Daddy’s Little Pet

RENEE

“What a beautiful elite family reunion. Isn’t this lovely?”

As she spoke, her words dripped with phoniness and venom.

My heartbeat quickened as I watched her saunter casually toward where Robert and I were standing, whistling and clapping her hands maniacally, keeping the attention on her.

My stomach churned with shock and anger, but I couldn’t talk or move a muscle. I was stuck, frozen to the spot in Robert’s arms, afraid to blink lest she noticed my fear.

But I did blink. My tear-stained lashes fluttered as I looked at Robert, our gazes briefly meeting before he turned away. His grip on my shoulders tightened painfully.

That expression on his face. He looked like someone forced to endure a painful and awkward situation-like a student caught doing something wrong and desperately wanting to flee.

His lips were drawn into a thin line that showed no emotion. His eyes were lifeless, and his face had turned deathly pale.

Terrified. He was terrified, I realized, and by God, how could that happen to such a strong and courageous man like him?

Robert was crumbling in front of these people and seeing him in such a state broke my heart. But I couldn’t forget about my situation.

I needed answers. Though I likely had them already. Still, I wanted to hear him say it.

“Rob… Robert…” I called out softly, sniffing. When he dragged his blank gaze toward me, I asked, “This is the woman who confronted me in the restroom. Do you know who she is?”

“I… Renee. Let’s leave. I’ll explain when we’re alone.” He said, his voice cracking. “I promise I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“Just answer me, Robert,” I said softly, my voice shaking. “Do you know her?”

“Fuck! Yes, Renee, I do. I-”

“And why are you so hush-hush? Say it out loud for everyone to hear, dear husband.” The woman’s screeching voice cut Robert off. I felt a sinking feeling in the pits of my stomach.

Husband. That one word made my stomach twist in agony.

I gasped and looked at Robert, willing him to speak.

“Renee. I’ll explain. Let’s go, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know. Please, don’t panic.”

Don’t panic?’ I scoffed inwardly and stepped away from him, watching his hands on my shoulders slowly drop.

The painful realization that he was married, had a son, and was still in a committed relationship with me, hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t take it any longer. This was worse. Way worse than a cheating lover.

“Everyone is waiting for you, Robert. They want to hear what you have to say,” The woman said and my eyes widened in surprise at her insistence.

She was staring at Robert, waiting to see if her jab had hit the nail on the head. And sure enough, it did.

I heard his slight intake of breath, and his jaw dropped open as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, she repeated her words like a nail scratching on old piano keys. “Well, since you don’t want to say anything, maybe I could help you. How about you tell everyone you brought your wife and son to a party you’re attending with your new fuck-toy?”

“What the…!” I exclaimed, my feet tumbling as murmurs and shocked gasps echoed around the room.

Worse still, the paparazzi, watching the ensuing drama for too long, brought out their cameras and began clicking furiously, taking notes of this juicy story for tomorrow’s headline.

The camera flashes lit up the room, blinding us momentarily, and I ducked my head down as Robert put an arm around my waist protectively. There wasn’t much he could do though, considering he couldn’t turn and shield me from their view.

When I ducked down, I saw the woman again, and my heart stopped.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

She was smiling at me. Her red lips stretched wide to reveal two rows of sharp teeth. Her hair fell in wisps around her face, and her blue eyes sparkled as she laughed maliciously.

Her deep husky chuckle sent chills down my spine, and I shivered.

Her look was one of triumph and as she held my gaze, a sickening fear swept over me like a wave crashing against a rocky outcropping.

This woman. This horrible, twisted creature was not one to be trifled with. She was a threat. There was no doubt about it.

She was filled with malice and insanity. She was the embodiment of evil. A monstrous being. A demon. She was terrifying to look at, but even more alarming was the knowledge that she was out to get me.

Even amid the camera flashes, the never-ending questions, and the chaos in the hall, I couldn’t stop staring at her. Her stare back never wavered.

Her smile turned dark and predatory. I could only snap out of my trance and pull myself away from her gaze when I heard Robert’s strained tone.

Grabbing my hands, he gently squeezed my fingers as if reassuring me with his touch. It didn’t work and a whiplash of emotions coursing through me, I tore my hand away from his and took a staggering step back.

