Piano and tea

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

-Confucious.

"Music is the literature of the heart; it commences when speed ends."

-Alphonse de Lamartine.

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."

-Bob Marley.

This chapter is dedicated to these wonderful people you can check out their books too. Wattpad ieeshalee1 IamMoana17 RuthieBalo libifumby34 phaylen Lucid_dreamer_girl _Twilight_22 _rebeccauye phaylen

The song suggestion for this chapter is No more sad songs by little mix.

Please vote and comment on this chapter I will be getting more consistent with updating this book if not daily now, good news right? Let dig into the story.

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My home reminds me of a haunted house built in the in-depth of a jinxed forest, where ghosts and witches come at night to taunt us and scare the shit out of us.

'Cold' just four-letter words with different meanings. But the coldness I'm referring to is the lack of enthusiasm and emotion. Just plain, blatant, cold filled with an eerie silence that reminds me that all isn't well indeed in this house.

My parents returned from Korea last night after the rendezvous outing I had. Mom has just been mom doing her fashion designing and signing contracts with every company. Dad on the other hand returned quite cold as he just buried himself with phone calls and office work, and most times, I heard him talk to a certain Dracula. A name that reminds me of books that contains lord vampires in the fantasy genre.

He has been keeping quiet and fixing everyone in the house with a cold calculated suspicious glare like a trained FBI would do. If there is one thing I'm so sure about? It is the fact that investigations are currently going on, and dad won't stop till he fishes out the kidnappers.

Due to the lack of colour and emotions at home and since everyone buried themselves in one chore or the other, I decided to make my self useful by utilizing my time.

In the morning I hit the gym, work so hard to get the muscles out and toned. From there I head to the basketball court and play against some other team that were majorly guys.

I majorly spend a large chunk of the morning on gym and sport to while away time, become more athletic and stronger and by afternoon, I always return home to freshen up and probably sleep till my suspension elapses.

I returned home later in the afternoon to freshen up and have a nice meal since I skipped breakfast, having only water to drink to calm my razing heart after each exercise. The scorching golden sun didn't help matters either as the weather was incredulously hot.

I let cold water from the shower soak my hair and wash away all my stress down the drain. The water relaxed all tensed muscles on my back and shoulders as I closed my eyes to savour the cool feeling. I can feel myself tapping into the component of water till we became synced. The water runs freely and easily. I wish I can stay there all day in its cocoon, but the day awaits. And as if my stomach was linked to my mind, it growled in response.

After fifteen minutes of bathing, I grabbed a towel to dry my body and my wet hair.

I soon got clothed in a grey tank top and sweatpants and pulled my hair up in a messy bun. I jumped the long curvy stairs three at a time and slid through the stairs rail smoothly down into the kitchen where I met my dad backing me, calling and whispering furiously over the phone.

His hands raked his hair in utmost frustration and anger as he chided the caller angrily. And bluntly cursed the other person at the receiving end. He was completely oblivious of my presence in the kitchen with him.

"What do you mean my mother has a hand in her kidnap?" Dad whisper-yelled angrily, punching the kitchen counter.

I gasped in shock and slapped my hand on my mouth with my eyes wide in shock as I wondered what nonsense my dad was muttering.

"My grandma, Abigail? involved in my kidnap. How? Why? When? What?" Was the questions that rang in my head as my brain started doing several mental calculations and connecting the dots together.

I choked a sob and my father furiously turned to hide his phone in his pocket. His murderous gaze fixed on me.

"What did you hear Anna?" He perused, his hands grabbing the counter really tight till his knuckles became white. His lips were fixed in a thin line and his teeth were clenched as his chin tightened. His angular jaws protruded as his shoulder broadened. His shoulders looked heavy as so many dark secrets lay await for the days the truth will finally prevail.

"I said what the hell did you hear Anna?" dad repeated only this time louder and harsher as his eyes held no emotions. His grey orbits were frozen with cobwebs forming an 'X' over it.

