Mommy, Who Is My Daddy?

Layla

I smoothed the hem of my skirt as he zipped up his pants. His fingers raked through his dark hair, and he drew up the blinds. I watched him intently while he was backing me. I guessed Ethan didn't know how domineering he was whenever we made love, but it was something I had known and lived with since our marriage two years ago. Not only that, but I wondered if other couples came off together because we never did.

He was less concerned about giving me an orgasm and always tends to satisfy his dick first as he pleases.

He walked over to where I was seated on his desk and pinned his arms on both sides of the table. He slowly kissed my lower lip, and then he nibbled on my earlobe.

"I'll see you at home." His soft breath tickled my ear.

"Don't you want to have lunch with me?" I questioned, staring into his formidable sepia eyes, tilting my head slightly at him, a warm smile creeping its way slowly on my lips.

"I need to sort out some things. You can have lunch without me." He said, moving away from me and going around his desk to seat in his swivel chair.

He pissed me off all the time that I craved to spend quality time with him, but if we were not having sex, he was kissing the life out of me. I wanted more than physical intimacy, but Ethan wouldn't understand. He always desired to satisfy his libido first.

"But you promised me lunch today, remember? We could order in..."

"Try to understand Layla, the position I hold in this company requires undiluted concern and, besides, you can have lunch with Chloe. She'd be more than happy to have you around." He cut me off before I could finish my sentence.

I got down from his desk and turned to him. Undiluted concern? He preferred sex during the lunch hour to having lunch with me, and he claimed it meant his attention was undiluted. I shouldn't be surprised.

"I'm leaving," I spoke, deciding to drop what was on my mind to say. It was of no use, no matter how hard I tried to make him feel affectionate towards me, and turned towards the exit.

"Have a nice day." His voice came after. I realized he wasn't the type to re-consider, and he won't.

He doesn't know how hurts me with his nonchalant attitude.

I was upset, but I was helpless. I knew I was going to see him at home after closing hour, but I was going to have my panties down, eventually. We wouldn't do anything together.

As I closed the door behind me, I remembered my father used to be in that same position Ethan now prided himself on. Time had changed!

I utterly missed my father, and it made me recollect the day he passed away.

He owed his life to an illness and death that took him away. A tear trickled down my cheek. I used to be the Princess who would hop into this same office and do as I liked. It was no longer the same.

My phone chimed.

It was a text from Mrs. Carter. I wiped my face immediately.

'Come to the penthouse right away.' That was what the text read.

I imagined what my stepmother could have for me this time. It couldn't be a blind date with a businessman she was targeting in the industry, she had married me off already.

It also couldn't be my signature on one of the company's documents, she and Ethan were in total control.

I doubted if I was even a latent partner. I couldn't guess the surprise she had for me.

My stomach grumbled, I was seriously hungry... I glared at Ethan's door, he was the cause of it all. He often withdrew his words to suit himself, and I didn't think it was fair enough.

Anyway, maybe Mrs. Carter might have lunch prepared at the penthouse.

The penthouse was right on top of the building and Mrs. Carter sometimes lounged there with her bevy of friends, entertained by several bottles of wine, food, and masseurs.

She was the kind of woman who knew what she wanted and always hit right on it.

She had been my guardian since I was seven, and she had trained me to be the woman I was.

Likewise, she was the most elegant and practical woman I ever knew.

My father had gotten engaged to her in Laos when he went on a business trip. As I had accompanied him, from what I could remember, I knew she had been hired to babysit me for a day or two. I never really knew where and when my father met her, although I had happened to come across some peculiar photos of her and her colleagues in waitresses' uniforms.

When I reached the room where she especially liked to stay, I knocked on the door.

"Come in." Her voice came from the other side. It was a sharp voice, one could never spot humor in it. However, once or twice I heard her laugh among her peers. Everyone knew she loved to have fun, despite the fierceness she evinced.

She was calmly seated on the velvet sofa that was mounted in the middle of the room, and a wine glass was dangling between her fingers.

"Your lipstick is smeared all over." Her eyes were fixed on me as arched an eyebrow at me.

She quietly watched as I took out my compact mirror from my purse quickly. I felt silly for not having fixed my make-up after I left Ethan's office. My face was usually distorted after his French kisses.

