Taming Mr. Cold And Arrogant

I found myself in front of Bryan's detective agency, but I didn't get out of the car. I just stayed there leaning against my seat and looking blankly at the crowd walking on the streets. 

Never in my life that I felt so helpless and alone just the way I feel at this very moment. Now I remembered and realized what my teacher told me when I was in fifth grade that 'Blood is thicker than water'. 

My father was not perfect. In the past, he did a lot of things that made our family broken. My mom left us because of his aggression and I left him believing that he no longer recognized me as his daughter, that he had chosen to be blinded by money and that he let me suffered for being an irresponsible father. 

I don't know exactly how I feel or what should I feel. Even though I'm still mad at him and blurted out those words... they were just words that came out of my mouth and not from my heart. Because if you would look inside my heart, you will find the love and longing that's just been hiding in the four corners of it. It was just covered in pain and disappointment that I felt over the years. 

He was still my father and for me, it's better not seeing him even though I know he's just there, rather than not seeing him forever. 

I couldn't help but to just shake my head as soon as his words about Joseph De Lucca and his cunning father came to my mind. What kind of father and a person Mr. Nicholas De Lucca was, that he even threatened my Dad to kill me just to cover up his son's immorality? 

I was dazed in my thoughts when someone knocked on the window and drew his face closer that made me startled and almost jump on my seat. 

"What are you doing here and why didn't you come inside?" Bryan asked me when I opened the window. 

"It's okay, I feel comfortable here."

"Tsk.tsk.tsk. Next time, tell me something believable, huh?" He smirked, shaking his head. "Let's go inside. I know you have a lot of questions to ask me."

I sighed, remembering that he had given my number to my father without my consent. 

"Yeah, you're right. You have something to explain to me." I closed the door, rolling my eyes. 

~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~

Seattle, 10 o'clock in the morning... 

I run immediately inside of my mother's house as I was excited to see her and my brother. I didn't inform them that I'm coming today because I wanted to surprise them. 

But it was me who was surprised when I noticed some travel bags in the living room. 

"Mia sorella!" (My sister!)

I turned to see Steven coming out of the kitchen. 

"Steven." I smiled at him and hugged him tightly. 

"Why didn't you inform us that you were coming?" He scrunched his forehead as he led me to the couch. 

"It's because I wanted to surprise you and Mom, but I think I was the one who seemed surprised and not you." I said pointing to the three travel bags near the front door. 

"Ohh..."

"Where is Mom?"

"She's in her room, packing up all her remaining stuff." He shrugged. 

"But why is she packing up all her stuff? Are you going to move out and find another house to rent?"

"No, not a house but another place, another town and another country."

I became more confused with his answer. 

"I don't get it, what do you mean by another place and another country?"

"Well, yesterday she received a phone call yesterday and then she told me that we are going back to Italy."

"What did you say?" I didn't notice that I asked it out loud that made him looked at me, knitting his eyebrows. 

"Belle?"

We both turned to the owner of the voice and found our Mom standing in the doorway of her room. 

"Mom."

I got up immediately and walked towards her. We hugged each other but I didn't miss the gleam of sadness in her both eyes. 

"What is this?" I asked referring to her things scattered on the bed and in the whole room. 

"Belle, I'm going back to Italy with your brother."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I sat on the edge of the bed, not knowing what to ask or what to say. I was just looking into her sad eyes and waited for her next words. 

"I'm going to introduce your brother to your dad."

Hearing the word 'dad' I remembered the last thing we discussed when he called me. And suddenly, my eyes glistened with tears and I had to avoid her gaze so she couldn't see me in tears. 

"Why all of a sudden? Have you already forgiven him for everything he did to you?" I tried to blink away the tears and looked straight at her. "You told me how he treated you, that's why you decided to leave. He became a shrewd businessman and a gambler who always makes you his punching bag every time he loses a game."

"Yeah, I still remember those things clearly---"

"Then why do you have to go back with him?"

"Belle----"

"Steven said you received a call yesterday, was it from him?"

She nodded. 

"Mom!"

"I love him, Belle. I still love your father."

"You still love him despite what he did?"

"He's sick." She replied, ignoring my question. 

"So that's why you're going back with him, because he's sick?"

"Yes and no."

She smiled at me but it didn't reach her eyes then she slowly walked towards my direction and sat down next to me. 

"He called me yesterday and he told how sorry he felt for all those mistakes of the past and asked for my forgiveness, for our forgiveness."

She held my hands, and it's only that I noticed the tears that completely ruined her makeup. 

"I was so shocked, Belle, when told me about his health condition, that for the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. He was my first love, my first heartbreak and first in everything. Yes, he made a lot of mistakes. Well, who doesn't make mistakes? He is not superman and he is not perfect, but I loved him and I still love him."

Instead of wiping her own tears, she wiped my cheeks with her both thumbs. 

"I want to give him the forgiveness he has been asking for so many years. I want to show him how much I love him and I regret my decision of leaving him---"

"Mom?"

"I gave up, Belle. It was I who broke our promise, that no matter what happens, we will stay together until our last breath. I felt tired. I got tired of loving him then, that I wish I didn't."

"Because he was hurting you back then, so don't blame yourself if you felt tired of loving him. And Mom, you're not the first to break your promise, it's Dad because he forgot what he promised to you that he will never lay his hands on you."

Now I am the one who holds her hands. 

"I'm sorry, my baby, if I hadn't left and stayed back then, you would never have suffered all those things in your life."

"Mom, it's in the past."