Chapter 0007 DARLA . " Are you sure that you can do this ? " " Yes , Ethan , and before I change my mind , I need you to run me over the whole thing again . I need all the details , including the business that you'll be doing with the Iraq men . " " Of course , we can set up another lunch date , and I'll tell you everything that you need to know . And about leaving Atlanta , " he paused for a moment . " I was going to suggest that we relocate to California . That's where I'll be working most of the time . " I honestly didn't care about where we relocated to , as long as I was going to be very far away from Elijah . I was looking forward to finally living my life without being told what to do and when to do it . " That sounds great to me . As long as we will be out of Atlanta , " I said as I packed the pregnancy report inside my traveling bag. " I'm sorry about earlier , I should've - " " It's okay , Ethan , " I sighed as I sat down on the edge of the bed . " I'm over that now . Once you and I leave this place , we won't talk about him or this day . " I sighed , trying to forget the image of Elijah in my mind when he called me a bitch again in front of Ethan and accused me of galavanting with men before our divorce was finalized . " Yes , ma'am . " " I have to go now , " I sighed as I took the traveling bag from the bed and placed it on the floor . " Promise me that you'll be good . I'll call you later if I fail to organize another lunch date to discuss the relocation arrangement and the whole contract and business details . " " Alright , bye . " I hung up the call and sighed before I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes for a moment . But as I was about to have a little moment to myself , my cell phone rang again . But this time , it was my father . After finding out that Belinda was not my birth mother , my father and I kind of grew apart . I was no longer the little princess of his heart anymore , but I became a constant reminder of what his marriage with Belinda survived . I couldn't remember a day after that when Belinda didn't try different ways to let me know that she wasn't my birth mother . She made me feel the pain that my mother put her through when she found out that she was pregnant with me . " Darla , are you there ? " He asked after I answered the call and kept quiet . " Yes , Father . What is it this time ? " I groaned . It was crystal clear that Belinda had already told him what a disappointment I was . She surely couldn't wait to gloat about how his bastard daughter let down the family and fell pregnant for another man while divorcing Elijah Houston . 4 1/3 Chapter 0007 +25 BONUS I imagined how my father believed every word that she told him , just as she got him to agree to marry me off to Elijah , knowing very well that he didn't love me . " Why am I hearing about your divorce with Elijah ? Didn't your mother and I tell you how important the business deal with them is ? Did you have to go out of your way to disappoint the family after everything that we did for you ? 11 I scoffed . " After everything that you did for me ? Why are you talking as if I'm not your daughter ? For years , I did everything that you and your wife wanted me to do . I did everything and listened to you as if I didn't have a life of my own , and I allowed you to control me like a puppet . I did that because I thought that one day you would look at me and be as proud of me as you are of Anthony . I'll always be a bastard child to you . " " Belinda and I did everything that we did for your own good . We arranged your marriage to the wealthiest man in the world because we are your parents . We wouldn't have done that if we didn't have the best interest of heart for you . " I sat up on the bed and scolded . " Well , I hope you and Belinda will be happy now that I am out of your hair for good . You won't have to waste your breath trying to make me fit into your perfect little world . " " You have to make things right with Elijah , or I will revoke the allowance that I am kindly paying into your account every week ." " You can keep your money . I don't need it . " I said before I hung up the call and fell back on the bed . My mind reminisced back to the time when I first met Elijah and instantly fell in love with him . That memory had been engraved in the deepest parts of my memory even when I watched him for two years , failing to love me or even pretend like he did . Like I usually did during my free time , I went to visit an orphanage center to give a few gifts to the kids and play with them . I did this because I knew how it felt like not to have a mother and be reminded every single day of my life that she was dead . " My name is Darla , what's yours ? " " Lily . " " Lily . You have such a beautiful name , Lily , but not as beautiful as you . " I caressed the little girl's cheek and smiled at her as she took the teddy bear that I brought her . Just when I was straightening up to go and have a little conversation with another kid as well , there he was ... My Prince Charming . He was smiling as he shook a little boy's hand . He looked so handsome and I was so sure that I had never seen anyone like him before . His gentleness with the little boy brought so much warmth in my heart , and I felt drawn to him . He loved children as much as I did , and because of that , he stole my heart . I was going to approach him and get to know him better when I stopped right in my footsteps when I saw him embracing a woman . They shared a look that had me convinced that they were together , and I aborted my mission to pass by and say hello . 2/3 Chapter 0007 I told myself that in a few days , I would forget that I had ever seen him and loved him . +25 BONUS But silly me , silly me . My parents played their cards well as the master puppeteers and brought misery into my life . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!