HOME AND HELL!

She didn't mean to hug him lately; it was all out of surprise and too much joy, but now she feels completely different.

She started to feel his warm body and smell his fragrant, musky scent. She felt so shy about what she was thinking; her mind was telling her to let go, but her body just didn't cooperate, and she wanted to hug him a bit longer. She wanted to indulge herself in feeling his warmth.

"Thank you!" She gently said with a sweet smile on her face. Her eyes were dazzling, as if they were full of joy. She felt secure and safe in his arms, as if it were the most comfortable place ever.

***

After leaving the hospital, Lay went to his stepmother's house to visit his father. It's been 4 years since they haven't met, and while standing outside the gate, he couldn't help but wonder if his father misses him too. If so, why hasn't he visited or looked for him for the past few years?

He took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell. He looked cold; he felt resentment against everyone in this house, but he wanted to suppress it.

"Lay?" A woman in her mid-40s wearing a maid's uniform was a bit shocked to see him.

"Nanny May, how are you?" He sweetly smiled, hiding all the negative thoughts and expressions that his head wanted to scream out.

The woman just stared at him sharply and raised her left brow, showing that she didn't recognize Lay as the son of her boss as usual.

Actually, all of the people in this house treated him like useless trash, excluding his father, who is sometimes nice to him; it's just that he is completely powerless against his second wife.

"Still pretty, of course," May answered proudly and confidently after a few seconds of staring at him.

"HAHAHAHA! She's totally ugly anyway. She has a flat nose like a pig and big round eyes like a tarsier," the woman's voice in Lay's head said, which made him puff and couldn't stop himself from laughing.

The maidservant raised her left brow upon seeing him laughing, saying, "What are you laughing, huh?" She looked so pissed off and felt insulted.

"Uhm! Nothing. I'm just happy to see you again," Lay said, trying to stop himself from laughing.

"Impudent filthy child! What do you want?" She angrily asked, grasping her hands on her waist.

"I just want to visit my father! Can I come in?" He humbly asked.

"Your father is busy with paper work right now. Just go away!" She immediately answered.

"Nanny!" He sighed, but the woman just rolled her eyes.

"And stop calling me Nanny. I'm not your Nanny! Not ever!" She spit, as if she were very disgusted with Lay. "Go away! Shu!" She even motioned her hand as if Lay was chicken she wanted to get rid of.

But then a new maid came and whispered something to May.

After talking to the girl, May looked at Lay sharply. "Madam Jia wants to see you. Follow me!"

A big smile immediately curled on his lips. He finally entered the gate and saw the wide lawn and tree, where a swing was still attached. He felt nostalgic and clearly remembers that when he was a kid, he used to sit in that swing while his father pushed it for him happily.

Upon entering the house, it looks like nothing has changed. The sad ambiance and cruel faces of the people here towards him he could still see and feel.

Lay saw his stepmother, Jia, sitting on the sofa while reading a newspaper. She is a big-time millionaire, or even richer than that, because she owns the number-one shoe company in the country. She still looked young even at the age of 48; she has a mature, curvy body and an undeniably pretty face with no trace of wrinkles.

"Good afternoon!" Lay said in a jolly tone with a smile on his face.

"Well, well, well!" She put down the news paper at the round crystal table in front of her when he heard Lay.

Her brows went a little higher upon seeing something strange. Yes, she notices how neat the boy looks, and he's even wearing a luxury white sneaker, which, of course, she could recognize because it is the most expensive sneaker made by her company.

She knew it was original at first glance, and it is worth $17,999, which, in her mind, Lay could never afford. However, she immediately managed to hide how surprised she was. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"We've agreed that after 4 years, if I could finish college, I could come back here already." He smiled. "I have passed your challenge, and I'm just waiting for our graduation ceremony that will be held next week. I just want to invite my father!"

"You? Will you graduate?" She scoffed. "Have you paid your tuition fee already? I heard that you were fired as a dishwasher last month, have a lot of debts, and can hardly make yourself eat. Now you're bragging here already that you have finished college?" She sniggered. "You're still a useless boy, Lay. Useless!"

Lay was a bit hurt, but instead of getting angry, he just smiled. He was used to her bullies and harsh words anyway and doesn't care much about them anymore.

"Such an evil woman. Her attitude is as black as her asshole!" the voice in his head popped up again, which made Lay want to laugh out loud, but luckily, he managed to stop himself or else it would be a disaster.

"Shut up!" He told the crazy system, which just suddenly spoke like an outbound IVR or even seemed like a really alive person sometimes.

"What did you say?" Jia squinted, curiously gazing at Lay, who just mumbled something, but she didn't hear clearly.

"Huh? Nothing!" He faked a smile. "Can I see Dad even for just a few minutes?" He seriously asked.

Suddenly, her aura changed. "Your dad has been bedridden for a month already. He's in our room!"

"What!?" His voice suddenly got louder than usual because of shock, and his small eyes were filled with anxiousness. "What happened to him? Why didn't you tell me that he was sick? If something wrong happens to my father, I will make you experience hell."