Chapter 314 - Three Hundred And Fourteen: The Surprise Visit (1/2)

The third point of view:

Reina felt Isabella's glare as they left the inside of the house under close scrutiny from the guards. She intended to arrive home before the observant Niklaus noticed she was gone - hopefully?

However, she received the shock of her life when she stepped outside into the courtyard to see a certain devil watching them smugly as if he had been waiting for them all this time to crawl out of their holes.

Right now, Niklaus looked like a hunter, while Isabella and Reina felt like the rodents whose home in the ground he had tactically set on fire so he could lure them out.

Isabella even stiffened, that sleazy smile on her father's face made him look like the king of hell. Great, who knew what punishment he had in store for them this time?

Reina started scratching the back of her head thinking of a suitable way to escape this one when he strode over to her and before she could open her mouth and lie her way, reached out and squashed her tiny frame into a hug.

Isabella's mouth almost dropped from shock, she had expected him to begin to yell their head off, who knew he was missing his ”dear” wife - note the sarcasm.

The girl sneered, she was a fool for having high hope of thinking her father missed her. Of course, Reina was the new gem while she was the queen dowager - the old and forgotten once reigning Phoenix.

Isabella took one step back, already plotting how to escape since the two old hags were currently immersed in their public display of affection when a hand reached and squashed her to him too.

”Ugh!” Isabella groaned out her frustration. What the hell was this? Were they trying to kill her by suffocation?! And what the hell! She was no longer ten! What if that stupid asshole called Julie was watching, it would be so embarrassing.

And yes, he was watching, Honestly, he was greatly amused by the scene of Isabella compressed between Niklaus and Reina like a sardine. The sight was so comical especially now the girl had a deep scowl on her face, Julie threw his head back and laughed to his heart's content.

By the time Niklaus released Isabella, she was so red in the face that one would think she was about to explode - yes, she was about to explode from extreme anger.

However, Isabella subdued her killing intent and turned back on her heels to resume her journey out of this disgusting place. Isabella resolved in her heart, she would treat Julie in the future, very, very, very, well.

Niklaus stood perplexed at Isabella's cold outfrown; the girl could stare down a statue. He had been boiling with anger when he got a report that Reina had left the house, apparently in search of Isabella without telling him.

He knew his daughter quite well, although Isabella and Maya/Reina had grown attached over the years.

When angry, it was better to avoid Isabella until she cooled down since she had a ninety-nine percent chance of already landed herself into trouble. He had purposely ignored Isabella in the morning time, intending to send people to find her before night falls only to discover that Reina has engaged in one of her infuriating solo missions.

Isabella was lucky enough to have stumbled upon George in his later years. Niklaus didn't exactly have a close relationship with that man nor had they ever traded due to George's alliance with Sakuzi and he and Sakuzi haven't exactly been friends then. In his prime, George had been a force to reckon with, which wasn't surprising since Sakuzi, his discipline was doing well.

Niklaus had arrived to take his wife and daughter home with him and he was ready for a fight in case George put on one. However, he was highly surprised when the man welcomed him in without further questioning - seems he knows who he was - though he still had his men on standby in case that man was as tricky as his father.

Great joy filled his heart when he saw Reina and Isabella come out of the mansion unharmed and they seemed startled to see him which elicited a smirk from his lips - he would give the both of them a piece of his raging mind.

But then, when Niklaus was just about to rain down his fury, Reina's pep talk about treating Isabella like a ”baby” surfaced in his mind. It had been hard for Niklaus to put that into work, but the moment he hugged Reina, the rest was as easy as ABC.

However, why was Isabella glaring at him? He had followed through Reina's instructional manual, yet, there wasn't any reward from her side - to be truthful, he felt she would throttle him given the opportunity.

”Let's go,” Niklaus patted Reina affectionately on the hair. Their wedding was just a week away, he shouldn't be too harsh on his wife. Moreover, he hasn't told her of the surprise he had waiting for her at home, yet.

Reina was surprised at the three-sixty degree change in Niklaus' character, she was more scared now. It was better he yelled out his anger at her now and got over with it, than keeping it in mind to punish her at a time she least expects it.

The ride home was awfully quiet yet suffocating. Isabella was angry yet guilty; she had a lot to think about and a whole mess to clean up; Maya was still uneasy about Niklaus' unexpected magnanimity; Niklaus was uncertain if she would like his undiscussed gift. But all of them preferred to settle their decision in their heart than laying down it on the table - sigh, what a family.

Isabella was the first to show confusion when they arrived at the penthouse.

”Changed houses,” Reina answered the query on her face.

As soon as the private elevator led them to their apartment, Niklaus pulled Reina aside to confess