Chapter 1: Never Going Back
ANDERSON MANSION: DALLAS
"Take your daughter and go beg Tristan to accept you back. How could you even dare to return to the mansion I painstakingly built with my sweat, blood, and tears?" Adler (Mr. Anderson) yelled, throwing their luggage to their face.
"I didn't leave Tristan, he left us. He cheated and I tolerated everything he did because you asked me to. Now that he brought the divorce letter, how do you expect me to force myself to remain in a loveless marriage?" she yelled back and then wiped her tears, not wanting her baby to see that part of her.
"Shut the fuck up Arizona. What gave you the right to talk back to me? Go back and beg Tristan to take you in as his wife. That's an order!"
"Never! I am never going back to the Donovan mansion where that cheating whore resides."
"Are you trying to defy my orders Arizona? Do I have to remind you that the Donovans are the richest and the most prominent family in this city?"
"So? What does this have to do with me? I'm not going back to Tristan Donovan. And that's final!"
"You dare talk back at me again. You're going back to Tristan. Whether you like it or not."
"Have you ever for once considered me your daughter? Cause you make me doubt my own identity. You forcefully sent me to an all-girls boarding school, then you forced me into studying Economics at the university. After graduating, you forced me into post studies, to study business management. And then you married me to the Donovans against my will. I just feel like I don't have a dad but a sperm donor!"
Arizona yelled, bursting into tears from anger and distress. Adler's eyeballs almost popped out from its socket.
"What did you just call me?" he yelled, landing a terrifying slap on her face.
Charlotte (Mrs. Anderson) shrieked, upon seeing the thick red palm print on her darling daughter's face.
"Arizo..." Charlotte called out with heartache, running over to her daughter.
"One more step Charlotte, and you'll be leaving alongside the b*tch you call your daughter."
Arizona laughed out loud in frustration. Complicated emotions clouded her beautiful facial expression.
"Mom, you should go back inside. I'll be leaving," she said, wiping her tears.
"But..."
"No buts. You fucking get inside the house. And as you Arizona, it's good you have decided to return to Donovan mansion."
"And who said I'm going back to the Donovans? I'm going anywhere but there. And trust me, you're not going to see the face of this b*tch anymore."
"Goodbye, Mom."
She picked up her two pieces of luggage, opened the umbrella, and used it as a cover, preventing the drizzling rain from pouring on Mickey, who was firmly tucked on her back. Arizona, wheeled her pieces of luggage, not caring about the angry look on her dad's face and the sad and helpless expression of her Mom.
COLLYMORE'S MANSION: HOUSTON CITY.
Jeffery walked out of the bathroom with a towel tied dangerously on his lower body.
"Finally…"
Rooney sighed, with his hand on his waist.
"What's up kiddo?" Jeffery asked, ruffling Rooney's newly styled hair.
"Dad…'' Rooney whined.
"You're ruining my hair!"
"Oh! I have no idea."
Rooney pouted and Jeffery chuckled.
"Okay! It's my fault then, so what brought you to my humble room?"
"Humble indeed," He snorted.
"Where is the 'I'm sorry I didn't mean it' in your words?"
"Gosh, son! Fine… I'm sorry I didn't mean to ruin your hair," Jeffery rolled his eyes, raising his up, surrendering to his attention-seeking son.
Rooney grinned.
"I overheard your conversation with Uncle Jerry. I also want to tag along," he said, smiling sheepishly at his Dad.
"You. Were. Spying. On. Me! What did I say about eavesdropping on elders' conversation?" Jeffery asked, pulling his ears.
"Ouch! Ouch, dad! It hurts," Rooney complained with a frown.
"Are you going to do that again?"
"Daddy…"
"Are you promising not to do it or not?"
"Daddy "
"Yes or No!?"
"Urgh! Fine. Yes, I promise," Rooney grumbled.
"Good! That's my handsome son."
Jeffery complimented, finally letting off his Ears. Rooney gently massaged his ears which had turned slightly red.
"So Daddy, I'm tagging along, right? Don't worry, I'll stick by you and I won't wander off to chase after beautiful ladies," Rooney smiled, making an adorable puppy face that makes one unable to refute his demand.
"No," Jeffery replied, looking everywhere but his son.
He could still recall how his little five-year-old son would tweet and wink at beautiful ladies, inviting them to their table, every time he went out to eat with him.
Once there was a time when Rooney had wandered off with an extremely beautiful lady old enough to be his mom.
He had spent several hours searching for him, only to end up seeing him accompanying a beautiful lady as she shopped in a huge supermarket. Well, that was two months ago, on their trip to New York.
He wasn't willing to take this risk again. He wondered where his son inherited his flirtatious character from. Well, not from him. Maybe his mom.
Jeffrey frowned, thinking about how his ex-fiancee abandoned him in the church on the day of their wedding.
"But Dad. I already promised to behave."
"Promise… Unaccepted."
"But why?"
"Because you can't be trusted when it comes to this matter."
"Daddy, you know this is not fair right? I'm talking while looking at you. Why aren't you looking back at me?"
"Krm! Because there's no need."
Jeffery replied while buttoning his cuffs.
"Stay home and accompany your grandma. Be a good grandson okay? I'll talk with your grandpa before heading over to Dallas."
"That's not fair Daddy," Rooney frowned, running out of the room. Jeffery shook his head. He didn't go after his son in case he changed his mind.
