Lost and Found Pages

Gazing up at the clear blue sky, I smiled and then closed my eyes. Experiencing the chill of the breeze against my skin while the blazing sun shines overhead, as I sit beneath a large tree, is one of the most delightful sensations. It was so relaxing. Other than that, was the sound of the leaves rustling and the chirping of the birds. When was the last time I came to a peaceful place like this? I could hardly remember. I was so riveted with my job, and I had no time to unwind.

"Hmmm...so good to be back here in Snowdonia."

I truly loved the summer here, especially in Beddgelert Village. I've been to many parts of North Wales, but this one was one of my favorite places, because of its simplicity, picturesque, and unspoiled scenery. There are also a lot of scenery activities and attractions that people can enjoy during summer.

Right now, I was only a few feet away from the grave of Gelert. The faithful hound, according to history, was mistakenly killed by its owner named Llywelyn, Prince of North Wales, in the 13th century. Prince Llywelyn, returned home from hunting only to be greeted by Gelert, his faithful dog, covered in blood and the baby's crib was empty. The prince was horrified, and, without a second thought, he plunged his sword toward the poor hound, thinking it had killed his only heir to the throne. From its dying yell, the prince heard a baby's cry. Seeing his child alive and unharmed, a dead wolf lying near the child made him confused. Realization hit him with the fact that his faithful dog, Gelert, had actually saved the baby from a wolf. The prince was filled with remorse and was said to have never smiled again after that day. He buried Gelert and the spot was named Beddgelert.

A very sad story indeed.

I gently rubbed my hands on the green grass while breathing in the fresh air. Grinning, I opened my eyes, rolled over, and reached for my precious book of memoirs. Laying on my stomach, I grabbed my pen and started sketching a tree, then the sun, the birds, and lastly, me.

In the corner of the paper, I wrote the date and time.

"Perfect." I smiled brightly.

Placing my diary beside me, I gazed up at the sky. "I should have brought my little sister, Adaira, with me. I know she will love this place as well," I muttered to myself.

My smile was replaced by a sigh.

I clicked my tongue.

"If only my father allowed her to." Grunting, I rose to sit and hugged both of my knees.

Who would have thought that the heiress to the throne chose to have a simple life in the countryside and live like a normal person?

And now here I am, abandoned and forgotten.

My father hated my guts, and my mom? Well, she tried to defend me a little, but ultimately, still couldn't do anything about it since my father set the household rules. My mother was merely a decoration to the house. She's not that tough to order around the house and doesn't have the strength to disobey my ruthless father. My father does not consider her opinion to be significant. She's a puppet-poor mother.

I can't even remember a single memory of my parents exchanging intimate gestures or conversations. Why did they even get married if they didn't love each other? She couldn't answer my questions even though I tried to understand their situation. My mother kept her mouth shut. It's frustrating.

Weird.

All she did that night was cry and cry. Begging my father not to disown me. However, since I had no choice, I decided to move away to steer clear of the toxic and negative households. I had even insisted my mother get a divorce so she could be free and live a happy and peaceful life, but she gravely disagreed. Her face splashed with shock and horror because of that.

"Are you out of your mind, Fleur? I love your father, and he needs me! What you're asking me is foolish! Are you hearing yourself?"

"Foolish? This isn't foolishness, mother. Do you know what is? You, letting yourself be his slave and a puppet! Blind by love that only you can feel! Did he ever hold your hand or hug you? Even treat you as a wife and not a housemaid? Really? How can you act as if this isn't a big deal while he's crawling under another woman's skirt!?"

"That's-"

"No, Mother! I've been silent for many years! Why can't you decide for yourself? For your happiness. Being the wife of a self-centered billionaire isn't happiness! You're torturing yourself."

"It's because I set aside that happiness you're talking about! I need to fight for your rights to be the sole heiress! I can't let your stepsister get what is rightfully yours! I won't allow his mistress and daughter the privilege of inheriting a single penny from your father! I don't want them to be happy! I can't let them enjoy things they don't initially deserve! That's why I can't divorce him! Yes, I knew that he didn't feel the same way I did. He can't love me since I only seduced him and our parents forced us to get married, but I had accepted that fact long ago, while you were still in my womb."

I angrily tossed the pillow into a corner of my bedroom. "But did you even consider how these things affect me and Adaira? Have you even checked on her if she's okay? Do you know how depressed she was knowing she'd be forced to marry some random man she didn't even know for the sake of money? He can't even see us as his daughters! He sees us as pawns! Now, I know money can't buy happiness. Maybe to some, but in our case? We both know the answer, Mother. I can't live like this anymore. If you don't want to come, then I will take Adaira with me."

"You can't do that! Your fath-"

"What?" I enquired. "What will he do? I'm not even surprised by what he can do, and I'm not afraid of him! If he can't treat us as family, then at least he should treat us as human beings! But I hardly believe we would even do the latter. He's a monster!"