"So you both still do it in his office?" She sipped carefully. I took my seat, remembering the awkward moment when she had once walked in on us.

"Actually, Ethan is like that." I flushed.

She nodded.

"I am pleased to know you are being a wonderful wife to him." She said and I nodded.

'And he's being a dickhead as a husband to me,' I thought.

"Why have you called me here? Do you need me to do something for you?" I inquired, I wanted to know whatever scheme she had for me and I hoped I wouldn't be leaving the country forever this time.

"Georgina's daughter would like someone to go shopping with her and, as it is, no one else is available but you. Do you mind?" She gazed at me.

"No, I don't." Georgina was Mrs. Carter's best friend, who had a naughty ten-year-old daughter called Sofia. Many times, I have babysat her, and she was really difficult to handle, but I couldn't tell this to my stepmother, it was not something she'd like to hear. Not when she was having Sherry.

"All right, go on...lest I forget to call the laundromat, I need to speak with the manager." She mentioned. It was always like this and I had to do this and that.

She has her kids for crying out loud, why must I be the one to do everything?

"Sure, ma'am... I have a feeling a secretary would be more efficient at these things... and they would get paid and--" I paused in my speech, trying to see if she could get my message, but her sharp gaze was almost tearing my flesh and I shrank.

"I'm sorry." I quietly apologized and looked away.

She rose to her feet.

"You have been a good daughter since I became your guardian," she caressed my face.

"Are you backsliding on your duties, darling?" She raised my chin and forced me to look at her in the face.

"No ma'am. I just feel like a secretary will..." I tried to say.

"That's enough. Be nice and shop with Sofia, she's waiting." She said, finally, and excused herself while I cussed under my breath.

As I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Ethan talking to one of the employees. I tried waving at him but felt he didn't see me, so I tried to get his attention, but soon more employees gathered around him, and I wasn't able to see him at all.

It was often like that. Ethan was suffocated with work and everything about the company, I even felt underutilized.

And as for my stepmother, she was usually uptight about duties and responsibilities. I was getting bored by it, but I was quite helpless.

Perhaps I would be relieved a little when I had kids of my own to look after. Talking of kids, I yearned for one, and I couldn't believe I was still without a child despite Ethan's efforts at a passionate sex life.

