My Enemy’s Daughter

Henrico Zattani

My mood has improved almost one hundred percent from yesterday to today, Masonarrest has leveraged my plans and put me ahead of this game.

Seeing his face all over the media made me rational again.

The fact that Amelia discovered my identity without coming directly from me was a delay, the kiss a rash and inconsequential step, but one that could easily be turned to my advantage. Of course, at first I was shaken, a little bewildered to be touching a woman again after so many years, even more so for who she was. However, it passed. And so, I arrived at this address.

When she left the farm in a hurry yesterday, I was the victim of an interrogation and Guilhermino didn’t calm down until he found out the reasons why Amélia Leal had gone to our farm possessed and left with her lips swollen from kissing so much, I’m not going to lie and say your comment didn’t make me smile because it did. However, I avoided her questions as much as I could, blurting out in the end that she was a huge part of my revenge game. That displeased him, Guilhermino was always a straight guy and never agreed with my plans, but he promised not to interfere.

The woman’s grateful face turns towards me, Carmelia is kind and makes her profile independent, strong and pioneering. He took over the management of the watercolor house almost ten years ago and since then he has been fighting to make it a home, making each child feel integrated and special, although he continues to fight for each of them to get foster parents and have opportunities. I came here to be mean, to cheat fate and force a meeting with the youngest Leal, but I was fascinated with all the children, especially the youngest. I remembered earlier today that I had the dossier on each of the members of that family, and after much thought I realized that hers needed to be explored further and so, I discovered her involvement with this place, however much she tried to keep it hidden from her life. .

Amélia Leal is a surprise box.

I signed a check on behalf of the institution, making it clear that I was influenced by Amelia so that the director would speak well of me to her. We arranged everything, but the woman insisted on showing me how the whole place worked, I ended up surrendering for longer than I intended to and had to go to the bathroom.

What was my surprise when I returned the same way I did with Carmelia, I decided to go back home when a short black hair appeared in my field of vision, still distant I watched Amelia talking to the director of the home. A smug smile formed on my lips as the green eyes turned to mine.

And, dammit!

They look more intense and angrier than last time, making the clear irises almost magnetic. It was involuntary, but my eyes dropped to her little pink mouth that pouted in disgust.

“You.” she says, looking at me.

I smile even wider and look up at her, giving her my full attention and ignoring anyone else’s presence in the room.

The hair tied back in a low ponytail leaves the skin on her neck bare, the short strands barely catching on the pink elastic band. An insane fantasy of wrapping my fingers around her thin neck and squeezing hard until it’s branded flashes through my mind, causing me to have to curl my hands into fists and take a step away from committing the act.

“Okay, what do you want?” She says, not looking directly at me, impatience in her voice.

I don’t respond right away, just to extend my time with her and get her to look at me.

She has a certain power over me, always has, to be honest. As much as I tried to dislike the girl out of loyalty to my ex-wife, something in her face made me want and do otherwise.

“Your friendship.” I respond succinctly, trying to convey a believable picture.

She kind of roars, throwing her arms in the air.

I frown, holding back a smile.

“What?” I ask, arching an eyebrow and stifling a laugh.

She looks at me seriously.

He brings both hands to his waist and to me in disbelief, as if I have two heads.

“You’ve got to be kidding me” He says, snorting a little as he finishes his sentence.

I shake my head, leaning a little closer to her.

“I want to be your friend.” I speak, looking at the bottom of the greenish sapphires.

I can feel her hesitate, it’s only been a few seconds, but it’s enough for me to believe I have a chance. I don’t know how Amélia Leal is now, but I know exactly how she was before, and I can be everything she needs, I can be her world.

“You are very cynical, you know?” She pauses, drawing some air into her lungs and then letting it out. I have years of living with liars, manipulators and thieves, so stay away from me.

I control my smile, enjoying the sharp way she’s manipulating me. Fuck, I’m enjoying it so much, I don’t know if I’m still just acting. She just makes my task more interesting every day.

“I know.” I say.

She narrows her suspicious eyes in my direction.

“He knows?” Speak in a low tone. As if you didn’t believe my answer. The thing is, I can also be surprising.

I nod, taking advantage of his distraction to close the space between us.

“Yes, you are strong and not the weak sheep.”

