Cruel love

Chapter 35 Barbara

When I reached Arkadi's house. It was huge and had old palace vibes. A big White marble fountain was in the entrance. Gates were tall like they were made for bigfoot. The ceiling was high almost making our voices echo. A grand glass chandelier hangs from the ceiling. It felt like walking in a museum rather than a house.

We took Lily and Liam with us also. They were ironically quiet, I don't blame them. The sudden changes of houses they are going through are too much for even me, they are just kids.

I could tell by Lily's face she was astonished by the old palace feel of the place. Liam on the other hand was just blank and took the place in, it would require more than a place to woo him.

Arkadi showed us our rooms and welcomed us with a huge smile. He didn't stay with us he had work to take care of.
I sat with Lily across her bed and Liam sat in her bed too. I tried to come up with a logical explanation for another sudden change of surroundings, but I couldn't come up with any.
So I decided to ask how they liked their new home.
Lily smiled cheerfully "I love it, it looks like the palace where princesses live in fairytales". I smiled back at her "oh you are not less than a princess, of course I had to find a palace fit for you to live".
She laughed.

Liam on the hand was still very quiet. "Liam don't you like it?".
"It's good but what about dad? He would be mad we haven't been to our home in so long".
My smile vanished, how am I supposed to tell them that our dad is no more and we are now living in our dad's murderer house because he is my real dad.

"Dad won't be mad, he is in China for his work, he had a lot of it you know how busy he is". Another lie, how easily lies slip out of my tongue lately is scary.
He didn't say anything. But then he said "I am tired can I go to sleep".
I smiled and nodded at him. Everything must be tiring for him.
After tucking them in their respective beds and planting a kiss at their foreheads. I walked out of their room, closing the lights.

I walked towards my room which was just across the hall. I couldn't sleep though. Thoughts racing in my brain didn't let me, thoughts about Enzo what was he doing? How he was?, thoughts about my brother and sister, thoughts about my new father, this new home, this new life.

I don't know when I sleep. But the next morning when I woke up and got ready. A butler knocked at my door telling me that breakfast was ready. I told him I am coming for it in 10 minutes. I went straight to Lily and Liam's room. They were up too. I helped them in getting ready, then we headed for breakfast.

Lily wore an actual princess dress with a blush tool encircling her legs and ran like a Disney princess. I smiled at her.
When we reached the table. Arkadi was sitting in the head position with newspaper in his hands covering his face. He lowered the newspaper to meet my eyes and wished us good morning. Then he folded the newspaper and motioned us to take breakfast.

We did eat. Everything was delicious. Then Arkadi asked me about what I wanted to do. I was speechless for a moment. When I passed my high school I planned to go to college but I couldn't as Enzo took me. Then my life was going rollercoaster I didn't have time to think about myself, about my dreams, I made my mission to raise Lily and Liam. It's still my most important goal, but I am a person of my own too I could have my dreams and goals too.

"I would love to go to college" I said. Arkadi smiled at me and said "come to my office after breakfast we could discuss good colleges and courses suitable for you". I nodded at him.
Then I finished my breakfast.

Lily and Liam went swimming in the big kidney bean shaped pool behind the palace. I let them have fun and not study as it was Sunday. I sat beside them for quite some time and when I was sure they were comfortable, I told one maid to keep an eye on them and call me if they needed me. I headed for Arkadi's office.

When I walked towards his office I was nervous. I knocked on the door. "Come in" came from the other side of the door. Arkadi motioned for me to take a chair in front of his desk. I sat on it.

"Do you have something in your mind what would you like to study?"
I knew what I would like to study in future since I was in junior high. I said without a beat of hesitation "business, I would love to study business".
I knew it, I always loved helping dad in his office since then I knew I wanted to study business and wanted to be a successful business woman in future.

Arkadi looked at me. His eyes sparkle in pride and he smiled. "That would be great". After looking for various colleges for business in the country we settled for NYU. I don't want to leave New York ever. Also with NYU I could live with Lily and Liam and still go to college.
Arkadi told me he will arrange an admission form and will do everything required for admission.

When I left his office. I almost jumped in excitement. I can finally go to college. I never thought it would be possible how my life was going but now I can. I can live my life on my own terms, dream, fly, achieve, or fail maybe but most importantly I can explore and live.