Ethan and I lived in a luxurious house in LA. It had everything, but I still felt it was lacking in some ways.

~~~

It was a long day after shopping with a naughty girl like Sofia, I slumped on the sofa. I pray I don't have a stubborn kid like her in the future.

I didn't even bother to switch on the lights, apart from the one in the lobby. Likewise, I shut my eyes and I didn't know when I would doze off.

Moments later, however, I thought I felt someone hovering around me, I thought I was in a dream until I was startled by a slow, sensuous stroke across my upper thigh.

My eyes flung wide open.

The lights were still off, but I knew it was my husband who was with me. I knew his scent.

"Are you awake?" He asked softly.

"Yeah. What's the time?" I yawned and sat upright. Ethan gave his hands a clap and the lights came on.

"9:15," he responded.

"When did you come home? You just disappeared after lunch."

"You mean after 'lunch'?"

He chuckled.

"It's okay, laugh as much as you want. I'll be in the room." I stood up to leave, but he grasped my wrist.

"Are you going to shower?"

"Yeah?"

I knew what he was driving at.

"Let's shower together." He gave his dash and slammed his lips on mine.

Layla

Slipping into the Jacuzzi tub, I let my body submerge in the warmth of the water. My eyes were weary, and they had been so tired for the past week, babysitting Sofia.

Babysitting that girl was like watching over the devil.

I could hear Ethan's faint grumbles coming from the bedroom. I guessed he was frustrated by something he wouldn't naturally share with me.

Sporadically, I felt useless in my marriage. Other than my full participation in bed, I wasn't required to do anything else. I was so irrelevant, and it caused a sore feeling in me.

I shut my eyes, and then it came vividly to me... the day I was introduced to Ethan. He was quite handsome, I had felt a tingle within me, and he had not restrained from flirting with me, which made me feel that getting along with him was the best choice, not like I had the option to reject him if I wanted to.

I can remember what he told me when I told him about my desire to run the company after my father's demise.

"It's not that I find women incapable of running a successful business, but your mum and I think it is best that I manage the company in the meantime until you acquire more experience." Afterward, he merged the company with his less-flourishing establishment.

At that moment, merely staring into his charming pair of sepia eyes had assured me of a wonderful life with him. I had agreed, he would be my husband after all. After our marriage, he became the husband who made fellow husbands jealous. When we went out together, the women ogled around him, both married and single women. It had seemed more like a blessing to have such a man as my husband. However, as time passed, he often gave me a reason to love him less.

"Dammit!" A wild yell came from the bedroom, and it broke my thoughts with a startle.

"Ethan? Is everything okay?" I inquired but he didn't respond, only a smash came after. He must have broken his computer, I sighed. He frequently did that when he was mad. Ethan's anger was quite terrible.

Moments after, I began to hear the aggressive collision of things, and I was propelled to end my bath immediately of the fear of Ethan doing a stupid thing.

My hair was still dripping with water as I toweled the base. Walking inside the room, Ethan was dressing up for work. His eyes were bitter, and the broken computer was lying on the floor; the screen was already shattered.

"What's the matter? Are you all right?" I asked with concern, staring from the broken computer to his face.

"Well, do I seem all right to you?" He shot with a hard glare.

"You don't...so what's wrong? Is it about the company? Can I be of help to you?" I moved close to him, even though he looked like he could kill anyone at the moment.

"No, you can't. How can you be of any assistance when you hardly know the basics?" He snapped at me, and I quietly watched as he struggled with his cuff links.

"What are these basics? Tell me what's wrong? You can't say...I may have a solution--"

"I don't need you to provide a solution, Layla, this is my business, d'you get?"

I was hurt by his words because I was entitled to some shares in the company. I was entitled to get involved, but Ethan always finds a way to put me off.

"What I need you to help me with is this damn thing!" He yelled at his cuffs.

"Keep your voice down, Chloe might hear..."

"I don't fucking care about that or her!" He gnashed, and I let out a sharp gasp and took a step away from him, my hands suddenly tightening on the towel around my body.

"Come here, I'm running late." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

I ambled towards him and grabbed him by his collar, pulling him closer to me.

"You know, you don't have to be so angry..."

"Oh really?" He scoffed.

"Yeah, anger...it's terrible. You just raised your voice at me." I said as calmly as possible.

"What does that matter?" I saw the most condescending look on his face.

"I'm your wife, Ethan. You shouldn't raise your voice at me." I protested.

