Chapter 34: Chapter 34

She loved Melissa and believed she was a sweetheart, but if she truly believed everything she had just said, then she was naive, so naive it was dangerous and unattractive.

"Was she so clumsy that she had tripped and pushed your Dad into a bed with her sister? A leaked picture of them, In a compromising position, was everywhere, on the news, the blogs. It made headlines for weeks!" Melissa's nose was red as she vehemently shook her head, upset.

"Mom had said that.."

"You are so ridiculously foolish, it is nauseating. I can see that you have grown into a spineless weak woman, like your mother who covers her husband's trash, you cover your father's. I just hope you are not attracted to bastards too." He simply said, his eyes hardened.

"Why don't you tell her that yourself. Why don't you tell her what you think about her already? Just like you have conveniently done on your 16th year birthday. That might just earn you the son of the year award, you deserve." She said sarcastically, her words enunciated with bitterness.

Maya couldn't help but feel like she was invading something private, so she quickly backed away from the two who still had hurtful words to splurge at each other.

As she made her discreet exit, she sighted Mrs. Salvador, looking all chirpy on her white ball dress, knowing she might see them and that might just dampen their mood.

Maya rushed towards her, the box of cookies she had made in her arm after she had perused the mall, in search of what to gift her for hours.

Like what do you even give someone that has everything already?

"Good evening, ma'am. Happy birthday." She squealed wrapping her arm around her and redirecting her steps to the other side of the room, away from her upset children.

Mrs. Salvador gasped in surprise, not expecting to see her and especially in such an enthusiastic mood since she came off to be touchy just like Xavier.

"Maya, this is such a pleasant surprise." She whispered, smiling at her.

"I came with Xavier too. He was so hyped to see you."

Mrs. Salvador smiled tightly.

"I know you are the reason why he is here. I doubt he even remembers today is my birthday. I know you have a hand in his presence today." She held Maya's hand.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"I haven't even given you the gift, I got you." She said, confused.

"You have. You brought my son back to me. This is the best birthday gift anyone has ever given me today." She whispered and then embraced her.

Maya felt herself, relaxing in her embrace, a smile on her face.

It was worth it, the wealth of questions, her friends were going to bombard her with. The gossips. Everything. This was golden. This was why she did everything, she wanted to make Mrs. Salvador, smile this wide.

Maya watched, a small smile on her face as Mrs. Salvador was coaxed to dance on the stage. She felt a tug on her dress and then turned to see a little girl, With spectacular, green eyes. She had two adorable pigtails and freckles on her nose that made her look more adorable if that was even possible.

"Hey," she whispered, smiling at Maya revealing that some of her teeth were missing.

Maya smiled at her.

"What is your name?"

"I am Amber and I know you are Maya. Is it true that you are getting married to uncle Xavier soon?" She asked, not hiding the curiosity in her eyes.

Maya grinned and then nodded.

"Then you are damn special." Maya arched her brow confused.

"Why will you say that?"

Amber shrugs.

"I don't know. That is what mummy usually says. Anyone who Xavier decides to get married to must be damn special." She said with a straight face, mimicking her mom at the last part.

Maya chuckled and then bent down so she was at her level, she said.

"You are so smart and know so much about me and I know so little about you, don't you think that is unfair?" She asked, tilting her hair backward in the mock appraisal of the genius in front of her.

"I am 9. Will be 10, five months from now and Dad has promised to give me a baby brother as a birthday gift. I don't want a baby brother, but I don't want to be insensitive. Our dog is damn troublesome, always pooping everywhere and he even messed my favorite quilt up... And babies are like dogs right?" She asked with an innocence that made Maya crack up.

"You know, you were once a baby Right?" Maya asked her, she shook her head.

"I was a toddler. Big difference, besides I have always been like this, not sulking and pooping." She argued.

Meanwhile, Xavier was watching her animated discussion with his cousin, from the other side of the room.

She is great with children, just see how much Amber adores her already." Mrs. Tamara who was also Amber's mother and the wife of Xavier's uncle said behind him.

He shook his head, amused at her antics.

"You set her up. You sent Amber to her, didn't you?"

"No. She was being Amber. So I just asked her, to go look for someone else to bother. Seems like she found the right person." She said as they both watch the two. Maya was high-fiving Amber, then they both grinned at each other like they have known each other their whole life.

"Sophia was not wrong. She is everything and more she described. Damn too good for you, if I must say." Xavier arches his brow now.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" He asked, his lips curving into a proud grin.

Mrs. Tamara rolled her eyes recognizing the proud sheen in his, "Because it is true though. You know I used to say anyone who will land you will be a damn special girl. She is. Do not mess this up. You will regret it." She warned.

Xavier gave her a mock salute, because of how stern she sounded as they both watch Amber drag Maya, impatiently out of their sight.

Maya stiffened immediately she sighted Mr. Salvador walking towards them. He had the "not up to any good grin", she now recognizes.

"Uncle Domi," she said giving him a toothy grin. "Have you met my new friend? her name is Maya." She innocently announced, tugging Mr. Dominic's trousers like she had Maya's to get his attention which was fixated on the latter as he relished her discomfort and how she squirmed in his presence.

"Amber Darling, your mom has been looking for you all around. She was damn worried when I saw her, you don't want to make your mama get grey now with stress, Do you?" Dominic asked her.

Mumbling something incoherent under her breath, that ended with the Queen of England, she ran inside in search of her mother.

Maya stared right into his eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction that his eyes raking over her body, so slowly, disgustingly shameless, lingering briefly on her chest, didn't give her the creeps.

She gaped at the man, astonished by his audacity and how low he could stoop; This was a low even for him.

"Now the big old meanie is gone, I finally have you all to myself." He whispered.

She shivered, in fear.

"What do you want from me?" She managed to ask?" Her voice came out shaky and muffled.

He took a step towards her, looking at her like a predator will a prey.

"I want a lot of things from you, but firstly How about we play mummy and daddy? You Know the little naughty game, Bree..."

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He tugged her hair tightly, Making her wince in front of the man who had come to see her.

"You will play mummy and daddy with him, you will play it so damn well and put your body to good use for once!" Her stepfather ordered while she shook her head defiantly.

"I will tell mummy about this, I will tell her that you want to monetize me for quick fucks." She whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"That bitch is always more high than she is ever sane and she will just get worked up that she didn't think of it first and just demand a cut. Now be a good girl, Bree."

Her stepfather ordered and left her in the mercy of a stranger who was wearing a red mask and had an evil grin on his face.

She knew now, why he had looked familiar.

Because he was the devil and she has seen the devil before.

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That man was Xavier's father and he had survived the knife injury that had made her panic, thinking he was dead and that was the last time her stepfather or her druggie mother saw her.

He was here now, he was in front of her, making her revisit her past she had tried to forget with tons of therapy sessions, from all her attempt to blot any evidence of Bree in her life.

"I am not Bree!" She shouted, a tear sliding down her cheek as all her insecurities came crashing past all her defenses, all her years of trying to tell herself she was over that night, that she was safe, that no one could find her now.