Chapter 6

Annabelle Piccolo's POV

Same night, before Lucas arrived the party

"You look beautiful Bell!", dad cheered as he side hugged me with a huge smile on his face. I gave him a small smile and stood beside him as my step mother glared at me. Mr. Alberto gave a smile as his wife came beside me.

"Yes, you do look so pretty. It's been a while since I have seen you. How have you been dear?", she asked in her kind voice. She really is a kind woman.

"Thank you, Mrs. Alberto. I am good. How are you?".

"I am fine too dear". She replied smiling. "You are so lucky to have a beautiful daughter like her Antonio. I am sure many men here are intended to take her out". She said and I blushed at her comment before looking down. Hope Lucas feels that way about me.

"You know, Gemma is also beautiful. Actually more beautiful than her", Felisa, my stepmother said and all of us know what she meant by that. She didn't like that they are complimenting me. Although I don't mind, cause Gemma is really beautiful to me. Even though she is my step-sister, she was never like her mother. Sure she behaves like she doesn't care about me, but I love her as a sister.

"Sure Gemma is too. I see her all the time. It's only a few times that I meet Annabelle", Mrs Alberto said smiling. I smiled back at her. Felisa rolled her eyes. I everted my gaze down.

"Yeah, yeah. I am sure she dressed like that only to make your son fall in love with her", she said and I looked at her in shock at her bluntness. Normally she does not talk much about me in front of dad.

"Felisa!" dad said angrily.

"Like mother, like daughter", she said arrogantly. At those words, tears pooled in my eyes before they start to fall down.

"How dare you?!" dad shouted loudly and took a step forward furiously to go to her. I stopped him by holding his wrist and pulled him back. By this point, everyone in the room is looking at us, at me.

"What? I didn't say anything wrong. Just because you shout, what I said wouldn't turn false, does it?", she said and folded her hands near her chest. "Also ask your daughter if I am wrong. I never saw her dressing like this. All this is just because she wants to get Lucas's attention and also for his money. There is no hiding in that. She may look all innocent, but we all know wh-".

"Enough!", dad shouted loudly. She looked at dad in shock as he used such loud tone. "Enough! One more word about my Bell and I will forget that you are my wife!". He sounded so angry.

I can't take this anymore. It was not supposed to be like this. I can't bear all this. This is why I don't like attending parties with them. Before a sob can escape my mouth, I put my hand over my mouth and ran away from the big hall to a room the first room I saw and went inside the bathroom before closing the door and locking it.

I can't control the sobs anymore. One by one kept leaving my mouth. Why mom? Why does it have to be like this? Each and every word of her's pierced me. Also what she said is partly right though. Yes, I dressed up well, yes, I want his attention. But no, I don't want his money.

After some time, I stood up and washed my face, cleaning it. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and my eyes are still red and puffy. I shook my head at myself. I am such a stupid.

Opening the bathroom door, I came out and kept walking straight to the door while thinking and looking down, I bumped into someone and gasped. Before I can fall down, that person caught me and I stood straight. I looked up to apologize, but I froze once I looked into the familiar green eyes. I stared back at him in shock and happiness.

Lucas!

After They, Both Had Dinner At The Garden

My heart exploded with happiness as I walked to my father who was standing beside my sister while talking to her while grinning as she had a scowl on her face.

Having dinner with him was so magical. I can't explain the extreme amount of happiness I felt knowing that he remembered me. When he called me beautiful, my insides melted and for someone reason, I keep blushing as I recall his words, how can anyone forget a woman who is as beautiful as her. His words just made my day.

Like always, even now, no words were exchanged between us, but we still had a conversation. It's so intense and heartwarming. I look down at my hands and smiled at the flower he gave me. I held it with both of my hands and brought it to my chest.

"Bell, dear!". I heard dad say and look up at him as I reached him with a smile. "Did you meet your sister?", he asked as he put his hand on Gemma. I shook my head and looked at Gemma. She stood there looking uncomfortable.

"Hi, Gemma. How are you?". She gave a tight-lipped smile before answering.

"I am fine. How have you been?". I can see that she wants to get away from here.

"I am fine too".

"You look beautiful". I looked at her in shock. This the first time she ever complimented me. She never said anything mean to me, but neither did she ever compliment. I feel so happy at her words. Not because of her compliment, because she cared enough to say it. A grin appeared on my face.

"Thank you. But you are always more beautiful".

She just gave a tight-lipped smile and looked away. Dad is looking at us both with a smile on his face.

"I feel so happy when the two most beautiful girls of my get along. You two are my precious gems", he said and kissed our forehead as he put his hands on me and Gemma.

"Okay, now you are being sentimental. Give me a break", Gemma said and dad laughed. A grin spread across my face at her words.

"Let's go home. It's already eleven O' clock at night", he said and we both nodded our heads in agreement. Although I don't want to go. Not so soon. I just met him, after eight years. "Let me call Felisa".

"I am right here". We turned back to look at her coming our way before she stood in front of us with Mrs Alberto beside her.

"Good, the whole Piccolo family is here, now", Mrs Alberto said. Only dad smiled at her words.

"Actually, we were just about to leave", he said. Her mouth formed an "O".

"Who is leaving?", I heard a very familiar masculine voice. Lucas. He came and stood beside me, of course maintaining some distance. But I want to take his hand and hold it. I gazed up at him from the corner of my eyes. My heart rate increased at his voice and presence.

"The Piccolo family", his mother answered.

"This early?", he asked with surprise in his voice.

"Actually, it's too late son", dad replied smiling.

"Also I just want to go home and fall asleep. I am too tired from all the travelling", Gemma said yawning.

"You are such a sleepy person", Lucas said rolling his eyes at her. She just poked her tongue out at him.

"Gemma", Felisa said in warning tone to not behave like that with Lucas. This time Gemma rolled her eyes at her and turned her head away.

"Let's goo", Gemma whinned and everyone smiled at her.

"See you son", dad said and turned to us.

"Buona notte (good night) Mr and Mrs. Piccolo. Sweet dreams dormiglione (sleepy head)", he teased Gemma. She glared at him.

"Bad dreams diavolo (devil)", she teased back and we all laughed except Felisa.

All of us went out of their house and reached our car. All the while Lucas walked beside me and I held the rose closely. Lucas opened the car door for me. I blushed and smiled at him. Just as I was about to get in, Gemma came from behind me and sat inside still yawning. Lucas shake his head and I stopped myself from laughing. I sat beside her and he closed the door.

"Good night Gemma. Sweet dreams. Take care", Lucas said through the car window as he bent down and his warm breath fanned my right cheek. A faint smile appeared on my lips that never them in the first place.

"You already told me that. Why are you saying again? Also, what's with all the caring talk? Don't talk-", she stopped talking once she understood why he said all that. "God! When are you both going to talk directly?", she said getting annoyed and we both smiled.

"Soon", he whispered and his lips almost touched my cheek. I moved back at sudden contact and blushed deep red and bit my lip. He moved back and stood straight.

"Bye", Gemma said and dad and Felisa sat in the car. Dad started the car and smiled at Lucas before driving again.

I peaked my head out of the window and looked at Lucas. Our eyes met and found him smiling at me. I smiled back and sat back once the car left his palace.

I hope to meet you soon.

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

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