"Who the hell then should I raise my voice at Layla? What are you here for? Didn't you vow to stand by me during the worst of times? This is one for me...and you are only here about me raising my voice at you. Have you always been this unreasonable?" He retorted, and I let go of him, glaring at him.

I thought I might have misspoken, but I couldn't deny the fact that I was not at ease with his words.

"I am here for quite other things, Ethan, other things...that are healthy and practical...other things besides being your object of ridicule."

"Can't you see? I want to help." I spoke softly, holding his hand.

"Why don't you let me? Why do you cut me out all the time? You are shutting me out of any meaningful thing in your life, especially as regards the company..."

"I knew you'd mention the company," he angrily snatched his hand.

"I knew you'd talk about it...wow! I never imagined you'd become so ambitious and lustful."

"What? Lustful? Lustful, you say, Ethan? Lustful about what exactly? Is it now a crime to want to get involved in what I'm meant to be involved in? Is it?" I fired, can't believe he's just so unbelievable and arrogant.

"Hell, yes! Layla, hell yes! This is my business, stay out of it, I don't need you to proffer solutions, I don't need them!" He grabbed his wristwatch and hastily wore it. I couldn't even form another word, I just stood there like a fool.

"Are you being serious?" I heard my mouth whisper.

"Do I look like I was spewing nonsense?" He stared down at me.

'Yes, you are,'

Suddenly, my towel became loose and was about to slide down my body, but I caught it before it could. I guess he saw it all, for he bluntly added;

"I always need you for that." He attempted to kiss my lips, but I avoided it and the kiss landed clumsily on my cheek. And then he was gone.

Slowly, I found myself leaning on the wall. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I had sincerely mistaken Ethan for my fated heartthrob. Mrs. Carter couldn't have known, could she?

Did she know that Ethan was inclined to be an Idiot, or this was part of her plans all along?

"Here, eat more. You are starting to look skinny." I added more of the Greek salad to Chloe's plate.

We decided to eat out.

"I'm not." She protested.

"Have you finally gotten over him?" I chewed on a dried fruit.

"Absolutely. That fool has nothing on me now." She rolled her eyes, picking on her food.

"I like that." I smiled.

"Yeah... though I still can't forget the crazy things he did." She added, her eyes getting teary.

"It's always like that when they've succeeded in building our lives around them," I reasoned.

"You're having issues with Ethan?" She dropped her fork and looked up at me, her eyelashes flapping at me.

"It's sad, yeah." I went on.

"I heard you guys arguing this morning." She continued eating.

"I don't doubt that."

Chloe nodded.

"Don't think too much about it," she advised, and smiled half-heartedly at me.

"Yeah...so are you still planning to travel to the Netherlands?" I queried.

"I haven't decided...yet." She shrugged.

"You should, it would help you forget about that jerk," I advised. A vacation would help her get her mind off that jerk, and who knows a better fish over there?

"Maybe not. Remember, we were supposed to go together before we ended things?"

"Yes, I forgot, but you could change the destination. What about Asia, hmm, Vietnam?" I suggested.

"I'll think about it, Layla."

"Sure. I need you to get away from this mess." I reached out to her and held her hands.

She nodded.

"I'll be moving out tonight."

"So soon? I was hoping you could stay longer."

"Yeah, but I have some things I need to take care of at my apartment." She said.

"All right then."

"Yeah, so Mrs. Carter's going to be having some sort of get-together at her house...I believe next week. You are invited." I added.

"That's nice. I hope to see some hot stuff." She chuckled.

"Oh, Chloe, I bet you would." I chortled.

"Is there a particular dress code?"

"No, no..."

"Perfect!" She squealed.

"Hello, gorgeous ladies." A young man approached us. He was a tall blond and he looked very fit.

"Hi!" Chloe's enthusiasm was suspicious. Perhaps she wanted to find a replacement rapidly. I wouldn't mind if she did that.

"Can I join you?" He asked.

"Sure..."

"Yes, yes..." Chloe answered. Then he took his seat next to me. Looking closely at him, I noticed that he had a good face, strong and square. He was Chloe's type.

"I'm Dylan and I enjoy a good conversation with stunning ladies." He smiled.

"Chloe." She extended a handshake that lingered longer than usual. I could see she was flirting.

"I'm Layla." I introduced myself after she finally let go of his hand. I smiled.

"Could you smile once more?" He asked.

"Why..."

"Your dimples are the most beautiful...your smile, it's enchanting. I was over there, watching you, and I couldn't help myself...I mean, you are stunning." Dylan complimented in one breath.

"Oh, my goodness...thank you." I smiled again. Glancing at Chloe, I caught her wearing a slight frown. Gosh, it seemed I was already stealing the heart of the man she was apparently interested in, so I had to come up with something. I gently smoothed back a lock of hair, coyly showing off my wedding band. I did that whenever I wanted to discourage anyone who made a pass at me.

