THE WARNING

"Don't you dare insult me by taking my mother's name if you don't want any trouble with me this soon after my return! You are a nobody to mention my mother, you hear me?" I am a Finnish howling. How dare she? What care is she talking about? I don't remember even a single occasion when I saw a flicker of her so-called care for my father.


She swallows hard, sweeping her hand at the back of her neck as she amasses the courage to speak again. "I don't even enjoy mentioning her anyway. Because it is my name that should be mentioned alongside your father's title and in this house."

A wild dream! A super distant luxury that she will never live to witness!

I mean, can this witch even listen to what she is saying? My mother is not remembered today because she was attached to my father's title. She made her own legacy with her hard work and good deeds. She did not just sit around in this castle doing nothing or wandering around it like a lost soul. She had values. She knew her purpose as a mother, as a public figure, and as Mr. Riccaford! But useless bitches like this Gracia and her miniature witch will never understand that.


"Which will never happen because you don't deserve it. This title is not for the gold-digger, lazy witches like you two. You work for this title to be able to earn its emblem," I proudly explain.

I mean, can't they even learn from me, who is a walking lesson? I don't live luxuriously just because I am a Riccaford, duh! I work my ass off for this. And when I rebelled my father, he stripped me of everything. And them? They are not even Riccafords by blood or any special relation at all, and they think they can bask in all the luxuries that come with this name? What sort of stupid dreamers are these?


"Who do you think you are to teach me how things work, huh?" Gracia agin.

That got me to smirk a little. Such a rhetorically annoying question, but I spit the response straight to her face and with so much bravery, "The only child of the Riccaford! I am the only person who bears this title aside from my father. And if I, his only child, had to work my ass off to earn this title and reap the benefits of it, just who do you think you are to have it on a silver platter? Not even witchcraft can favor you that way, Gracia. Put that in your thick little skull."

"You are too blind to see things just the way they are. When reality starts unfolding, don't say I didn't warn you."

Is that a riddle? What reality?

You know, I hate to admit it, but somehow her statement got into me. That is why I am in bewilderment as I gawk at her, trying to digest her riddle. The last time I heard of a riddle, it was from Leo, and his riddle had a slight meaning today when I saw the condition that my father is in. And in as bitter as it sounds, it is still making sense because I am afraid that Damian might have to suffer after tomorrow. Our love will suffer. Leo himself is suffering, if at all what Damian insinuated about my father punishing Leo is true.

I have never given these witches a chance to get into me, but what does she mean? "What are you talking about," I implore.

"Nothing. Just don't be too comfortable, because you are his biological child. My daughter and I have all the same rights as you. At least, we didn't leave his side when he was battling with his ailment. Unlike what his only child did."

What is all about this? So they are going to blame this on me? I don't refute it. I am to blame. I accept it. But that is an issue between me and my father, which, when I last checked, was resolved. We have forgiven each other and let bygones be bygones. So, who are these hooligans to judge me?

"Blood is thicker than water, you know. I might have left at a time that I shouldn't have, but I am back now, and I have straightened up things with my father. We are cool. Better than ever. Or did you hear us arguing? Does my face look like some child whose parent doesn't want to see?"

They look at each other, confusion registered on their ugly faces. I can't believe these fools. Seriously, was that what they were expecting?

"What were you two expecting, huh?" I snap again, earning their pooled consent for myself. 'You thought that my own father would stay mad at me forever? You expected that he would kick me out of here the moment I showed up?" I take a second to smirk at their stupidity and crash hopes: 'Sorry to disappoint you, but the good news is, his love for me surpasses any other bond in this world. Children make mistakes, like I did, but when we realize our mistakes, we turn to our loving parents and they accept us back with open arms. I mean, even the prodigal son was accepted, right? Cancel all the celebrations you had organized."

"But at least he knows what kind of daughter you are." I snap my composed face to this one: 'An ingrate who doesn't appreciate the beauty of what she has. I bet he will think three times before trusting to you again, even if you are his daughter."

Ooh, wow! See who just found her voice. Like, this cursed bitch has some balls to open her mouth at me? Really? Like the fuck?

"At least I am not a rotten, immoral whore who any parent would be so ashamed of to call their child, except for your mother here, Nelly. And if I remember correctly, an apple doesn't fall far from its tree. It makes me wonder where my father got you two from. From some sex workers' street?" I shoot, and their jaws plunge to the floor with hurt and disbelief.

They should have saved themselves the trouble by simply minding their freaking business, but no. They had to try and act like the witches that they really were. Well, why are they mute now? I still have a whole lot to throw at them.