Chapter 122 - Bullied the little princess

The little princess was startled by Clara's sudden shout and hurt by what she said.

She wondered why she asked her not to call her mommy, when her grandma said she will be her mommy.

She subconsciously clutched onto Leo's sleeve tightly. 

Leo was so angry. "what's wrong with you Clara? you scared her." he said and wrapped his arms around the little princess.

"It's fine daddy." The little princess said and smiled at Leo reassuringly.

Clara didn't even know what came over her. But despite this, she still couldn't feel better, as the little princess's head now rested to Leo's chest.

She suddenly stopped being chatty and looking so calm, while Leo rubbed his hand on her hair.

She wondered if Leo had met her before or something. Because she doesn't understand why he's so caring and attentive to a girl that he's just meeting for the first time.

The little princess seems to be pissed, because when Leo tried to turn on the music for her, she shook her head and said she doesn't want to listen to it anymore.

After a few minutes' drive, Leo moved her closer to the window, as he could tell Clara's words affected her mood.

He started pointing at things and telling her their names and functions. It didn't take a while before the little princess opened up again and smiling happily, but she didn't mention anything related to Clara at all, till they arrived at Leo's mansion.

Clara also remained silent, while their interactions made her roll her eyes constantly.

Leo was so good with kids that he was even imitating the little princess's voice, making her laugh like she's having the best time of her life.

…..

Clara drove into Leo's mansion. 

The little princess looked around, with her mouth agape and eyes twinkling in bewilderment.

As soon as Clara stopped the car, Leo opened the door and she jumped out, "woooooooow!" she exclaimed.

Leo smiled. Some sort of warmth envelopes his heart. He felt pure happiness and couldn't recall the last time he had felt this way.

She's so adorable that he couldn't take his eyes off her. Clara didn't miss the tenderness in his eyes for a total stranger. 

Her brow creased as Leo leaned and picked the little princess up in his arms, as she still kept looking around Leo's mansion in astonishment. 

The little princess circled her arms around Leo's neck, "daddy, your house is so beautiful." she said.

Leo smiled warmly, "it's going to be your home now sweetheart." he said.

"Thanks daddy." she replied.

Clara rolled her eyes at them, but still doesn't doesn't even understand why she's angry, 'home?' she said to herself and scoffed.

Leo is really taking this fatherly role seriously and it's kind of annoying to her.

Mick, who was surprised that Leo came back this early from work, was already walking towards them to welcome him when he saw the little girl in Leo's arms.

He was thinking where he got the girl from, but before he could process his thought, the little princess's head snapped towards his direction.

Since she was told that, while the older women are grandmas, the opposite gender is grandpa, she shouted grandpa! Immediately.

She asked Leo to put her down, which Leo did and smiled as she ran towards Mick.

Mick heard the word grandpa and felt his heart melt. He stood still in his track, watching her tiny legs carrying her towards him.

Clara was about to make fun of her, because she knew how Mick is so cold, but was surprised when Mick actually dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide to accept the little princess in his embrace. 

Mick got up, while carrying her, "yes, grandpa is here. You are so adorable." he said and smiled brightly.

Clara: " ..." 

'Why is it that all it takes is just daddy and grandpa to melt these two ice cold human hearts?' Clara asked in her head, as she stared at Leo who was smiling like an idiot as his eyes followed the little princess around. 

Clara was totally ignored.

It was like she didn't exist.

.....

Getting inside, Mick was all over the little princess. He seemed like a totally different person, making Clara understand that he must have really brought up Leo with love and care.

He had started giving history about how Leo was cute and all, when he was little. He didn't even ask how the child came about in the first place.

"My little princess, tell grandpa your name." Mick said, while he made her sit comfortably on his lap, while Leo looked at her, almost drooling at the sight of the little princess, make Clara cringe her nose.

"My name is Annabelle, but you can call me Belle." 

Clara chuckled like a bully, "what a name. Belle. More like a bell, no wonder your mouth can't stop ringing." she said. 

With tear laced eyes, "my name is not as ugly as yours Clara!" Belle said, but was already reaching her limits and about to cry, because she didn't know why Clara didn't like her.

Even though she was playing with Leo earlier, her eyes still caught Clara's frown and eyes rolling more than twice.

She didn't know why she's picking on her.

Leo and Mick were surprised by what Clara said to the little princess, but before they could react, Clara still childishly replied to the little princess's retort.

"What? ugly? You should see how a bell looked when ringing and you will get your definition of ugly." she said

"Clara!" Leo growled her name.

"What!" Clara yelled back.

The little princess stared at Clara, her tears dropping, before she looked back at Mick and started crying out loud. 

"Grandpa! she bullied me." she said as her cry got louder. 

Leo already had veins bulge on his face, out of annoyance.

"Miss Welch, you are out of line, you shouldn't speak to her that way." Mick scold Clara as he tries to make the little princess stop crying.

Clara: "....."

Leo glared at her Clara before she could digest Mick's warning, "what's your problem Clara? I get that you are rude, but you can't even spare a little girl?" he asked.

Clara felt like she was given a thousand slaps on her face as she heard Leo's words that came out harsh and saw him join in the drama of petting the little princess.

And also, she felt somehow, when the little princess called her Clara and not mommy.