Chapter 3 The slap!

NEXT MORNING>VINCENT MANSION

Vincent's car drove into the driveway of the mansion. Vincent and Angel stepped out of the car, and Angel was in awe of the grandeur of the building. She looked around, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Is this your house?" Angel asked innocently, her voice filled with amazement. Vincent smiled at her reaction.

"Yeah, this is my humble abode," Vincent replied.

"What? You call this humble? Nah, you've got to be kidding me now," Angel said playfully, causing Vincent to laugh at her funny expression.

"Anyways, let's get in," Vincent suggested, and they walked into the house.

As they entered the living room, Angel gasped in awe. She looked around, admiring the luxurious furnishings and decorations.

"Wow!!!" Angel exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. "Seriously, this is not anywhere near humble. This is four times the size of our living room back at home!"

Angel continued to blabber on about the grandeur of the mansion, and Vincent couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" Angel asked, noticing his gaze. Vincent inwardly cursed his slip-up.

"Oh, nothing," Vincent replied, quickly trying to change the topic. "Let's get you to your room."

Vincent led Angel up the stairs, and casual conversation ensued.

"How old are you?" Vincent asked, genuinely curious. Angel made a puppy face before answering.

"I will be nineteen next week," she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Nineteen? You're really small!" Vincent exclaimed in surprise. He opened the door to a luxurious room with blue-colored decor, and Angel stepped inside, her eyes widening at the sight.

Angel marveled at the beautiful paintings adorning the walls and the chandelier hanging gracefully from the ceiling, casting a soft glow across the room. Vincent watched her as she took in every detail, a smile playing on his lips.

"I'm glad you like it," Vincent said, his voice full of warmth. "This room is yours for as long as you stay here."

Angel turned to him, a mix of gratitude and excitement shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Vincent. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Vincent chuckled softly. "I have a feeling I do." He walked over to a large wooden wardrobe and opened it, revealing rows upon rows of designer clothes. "These are some clothes I thought you might like. Feel free to choose anything you want."

Angel's eyes grew wider as she surveyed the collection. "Wow," she whispered, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. "I've never seen such beautiful clothes before."

Vincent stepped closer to her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well then, I think it's time for a shopping spree."

Angel's jaw dropped, and she looked at Vincent in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

He grinned. "Absolutely. Consider it an early birthday present."

Her heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed by his kindness. "Vincent, I can't accept all of this. It's too much."

Vincent shook his head and smiled warmly. "You deserve it, Angel. Let's make some great memories together."

"We will, and we'll be going with Romeo," Vincent added, and Angel jumped up and down with glee.

"Aw, I can't thank you both enough," Angel exclaimed and suddenly engulfed Vincent in a tight hug, surprising him. No female aside from Phoebe had ever hugged him. Her touch reminded him of Phoebe once again, and he quickly disengaged from the hug, feeling a hint of guilt.

"I need to freshen up since today is Sunday, and I have the day off," Vincent said awkwardly, needing a moment to himself.

"Oh, okay, no problem. I'll be waiting," Angel replied, her excitement still evident.

Vincent quickly left the room and went to his own room. The first thing that greeted him was a picture of him and Phoebe together. He sighed deeply, clutching the photo for a moment before deciding to let go of the painful memories. He tore the picture and threw it into the trash can, symbolizing a fresh start.

Taking off his clothes, Vincent stepped into the shower, allowing the warm water to wash away the tension and conflicts that had been brewing inside him. With each second that passed, his mind slowly drifted back to the hug Angel had given him earlier. It was a simple gesture, yet it had ignited something within him that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Feeling rejuvenated after the shower, Vincent got dressed in a casual outfit and made his way back to Angel's room. Upon entering, he found her sitting on the bed, deeply engrossed in a book.

"Hey," Vincent said softly, interrupting her. Angel looked up, a bright smile spreading across her face.

"Hey. Feeling better?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Vincent nodded, a grateful look in his eyes. "Yeah, thanks. It's amazing what a shower can do."

Angel chuckled, her laughter filling the room. "Yeah, it's like magic sometimes."

Vincent walked over to her and sat down beside her on the bed. "So, are you ready for a shopping spree?"

Angel's eyes widened with excitement. "Definitely! But, um, I don't really have any money..."

Vincent waved away her worries. "Don't worry about that. I've got it covered. Consider it a treat."

Angel's face lit up, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Vincent. You're too kind."

Vincent smiled warmly, a genuine warmth spreading through him. "I just want you to feel welcome here. And besides, it's not every day I get to go on a shopping spree with someone as special as you."

They both walked towards Vincent's car and got in before driving off to the shopping mall. Romeo was already waiting for them in front of the mall. Angel was about to step into the mall when she heard her name being called.

"Angel!"

Startled, Angel turned back to see the last person she wanted to see at that moment.

"Mom?" she called out, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. Anita rushed towards her, reaching out to touch her, but Angel quickly shifted back, avoiding her touch.

"No, I don't know you," she yelled, fear and panic evident in her voice. She instinctively hid behind Romeo, seeking comfort and protection.

"Angel, it's me," Anita pleaded, her voice filled with anguish.

"Please, Romeo, don't let her take me away," Angel pleaded tearfully, as both Romeo and Vincent exchanged concerned glances.

.

