515: A response

A response

Heaven only heard Miracle cry one time, but then she went quiet. Knowing Bear was looking after her daughter, she felt at ease and took her time in the shower. After a satisfying shower, she went straight to the walk-in closet to change into nightwear and then do her skincare.  1

Heaven meticulously took care of her pretty face in front of the vanity mirror. Despite having two kids, she wanted to still look attractive to her husband. Even when Dominic told her she was already pretty, she still wanted to make an effort. 

"At least, my face isn't swollen anymore," she giggled as she placed down the toner in the corner. Her hand then veered to the small jar of moisturizer, raising her brows as she opened it. "Right. I emptied it last night."

Heaven shrugged as she put down the empty jar, reaching for the drawer to get a new one. Good thing she had a few spares. When Heaven opened the drawer, her brows rose once again before they knitted. 

"What's this?" she murmured, picking up a small box on top of the boxes of extra skincare she had. Heaven stared at the small box in her hand, confused. 

Did Dominic buy her a new product and that he wanted her to try it?

"What's with the wrapper, then?" she wondered.

Even though everything that goes in the residence — big or small — would go under security check, Heaven still shook the small gift in front of her ear. She arched a brow upon hearing soft noises inside, gazing at the small gift once again. 

"It didn't sound like a bomb or anything like that," she muttered as she placed it on the surface before her. "Don't tell me it's a jewelry?"

The corner of her mouth hooked up at the thought. At this point, Heaven assumed it was a surprise gift from her husband. It was something Dominic would do, after all. There wasn't a week Dominic wouldn't buy her flowers whenever he came home or buy her small gifts as appreciation. 

As she opened the small box, Heaven already had a few guesses in mind. However, when she opened it, her brows creased.

"A knitted bracelet?" From its size, it didn't look like it was for Heaven. "A gift for Miracle?"

The knitted bracelet that had a baby pink color was simple. She picked it up with her thumb and index, lifting it up to take a closer look. It didn't seem there was anything hidden in it.

"Who..." Heaven trailed off and slowly, her eyes softened. "I see."

The corner of her mouth curled up subtly. There wasn't anything special about the gift, but now that she guessed who it came from, it somehow made it special. 

Princess.

"She could've just handed it straight to me instead of hiding it here." A short but soft chuckle slipped past her lips. "But then again, with all those gifts that came for Miracle's third-month celebration, it could be easily buried."

Heaven shook her head, laughing. Surely, Princess outsmarted everyone again. With all those gifts, Heaven wasn't even one-fourth in opening all of them. It was a tiring task, and she still had other things to do. 

"A bracelet, huh?" she whispered after a second, sighing in relief as she remembered something from the past. "You finally responded."

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[SHORT FLASHBACK]

"Princess!" Hera sprinted toward the walkway, heading to the playground in the garden where she could see Princess. The latter was just sitting on the unmoving swing, watching the little girl hurriedly run in her direction. 

Hera had this huge smile on her face, but Princess's youthful face didn't change. It was cold and unmoving, showing not even the slightest affection or admiration for the girl who adopted her. If anything, there was one thing that Princess had in mind. 

What was Hera up to now?

"Princess!" Hera panted as she stopped in front of the big girl in the swing. Her hands were hidden behind her, smiling from ear to ear. "I got something for you from the temple!" 

Princess's brows rose, blinking. She didn't say anything to her, though. 

"Here!" Princess gazed down when little Hera brought forth something. "It's for you! I made it during an activity and they told us to give it to our favorite person! I made one for Mom and Dad and then for Bear too! I also made one for myself — see!" 

Hera raised her other arm, showcasing the thin knitted bracelet around it. "It's the same color as yours, so we're matchy!" The smile on her face, however, disappeared when Princess took the bracelet, only to toss it to the side. 

"It's ugly," said Princess in a crisp voice. "I told you not to give me anything. Are you dumb that you can't understand such a simple sentence?"

Hera's lips curved down in disappointment, holding the pair of hostile eyes before her. But she didn't cry, just like girls her age. 

"If you don't like it, you don't have to throw it like that," Hera sighed, glancing at the bracelet on the ground. "I worked hard for it… you know?"

"So what?" Princess hissed. "It's your fault for not listening to me. I already told you I don't want to be your friend. Why are you so stubborn?"

Hera set her eyes back to Princess with her lips drawn into a thin line. "Because I like you."

"You don't even know me!" this time, Princess jumped out of the swing, displaying the difference in their height. "I'm just someone you picked out of pity. I don't need your sympathy! You're not a big sister — you're too small for that! You're just a spoiled brat who thinks you can get anything you want."

Hera opened her mouth but then shut her lips again. She kept her lips into a thin slash, sighing. 

"You're right. I'm a spoiled brat who can get anything I like. All I have to do is say the word and my dad will give it to me," she murmured, disheartened by Princess's aggression. "I don't even need to hear all your mean remarks for you to like me and yet, I'm trying my best so you see that I am on your side."

Hera let out a deep exhale as she glanced at the bracelet on the ground. "Just throw it away if you don't like it."

After saying her piece, the excited Hera left with a heavy heart. Meanwhile, Princess kept her bitter eyes on the little girl's back before her eyes fell on the bracelet on the ground. 

"Someone on my side…" whispered Princess, clenching her teeth while balling her hands tightly. "Even those people who have the same blood as me abandoned me. How can I trust you that you won't?"

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