XXXIV
"What are you doing here?" I don't bother with faking a smile back - he has nothing over me so there's no reason for me to act as if I like him. God knows I hate his ass.
I open the door slightly wider to step outside and almost walk into a tall blond woman. "Oh, sorry, I'm Joanne." She reaches out her hand to me and I ignore it, not even bothering to introduce myself.
Whose fucking brilliant idea was for them to come here?
"Where did you get my address?" I lift my brows up to Daniel and he scratches the back of his neck. "Um, Beatrice gave it to me."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to come for a visit?"
"Why?"
He snorts. "Jesus, is this some fucking police questioning or what? I wanted to see my daughter."
"And why should I let you? You're only going to upset her and she's not in the best shape at the moment." I know I'm being mean as fuck but this man has done nothing but hurt her since I know him. Don't blame me for acting like an asshole if I'm trying to protect my family.
He lifts his head up in challenge. "I'm her father. I don't think she would be happy if she got a call informing her that I was here but you didn't let me see her."
"I don't think she would be too upset considering your attitude towards her, towards us. You kicked her out of your house for dating me, what kind of a sick asshole does that?" I take a step closer, reminding myself that I should under no circumstances beat the shit out of him, no matter how much he deserves it.
"I regret every day that it didn't work out the way I wanted it to." he smirks and I'm starting to see red.
"And tell me what's so fucking wrong with us being together? I take care of her. Earn good money. She has everything she needs-"
"But she still deserves so much better. Don't think that I don't know about your sins -"
Suddenly a small voice comes from above. "Dad?" I look up to see Sophie peaking down from the balcony, Amy looking guilty beside her.
"Sophie! What are you doing? You know you have to be in bed, Amy what the fuck is this? Why did you let her walk on her own?!" I put my hands on my hips, frowning up at them.
"sorry, sir, she gave me no choice-"
"You're yelling at me!? I should be yelling at you! What are you doing outside without me knowing stuff again!" I can tell she's mad but not as mad as me. She drives me crazy, that's what she does.
"And don't yell at me like I'm a child, I'm your girlfriend-"
I stop listening and enter the house, shutting the door in Daniel's face, then quickly hurry upstairs, lifting Sophie off her feet. She protests, but I ignore her and carry her to the bed she was supposed to be on.
"Stop acting like I'm a child, I mean it! And bring my dad and the woman up, I want to meet her. Now!"
"Don't tell me what to do! I'm not your slave!" I'm so pissed off at her right now, acting like a little brat.
"Fine, I'll go get them myself!" she moves to sit up, and I immediately lay her back down. "Fine, fuck! I'll go get the fucking asshole and bring him up, but don't cry when he acts like a dick!"
I slam the door behind me, rolling my eyes and taking a deep breath, opening the door for a second again. "Please." I add more calmly. I don't really want to fight with her or see her cry, which is precisely the reason I'm being this way but of course, she doesn't fucking listen and then it's on me to comfort her when the world turns against her, like always.
I wouldn't mind it if I didn't hate seeing her cry so much.
Walking down the stairs, I open the door, half hoping to see them gone already but they're still standing here.
Of course they are. Daniel knows his daughter.
"Come in. But one fuck-up, and I'm pulling you out by your hair." I tell him seriously and he sighs, not replying to me and simply brushing past.
"Where is she?" he asks, the blonde little bitch trailing behind him.
"Upstairs."
I lead them both into her room, and I can visibly see Sophie's nervousness when they enter behind me. Moving to sit on the bed where her legs are, I lift them on my thighs while Daniel plants a kiss on top of her head.
"Sophie, darling, I've missed you so much, you have no idea."
She beams up at him, her walls falling down slowly. Here we go.
"I missed you, too! How have you been?" she asks him and he smiles a fake smile.
"Great, Joanne has been keeping me company here." he points to the blonde bitch next to him and she stretches her arm towards Sophie.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Joanne, Daniel's wife." she says and I groan mentally. I knew some shit like this wpuld happen, it always does.
I can see the surprise on Sophie's face. "W-wife?"
"Yeah, you can call me step-mom! We can go shopping together, you can tell me everything you want to!"
Great.