Chapter 359 - Childhood (1/2)

”And stop with the guilty stare, ” Diana laughed when she noticed that Michael wouldn't stop looking at her like he had done something so unforgivable, if only he knew the joy bubbling in her heart.

They ate and talked about other things, after eating, Diana covered the containers and placed them back in the basket. Lying down, she placed her head on his legs as she relaxed, letting the cool breeze fan her face.

Her smile couldn't leave her face, that day had become one of the happiest days of her life.

Michael brushes her soft hair with his hands as he gazed at her.

”Tell me about your childhood.”

Diana said suddenly, and Michael was quiet, she waited a moment and when she did not hear him speak, her eyes opened and she looked at him with worry,

Did something happen in his childhood?

Michael blinked and smiled,

”My childhood was the darkest part of my life.”

He paused for a minute as though trying to recall the memories he had hidden away in the deepest parts of his mind.

”My parents passed when I was five, in a car accident, and I was taken to the orphanage. Although we weren't wealthy, we weren't poor either, so moving to the orphanage was very traumatic for me as a child.

I was yet to recover from the pains of losing my parents, but no-one cared. The minute I was brought into the room with other kids, I became another orphan child.

I was forced to become an a.d.u.l.t at that tender age. At night, I would cry my eyes out and at the same time try to hold it in.

The day I cried out loud, I was mercilessly beaten by the older kids.

They reminded me that they didn't have parents too and that I should get used to it. That was the day it dawned on me that my parents weren't coming back and I was on my own.

Four years flew by so fast, and then on that day, she walked into the orphanage.

I had prayed to all the gods I knew to be adopted, but most of the families wanted children between two to five, once a child got to ten, most times they weren't adopted and the ones who were, were mostly good looking.

I wasn't this handsome as a kid and given my very quite and nerdy nature then, no-one noticed me. I had lost all hope until that day,

She had come asking for a child of nine years, my age exactly. One of the caretakers, came calling us out we were about eight kids, we were brought to her,

I was very shy and quiet then, so my eyes were glued to the floor as I stood behind other kids who were eager to be adopted, but strangely, she walked up to me and raised my face.

And then she smiled.

'I want this one' that was what she said,

I thought I didn't hear correctly so I blinked, but she was still there holding my hand, and that was when I knew I was leaving the orphanage.

She was my life saver, she became my god, I didn't see any wrong in anything she did, I did whatever she asked me to do without a question.

Now I think about it, she chose me for a replacement for her son because I looked quiet and I seemed like someone who could easily be manipulated. That was what she was looking for, someone she wouldn't have trouble eliminating and I was her perfect match.

I was grateful to her for everything, so I didn't pay attention to the things she said to me.”

”What did she say?” Diana asked curiously,

”She was fond of reminding me who I was, an orphan and a nobody and that I should never forget my place.

I would never forget who I was or where I came from, but her constant reminder hurt my heart, but that didn't stop me from wanting to please her. I even called her mother.”

He paused as though remembering something, he laughed,

”I can remember one of the days I came back from school, I had gone to see her in her room and I called her mother,

She had screamed at me and tossed a jar towards me, saying,

I'm not your mother, you wretched orphan child!

I was speechless but I quietly turned around and left.

She never let any of my friends visit,

I was mostly in my room, or helping her with some chore. I didn't think much of any of those because it couldn't compare to sleeping with some bunch of kids who would whip your back while you slept.

The funny part of it all was how she treated me when we went outside, like she loved me with everything in her, she made sure to treat me like I was her son. It was so different that I got confused at some point. Why was she treating me so nice outside but was utterly different in private? at that time I couldn't understand.

I wanted to be a pilot and and I told her, and she stared at me pointedly and told me to study business mamagement, and I knew that I didn't have a voice, so I studied business management, which led me to managing her company with all my soul for her son.

I only knew what I was to her after Liam came back to live with us. She was quietly giving everything back to him. I didn't mind, they weren't mine to begin with but she wasn't going to end at giving him everything. She wanted to end my life too.

Like I was nothing, she wanted to kill me when all I did was want to please her.”

Michael stopped talking, then he looked at Diana with a smile,

”I didn't know what it felt like having parents, cause I was very little when my parents died. And I grew up with Catherine who didn't bother about me. I was never cared for, so I thought it was normal not to care.

I was never loved, well until I met my friends, those boys made me smile in the hardest times. Catherine didn't let them come to the house until I took over the company. They were the people keeping me sane... until I met you.”