"I can't believe someone has taken you before I got to meet you...he's bloody lucky." He chuckled, slightly disappointed.

I was pleased he got the message.

My phone chimed, Mrs. Carter was calling, and I was relieved it couldn't have come at a righter moment.

"Excuse me. Chloe, I'll see you later. It's nice meeting you, Dylan." I took the initiative to leave both of them alone. Who knew, I could be cementing a lifelong commitment?

Sofia was livid because her non-binary friend couldn't make it to the amusement park. She had even flung away her Ice Princess tiara out of annoyance and, but Elsa, her Maltese cat, tried to cheer her up, but her temper only worsened. Mrs. Carter had shoved her into my care while her mother was far away in Africa, doing only what God knew.

"What do you want to do, Sofia? You can't sulk all day." I wondered if she would listen at all.

"Nothing." She folded her arms in defiance. She was an impossible child.

"Are you not hungry? Mrs. Carter asked me to have you take lunch."

"I am not." She frowned.

"What should we do then? Can we go home now?" I treasured my time, and I wouldn't waste it consoling a child with an ungovernable temper. Elsa purred on her lap, quite entertained by all the excitement going on in the park. Sofia said nothing.

"Would you like to talk to mummy?" I suggested.

"Mummy? Can I talk to her?" I was surprised at the spontaneous change in her mood.

"Sure...I mean, of course. Do you know her number? I don't have it."

"Yes, 1-406-772-5932. That's it." She recited brightly.

"All right. Dialed..." I put the phone on loudspeaker, and soon it redirected us to voicemail. Sofia immediately wore a down-cast look. I was beginning to figure something out; that Sofia was lacking parental love and care, and she had grown to be naughty and unkind because of that. Since she only lived with Georgina, I knew her parents were separated or, yes, divorced. I began to pity her.

"Come here. Let's go home. We can play Barbie in your tree house." I wanted to make her feel better.

"Adults are not allowed." She stated bluntly, and then she upped and left for the car.

I came home to meet Ethan slugging down Whiskey like a street drunk. His shirt was unbuttoned, and his jacket was lying carelessly on the tiled floor.

"You will be liverish if you don't stop drinking." I picked up his jacket. It gave off a medley of odor.

"Where have you been? Are you seeing someone now? Out with those tits hanging out?" He pointed at my heaving chest.

"Please, it's just a tasty amount of cleavage and would you stop talking, you are intoxicated."

He staggered up towards me. I felt he must have had a bad day at work, but I wouldn't ask, he didn't appreciate me doing that. He came much too close to me, his warm breath kissed my face, and he reeked of alcohol.

"I'll make you soup," I whispered against his firm chest.

"I don't need soup..." He breathed as he put his hand over my breasts. My nipples shot out to meet it. Though I was still upset with him from that morning, I succumbed to the excitement that erupted within me. Hastily, he got rid of the gingham go-go that held my ponytail in place, letting my hair cascade over my shoulders. Then he seized my lips with his.

Layla

The doorbell rang while I was baking a cake in the kitchen. Removing my mittens, I rushed to the main door and there was a sturdy man clad in a blue pullover with a bouquet of yellow roses.

"Good morning ma'am. You have a package." He handed over the flowers and I collected them. I wondered who could have sent me flowers on that morning. It couldn't be Ethan, or was it, Dylan?

Seriously, I thought Chloe had been busy joking when she had phoned earlier today to tell me that Dylan had requested my number, and she had given it out.

But how did he find out the location of my house? My best friend must have given it to him. My phone chimed, it was a text from an unknown number and it read;

"Good morning, gorgeous, it's Dylan from the restaurant. I hope you love the flowers. Read the card."

I couldn't help but chuckle. What did the card say? I found his handwriting to be quite stylish when I read;

'I really can't help myself, Layla. You are a beautiful woman and, although you are married, I still can't help but admire you. Here are yellow roses, they symbolize friendship and love. I am happy I met a beauty such as you.'

He was being sweet, and I knew it, but nothing could happen between us. He seemed to know that too. If only Ethan could learn one or two romantic gestures from him.

I texted him, appreciating him and telling him we could only be in correspondence and nothing more would be added to it. He would just be someone I knew. Dylan didn't mind.

As the sun set over the bluff, people gathered under the glittering chandeliers in Mrs. Carter's stately living room.

They were the sorts of personalities you wouldn't just find anywhere or on a random occasion. Yes, Mrs. Carter's guests were specially invited social figures in society.

My father used to make acquaintances with some of them. One particular man even recognized me as I stepped out in my red evening dress. I remembered he was at my father's funeral, and he had also asked me to have a lollipop whenever I missed my father.