Stepping out of my room, I headed to Adaira's bedroom, only to see my father holding a belt and my little sister lying on the floor covered in red marks and bruises on her arms, legs, and neck, even on her beautiful innocent face. Her cheeks were drenched in tears. So weak to stand on her own. She raised her head, and I saw her eyes gleam a little after seeing me. As if she's telling me I'm her hero. My poor Adaira.

I was so horrified by the scene. Seeing her being punished by whipping, flashed a slide of memories when I was in her place. My father beat me when I started dating an ordinary man during high school. My father wasn't pleased when he found out. I have scars on my back and a fractured nose. My mother was screaming and holding his arms, pleading with him to stop. But it doesn't end there. Now, my sister has experienced the same type of mistreatment.

"How dare you do this to my sister!"

My father shifted his gaze at me. His dark and evil face bored me and I didn't feel scared anymore. This is too much!

Cocking his head, he raised an eyebrow at me. "What? Do you want to join her?"

He lifted his hand with the belt and was about to strike. I was so ready but my mother stepped in between us, spreading her arms to protect me.

"Please stop! Don't hurt our daughters! Have mercy on them! Just do it to me! Hurt me! Not them!"

His hand stopped in mid-air, giving my mother a disgusted look on his face. Then, he lowered his hand, walked to my mother, and jabbed a finger at her temple. Nudging her head to the side.

"You bitch! Creating more useless women and spending my money!"

I chuckled, catching his attention. His eyes averted at me.

"Well, if you didn't stick your useless dick inside my mother, we wouldn't be here! We won't be seeing the most evil person we have ever known! Since we are also your blood and flesh, how sad you're also referring to yourself! So weak that you only have the guts to raise a hand on women!"

I saw his face turn darker and his jaw tightened while glaring at me. My mother whirled around to face me with her mouth open and her eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Don-"

Before she could finish her words, my father shoved her so roughly that she nearly stumbled on her feet and kissed the cold floor.

"So, you can manage to fight me now, young girl? Let's see how far you can be tough and be stubborn when you can no longer feed yourself!"

"Oh, I can feed myself without spending your precious money. You can shove it up your mistress' ass! That's what you do best, shoving!"

The sound of a slap echoed in every corner of the room, leaving everyone shocked and speechless.

Turning my head to face him once more, I smirked and cleared my face from my disheveled hair strands. "See what I mean, father? Or should I even call you that?"

His face twitched in irritation and was about to slap me again when my sister grabbed his hand. "Don't!" she said with a stern and shaky voice. ".... I will do what you want. I will marry him. Just don't hurt Fleur anymore!"

My father pulled her hand from Adaira's grip. "Wise decision! And you!..." Pointing a finger at me. "I want you out of my house! I don't want to see your face anymore! I will forget I ever had a daughter like you!"

"I thought you already forgot. How touching."

Adaira gazed at me, pleading with me to stop.

"Out! You ungrateful bitch!"

"You don't have to. I already planned to do so. But my mother and Adaira will be coming with me! Away from a ruthless creature like you!"

Grabbing Adaira's hand, my evil father held onto her, stopping my sister from leaving the room with me. We were tugging her back and forth.

"Let go of her! You can't force my little sister to do anything you want!" I shouted.

"I'm the father. Of course, I can!"

"No!" my mother yelped on her knees, grabbing her chest.

Still not letting go of Adaira's hand. She looked at me and bit her lower lip. Her perfect eyes gleamed with painful tears which shot a tug into my heart. "Please, Fleur. Let me go. I promise I'll be fine."

Her words crushed my heart into pieces. "No! You're coming with me. We will move away from this hell house!"

"Please, Fleur. It's going to be okay," begging me in her soft and innocent voice. My throat felt dry as I slowly let go of her hand and my father roughly pulled her to his back.

"Get out of my house!" he screamed at me, pointing at the door.

Both of my fists clenched in anger, giving him a sharp glare, and then my eyes bore my little sister and my weeping mother on the floor. It pains me the most seeing them like this, rather than my situation before being beaten up. How can I save them from my evil father since they chose to stay behind?

Glaring back at my father, I stepped forward. "You think that you won? Celebrate now. Your karma is just around the corner."

I snapped out of my time traveling to my past. I grabbed a rock and threw it into the river just a few feet from where I sat.

It's been seven years since I ran away from home and here I am, trying to live in peace but still haunted by my past from time to time. I've never seen them since I left. I miss my little sister. Her genuine smile and laugh every time I joked around. Talking nonstop during the night while gazing up at the shimmering sky full of stars, sharing our thoughts and dreams. She's not just my sister, she's my best friend, my lifelong partner in crime.

I remember when we were both chased by a dog. I helped her climb a tree by holding her hand and pulling her up, but she ended up falling on top of that dog, which made it whimper rather than bark before running away. We both laughed, holding hands while walking back to our house. Our mother scolded us for seeing our clothes covered with mud, especially Adaira's bottom. She hurriedly took us a bath and clothed us before our father came home from work.

"I knew you would be here," says a cheery male voice from behind me. Looking up to my side, I placed my hand to cover my eyes from the brightness of the sun to see his beaming expression.