Chapter 5: Back Off, Bastard
1296 Words
“Daddy!” Athena called, hugging Elijah on his right leg. “Grandmother, grandfather, please don’t take my daddy away from me!”
Her pleas and sobs ricocheted around the room, making everyone look at her with coldness and disgust.
The Elsher family also treated her indifferently because she was Elijah’s daughter, and they thought she was one of the people who continuously dragged Hermione down.
“You’re the child from the airport earlier…” Elijah muttered, his eyes widening at the sudden realization forming in his mind.
His gaze moved to Hermione, the confusion evident in his eyes. “Hermione… What is the meaning of this?”
“Before I left the house, thinking that you had left me in exchange for money, I found out I was pregnant…” Hermione confessed, playing with the fabric of her dress as her gaze fixated on the floor. “I was about to tell you when we met again, which I thought was impossible at first. But… This is what happened.”
Tears cascaded down Hermione’s eyes. It felt like her heart would explode in a minute due to intense emotions, especially now that she was afraid Elijah wouldn’t accept their child—Just like anyone else.
But to her surprise, Elijah pulled her into an embrace.
“E-Elijah?” Hermione called, blinking her eyes twice.
“I’m sorry if I wasn’t here while you’re experiencing hardships, Hermione. I thought I was protecting you when I left, but it was the opposite. I left you in the pits of hell, and I didn’t have any idea…”
Elijah’s embrace got tighter as he pushed Hermione’s head into his chest more. Because of that, Hermione could hear Elijah’s heart rapidly beating.
“And I know I shouldn’t say this, but thank you for being strong, not just for us, but for yourself, my wife,” Elijah muttered, kissing the top of Hermione’s head. “Thank you for raising our daughter well.”
Hermione was speechless, not expecting Elijah to accept their daughter wholeheartedly. She could only nod in response, smiling as if a thorn in her chest was pulled out.
“Daddy, do you believe what I’m saying now? Aren’t you going to deny me as your daughter anymore?” Athena asked, her brows furrowing in curiosity.
Elijah’s gaze moved to Athena, his daughter, and he smiled as he saw Athena’s hand clutching tightly at his pants.
“I’m sorry, little one, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” Elijah muttered, his hand slightly trembling as he carried Athena. “Daddy was such a fool for recognizing you.”
“It’s okay, Daddy! At least you believe me now!” Athena answered, smiling as she did a thumbs-up. “But daddy, what took you so long to come back?”
“I took care of some things,” Elijah answered, playing safe with his words as everyone was listening to him. “But don’t worry, I won’t leave you and your mom again. I promise you that.”
The heartfelt conversation between Elijah, Hermione, and Athena touched some of the Elsher family members.
Although they didn’t like Elijah, the reunion between a father and daughter who were parted for a long time touched their hearts.
Penny, on the other hand, was furious at what she saw. Gritting her teeth, she forcefully took Athena from Elijah, not minding whether Athena would be hurt.
“Grandmother, ouch! It’s painful!” Athena winced, her tears falling as Penny placed her to the ground, her grip on Athena’s little arm tightening.
“Don’t you dare cry, Athena! Or else, I will lock you again in a dark room!” Penny roared, striking fear into her grandchild.
Hearing those words, Athena felt fear creeping up her body, remembering how horrible it was to be caged in a dark room without any food or water available nearly to consume.
“No… No! I don’t want to go back there!” Athena shook her head, her body trembling.
“Then don’t you dare cry! Do you understand?!” Penny’s hand gripped onto Athena’s arm tighter, burying her nails on the child’s skin.
Feeling scared, Athena nodded. She bit her lower lip, suppressing her cries.
Because things happened so fast, Elijah was stunned at first. However, as soon as he realized what was happening, he was about to lash out, not caring if Penny was older than him or not.
But before he could even speak, Hermione removed Penny’s grip on Athena’s arm. She pulled Athena behind her and gave Penny a deadly glare.
“How dare you threaten my child in front of me? And what, you’re locking Athena inside a dark room? Who are you to do that?” Hermione asked, her voice laced with anger.
“I’m her grandmother, and I’m your mother, Hermione! Who do you think you are to talk back to me like that?!” Penny thundered, giving Hermione an intimidating glare.
When Hermione was a child, every time Penny scolded her and gave her an intimidating stare, Hermione would suddenly take a step back as the fear infiltrated her body.
But now, especially after meeting Elijah and having Athena as their daughter, Hermione learned how to be brave and fight; not just for herself, but for her family.
“I may be your daughter, but if you don’t treat my daughter properly, I will just forget about that fact and move on,” Hermione muttered, emphasizing every word.
The Elsher family members gasped in shock upon hearing Hermione’s statement. They looked at Hermione in utter disappointment as the room was filled with buzzes.
“My gosh, is this how Elijah influenced her when they were together?”
“Penny and Dave raised Hermione well, but as soon as she went with Elijah, she became a rebel.”
“How could she just threaten her own mother about cutting ties with her family? That’s unbelievable!”
Hermione heard those words loud and clear, and although she knew they were pure lies, she couldn’t help but be hurt by their judgments.
She was drowning in her thoughts, but suddenly, Elijah held her hand.
“I’m here,” Elijah said, and kissed the back of her palm.
It made Hermione calm in an instant.
She became braver as she looked at Dominic, her brows furrowing. “I’m sorry if this is harsh, Dominic. But I’m not marrying you, so you should leave now.”
Hearing that made Penny’s blood boil. “You’re not just reckless, but uncooperative! Don’t you know how much the Walter family supports us? And here you are, being ungrateful?”
“I will forever be glad for all the support the Walter family gave us, along with the other alliances we have,” Hermione said, her tone polite yet authoritative. “But still, that wasn't a valid reason for you to marry me to Dominic, Mom.”
Penny snorted, along with Dave, who became silent upon wondering how he could stop Elijah from revealing what happened to the $500,000.
“Stupid child,” Penny muttered, but Hermione heard it loud and clear.
Elijah, who also heard it, gritted his teeth as his blood boiled in anger. If only not for Hermione holding his hand tightly, he would have gone berserk.
“Don’t worry, Dominic. Hermione will marry you. I assure you that,” Penny assured him.
Dominic nodded, smiling. “I’ll wait for that, Mrs. Elsher.”
“Then wait until you die, because there’s no way I will let Hermione go,” Elijah said, his tone dangerously low as he gave Dominic a deadly glare.
Without letting go of Hermione’s hand, Elijah leaned toward Dominic, his lips grinning sardonically. “Back the f**k off, bastard.”
- Writer
