Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

Elena’s hands rested on her stomach, and her gaze focused on the ceiling of her room. She felt powerless, resigned to accept the punishment from her parents. Now she had to go back to how it was before, back inside the gilded cage.

Earlier this evening, all her privileges had been revoked by her Daddy. Not only were her car and ATM access taken away, but her phone was confiscated as well. Her every move was now closely monitored. All of this, just because of falling in love. They said falling in love was beautiful, but in reality, Elena was suffering because of it.

Elena turned her head to the side, looking at the tray containing her dinner. Earlier, she had refused to come out of her room. She intentionally locked herself in the room to soften the hearts of her parents. However, none of them tried to persuade her to come down. Bi Endah, following Daddy’s orders, delivered her dinner. Usually, when she sulked, Daddy himself would come down to coax and tease her until she agreed to eat.

“Daddy is so mean!” Elena grumbled, still staring at her food. Her hands caressed her hungry stomach.

Elena’s eyes began to well up as she remembered Daddy’s disappointed look earlier in the evening. The disappointed gaze that made her heart ache. Was Daddy really that angry with her? After all, she didn’t feel like she had committed a grave mistake. She had just fallen for a mature man named Devan Alvaro. Was it wrong to fall in love with a man much older than her? Or was it a grave sin to fall in love with the friend of her parents?

A sense of longing started to creep into her heart. Longing for the warm embrace of the man who was her first love. Missing the sweet persuasion from Jeremy when she sulked. The food would surely taste delicious and delightful if that man’s hands were the ones feeding her. Elena began to sob and buried her face in the pillow to hold back the tears that started to flow. It turned out being ignored by Daddy was the toughest punishment for her. Elena wouldn’t be able to endure being ignored and neglected like this for too long.

Click… Hearing the sound of the bedroom door opening, Elena quickly changed her sleeping position. Her body now faced away from the door, with a pillow covering her head. Immediately, Elena wiped away the wet traces on her face with the corner of the pillow, as well as her runny nose. Elena was sure that the person who came was someone she had been eagerly waiting for.

From where she lay, Elena could feel the movement of the bed behind her. For a few minutes, silence prevailed. No one took the initiative to break it.

Elena held her breath as she felt a touch on her shoulder. Her heart pounded, eagerly awaiting what would happen next.

“Why haven’t you eaten, Honey?”

Realizing it wasn’t her Daddy who came, Elena sighed instantly. Feeling disappointed as her hope wasn’t fulfilled, Elena quickly moved the pillow covering her head and turned her body around. She looked at the beautiful woman who now seemed very concerned about her. The woman’s eyes appeared melancholic and swollen due to her actions.

“I don’t have the appetite to eat, Mom,” Elena whispered without enthusiasm. A sense of pity overwhelmed Elena as she observed the sadness reflected in the eyes of the woman who gave birth to her. Elena had never intended to hurt the hearts of her parents even in the slightest.

“Eat first. Mommy doesn’t want you to get sick,” Vanessa added gently.

Vanessa caressed Elena’s head while tidying up the girl’s disheveled hair, then moved to get the food on the table.

Reluctantly, Elena sat down with a pillow on her lap. Elena paid close attention to Vanessa’s movements as she prepared the food. Slowly, Elena opened her mouth as Vanessa began to feed her. Initially, Elena was unenthusiastic and unwilling. However, as the delicious taste greeted her taste buds, Elena quickly chewed. Apparently, her stomach couldn’t resist the food from the hands of her parents.

Elena continued to chew and swallow the food until it was almost gone.

“I’m full now, Mom,” Elena said before opening her mouth.

Vanessa then placed the plate back on the tray and took a glass of milk for Elena. Elena accepted the milk, gulping it down quickly until only a little remained. Her stomach was truly full now.

“Now rest!” Vanessa instructed while clearing away Elena’s empty dishes.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“Mommy?” Elena interrupted, holding Vanessa’s hand.

A heavy sigh escaped from Vanessa. She then gazed into Elena’s eyes, conveying an indecision that Elena couldn’t comprehend. Vanessa sat back on the edge of the bed.

“Forgive Mom, El!” Elena whispered, her eyes once again welling up with tears.

“What do you feel when you’re with Uncle Devan?” Vanessa pointedly asked, causing Elena to startle.

Instantly, Elena felt nervous. She was confused about what kind of answer to give. Should she be honest to preserve her Mommy’s feelings, or should she lie and disregard her own feelings?

“Tell the truth!” Vanessa insisted, noticing the uncertainty in her daughter’s eyes.

“I feel comfortable and happy when I’m with him, Mom. I truly love Uncle Devan,” Elena admitted, her fingers interlocking in her lap.

Vanessa took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to suppress the emotions in her heart. Elena couldn’t be with the man she loved. Jeremy’s decision to end the love affair between Elena and Devan had reached its finality. Her husband wouldn’t give his blessing, no matter what happened.

“Now, rest. No need to think about anything!” Vanessa said while extending her hand. She gently stroked Elena’s head with a wistful look in her eyes.

Then Vanessa got up, carrying the tray with Elena’s empty dishes. She left the room with a heart that was increasingly wounded. For now, Vanessa couldn’t think clearly. Her daughter’s love story truly left her feeling helpless. How could she bear to see her daughter and a friend who she considered a sibling get hurt just because of Jeremy’s selfishness? But deep in her heart, Vanessa couldn’t bear to see Elena with a man even older than herself. Elena’s future was still ahead of her. Vanessa hoped that the love growing in Elena’s heart for Devan was only temporary. A typical teenage crush that would fade with time. The same went for Devan, who would eventually realize that he had misinterpreted his feelings for Elena. Vanessa only hoped that her husband’s decision was the best one. A decision that wouldn’t hurt the hearts of many loved ones. It was indeed difficult to see Elena hurt, but it was even harder if she had to hurt Jeremy’s heart.

“Forgive Mommy, my dear,” Vanessa murmured in her heart and quickly left Elena’s room.