"I heard quite enough to know the bottom line of it all." A small smile graced my lip and dad's brow furrowed.

"What nonsense are you said, girl?"

"Does mother know your mom kidnapped me and pretended to her?" I spat angrily as my fists balled in total anger and hatred, my eyes narrowed into slits and I had a stance position on.

"It is not what you think. You can't be quick to judge." Dad's baritone became shaky.

"Your mother must be a snake to come up with pathetic stories and act as a knight in shining armour to swoon us over, I must comment she played her role well," I sassed and chuckled darkly as I clapped my hands at her wonderful performance.

I knew I hit a nerve when he squeezed his eyes shut and punched the counter with blood spilling from his wrists.

"Shut up Anna." He gave a murderous gaze.

"Just shut the hell up! I'm yet to get to the bottom of this. Just because a private investigator said so, doesn't mean it is true. My mother will never do anything to harm her granddaughter, she loves you more than you think," Dad chided angrily his breath laboured as a result of intensive anger.

"Well she has a rather interesting way of showing her love, don't you think?" I gazed at his face, scrunched into a questioning expression.

"I'm very much disappointed to know you can utter such things about your grandmother. How dare you talk about my mother like that? how dare you Anna?" he continued, taking one step at a time towards me.

All hunger I felt vanished into thin air as the toxic environment gifted me anger and aggression, I better leave before I punch my father.

"I'm not only disappointed to know she had a hand in my abduction and not just that she deceived us all. But I'm much more disappointed in your cowardice attitude of soaking yourself in drainage of lies and deceits, why couldn't you come out clean and tell mom and me about it. Yet you dare mention disappointment and love, I'm disgusted by your character," I spat and turned to leave the kitchen.

I planned to not break mom's heart by telling her. instead, I felt her husband should come out clean and reveal the truth. but there she was standing outside the kitchen, as warm salty tears stained her cheeks and her white hand clamped over her mouth. She kept hiccuping, gasping and crying as her eyes were red from tears and her hair and coat was soaked and lathered in sweat.

I was speechless and didn't know what to do, I chose to go back to my room to grab my keys and phones and head out of the house. I knew they watched their my retreating figure as their stare burrowed at my back.

I hopped into my car and broke down finally letting out all my anger and pain out. I scratched my hair repeatedly till it became a bed nest and tucked some strand behind my ear, an action I tend to do whenever I was nervous, anxious, frustrated and angry.

I picked my phone up and texted the person I needed the most, asking for their address, I typed furiously making my phone feel my anger too as my eyes got blinded with tears and my sight got vague.

I started the car, wiped my tears, wore my grey hoodie I picked up when leaving, and shielded my face before putting the car in reverse and firing up my car in hot sickly speed.

After thirty minutes of clutching the steering wheel hard and banging my forehead on the dashboard anytime I hit traffic lights. I drove into the Wellhauseen estate where nobles and people of higher calibre live.

The gate to the huge massive aristocratic and Georgian mansion opened automatically without anybody stationed for the job. I drove in and parked my car behind multiple luxurious cars.

I shielded my face from the sun by blocking it with my hand. I walked into the mansion hurriedly.

I was welcomed by three maids who asked for my coat to keep, I simply told them I brought none. They invited me into the first floor and let me marvel at its beauty. They promised to bring tea and biscuits in a couple of minutes.

The first floor was spacious and elegant. It had a large wide patio with a fireplace, the veranda and guest suite balcony is equally large with modern windows that provide an adequate amount of sunshine into the house.

Huge and plush soft rugs and pieces of furniture glammed everywhere and huge chandeliers lay up.

The beautiful sound of music caught my attention as I began to trace where it was coming from with my ears.

I kept wandering around the huge house not caring if I get lost, all that mattered was the beautiful melody I heard.

I walked into a long passage where the music got louder. At the extreme end laid a room whose door was slightly ajar.

