Hailey entered the house and removed her shoes, she placed them by a side before entering the house fully.
“Good evening, Mom” she greeted Leah who was setting the dinner on the table.
“Evening, darling,” Leah said.
“How was work?” She asked.
“Fine” Hailey muttered.
“I’ll be up in my room” she said.
“Okay. Come out for dinner, okay?”
“Yes Mom” Hailey went to her room.
She dropped her bag on the bed before peeling off her clothes. Afterwards, she entered the bathroom to have her night shower.
She returned back to the living room and met Sebastian and Jaime at the table.
“Good evening, Dad” she greeted, sitting down on the floor.
Sebastian nodded in reply.
“Good evening, sis,” Jaime smiled.
Hailey stared at him with a creased brow before finally nodding her head.
“How was work? Was it stressful?” He asked again.
Hailey sighed before picking a spoon.
“What do you want, Jaime?” She asked.
Jaime frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Can’t I greet my sis anymore?” He asked.
“Talk now or forget it,” Hailey said.
“Tch! You should have acted nice a bit” he mumbled.
Hailey smiled.
“Jaime, table manners,” Sebastian scolded.
“I was…”
“Shhhh”
Jaime swallowed his words and pouts. He picked his spoon and started eating slowly.
“Jaime, don’t bother Hailey anymore, okay? If you need anything, just let us know” Leah said.
“Mom, he’s my brother, okay? I don’t mind spending all my money on him” Hailey said.
Jaime smiled.
“Hailey is the best!” He raised his spoon high.
Sebastian shook his head while laughing.
There was a sudden knock on the door and they all exchanged glances.
“I’ll check,” Jaime said.
“No!” Hailey quickly shouted. What if that was Charles?
They all looked at her.
“I mean, I’ll do that,” she laughed nervously. She stood up and walked to the door.
She opened it and met Lewis holding a box, she needed no one to tell her it was from Charles.
“Here, he said you should wear it tonight,” Lewis said.
Hailey sighed. She doesn’t like that idea at all, but still, she collected it from him.
“Ermm…. I must say, you’re very lucky” Lewis smiled. He turned and left.
“What does he mean?” Hailey mumbled. She closed the door and went to join her family.
“Who was that?” Leah asked.
Jaime stared at the box in her hand.
“Another gift? Can I have a look?” He asked.
Hailey eyed him before facing her parents.
“Mom, Dad, I’ll be out tonight. I…” She bit her lips. She didn’t even know how to explain it to them.
“You’re going on a date?” Leah asked.
“Date??!” Sebastian half yells.
“No, no,” Hailey said.
“Then….”
“A friend’s night” she quickly blurted out what came to her mind.
“Friend’s night?” Leah asked.
“You’ve made friends?” Jaime asked.
“Yea, at work” Hailey lied, pinching herself slowly.
“Wow! That’s great. My daughter has finally made friends” Leah said.
“I’m glad you’re finally doing things that’s gonna make you happy,” Sebastian said.
Hailey breathed out in relief.
“I’ll be going to my room,” she said.
“Why? You haven’t finished your meal yet” Leah said.
“I’m full,” Hailey said and went to her room.
“My daughter has finally made friends, isn’t that great?” Leah smiled happily.
Sebastian and Jaime nodded their heads in agreement.
****
Hailey stared at herself in the mirror, she twirled around and smiled as she admired herself in the mirror.
Her phone rang and she picked it, it was Charles calling.
“Cara Mia, are you ready?” Charles asked.
“Yes. Can you park a few meters away from my house?” She asked.
“Why?”
“I’ll explain it to you later, do that for me, huh?”
“Fine, I’m almost close though” Charles muttered before ending the call.
Hailey stared at herself in the mirror for the last time, after she was sure she’s okay, she left the room, taking her steps slowly as a result of the heels.
She met Jaime packing the plates on the table, Leah and Sebastian were absent.
“Whoa! Is this Hailey?” Jaime whistled as she stared at her dressing.
Hailey rolled her eyes.
“Stop the exaggeration. Where’s Mom and Dad?” She asked.
“In their room. Sis, you look so beautiful today” Jaime placed the plates on the table and moved closer to her.
He looked around the house before placing his lips by her ears.
“Sis, you can trust me, yunno?” He said.
Hailey raised her brow
“I know you’re going on a date… Jeez, you can’t fool me, I’m not Mom and Dad” he muttered.
Hailey spanked his head.
“Keep your mouth shut, or else I won’t give you any money again” she warned.
Jaime quickly zipped his mouth.
“Trust me” he winked.
Hailey smiled before leaving the house.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone” Jaime yelled after her.
