Elyana
"Grrr! Grrr! Grrr!"
A deep, menacing growl pierced through her ears, stirring her up from her slumber.
Normally, she slept like a log, but at that moment, even a pin drop would probably wake her up.
"Hissss!"
A sharper, more aggressive animal cry resonated around her. Fierce. Alarming. More intense.
"Stop that..." She shouted, clearly unperturbed.
Not even a bit concerned by the possibility of danger, her fingers gripped the edge of the blanket and pulled it over her head, hoping to block out the noise.
"Grrr! Hissssss!"
Unfortunately, the tumultuous disturbance continued.
She grabbed one of her pillows and threw it in the air in the direction of the commotion without even bothering to open her eyes.
"Can't you see? I'm trying to get some sleep here."
Annoyed. Irritated.
Then, alas, silence.
"That's better."
Well, at least it lasted for a few seconds.
"Prrr! Pur-pur-pur!"
This time, a low, rhythmic rumbling echoed near her ears. Persistent. Seemingly determined to disrupt her peace.
"Mr. Whiskers..." She muttered exasperatedly. "I know..." acknowledging the soft, silky ball of fur that circled her on the bed. "I know it's time to wake up." Reluctantly opening her eyes to her white feline companion.
Swiping the blanket away from her face, her pet immediately greeted her with a warm "Meooowww!" and a few flickers of its tongue on her cheek.
"What was the ruckus all about?" She asked. "It sounded as if someone wanted to take your favorite toy." Teasing Mr. Whiskers about the earlier brawl.
"Meow!"
If only she could understand what her cat was saying. It would be nice if she could actually talk to someone who actually talked back.
"Ok. I'm up." She surrendered, stretching her arms above her head. "You win!" Sluggishly pushing her body off the bed before temptation lured her back to oblivion.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air that lingered from the morning dew, she gradually noticed the bright light that poured into her room through the open windows, carrying a promise of a new day.
It was a truly sunny day, with barely any clouds floating in the big, blue sky. Perfect for a picnic in the park, basking on the beach, or sailing on a yacht.
Nope! She wouldn't be doing any of that.
"Meowww!" Mr. Whiskers made a longer, drawn-out drawl, clearly seeking her attention.
With gentle strokes, she caressed her furry Siberian friend's head with affection. "Thanks, Mr. Whiskers. But I don't feel like celebrating."
Not even the radiant sun could brighten her dampened spirit as she expelled a long sigh.
Not today. Not last year. Not since her mother died.
"Come on, Mr. Whiskers. Let us get your tummy fed." Her fingers pinched her cat's fat cheeks before patting it on the head.
A few moments later, as the coffee brewed, the bacon frizzled in the pan, and her adorable cat enjoyed its breakfast, she heard voices, followed by footsteps.
Hurriedly, she rushed into the hallway and only stopped when she reached the foyer.
"Where are you going, Dad?" Surprised, she asked, finding her father and his assistant by the door, carrying a suitcase.
"Elyana." Her father, James Pryce, held his finger, silently telling her to wait while he finished a phone call and discussed something with his assistant. "Arrange the meeting with Mr. Connor immediately and send this contract to the legal team for verification." Rattling his instructions with that strict, commanding voice.
"Right away, Mr. Pryce." Tony, her father's assistant, "slush" driver, "slush" bodyguard, said. "If there is nothing else, I'll be waiting for you outside." He nodded in her direction as a curt greeting before he moved toward the door.
"You're not leaving again?" She wanted it to sound like a fact, as if she was ordering her father to stay, but it ended up as a question as she stared into her father's eyes. "But you just came back a few days ago."
What did she expect? She should be used to it by now. The man standing before her was not exactly running for "Father of the Year". Still, she hoped he would make an exception today.
"I'm sorry, Elyana, but I have to." Stern as always, unyielding to the point that she started to believe that her father had completely stopped caring.
His embrace was gentle as he gathered her in his arms, but it lacked warmth. It was as if he was just going through the motions. An obligatory reflex. Nothing more.
"But... Dad!" Her hands tightened around her father's waist, hoping that she might be able to change his mind. Even this once.
Even just for today.
"Elyana, you know this is important. You know I'm doing all this for you." The same lines. The same excuses.
It was all bullshit.
It was not for her. It was for him.
"I didn't ask for this. I just want..." But the words died in her throat as her father shook his head and pulled away. His expression was nothing but dismay. It was as if she had failed him.
Since her mother's death, her father had barely stayed in the house or spent time with her. He had buried himself in his work, ignoring her cries for attention.
Of course, there were staff working around the mansion, but no one lasted long enough for her to make a connection.
Eventually, she had gotten used to being alone until Mr. Whiskers came into her life. The only one who kept her company all those lonely days and nights.
"Don't you even think about her?" Her plea carried a tinge of disappointment as her father turned around and walked away.
"Don't you even miss Mom?" Her words meant to taunt her father's guilt, but her father's response was another dismissive shrug.
Typically, she would let it go. She would watch her father drive away until he disappeared in the distance. Then, she would cry herself to sleep.
Not this time.
"How could you be so cold? Do you even remember that today is her death anniversary?" She asked, her voice cracking from the intensity of her emotions.
"Did you even love her? Did you even care?" Her words were laced with accusation and doubt. Her eyes reflected her hurt and anger.
In her mind, she knew her words would fall on deaf ears. She could picture her father ignoring her as he usually did. Then, she would be alone again.
But—
Her father stopped. Then, he turned around. His expression changed as if something had snapped.
"Of course, I did. I love her."
For the first time, she witnessed her father lose his composure. This time, he appeared vulnerable.
"But she's dead. Your mother is dead." He said as his voice broke down in a hoarse cry. "I know that. There is not a moment that I don't think about her. She's everything to me."
Suddenly, all those years of pain burst into the open, revealing to her what her father had been keeping inside. Tears that she thought she would never see in his eyes gushed down on his cheeks like a waterfall.
"And he killed her. That beast killed your mother."
The fury in his eyes was palpable as the words rumbled out of his chest.
"He?" But only one word stuck in her mind as she searched her father's eyes for answers.
"Who are you talking about?" She asked. Confused. "I thought Mom was killed by a wild animal. A lone wolf?"