Mend My Heart

Chapter 27

Maya’s P.O.V

If I could choose between being in hell and being in the Ice Castle right now, I’d definitely choose hell. I thought I’d never have to see Yolanda ever again but the universe had just done me dirty. And she was going to be here for a week? That smirk she gave me earlier was a clear indication that she as going to make the next 7 days an inexplicable form of torture for me.

Instead of being afraid, I was pissed at Mr. Duke. Why on earth would he bring her? So many questions swarmed my mind as I watched her cling to his arm and she smiled affectionately at him. He reciprocated the smile, but I could see him glance at me in the corner of his eye.

“Yolanda, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you again. It’s been so long!” Ms. Duke beamed and went in to give her a hug and an air kiss. It was obvious that she was Team Yolanda and for some odd reason, I felt a pang of jealousy even though I really shouldn’t. 

Meredith appeared a few feet away from Yolanda and did a curtsey. “Miss Heinz, a pleasure to have you here,” she inclined her head towards her and Yolanda feigned modesty even though she was no doubt eating up every second of it. “Shall I take your bags?” she offered and immediately went over to carry one of her many suitcases. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, as Leslie and the other driver lulled them in, with what seemed to be a lot of effort. 

Yolanda redirected her witch eyes over to the kids who regarded her with caution. She took a step towards them and they immediately came over to me, hiding their tiny forms behind my legs. “Aw, don’t be afraid little ones. I mean no harm. Your daddy and I are friends, right daddy?” she purred over her shoulder at Mr. Duke and he rolled his eyes. 

“Yolanda, why don’t you get situated upstairs. Let Aiden and Brianna show you the way,” he spoke calmly and tilted his head towards the kids. With angry pouts, they began to lead Miss Venom towards the grand stairwell and she giggled at them, striking up conversation with Ms. Duke as they went together. Mr. Duke then move closer to me until he was about two feet away from me.

I couldn’t meet his eyes, so I looked down at my bare feet. He lifted my head gently until I met his hollow yet strangely comforting blue eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly and I bit my lip, shaking my head to tell him nothing. He sighed before clasping my hand in his and pulling me towards my room. He shut the door behind him and cupped my face afterwards. “Now that we’re alone, tell me what happened. I can tell you have been crying.”

And then I started to cry again as I wound my arms around his torso and burrowed my head into his chest, soaking it inevitably. His arms immediately covered me and he patted my hair soothingly, allowing me to let out all these emotions I’d kept bottled up inside. Somehow, he was able to manoeuvre us to the bed so that we both laid on it with me still in his arms. 

“I’m sorry for crying,” I murmured in a cracked voice and used my free arm to wipe the saltiness from my face. “You must think I’m dramatic and troubled…which I am,” I tried to joke but ended up sounding like a charity case. Yikes. 

He sat us up so that we faced each other. “I don’t think you’re troubled. I just think you’re someone whose been hurting for a long time and you finally let it all out. I admire you for that,” he told me with a small smile and my heart literally melted. It was official. I’d just realised that I’m falling for this man. Not my best move, but I couldn’t help. I hadn’t known that underneath all the ice and arrogance, he was actually a very sweet and caring guy. Who wanted want a man like that?

I exhaled shakily before running my hand through my unruly brown locks. “My dad called…and I honestly don’t know why but he was acting nice. Like the last time I’d seen him he hadn’t overtly disowned me, and now he’s just disturbed my peace. How dare he act casual about that? He has no idea how much he and my mother destroyed my life. Am I really that pathetic to them? Am I even worthy of their love…,” I mumbled with a sob but he quickly wiped away the tears that had already escaped my eyelids once again.