She shook her head till she got outside. She walked a little from their house and saw Charles’ car at a corner.
She smiled before taking her steps towards the car.
Charles came down from the car, he smiled when he saw the gown bringing out her curvy shapes.
“You look hot, Cara” he whispered when Hailey finally got to him.
“You don’t have to send someone over, you know?” She muttered.
“Why? You’re my baby and I need to pamper you” he said.
He leaned closer and pecked her cheeks.
“Let’s go baby, it’s getting late” he placed her hand on her small waist and they both entered the car.
“You didn’t come with your guards?” Hailey asked on their way.
“Yea…”
****
They got to the house and the gate opened automatically and Charles drove into the compound.
They stepped down from the car and Charles placed his hand around her before they entered the house.
They were led to the living room by the maid and they both settled on the chair.
“I’ll call the chairman,” the maid said.
“You don’t have to, I’m here already,” Mr. Monterio said as he appeared.
Hailey quickly stood up and greeted him.
“Good evening, sir” she greeted.
Mr. Monterio ignored her and faced Charles.
“Let’s talk,” he said and left.
Hailey and Charles both exchanged glances and Charles smiled reassuringly at her.
“You don’t have to worry, I’ll be back soon” he pecked her forehead before going after his dad.
Hailey bit her lips as she played with her fingers. He didn’t even reply to her greeting and that bothers her.
Lilian appeared and her eyes widened when she saw Hailey.
“Sis!!” She screamed and rushed to her.
“When did you get here?” She asked.
“Not quite long,” Hailey replied.
“You came with my brother?” Lilian asked.
“Yea….”
“Huhuh, that’s odd. Dad didn’t inform me about it” she mumbled.
“Let’s forget about that. Now that you’re here, why don’t we make something together?” She asked.
“Huh?”
“Come with me” Lilian took her hand and dragged her out of the living room.
***
“Why did you act that way towards Hailey?” Charles asked Mr. Monterio when they entered his study room.
“Because I’m not in approve of your relationship anymore”
Charles laughed.
“That’s a joke, right?”
“Why would I accept a lady that lives in Kelso?”
The smile disappeared from Charles’ lips when he heard that.
“How did you know that?” He asked, his face turning to a serious one.
“You really think I’m not gonna find out? That’s why you hid from me?” Mr. Monterio shouted.
“So? What if she’s from Kelso, how has that gotten to do with you?” Charles asked.
“What?”
“I love Hailey and she’s totally different from other girls, there’s nothing you’re gonna say that’s gonna make me stop loving her” Charles said. He turned to walk away.
“Have you forgotten?”
He stopped and turned to look at his Dad, his eyes held anger in them.
“Have you forgotten what your Mom did? She abandoned us and went after my rich friend. Have you forgotten?”
“And then Stephanie, she aborted your baby and went after a rich man too. Have you forgotten all that?!” Mr. Monterio yelled.
Charles folds his fist, inside, he was smoking with anger.
“I haven’t. But, that won’t stop me from loving Hailey”
“And I’ll never allow that even if I die!”
“You loved her before, what changed? Because she’s poor?”
“Do you know why I’ve been bringing those ladies to you? Because I didn’t want history to repeat itself. But look at what you did!”
“I don’t care if you accept her or not, I’m never leaving her. I guess this was why you asked us to come, but note this… I’m never returning here again!” Charles left the room, burning with anger.
Rage shot through Mr. Monterio’s vein and he clenched his jaw.
“I won’t stay still,” he gritted.
****
Charles looked around the living room and met no one in sight. He was still angry. How could his father ask him to leave Hailey because she’s poor? The woman he has come to love more than his life.
He saw a maid passing by and he stopped her.
“Have you seen my woman?” He asked.
“Yes, she’s in the kitchen with Miss Lilian,” the maid replied with a blush.
Charles went to the kitchen and a smile left his lips when he saw Hailey and Lillian, chatting and smiling happily.
His anger flew out of the window as her melodious laughter filled his ears.
“Oh… Brother, you’re here” Lilian said when she noticed his presence.
“Yea” he walked to them and faced Hailey, staring at her with love and admiration.
Lilian smiled and cleared her throat.
“Erm, I have something to do. You can continue, sis” she said to Hailey and rushed out of the kitchen.
Immediately she was gone, Charles pulled Hailey to a tight hug, hugging her like his life depended on it.
“Is something wrong?” She asked.
“I love you” he whispered.
Hailey stared at his back, wondering what suddenly went wrong.
“Charles?”
“I’ll never leave you, Hailey. Even if the whole world is against us, I’ll never leave you” he muttered.
“I love you”
TBC
