tea." The young heiress knocked again, this time a little harder.

The lump in her throat was forming into more of a stone as she waited for a response. The teenager could hear Cleo's father move around a bit. Maybe he was pushing his chair back or moving his files. Leila wasn't too sure, but she decided to be patient. Her heart was racing as the man finally came to the door. His feet echoed loudly, thundering against the carpet as the door first cracked open. This allowed the jade-eyed woman to see how tired he looked. She wondered if he had been getting any rest lately. Once their eyes met, his expression softened, making her feel more guilty. It was something she would have to work on soon. Since she'd eventually have to get rid of the man, what he did to Ezekiel was wrong. Thinking about it left a sick, bitter taste that sat on her tongue and settled into her saliva.

The door opened completely, and he took the tray from her with eagerness. A warm glimmer filled his eyes as he beckoned her forehead. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"I wanted to drink before we talk." Leila played with her sleeves as she sat down in front of him. Her legs crossed as she bit her bottom lip anxiously. "I haven't had the chance to apologize to you. I'm sorry, Father."

The tea sat untouched as the man appeared to digest her words and looked off to the side. He rubbed his chin, where a faint beard was developing as he thought. The silence between them made her stomach flip-flop all over the place. Her eyes were everywhere but directly looking at him to avoid losing her cool. It was weird to not be so cool and collected all the time. But the teenager had become imbalanced recently. Her mind felt disrupted. As if it had disturbed something inside her. And the actual reality of her life was settling in hard. The man across from her was someone that loved Cleo deeply but also hurt people. He had hurt so many girls, boys, children, and families. She couldn't count them all. So, the fact Cleo loved him so much that it affected her own emotions left the heiress really unnerved.

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With the emptiness becoming too much, she decided to continue on and get everything out. "I know it may be too early to ask, but I need to leave the estate. For a week, maybe even three, depending on the trip length."

"Where are you going for so long?" The question was equally curious, as it was shocking. Her father appeared unwilling to comply with her demands.

Still, Leila knew he couldn't exactly as she was a grown woman after all. With ways to get around any of his boundaries that he knew all too well. "I am going to meet up with another noblewoman. She was at the tea party I attended before the attack. We have common interests that need to be discussed privately."

"Well, I don't feel comfortable with you going alone. You need someone with you in case you get hurt again or worse." This was something the man's daughter fully understood and allowed herself to digest.

The man probably assumed she wanted to go alone after Ezekiel and she had their falling out. Which most likely made his thought process even more stressful. The two relationships were more obvious than either intended, and their destruction affected everyone. Its openness had damaged feasible plans and schemes. The dark-haired heiress got looks and glances that told her everything she needed to do to have that happen with Lili. So Leila was going to change her tune as quickly as possible. She decided to lie and twist the story about the upcoming trip a little more than she already had. Leila couldn't tell him the true reason she was bringing Liliko'i with her. Instead, she was going to spin a little tale to go with the image of a doting sister-in-law. The woman straightened up, exhaling. Her face became more controlled, along with her voice.

"That's why I'm bringing Liliko'i with me. She's a kindhearted woman who the others would like to meet and befriend. We can use it as a bonding experience." She gushed about the pregnant blonde and gave her father the closest thing to puppy dog eyes.

"Bonding experience?" The bearded man spoke slowly, as if he believed he had misheard her. His eyes squinted and his expression was awfully obtuse.

Leila nodded her head and put a hand on her chest, right above her heart. "Yes. I spoke to her earlier, and she seemed really kind. But naïve, so I want to take her under my wing until the wedding." Inside, her mind was racing as she stayed completely composed.

"And you think the trip will be the perfect opportunity for you two to become close? Hmm. Your mother has spoken about wanting you to have another woman to confide in that isn't a maid." The mention of his wife made the man's eyes swell with adoration. Just the thought of her opinion had his hesitation vanished.

Her mother's comment was both typical of a woman in her class and of a worried parent. She pushed aside any disgust it caused her, clinging to the lifeline to thrust in her direction. "Mother's right. Everything will be fine."

The woman's father hummed in agreement. "Alright. You can go and I'll make sure your brother doesn't try to stop Liliko'i from going. Enjoy yourself."

Leila blinked, staring in disbelief before she got up with a smile on her face. This had all gone so well. "Are you sure, father? I can go without any restrictions?" Her anxiety had really been for nothing. The plan was going to work without a single hitch.

He must have noticed her shock as he got up from his seat and walked over to her. Before she knew it, the man was hugging her to his chest. "Yes, I'm sure. Just promise me one thing." He gave her body a fearsome squeeze while speaking, holding her as close as possible.

The heiress looked up into his eyes, curious. "What?"

"The first sign of trouble. I want you to run. Don't try to fight a battle you cannot win. I'd rather you come home to your mother and me in less than one piece than in a body bag. Do you understand?" Hearing such a sentence from a notorious killer was insane.

It was honestly ludicrous. But at that moment, she realized the man was putting aside the values he had instilled in Cleo. Because he didn't want her to come close to death a third time and finally lose. Leila found herself hesitating. This man was a monster, but his face and voice painted a different tale. One of a dad who couldn't stop her from leaving. But could at least plead with her to not take unnecessary risks due to her pride. Her chest felt hollow as she swallowed and faced him.

"I understand you completely. I'm sorry, Father. I won't let something like that ever happen again. I promise."