Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 208

"Xavier looked at his dad, totally stunned. Howard was way too full of himself. There was no mirror around to show him how scared he'd been just a minute ago, but now he was going on about how Danielle was just like him.

“She's like you? Honestly, that's kinda embarrassing," Xavier said. "You think she's gonna carry us over like that too? That doesn't seem right, does it?"

"While they argued, Danielle had already made it to the other side with Vivian safely in tow.

“Mom, we're here. You can open your eyes now," Danielle said, gently patting her mom's back.

"Vivian slowly opened her eyes, still in disbelief. When she saw they had really made it across, her jaw dropped.

“Danielle, we're really here? Sweetie, are you okay? Let me see," she asked, worried.

"Danielle had carried her the whole way with just one hand, her right arm holding both of them up, so it was no surprise she was probably going to be sore afterward.

"Danielle didn't immediately offer her hand. "I'm fine, Mom. I'm a tough cookie."

"Vivian wasn't convinced. She grabbed Danielle's arm and noticed the red marks from where Danielle had carried her. The bruises stood out against Danielle's pale skin. Her heart sank, Danielle had done so much, and now she'd have to go back for Howard and Xavier.

"Tears welled up in Vivian's eyes. She had always been the one needing protection, but here she was, feeling useless while Danielle handled everything.

“Mom, it's just a little sensitive, it'll be fine after I put some cream on it later," Danielle said gently. "You, Dad, and Xavier aren't a burden. With you guys with me, I feel safe."

"Danielle, who wasn't usually all that talkative, made sure to comfort her mom. Then she pulled out a golden pistol from her bag and handed it to Vivian.

“Mom, I'm going to go grab Dad and Xavier now. Hold onto this, just in case we run into anything. Our safety depends on you, I'll be quick," she said.

"Vivian was still a little unsure about holding the gun, but hearing Danielle's words made her feel like she had something important to do. "Don't worry, I’ll keep an eye out for us."

"Danielle gave her a proud smile. "Exactly, Mom. Stay safe."

"After giving her mom a quick rundown, Danielle took off running and swung across. It was way easier without anyone else, and she landed smoothly.

“I'm here, Dad. Let me take you over, and I'll swing back for Xavier," she said.

"Howard hesitated. "Danielle, I might be heavier than your mom. Maybe I should just try it myself? I saw what you did."

"He was worried that with his weight, plus hers, it would be too much for her.

“It's fine. Xavier, get ready," Danielle said, not in the mood for a long explanation. She wasn't much of a talker anyway.

"Before her dad could say anything else, Danielle grabbed him and took off, her feet leaving the ground.

With a quick “whoosh,” she swung across and landed without a hitch.

"Without waiting for anyone to say anything, she took off again to grab Xavier.

“Your turn, Xavier." She wrapped her arms around him and tossed him into the air.

"By the time he landed, he was still trying to figure out how he had gotten there. It all happened too fast for him to even process.

“Sir, Madam, Mrs. Polly Charrington is here again," the butler said. Lately, Polly had made it a point to come every day, trying to push for some kind of action.

"The elderly couple didn't even look up from their chess game, simply waving the butler away. It was pointless to beg them anyway; they couldn't sway their grandson.

“Are you two playing chess?" Polly asked with a bright smile.

"After a long pause, Polly finally spoke again. "Alice, I brought your favorite pastries. I made them this morning. Try them, I think you'll like them."

"Alice stopped her game and gave Polly a quick look, clearly not impressed. She never understood why Geoffrey married Polly in the first place.

"At first, Alice thought she would try to be nice, but the more they interacted, the more Polly came off as fake and self-serving.

“Just leave the pastries. Thanks, but I'm not in the mood for sweets right now," Alice said, her tone cold.

"Polly bit her tongue, doing her best not to let her frustration show. She worked so hard to please them, but they remained distant. Once her son took over Charrington Group, she'd make sure they felt the consequences of treating her like this.

"Suppressing her irritation, Polly smiled faintly. "No problem at all. I'll make sugar-free ones next time."

"She paused and added, "I know David doesn’t get me. I just want to get along with him, but he won't give me a chance. And my sister... she's still at Nathor Palace. I heard about Mrs. Janice Marker, her limbs were chopped off, stabbed over ten times. In the end, the Locke family got her out. She's dying now."

"Polly's words were loaded with meaning; showing David’s cruelty and how the Locke family had the power to act, while they couldn't even get past the front gate. A man like David, who wouldn't help his own family, wasn't fit to lead the Charrington family.

"Alice and her husband, old enough to have seen it all, understood exactly what Polly was getting at.