The Devil's Sweetheart

The evening sun cast a long shadow on the Veranda. Recently, her mind was occupied with certain someone, and oddly she felt it\'s not wrong. What is this feeling? This is the second time she is feeling this way. After she bid goodbye to her first love, another man entered her space. Am I love?

\'\'Let nature answer.\'\' Swaying her body to the music, Kyle was in jubilation, welcoming the new feelings until a phone call disturbed her peace. She had a happy time for a week with Landone gone on a business trip and felt like she was back to her old self again, but here comes the trouble. \'\'Time to put a check to this relationship.\'\' She muttered and then lifted the call. In a minute, she ended the call and went back inside.

As Kyle opened the door, Landon embraced her into a tight hug. \'\'I missed you, babe.\'\' 

Kyle straight away pushed him away and took a step back. Watching the fierce frown on his face, she scratched her forehead, looking down in embarrassment. \'\'I had just worked out and haven\'t taken a shower yet.\'\' She lied, getting better and best at it. 

  \'\'That\'s fine\'\' Landon quickly bought her lie with Kyle\'s current appearance. \'\'I am taking you to a place. You have half n hour to get ready.\'\' He said, and settled on the couch.

\'\'Where?\'\' Kyle catechized him in suspicion. \'\'Well, before that, I want to talk with you_\'\'

\'\'We can talk later, babe. Now go, and get ready.\'\' With that, he shoved her into the bedroom.

Although Kyle hated his attitude, she didnot voice her thoughts. Why waste her energy in arguing with him when it\'s going to end today. Within fifteen minutes, she was in the car, and to her disappointment, Landon didnot talk with any of his friends. She tried to bring the topic of their breakup, but he would cut her off in the middle every time.

When the car pulled to the entrance of a large house, her eyes sharply turned in his direction. \'\'Whose house is it?\'\' Does he want to continue where they left on that day? The thought itself sent colds in her body.

\'\'You will know it when we get inside.\'\' He winked and led her into the house. Kyle looked over the place, and the pictures of Landon hanging on the wall frames and two other people confirmed where they are. \'\'Is it your parent\'s home?\'\'

\'\'Are you surprised?\'\' He questioned back instead.

  \'\'Why didn\'t you tell before bringing me here?\'\' Her voice raised frantically in anger. He is making it even more complicated. This is the problem with him. Every time, he makes decisions by himself.

\'\'Shh! Calm down, Kyle.\'\' Landon threatened, his voice intense as he glanced all over the room. He wanted to surprise her by showing his parents, and he thought she would, but not expected to act like a barking dog.

\'\'You should have discussed before bringing me...\'\' Her last words caught up in the throat when she saw a woman descending from the stairs, and behind her, followed by a man.

\'\'Landon. Here you are, my boy?\'\' A woman appeared in front of them with a sweet smile on her face.

Landon\'s eyes immediately shifted to the woman, and the man, a smile on his face. \'\'Mom, dad.\'\' He greeted them with a hug. \'\'She is my girlfriend, Kyle.\'\' He pointed his eyes, disembarking from the hug. 

\'\'Kyle, she is my mom, Aspen, and dad, Howard.\'\' Landon introduced them to Kyle.

\'\'Ah! So you are Kyle.\'\' Aspen gave Kyle a look over, pulling Kyle into cumbersome. \'\'My son talks about you every day.\'\' She nudged her husband, and he only nodded his head in response.

\'\'Pleased to meet you.\'\' Kyle smiled at both, not bothered to address them fitly. There was no genuine smile on that woman\'s face, which Kyle could feel it. 

\'\'Enough with the introductions,\'\' Landon said. \'\'Let\'s go, and talk over dinner. Kyle must be hungry.\'\'

\'\'Sure.\'\' Aspen gave a stiffened smile.

As the maid served the dishes, Kyle\'s anger subdued for a while, and her appetite rose as the aroma wafted into her nostrils. When she was about to put a spoonful of pasta into her mouth, a voice interrupted it.

\'\'What do your parents do?\'\' Aspen asked as she forked a steak.

\'\'Her parents are_\'\'

\'\'Well, your girlfriend has a mouth, son.\'\' Though Aspen\'s voice was calm, it carried an edge of coldness. \'\'Did I talk something wrong, Kyle?\'\' Aspen questioned with a chuckle.

