Chapter 269: Forgive Me

The children were dashing towards the staircase when they froze. A woman they had never seen before descended the pearly steps. They all paused, eyes wide, and with mouths ajar at her beauty. Amidst the crowd, one child recognized her first. 

"Auntie?" 

Lina slowly blinked at the strange child calling her. 

"It's older sister, not auntie," Lina responded, her lips twitching in amusement. "I'm only—"

"What are you doing here, Auntie?" the little girl asked with large eyes. She turned her head and peered around at their surroundings. Excitement flooded her face, as a large smile made its way to her lips.

"Is Uncle Kaden here too?" Hazel eagerly asked. She had the face of a child waking up to Christmas morning and finally seeing all the presents she had received.

Lina didn't know it was possible to look that happy in the presence of Kaden. That was beside the point. If a child liked Kaden, would that make him a good man? Or, a good manipulator? She remembered how frightening Kaden appeared in the parking lot, with his dark eyes,and devious smile. There was nothing more tempting than a man like him.

"I… I don't know Uncle Kaden," Lina finally managed to say.

Hazel naively blinked. She tilted her head in confusion, her hands falling to hold onto her school dress tightly. Her father, Holton, always chided her for this bad habit, but she did it whenever she was nervous.

"But… but…" Hazel mumbled. "When I visited Uncle Kaden with Daddy a few months ago…"

Hazel's voice grew smaller. Her eyes were filled with tears at the disappointment that flooded her. She didn't know how to express her unhappiness, except to grip her skirt.

"Y-you were there, Auntie… You were there with Uncle Kaden a-and he seemed to really like you," Hazel finally managed to say.

Hazel felt the curious and pressing stares of her good friends, Adelia and Elios. By now, they were interested in the stranger.

"I was with Uncle Kaden?" Lina repeated, like it was the most bizarre thing ever. Did she know her kidnapper before the incident? Now that she thought about it, Lina had no recollection of how she ended up at his house. Her memories were blurry and her head was always hurting. She could barely think straight.

If Lina was at Kaden's house before, it meant that they were far beyond acquaintances.

"Yes, Uncle Kaden was very protective of you. Daddy even told me you're his wife," Hazel blurted out, equally as puzzled as Lina.

Hazel began to wonder if she had the wrong lady. She didn't think she had. Lina looked the same as she did a few months ago. Hazel clearly remembered the woman who captured her Uncle's attention. 

"I'm his wife…?" Lina echoed, the words like sand in her mouth.

At the mention of such a thing, Lina thought of the ruby ring on her finger. Then, her hand felt heavy. She stared at the sapphire ring that didn't match her complexion. Atlantis lied. Blue was not a nice color on her pale skin. She suddenly hated sapphires.

"Mmhm, Daddy even said we'd go to Ritan soon for your wedding!" Hazel exclaimed, perking up when she thought Lina was beginning to remember everything. "Daddy showed me this pretty invitation that smelled like flowers."

Lina was growing perplexed by the second. She stared at Hazel like the child was an alien. How could Lina be married to Kaden? How could there already be a wedding invitation?

'I'm only sixteen! Why would I be getting married?' Lina shouted inside of her head. She was thrown off by the accusations coming her way. This sudden revelation of information froze her conscience.

"So, is Uncle Kaden here?" Hazel asked, grabbing her by the hand. "Is he? Is he?"

Lina didn't know what to say. Her voice was caught in her throat. She nervously pulled her hand away.

"I don't know an Uncle Kaden," Lina finally said.

Hazel's shoulders dropped in disappointment. Did she really have the wrong lady?

"But…" Hazel began to pout, her eyes filling with tears again. "But you were there…"

"I'm sorry," Lina managed to say.

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Lina lowered herself, so that she was at eye level with Hazel. She stroked her thumb across the child's soft cheeks, easing the tears.

"Maybe you can take me to your Father and we'll clear up the misunderstanding," Lina said to Hazel, taking her by the hand and lightly swinging it to cheer the girl up.

Hazel was a lovely girl. With large almond eyes and frizzy brown hair, Lina knew the child wasn't just from Ritan. Hazel's skin was slightly tanned and her eyes resembled the greenest trees. Lina didn't realize she wanted children, until she saw how pretty Hazel was.

"There is no misunderstanding. The child is just confused, leave her be, Lina."

At the dark voice, Lina raised her head. Lina saw Atlantis at the foot of the staircase, his face troubled.

When Atlantis first saw Lina with Hazel, his heart squeezed. Lina was great with children. He realized it when Lina didn't hesitate to crouch down, despite believing she was still a teenager. His chest felt warm and fuzzy when he saw her with a little girl.

"But Daddy—"

"You worship your Father too much. Off you go," Atlantis warned Hazel.

Hazel let out a small cry of aggravation, glaring at the man. "You're a bad person!"

Atlantis narrowed his eyes. 

"I'm going to tell Daddy!" Hazel complained before running up the staircase. Her friends accompanied her, quick to console her unhappiness.

"She's just a child, Lanlan," Lina said with a loud sigh. "How can you be this cruel?"

"She was irritating you," Atlantis warned her. "Pay the words of a child no mind. They blurt out the first thing on their mind and it's usually not the truth. You would know. Remember?"

Lina froze at the mention of her childhood. She gave him a frosty glower, straightening up and twisting the ring on her finger.

"How dare you? "Lina spat out.

Atlantis instantly saw his wrongdoings. He held back a sigh and softened his expression. She was peering down at him, from the top of the staircase. He felt like a man knelt before a temple peering up at his goddess.

"Forgive me," Atlantis softly said. "I was in the wrong. I never meant to offend you." 

"It's whatever."

Atlantis pressed his lips together. The Lina that he knew was much more mature than that. But now, she had the mind of a teenager.

"Are you hungry? Did you just wake up?" Atlantis asked her.

"Where is my ring?" Lina questioned.

"Linlin—"

"Ruby looks better on me," Lina suddenly told him.

Atlantis' expression darkened. He locked his jaw and stormed up the staircase. He stood one step higher than her, despite already towering over her. She let out a shaky breath at their proximity. He touched her elbow and pulled her close. Lowering his head, he heard her heartbeat stop.

"Sapphire is better," Atlantis murmured, his thumb brushing her arm. "Rubies are like solidified blood. Do you really want to wear such an ugly thing?"

Lina frowned at the ground. She twisted the ring on her finger again, but realized the band fitted her too perfectly. 

"I'm hungry," Lina sullenly said, responding to his previous question.

"Good, let's get you some food."

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