Chapter 24: Belongs to Him

When Jonathan bandaged his wound, I sat quietly and looked at it. “If I had a chance to stab him, would I only have left a small scar on his body?” I wondered to myself. "Desiree, do you remember when your birthday is?” Jonathan asked suddenly.

“Birthday?” I didn't know why he asked that question, but I nodded honestly.

“When is it?” he asked again.

I lowered my head, my fingers crossed and replied, “Today.”

“Today?” He was silent for a moment then touched my head and asked, “What type of present do you want?”

“Nothing!” I answered.

Although I said those words, I was moved to tears when I saw him dragging his injured body to buy an angel birthday cake for me, which was decorated with colorful candles. It was the first time that I had hoped that he wasn’t my enemy, which was my first birthday wish I ever made. Every birthday after that, I would make that wish in my heart. I knew that it would not come true, but I had no other wish, anyway.

He pulled me suddenly, my foot slipped, and my body somehow fell into his chest. When I tried to keep my balance myself, he had locked me firmly with his hug. “Desiree!” he said, and his hand clasped me more tightly. Golden light shone in his eyes and it gradually became hazy. I quickly turned my face away, avoiding his lips.

Maybe I was young and innocent, but I knew one thing very clearly, there was only hatred between us, no love allowed! “Daddy,” I said.

But he answered me coldly, “I am not your father!”

Feeling his hand caressing my face, I was startled and cried, “But you will always be my father in my heart!” He loosened his hands and I was free again. I escaped to a safe distance without hesitation, my heart beating fast.

My heartbeat was too fast, and my mind was too slow. It took me a long time to speak about the past, “I remember you said that you will give Steven eight years and if he could make you satisfied, you will give him what he wanted most,” I reminded him.

He looked at me with a chill in his heart and asked, “Are you waiting for him?”

“Yes!” I replied quickly. I didn't know if I was waiting for Steven, but I believed that he would come back, and he wouldn't leave me alone. Sometimes I would dream that he became the prince, killing the devil and saving the princess in the fairytale.”

I turned away from his disappointed expression. I said to myself, “A princess should love a prince, not a devil.”

“Desiree,” Jonathan said, and held my hands, but I struggled to pull away. “You're too young to understand some things,” he said to me.

“I understand!” I said.

How could I not understand, although it much, I had read dozens of romance novels? The men liked to use kissing to express their love, which left women confused and softened. Then they would give their bodies to men. That's why I was worried that my feelings were mixed and confused.

“Do you really understand?” he asked, and grabbed my arm and said, “Listen, you bear one thing in mind, I can give you time to accept my affection gradually, however long it takes. But you'd better forget about him soon. Because you belong to me!”

A week later, I was able to go back to school. I was expecting all sorts of comments, but when I got there, everyone just asked me if I had recovered. I met Eric wandering in the school hallway. He pretended to not see me and shunned me, lowering his head, when I was about to speak to him.

“Eric!” I shouted.

He stood still and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to thank you for not spreading the news about my kidnapping,” I said.

“You needn’t thank me. It is your family who let me keep silent,” he told me. Then he hesitated for a moment and said, “Your family seems to be everywhere, and they are able to seek out their information quickly.”

He put his hands in his pocket as if he wanted to take something out, but he didn't do it. “Your father told me not to come near you again,” he said.

“Oh.” I smiled at him and said, “Sorry, I hope my father didn’t frighten you.”