The Bully's Obsession novel Chapter 77

　　GRACIE 

　　"Mommy! " she cried as her arms tightened around me. 

　　I embracing her tightly, I closed my eyes inhaling her sweet scent of baby powder.  I had been so scared for her.. 

　　For us.. 

　　"Papa "  she called again , as he straightened down to her level,  his face worked tight with emotions. 

　　"Are you alright princess? " his gaze scanned over her gentle features as he spoke. 

　　She nodded repeatedly but her grip on me didn't lessen a bit.

　　I blinked back to push back the tears, I felt Hayden's gaze on me , he was concerned about me as well,  but I think his has more to do with the way I reacted after I had pulled the knife on Robert. 

　　"That bad guy hurt you mommy ?" Her crying had subsided and became quiet hiccups . 

　　"Nothing happened to me sweetie ,  the bad men didn't hurt me " 

　　She didn't looked in any way convinced, I guess the bruises on my face wasn't enough for her to believe my words. 

　　"She told me you and Papa will come to get me,  but I thought they did something bad to you, I wanted to save you, but the bad man... " her lips trembled as she spoke, her eyes becoming glassy once again. 

　　Was she talking about Melissa? my gaze searched around the room instinctively for her. 

　　I noticed the way Hayden's expression  hardened for a moment,  his gaze returned to Hazel , guilt and anguish was clearly written all over him.

　　I hoped he doesn't blame himself,  none of these was his fault. 

　　My mind slowly drifted back to all the hurtful things I had said to him,  I had even blamed Shawn's death on him.

　　"You were so brave princess , your mom and I are so proud of you" he spoke gently kissing the sides of her head.  He straightened up and scoop her to his arms. 

　　"Then we can go home now? " 

　　My gaze took a quick survey around the place then back towards her. 

　　She didn't appear to be  physically hurt , she was still a kid but the bad memories would had scarred her, it would be difficult for her to forget everything. 

　　Same with me. 

　　I just wished I could erase the memory of Robert's blood on my hands.  I did what I had to do to save myself and Melissa's but still...... 

　　Melissa. 

　　My gaze found hers at the far end of the room,  I guess she was giving us some space. 

　　I needed to get answers to all the confusion questions growing inside of me. 

　　"Hayden can you take Hazel to the car? I'll be there shortly ?"

　　Everything in his expression and the way he suddenly became tensed made me think he was going to refuse.  

　　"Gracie... "

　　"Only about a minute, it won't take long "  I added quickly before he could say no. 

　　I knew he didn't like the idea,  all through our drive here,  he'd indicated openly that he didn't trust Melissa. I guess he still bore a grudge even though she had helped saved us. 

　　A sigh of relief escaped my mouth when he finally gave me a slight nod. 

　　"Only a minute and I'll come get you. And I'm waiting right outside " he spoke loud enough.  His gaze clear and meaningful as he looked towards her direction conveying a hard message.  

　　I wanted to tell him that he was being rude towards the person who did her all to help us,  I decided against it,  judging by his hard expression,  he might just change his mind and insist I come along with him. 

　　Immediately he left I turned around to face her,  we stood silently for a moment,  there were so many questions running through my mind,  I didn't know from where to actually begin. 

　　I should at least start from why he hated Hayden's father so much,  the loathe in his gaze had been raw and intense,  it couldn't have been there without a deep reason which only she could tell me. 

　　"Thank you " 

　　If she accepted my words of gratitude, her gaze didn't give any indication,  she merely gave me a light shrug. 

　　"What do you want to ask? Go ahead " she spoke rather bluntly . 

　　I ignored the uppermost questions that gnawed at the back of my mind,  I decided to start from the reason why I had been kidnapped in the first place. 

　　"Why does he hate them so much,  I thought they were friends ? " 

　　One of her brows arched perfectly,  like she had least expected me ask her this out of everything. 

　　"They were merely business partners.  Never friends  "  she paused,   I didn't say anything, then she continued.

　　"Robert hated him for as long as I could remember,  I think it has to do with the fact that one day both  his parents were found dead, next day all their shipments had been stolen  and months later McAndrew became the richest and most powerful in the organization,  it isn't hard to connect the dots right? "

　　The reasons she stated were really simply enough reasons to hate anyone ,  it made me wonder if Hayden's father had really done something so......evil. 

　　"Was it really related to him? " 

　　She shrugged lightly 

　　"Perhaps... Perhaps not,  no one knows , there was no evidence to prove if he had really done it or not. Roberts was furious and filled with hate and jealousy , but he hid it very well under the guise of friendship. He waited for years to have revenge on the family ,  then he had sent Matteo , But things didn't go as they planned. "