She turns her little nose even higher, still eyeing me suspiciously, but not arguing or pulling away.

“I still don’t trust you.” he grunts, not taking his eyes off mine.

I agree.

“I wouldn’t either.” I mean it, taking advantage of her permissiveness to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, failing to move the strands that clung to the sweaty skin of her cheek.

She is nervous?

I do this with her?

Why are you sweating so much?

Taking advantage of the fact that we are on the porch of house Watercolor, I look up, identifying the absence of the sun as I had imagined. It’s overcast, so she has no reason to be dripping hot like this.

So why is she sweating?

Amelia pulls my hand away abruptly, brushing her fingers through mine. Well, at least that’s what I made it out to be.

“Do you want revenge on my sister?” she asks, still not taking a step back from me. I don’t know if I should answer, I came here to conquer your mind and seduce your heart.

She’s the key to my plans, but I can’t lie to her, I’m sure of that when I feel the truth dawning.

“Also.” I answer.

“Do you want revenge on my father?” she asks again, holding my eyes with his.

“I go.” I speak, making sure of what I intend.

“Do you want to get back at me?” His voice sounds wistful, sad when he finishes speaking.

It takes me a while to answer, my problem is not directly with her, but I wouldn’t mind if I hurt her in the end. I want to make Augusto Leal suffer, the rest is a consequence.

“What do you want from me?” Change the question when you realize I’m not going to answer.

I can’t risk saying the wrong thing.

Sigh.

“Your friendship.” I repeat.

It’s not entirely untrue, I enjoyed texting her, going out for dinner and even drinks together.

I felt alive.

As if my response burns her body, she pulls away, again avoiding direct contact with me.

“I can’t ask you to give up this revenge, but I want you away from me and the children. She looks back, and I follow her gauze, catching a glimpse of two little bodies holding hands and chocolate-smeared mouths.

I frown, feeling the unease wash over me.

“I would never harm a child.” I say offended.

Fuck, I would definitely never do anything to any of those kids. My donation was entirely of interest, but I never thought of doing harm to this place.

“Fine, leave and never come back.” He says, transmuting a resolute, strong, almost maternal image.

Damn yes!

The affectionate way he looked at the children, the fear written on his face. She thinks my coming here might be bad for the kids. “I’m not leaving. I’ll keep coming, get used to my presence.” I say irritated.

I’m not a danger to babies, dammit!

“You are like them.” He accuses, putting his hands in his hair and pacing back and forth.

They?

“These children are fragile and needy, they deliberately distribute affection, if they live with you daily they will associate your image with that of a father, wait for something they won’t have.”

His breathing is labored, his hands constantly migrate from his hair to his baggy shirt, and tears well up in his eyes. I blink. She looks desperate, holding back tears.

What is this madness I got myself into?

Who is this girl?

I try to approach her, but she dismisses me with a wave of her hand.

I scratch my head, feeling weird.

“They know I’m not their father, Amelia.” I say, trying to get her to stop crying before she even starts.

She huffs, turning around and stopping right in front of me, her eyes already red.

“It’s very easy to think like that, take all the real responsibility and just stick with the pretty part, but when they have a problem at school or hear mum jokes at the parties you made them go to, they’re scorned by their peers, where you will, you be?” he asks, sticking his index finger in the middle of my chest.

She looks like a broken doll right now, and for some reason, I want to be in charge of fixing her. I suppose it’s the pain in his eyes, I admit.

“Reply!” Starts screaming. “Tell them what you’re going to do when they just want a hug or a comforting word? Are you going to put them to bed or ask about their day? I suppose not.”

“I’ll probably have my own problems to deal with.” I reply, then her shoulders slump, and a sigh leaves her lips.

The faraway look indicates there’s a lot more to what she’s saying.

“This isn’t about the kids, is it?” I question, lifting her chin to face me.

She tries to pull away, but I pull her arm back to me. “Talk. Is that how you feel?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

But she doesn’t speak, it only increases her crying. Sobbing loudly, I hold her against my chest, kissing the top of her head.

“Shiiii…” I say, rocking her like a baby.

What a bag!

This girl managed to change my plans yet again. I don’t want to see her crying anymore. Not because of him or me or anyone else. She’s too good for us.