I had found the idea quite silly for a senior citizen to come up with, but later, when I missed my father, I tried having a lollipop as he had said and, surprisingly, it helped to a degree. When he heard this, he gave a hearty laugh.

"I haven't tried it before," He revealed.

"Really?" I couldn't believe I had fallen for such a sweet trick.

"However, I'm excited to hear it worked out for you." He smiled. I found him to be a queer old man, but it was satisfying.

"Are you doing well?" He inquired in a loving tone.

"Yes, I am...I am." I breathed and he nodded.

"Is your husband around? I'd like to meet him. He seems to be taking good care of you. Where is the man?" He demanded, his eyes stealthily roaming around.

"Well..." I was about to conclude that Ethan wasn't going to show up at the get-together when he suddenly appeared next to me. He slid his hand around my waist, pulling me closer to him, and gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

"Here he is, Ethan..." I introduced him, quite surprised he made it to the party.

"Mr. Sullivan." He extended a handshake to Ethan, examining him carefully with his old pair of emerald eyes.

"Ethan Brooks." Ethan warmly received his gesture. Then he glanced at me questioningly. I guess the introduction was incomplete.

"Ah, yeah...he's a friend of my father's," I added.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Ethan smiled and Sofia appeared with a glum face just before Mr. Sullivan could respond.

"You should attend to her," Mr. Sullivan said as I drew apart from the duo.

"Mr. Brooks and I will have a hearty chat," he added.

"Of course," Ethan smiled.

"All right then." I took Sofia away.

Pattering behind us was Elsa with a pretty scarlet ribbon tucked neatly around her furry snow-white scruff. Sofia puffed her cheeks, I sensed she was upset.

"They promised to come, but they haven't!" she cried.

"They will come, all right?" I assured her, but she didn't seem to be buying it. Elsa meowed and tried to clamber on her, pulling her pink maxi skirt.

"Not now, Elsa. I have a headache coming." She frowned and abruptly sat on a nearby sofa. I sighed.

"Do you want me to get you anything? There's lots of food...you want some macarons?" I asked, sitting next to her, softly stroking her dark-brown hair.

"I hate macarons!" She howled.

Seriously? I was flabbergasted at her response.

"I thought all children loved macarons..."

"Well, I'm not a child. A child always has someone to read her bedtime stories. I always read to myself!" She bellowed.

What was she talking about?

"Do the servants not read to you?"

"How could they? They hardly know who Snow White is or Mulan or Tiana... I hate it when they read to me!" She stomped her feet.

"What exactly do you want, Sofia?" I restrained my annoyance. Why did she have to yell all the time?

"Just sit here and...Charlene!" She suddenly chirruped and sprang up to meet a girl of her height with an embrace. Charlene? Oh, yes, Charlene, her non-binary friend whose mother was Afro-American. The girl, no, was smartly dressed in a flamingo-pink dress that almost matched Sofia's. Their chestnut hair flopped over their large foreheads. Charlene was a beautiful sight, and Sofia brought them to me.

Moments later, Sofia was skipping merrily around talking about this and that when Chloe found me. She had been searching for me since her arrival at the party.

"How do I look?" She pushed back her hair, flaunting her round, full breasts.

"Fabulous," I smiled.

"You've seen some hot stuff?"

"Yeah?" She chuckled. I looked at her suspiciously.

"What?" She nudged me. I laughed.

"It's nothing. Let's go mingle." I took her hand. I was glad that Sofia had company. Likewise, I couldn't truly mingle if she was forever stuck to me.

Ethan was already surrounded by women, and it was clear that he was having the time of his life. However, perhaps he had accidentally glanced my way and saw that I was doing fine with Chloe and the other men. He came walking towards me, looking not too pleased as I had begun a cheerful conversation with one of the hot guys.

"Excuse me." He stopped a waiter and took a glass of wine from the tray.

"Layla?" I knew his smile was insincere. How intolerably jealous he was!

"My husband, Ethan." I introduced him to Steve, the man whom I was chatting with.

"Steven Gould." Steve was kind enough to offer a handshake, but it was vividly clear Ethan neither liked him nor the fact that I was talking to him, and I seemed happy doing just that. It wasn't the first such an occurrence.

"Having a great time?" Ethan grumpily shook his hand.

"Sure. Your wife here is an outstanding woman," Steve complimented.

"Oh, Steve." I chuckled. Ethan shot a malevolent look at me as he quietly sipped from his glass.

"Do you mind taking a selfie?" Steve asked.

"No, I don't..."

"Layla, here..." Ethan hastily grabbed a chocolate bar from the table of desserts next to us, and he tried to forcefully feed it to me.

"No... I don't want it." I was quite irritated. Jealousy was driving him insane.

"Why?" He howled while Steve quietly watched.

"There's cauliflower in it..."

"And so?" He was unbelievable.