"Please, Romeo," Angel pleaded tearfully, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. She clutched onto Romeo's hand tightly, seeking solace and protection. Romeo's expression mirrored her distress, his concern evident in his eyes. Vincent, standing a few feet away, exchanged a worried glance with Romeo, silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

Romeo inched closer to Angel, his comforting smile assuring her that he was there for her. Gently, he directed his attention towards the intimidating woman standing before them. "Who are you, ma'am?" Vincent asked her, his tone firm yet respectful.

Without hesitation, the woman proclaimed, "I'm her mother." Angel shook her head vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "No, Vincent, she's not my mom," she cried, her voice laced with anguish. "My mom died already. She's my stepmom, but I don't want to go with her."

Vincent opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Angel flung herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Wracked with emotion, she clung to him like a lifeline, seeking comfort and protection. "Please, you don't know what I'm going through at the hands of this woman and her daughter," Angel pleaded, her voice muffled by his shirt. "I don't want to go, please, I don't want to."

Vincent sighed, his heart breaking for Angel. He glanced back at the woman, Anita, and then shook his head resolutely. "What you're doing is not right," he said firmly. "Respect yourself and respect Angel's wishes."

Anita's frustration turned to anger, her face contorting with rage. "What the hell?" she seethed through gritted teeth. "I must take her with me, and that's final." Ignoring Vincent's words, she lunged towards Angel, intent on grabbing her.

Swiftly, Vincent stepped back, shielding Angel from Anita's grasp. "Angel, come here. Don't worry, she won't touch you," he assured her protective, his voice filled with steely determination. Angel clung to him even tighter, finding solace and safety in his embrace.

Anita's anger reached its peak. "This is not over," she hissed, her voice laced with venom. With one final glare, she turned on her heel and stormed away. The place filled with silence, broken only by Angel's heavy breathing and the sound of her tears slowly subsiding.

Angel, still gripping onto Vincent, finally began to calm down. She raised her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze, relief and gratitude evident in her eyes. "You can let me go now," Vincent said gently, recognizing the need for space. Slowly, she released her grip, leaning back slightly to maintain a slight connection with him.

Romeo and Vincent stared at Angel, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Clearly, there was much more to this story. "Can we talk about this, Angel?" Romeo asked softly, hoping to provide her with an outlet to share her burdens.

Angel hesitated, her gaze avoiding theirs. She felt vulnerable, exposed, but she also knew they had shown her kindness and support. With a deep breath, she nodded. "Can we...just go home?" she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

Romeo and Vincent exchanged a brief glance, silently communicating their understanding. They nodded in unison. The shopping spree they had planned would have to wait. Right now, Angel needed their support and their understanding.

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Back at Angel's house, Anita barged in with fury burning in her eyes. She slammed a bag aggressively onto the floor, her frustration and anger palpable. Aliyah, Angel's stepsister, rushed down the stairs to confront the commotion.

"What's it again, Mom?" Aliyah asked, her voice tinged with annoyance and concern. Anita took a deep breath, struggling to contain her anger. "Can you believe it? I saw Angel with two rich guys today," she spat out, her voice dripping with disdain. "She doesn't want to come back here."

Aliyah's eyes widened in shock and her mind began to race. Her connection to Angel had always been strained, but she couldn't deny the gravity of the situation. "What? That girl...Mom, what do we do now?" Aliyah asked, her voice filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

Anita's frustration boiled over, her anger directed towards her daughter. "I don't know," she snapped, her tone sharp and unforgiving. "Who will do the chores now? And now I'm hungry, but I can't cook anything." Aliyah's shoulders slumped, the weight of their circumstances sinking in.

"You can't cook?" Anita questioned incredulously, her voice laced with disdain. Aliyah nodded meekly, her eyes cast downward. Anita let out an exasperated laugh, her tone filled with mockery. "You're making me laugh. Start learning because I'm not teaching you anything. And, mind you, look for a job. You're too lazy."

With those harsh words, Anita stormed out of the room, leaving Aliyah standing there, still reeling from the verbal assault.

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NEXT MORNING

The events of the previous day still weighed heavily on everyone's minds. Ang didn't really explained what going on with her and her stepmom but she told Vincent when the time comes she will.

Vincent, dressed and ready for work, was about to leave when Angel stopped him in his tracks. Her eyes scanned his outfit, a playful pout forming on her lips.

"Going to work without me?" Angel asked, her voice filled with a hint of disappointment. She longed for companionship and a distraction from the chaos at home. Vincent hesitated, torn between his responsibilities and her need for support.

"Well, you can't exactly come to work with me, can you?" Vincent reasoned, his voice gentle but filled with concern. Angel's pout deepened, and her eyes shone with hope. "Please, let me come with you. I'll be bored at home," she pleaded, her voice laced with need.

Vincent sighed, a sense of defeat washing over him. He knew she needed a sense of normalcy and distraction, even if just for a little while. "Alright," he relented, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Get dressed quickly. I'll be waiting for you."

Angel's face lit up with delight, and she hurriedly dashed into her room to change.

***

As they entered the company together, Angel couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The grandeur of the company and the busy employees bustling around filled her with curiosity and wonder. Her mouth hung open in astonishment as she took in her surroundings, mesmerized by the sheer scale of the operations.

Lost in her own world, Angel inadvertently collided with someone walking past her. Startled, she looked up to see a familiar face, but a face that filled her with shock and uncertainty.

Before she could react, a sharp slap landed on her cheek, sending a searing pain through her face. Vincent's eyes widened with shock and anger as he witnessed the assault on Angel. His protective instincts surged forth, and he quickly moved to intervene.

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Tbc....