“Renee…!” He called out. “Security will be here soon. Let’s go out the door and…””

“She… she said you brought your son here…?” I trailed off. The words stuck in my throat. “Where’s your son? Who is he? Are you really married? ”

His expression shifted before he responded, his words piercing deep into my already wounded heart. “Renee, I was married. I’m divorced. She’s-”

“I’m his son.” Someone interrupted, the familiar voice high-pitched and unwavering.

I spun on my heels, almost tripping over the hem of my dress, as I stared in horror.

It was Dylan. And he was standing behind Robert.

Fuck… I’d completely forgotten about him!

Amid this public scandal, I’d forgotten he was there in the hall, and we’d almost started a conversation before Robert’s wife or ex-wife, or whatever she was, interrupted.

As I stared at Dylan in disbelief, I shuddered slightly as his words rang in my head repeatedly.

He was Robert’s son?! No! No! It couldn’t be true. This was yet another ruse-a lie. My mind raced in despair. I was perplexed, trying hard to understand, but my brain couldn’t make sense of anything.

Was I dreaming, or was this actually happening?

Dylan was Robert’s son, and simply put, I’d had sex with both father and son.

I’d had a forbidden affair with two people with the same bloodline and from all indications, this wasn’t a prank.

The whole world seemed to have come to a standstill. At that moment, no one spoke. No one moved.

“Renee…” Robert said, breaking my trance as he tried to touch me, but I flinched.

“Don’t!” I cried out, pulling away from him, my arms tight against my chest. Unshed tears gathered at the back of my eyes.

Why me? What have I done? What have I become? My mind reeled, and my legs wobbled helplessly.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell. I wanted the floor to collapse and swallow me.

I wanted to flee. I needed to get away from this humiliating and degrading debacle. I wanted to do anything at all to take my mind off this horror.

Now more than ever, I was struck with the realization that I really was a slut. The world’s dirtiest slut and whore.

God! I felt so filthy.

I cast a glance at Robert again. He was standing a few feet away, pain and regret evident in the creases of his brow.

His eyes begged me to understand, but I could only stare at him in shock, hurt, fury, anger, irritation… damn!

He had no idea this would happen. Or did he? He’d done preliminary research on me. He had to have known. He must have known about Dylan, yet he’d still pursued me and made me fall head over heels in love with him.

‘Or maybe he didn’t know.’ My subconscious didn’t want to believe he would do this, but I didn’t know what to think.

“Renee. Let’s head outside. I can explain.” Robert said again, this time taking a step toward me, and I responded by taking another step back.

“No, no.” I shook my head frantically, turning to look at Dylan once more, gauging his reaction.

His expression terrified me. He stood tall, chin up, arms folded tightly across his chest, shoulders squared, and jaw set firm. I watched as his gaze harden and his deep blue eyes filled with rage and hatred.

He had to have put two and two together and realized I was having an affair with his father.

He was probably disgusted by me as well. Who wouldn’t be, after all? It wasn’t my fault, but at the same time, it felt like it was.

“I… Dylan, this must be a misunderstanding.”

“Sure, I guess. You do have lots of explaining to do!” His voice thundered, and he had a chilling smirk on his lips, his icy glare never wavering.

I didn’t get a chance to say anything because security and a few other bouncers rushed into the hall.

They’d arrived to restore order to the party and clear up the commotion caused by the sudden mass arrival of journalists and paparazzi.

But it was too late, at least, for me. The damage was already done.

They couldn’t save my ruined evening. And now the only thing I could do was leave this damned building.

I whirled around, not saying anything to Robert or speaking at all, and slowly I began walking toward the nearest exit.

As I approached the door, some reporters were waiting for me, with determined expressions, closing ranks around me like wolves circling prey.

Of course, they hadn’t gotten the memo from the security guards, and as I approached, they swarmed around me. Thrusting their microphones directly into my face and blinding me with their camera flashes.

They shouted questions and obscenities, but I ignored them, and instead, with my head hung low, I increased my pace and walked as fast as I could.

I heard Robert’s loud voice calling my name from behind, but I didn’t turn around. I moved faster toward the swinging entrance door, ignoring the murmurs and stares.

Once I stepped out of the building and into the street, I continued running away blindly, with no idea where I was going. I just had to leave. I had to escape this goddamned place.

One thing was certain now though. My life had changed forever. And this time, for worse.