"Ethan? I'm allergic to cauliflower, remember?" I shouldn't have been surprised, yet I was. Not only that, but I was feeling ashamed of our marriage, how Ethan had given a stranger the worst impression ever. He slowly retreated, soberness was plastered on his face after his great efforts at restraining an explosion of jealousy failed.

" I'm so sorry, Steve." I apologized.

"No, it's fine. I believe it's your husband who has to apologize to you," Steve said, and I smiled awkwardly.

"Excuse me." He added and walked away. By then, Ethan was already smothered with resentment.

"Happy now?" I was annoyed. He suddenly grabbed my wrist and dragged me along with him. When we got to a secluded area, he pinned me to the wall and roughly held my chin.

"You now flirt around, huh?" His eyes were furious.

"Ethan? You are hurting me." I protested, glaring at him.

"And yet, you ridicule me in front of other men? Who do you think you are?" I fired with rage, and he wouldn't release his grip on me despite my protestations.

"Be careful." He finally warned and then walked away.

Rushing to the restroom, I splattered water all over my face and tried to regain composure. I didn't know what to do with Ethan, he was becoming more unbelievable and intolerable with each passing second, and I didn't think I was still myself whenever I was with him.

Out of the blue, while I was still pondering on my deep thoughts, I was startled by a noise.

A loud moan followed thereafter.

I was curious. I wondered if anyone was hurt, so I traced the direction where the noise came from. However, upon opening one of the toilets, I was taken aback to find a couple making out.

"Whoops! I'm so sorry..." I felt embarrassed. Likewise, I should have known the moan was sensual and not pain-inflicted.

"No problem. Just shut the door, or do you mind a threesome?" The man panted, spitting out pubic hair. The lady's breasts were perked in further anticipation, and she continued moaning.

"No, no...please..." I shut the door and walked away. Goosebumps began to poke out of my skin.

Just when I had thought I had seen enough drama for the night, I walked in on Mrs. Carter being fondled against the wall in the bedroom with an ajar door. Instinctively, I hid out of sight. I couldn't allow her to see me, she would be furious.

The man could be in his mid-sixties, as his hair was pepper and salt. I didn't have anything against my stepmother having men to satisfy her sexual needs, but I suppose I didn't expect her to be so needy. Moments later, she stopped the man from slipping his fingers underneath her dress.

"Do we have a deal?" She queried the impatient man. I swallowed. What was happening here?

"You are not naked yet, Hannah." The man kissed her shoulder, but she pushed him away.

"Do we have a deal or not?" She gritted.

"I want to undress you already..." He breathed against her neck.

"Answer me!" She yelled.

"Yes, yes...we have a deal. I know the only thing that worries you is the money, you've lived such a luxurious life, sweetie. I know you can't cope with being destitute. Not only that, but I'll give you everything you asked for and even more, just let's get it on, baby." He said in one breath. I couldn't understand what was going on, but I knew my stepmother was in a situation.

"I think someone's watching us." She said, to my surprise. I didn't see that coming.

"I'll shut the door!" The man flung the door close.

While I was still trying to figure things out, I almost stepped on Elsa. She was fully stretched out, and it felt as though she was already bored with the party. Sofia and Charlene were not in sight, and the party was thinning out. Glancing across the room, I also couldn't find Ethan. And where was Chloe? Steve waved at me, he was still handsome in his dinner jacket, and I guessed I owed him a selfie.

Before the servants finished clearing the living room, Sofia had fallen asleep on my lap, and so I had to carry her up to the guest room. Charlene had been conveyed home by her chauffeur before her bedtime. After I tucked her in, I decided to rest my eyes for a moment or two. I was feeling quite sleepy, and Ethan had left earlier without even informing me. He'd said he would give Chloe a ride back home. Chloe's hair was not really in a good place. I guessed she must have banged hot stuff.

A knock came on the door as soon as I shut my eyes. Mrs. Carter entered. She looked as smart as ever, and it was impossible to believe she was the same woman I had witnessed making out with a man. She had taken care to regain her usual appearance.

"Layla?"

"Yes ma'am..."

"I see Sofia's asleep." She peered over my shoulder to look at the young girl.

"Yes, she dozed off earlier." Mrs. Carter nodded.

"Georgina called. She'd like Sofia to be brought to her. She's concerned about Sofia's father showing up during the holidays when she is not in town. The man is a pain in the neck." She said.

"Don't you think Sofia wouldn't mind seeing her father? I mean, he is her parent too..."

"It's not your place to decide that. I need you to be Sofia's guardian, and take her to her mother. Most probably, she'd not spend more than two weeks over there. You can consider it as a getaway." She stated.

"Of course..." I whispered. I couldn't do anything else.

"Goodnight." She said and closed the door behind her.