Chapter 53
Ariel
Climbing down the stairs for dinner felt like going down the Kilmanjaro mountain after being alone in the cold for days. Even being alone at the top of a mountain was better than being in this loveless house.
I got to dining clad in a simple sleeveless black flare dress and met Mama who was busy giving orders to the maids who helped with serving the dishes.
Irina and Liora walked in just after I’d settled down and I reached for a plate and scooped a piece of baked salmon on it.
“Don’t eat yet. We have to wait for your father to be here,” Mama chided me lightly.
The urge to ignore her and keep eating welled up within me, but for the sake of Liora whom I didn’t want to witness a family dispute, I obeyed and folded my arms, stomping my foot restlessly on the floor.
The air around me was hot and still even though the air conditioner was on. No one spoke, not even my mother who was usually chatty.
Maybe she’d noticed how bitter I was and decided not to add to my resentment.
Footsteps echoed faintly on the tiled floor from a distance and as they got closer, my heart raced faster. I could identify those footsteps any time any day.
I’d lowered my head and I didn’t know whether to spare him a glance and greet him. Pretending that everything was fine when things were going south wasn’t my strong forte.
However, I didn’t have to think so deeply as he called me out of my feigned meditation. “Are you going to pretend that you don’t know I’m here?” He asked casually.
“Good evening, sir,” I greeted coldly and rested my hands on the table. “Since we are complete, can we go ahead and eat. Liora has not had any proper food since we left Seattle,”
Mama and my father exchanged surprised glances and when no one responded, I encouraged Liora to begin eating. I dug into my salmon and ate as fast as I could, gobbling the broccoli pesto pasta as well.
I wanted to be out of here as soon as I could.
“It’s my birthday and you didn’t bring any gift for me. That’s strange of you, Ariel. You used to be more excited than me when it comes to my birthday. I feel upset,” He frowned.
I scoffed and tightened my grip on my fork until my knuckles almost turned white. Was he being serious right now?
“Well, the kind of life you introduced me to doesn’t give me the luxury of time to ponder on trivial matters. I have several things that are taking up my time,”
He paused midway in cutting his steak. “Things like what? Making babies?” The mockery in his voice was evident.
“That is none of your business, Father,” I snarled.
“What?” He continued provocatively. “It’s been-let’s see, close to seven months now and your stomach is still as flat as a wall. I’m going to speak with Dmitri when I see him,”
My temper simmered and if he said one more word to me, I’d go ballistic, but I couldn’t allow Liora watch all of that.
I glanced at Irina who understood immediately. She helped Liora up, took their plates and walked away; a sigh of exhaustion departing from my lips.
“You don’t want me to disrespect you, Father. Hold on,” I clicked my tongue. “Is there any need for me to address you as that? Are you even worth being called a father after how indifferent and nonchalant you’ve been to me?” I blurted, bouncing to my feet.
The dumbfounded expressions on the faces of my parents were exactly I aimed for.
Mama stood up as well, trying to play the role of a peacemaker, but it was too late. My father had ignited a great fire that he wouldn’t be able to quench so easily.
“Don’t speak to him like that. Even if you don’t respect him as your father, remember that he’s the Capo of the Famiglia,” She reprimanded.
I snorted and leaned against the table; one of my arms propped on it. “Whose side are you on anyway? You never cared less about my existence,”
She shook her head, her eyes turning misty. “Don’t say that, princess, you know that it’s not true…” Her voice cracked.
“Leave her to say whatever she wants. She’ll come around soon,”
“Dad!” I screamed in frustration. “Stop it, please. You’re hurting me,”
He gulped and his lackadaisical facade slipped, exposing his true feelings. His eyes became sad as he looked away, but that wasn’t enough to stop me from giving them a piece of my mind.
Maybe I’d return to Seattle after this.
“All those times we chatted in your study, didn’t they mean anything to you? You said you loved me countless times, but you never called to know how I was faring after I left. Mama and I spoke to each other once in a while, but not once did she tell me that you were concerned about my well-being. Didn’t I mean anything to you? Even after betraying my trust by sending me away in a forced marriage, I still hoped that we’d move past our misunderstanding and start afresh, but you did nothing,”
He stood up, his arms hanging loosely beside him. “Ariel,” His lips trembled as my name left his mouth.
I raised my hand sharply. “I’m not done talking. When Dmitri informed me of the birthday dinner you’d planned, I thought of several excuses to give just to avoid coming here but at the end of the day, I kept them aside. Do you know why? Because against all odds, I hoped that things would be different once you see me again, but what have you done? You just reopened old wounds,”
His jaw slackened and he sighed deeply. “I’m sorry,” He muttered.
“You’re sorry?” I snickered. “You don’t know how long I waited to hear these words,” My tone dripped hard with sarcasm.
Strangely, the heaviness that had taken a permanent spot in my chest for a while now had vanished and I was spent. Even the food I was so eager to eat had never looked so annoying.
I fixed my chair properly and made to leave. “Happy birthday, Mr Scuderi,”
“Where are you going to? Won’t you finish your meal?” Mama asked.
A sly grin formed crept to my lips. “I lost my appetite. Enjoy the rest of your meal,” I stormed out of the room, ignoring their pleas for me to stay back.
I was almost out of the house when my eyes met with Dmitri’s who was leaning by the doorway.
“You’re back,” I muttered and brushed past him, veering into the dark.