\'\'No.\'\' She was used to that question. Kyle placed the spoon down onto the plate. \'\'My mom died when I was five. My Uncle brought me up.\'\' As per her father, she doesn\'t want to bring that man who never cared about her. He is the scum of the society who only knows to play with the feelings of an innocent woman.

\'\'Ah! It must be hard on you. Sorry to bring that up.\'\' Aspen\'s fake concern didnot go unnoticed by Kyle. \'\'What about your dad?\'\' She stressed the part.

\'\'I am not on talking terms with him.\'\' Her voice was flat, drawing a line not to interested to talk about his father\'s affairs.

  \'\'Sad for you,\'\' Aspen said and turned to her husband, who seems to be waiting for approval to speak. \'\'Why aren\'t you speaking, dear?\'\' Before a word came out of his mouth, Aspen flanked. \'\'Please try the Tuna Mushroom, Kyle. I have specially ordered the maids to prepare it for you.\'\'

Kyle internally mocked Landon\'s father. She was about to dig into the tuna Mushroom; Aspen\'s mocking voice ringed in her ears again. \'\'I heard your father never married your mother?\'\'

Kyle\'s grip tightened over the spoon. So, she investigated my family.  \'\'What are you trying to say?\'\' She threw the spoon onto the table with a loud clang. \'\'What do you want to know?\'\'

\'\'Kyle.\'\' Landon held her arm. \'\'Please..\'\'

\'\'I don\'t object to your marriage with my son, but I would be happy if you keep your status low. Although, an illegitimate daughter like you doesn\'t match the status of our family_\'\'

\'\'Mom, we talked about this,\'\' Landon spoke up with gritted teeth. \'\'Don\'t embarrass her. She will feel bad.\'\'

\'\'I am talking about the facts, son,\'\' Aspen added. \'\'Nobody will be ready to accept an illegitimate girl as the daughter-in-law. But I did for your sake. I want her to at least respect me_\'\'

Kyle got up from the chair to leave, but Landon swiftly held her hand. \'\'Sit down, Kyle. She will be your future mother-in-law. Don\'t make a scene here. I want you to go well with my mom.\'\'

\'\'Stop living in delusion, Mr. Derwin.\'\' Her words were cold and sharp.  \'\'I never agreed to marry you, and neither I will.\'\'

\'\'It\'s so hard to breathe the same air as people who don\'t know to respect others.\'\' She jerked his hand off and looked at the woman who was watching her with spite. \'\'Keep your status to yourself.\'\'  With that, she stormed out of the place despite Landon\'s shouts.

She was holding her eyes in such a way that kept the tears inside the lids. Is it my mistake that I was born as an illegitimate daughter? Why does everybody blame me for the sin my scum father committed? Only when Kyle walked a little distance away from the house, she realized. She left her phone and purse inside. She will never step into that home again. How do I go home now? Wiping her tears, she stopped a cab and stepped in. \'\'Where to madam?\'\' The driver asked.

Where to? She questioned herself. Landon would follow her to the home. She doesn\'t want to see his face anymore.

.....

The case was back to square again. Kurt thought he could pull out all the information using Kyle, but she caught him red-handed in the hospital. \'\'Damn that, Loose Case.\'\' He closed the file shut to make dinner. In the middle of the process, he received a call from the Watchguard.\'\'I don\'t like disturbances, and you know that.\'\'

\'\'I am terribly sorry, sir, but a girl is causing a disturbance. She wants to meet you.\'\' The man said, utterly polite.

\'\'A girl at this time?\'\' Kurt shuddered. He can\'t risk. \'\'Send her away..\'\'

\'\'Until unless you pay my cab fare, I am not leaving this place.\'\' Kurt heard an irritating distant voice. Who is here to create trouble again.

\'\'Sir, please..\'\'

Kurt ended the call and went out of the house to reprimand for disturbing his personal space. \'\'Who is that causing the problem here?\'\' His expression changed to incredulity when he saw a face, a familiar face. \'\'Kyle? Why are you here? What are you doing..\'\'

Not a word traveled from his mouth. He was totally shocked by the woman\'s audacity.. His throat constricted when he was embraced into a hug followed by a huge gasp, and roar from Watchguard.