22. Silver eyes

Tristan quickly alerted Precious to the figure. Looking in the direction indicated, Precious lifted her head and there, she saw her father waving his hand in the air.

An indescribable mix of emotions surged within Precious as she laid eyes on her father. Overwhelmed, tears streamed down her face. 

She turned to the road, waiting for a passing car before crossing to the other side. With a determined stride, she crossed the road once more, running towards her father.

Before she reached his embrace, Vincent had already extended his arms, ready to receive the hug he knew was coming. How could he contain his tears? He didn't want his daughter to witness his weakness. 

"My daughter," he mumbled, holding her tightly. Precious melted into his arms, encircling him with her own.

"Papa!" she sobbed. 

"Papa," she repeated, her voice filled with longing. 

"I miss you so much!" Her words echoed in Vincent's ears, piercing his heart.

He could feel his angel's pain, and hear it in her cries. 

Vincent's heart shattered into pieces as he listened to his daughter's anguish. 

He felt like a failure, utterly helpless in protecting his own family. As the head of the family, he couldn't even save his own daughter.

Vincent patiently held his daughter, allowing her to pour out her pain and cry as much as she needed. 

He knew he wouldn't see her again for another thirty days, so he wanted to offer her solace in this precious moment together.

And in that moment, Precious allowed herself to cry and release all the emotions she had bottled up inside. She poured out her longing and expressed how deeply she had missed her father.

After a while, she pulled away from her father, using the back of her hands to wipe away her tears. Her face was flushed from crying. Vincent mustered a smile, though it was clear he was struggling to hold back his own emotions. He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her wet cheeks.

"Papa has missed you so much," he whispered, his voice filled with love and longing.

But Precious knew that her father was trying to be strong for her. He didn't want his weaknesses to burden her or make her feel sorry for him. Vincent didn't want his daughter to carry any sense of responsibility for his struggles in providing the life she deserved.

Observing her father's effort, Precious made a silent decision. She wouldn't burden him with the knowledge of the hardships she faced at Edgar's mansion. She wouldn't tell him about the lengths he was going to in order to gather enough money for her release.

During the five hours they had together, they would focus on cherishing each other's presence. 

Precious's grin returned as her tears dried. "I wanted to see you, Papa, but that wicked Edgar wouldn't allow it," she pouted, expressing her frustration.

Vincent placed his palm on her head and gently patted her. "I can only imagine what you're going through at that house, for you to cut your hair," he empathized. 

"Edgar isn't kind, and I was surprised he granted me this early visit since we agreed to meet once a month. Did you..."

Precious shook her head vigorously. "No, Papa, I begged him to let me see you," she clarified. "I'm sorry for cutting my hair, but I felt suffocated without you by my side. Everything is so new, but I'm starting to adapt."

"Adapt to what?" Vincent inquired, momentarily forgetting he was holding flowers meant for his daughter. "Oh, these are for my pumpkin!" He extended the bouquet towards her with a wide grin.

Precious gasped, acting surprised as if she hadn't realized the flowers were meant for her. "For me?" she asked, her eyes lighting up. Taking the flowers in her hands, she delicately sniffed them and expressed her gratitude. "Oh, they smell amazing. Thank you, Papa!"

"I also have something for you!" Precious exclaimed, unzipping her bag and retrieving a carefully wrapped object she had been working on ever since she had access to the pottery room in Edgar's mansion.

It was a mug she had molded, adorned with her father's nickname: "Giant Vincent." Precious had given her father that name when she was just seven years old and used to look up at him, feeling like he was a towering giant.

When Vincent laid eyes on the mug, he praised his daughter for her improvement and craftsmanship. He couldn't help but inquire how she managed to create it in Edgar's house.

This gave Precious the opportunity to share all the positive experiences she had been enjoying in Edgar's mansion.

Precious then recounted moments of joy, discovery, and even some small pleasures. Precious and her father then went to a restaurant together, where they dined to their heart's content. The simple act of sharing a meal with her father brought a sense of ease and happiness.

After dinner, they visited a nearby playground, played in the molded-soil structures, and indulged in a bit of shopping using Vincent's money. Although the clothes they purchased were inexpensive, Precious cherished them as if they were made of pure gold.

The five hours they spent together were the best moments of their lives. Vincent purchased snacks for his daughters and accompanied Precious to Edgar's Mansion, handing her the treats before reluctantly letting her go. He showered her with kisses, cherishing every precious moment before their temporary separation.

The car that had been following them to prevent any escape attempts offered to drive Vincent home once Precious safely entered the mansion. 

Following the orders, Tristan took Mr. Vincent home without any resistance. Sitting in the back seat, Vincent glanced at the mug his daughter had crafted for him. 

Vincent felt a surge of pride and hoped that Edgar would continue treating Precious as she had described. He held onto the belief that one day, they would be free from Edgar's grip once the debt was paid.

Despite the bittersweet parting, Precious was overjoyed from her reunion with her father, and the departure didn't dampen her spirits. She happily played with the gifts her father had given her on the way to her room. The numerous photos they had taken together served as a reminder of their time spent and brought comfort to her father's thoughts.

Filled with happiness, Precious called out for Rainey when she opened the door to her room. However, to her surprise, Rainey was nowhere to be found. She searched every nook and cranny, checking Rainey's favorite hiding spots, the laundry basket, and the dustbin, but he remained elusive.

While roaming around her room in search of Rainey, Precious caught a glimpse of a figure standing on her balcony.

 At first, she questioned whether it was an illusion, but upon closer inspection, she confirmed that someone was indeed present. 

Fueled by curiosity, Precious opened the door to the balcony, feeling a cool breeze wash over her, causing a slight shiver. Undeterred, she mustered the courage to voice her question.

"Who are you?"

Precious could discern that the person standing there was a man, evident from his broad shoulders and stature. However, as he faced away from her, she grew increasingly curious to see his face. Could it be Chris? She pondered silently.

Though the man did not respond immediately, Precious patiently waited for him to reveal himself. Finally, he slowly turned around to face her. The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stand still. The man standing before her had an inexplicable effect on her with his peculiar silver eyes. 

At that moment, she couldn't help but wonder, "Who is this man?"

A/N: Hello my dear readers! I'm blowing dandelions on you guys. Love and support my book. The next chapter will be locked, to read more, do unlock and enjoy the journey between our Precious and Edgar.

Happy reading!

Love, Victoria!