I peeped into it and watched a slender hand play the piano expertly. Brown tousled long hair fell over his face as his eyes were closed yet he kept playing.

He played so skillfully that I forgot my entire worries and began to smile. The note finally came to an end as his eyes opened staring at me with a sheepish smile. My eyes drank the chocolate eyes greedily as I stared at the features of his face. Pointed nose, chiselled chin, slim face, brown hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin.

"Come over here," he commanded. I ran towards my boyfriend and hugged him tightly, afterwards I choked a sob and finally broke down. His intoxicating perfume wafted to my nostrils and gave me the assurance of a new home.

"I can't believe it, I can't believe my grandmother staged my kidnap for whatever selfish reasons," I whimpered, squeezing my eyes shut in pain and hugging him tightly.

He didn't say anything, he lent me his shoulders to cry on as he patted my back rubbing little circles on my back.

I don't know how long we stayed like that but when I finally released him, he wiped my teary face and made me seat beside him.

"Where did you learn to play Piano?" I queried, watching him smile softly at me.

"My mother taught me. She is so good at playing all the musical instruments. Right from when I was a kid she made sure to imbibe the knowledge to me."

"You must be really good at playing other instruments. No wonder you performed so well at Karaoke." My eyes widened in realization.

He snorted, "you wish! I can only boast of my skillfulness in playing the piano. I actually suck at the rest."

The door opened wider and two flustered chefs came into the room bearing shortbreads and honeyed flavour lemon tea. They dropped it with a bow and shuffled outside, closing the door. The smell of the tea soon wafted around the room as Ralph picked his mug to take a sip.

I did the same thing and my eyes widened in appraisal at the beautiful taste. It tasted heavenly. The shortbread was obviously freshly baked as it buttery flavour melted in my taste buds.

"I never knew you had a history with music. How come no one knows about this? And you really did well yesterday," I acknowledged, taking another little sip from my tea.

"You know you are supposed to shave off your right brow since you got booed yesterday," Ralph smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Nope! at first I got booed, but later on I hit it hard just like you." I reiterated, smiling sheepishly as I defended myself.

"That's cheating, it is either you win or lose, I won after all," Ralph bragged, his voice laced with cockiness.

"Let's just leave it as a draw, shall we?" My head tilted to a side to emphasize my point.

"Just because you are my girlfriend, I will let it slid. Did I tell you I missed you yesterday night?" He nuzzled closer to me.

"You just did," I said, with my brows slightly raised and a small smile gracing my face.

"And have I told you, you look beautiful today?" He perused, as he set his hand under his jaw staring at me.

"You just did again," My face stretched fully into a smile as all my worries crumbled to dust.

He took his mug and finished the last drop of his tea before tapping on his piano again.

"Play for me, will you?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders.

"Yes milady," he stated and mock bowed for me while I chuckled.

I picked my mug and continued sipping my tea while his talented fingers grazed the keyboard.

He started by playing the usual 'Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.'

Before he began playing like a waltz tune that sounded somewhat ancient and foreign but beautiful. It sounded like music old castles played for ballroom performance.

I moved my head side to side enjoying the tune. The music reached out to my subconscious and released all pent up anger and aggression I previously had.

I smiled all long till he finished playing the tune. I gave him a round of applause which he laughed at.

He stretched his hands to me as we both walked out. He did a tour around the house, showing me the pools, gym, gardens, kitchen, living rooms, guestrooms, lounges, bars, and a lot more. The house is really big.

He finally showed me his room that was painted brown and cream. His room had a huge bed, a mini balcony where he gets a 360-degree view of the house and estate. Just below his room is the garden and beautiful flowers served a pleasant morning view. The smell of the flowers wafted the environment giving it a natural beautiful scent.

Different species of birds flew into the garden and gave it a more fantastic view.

"Where is everyone? your family?" I questioned, holding the silver rail of his balcony as we both got mesmerized by the view.

"There is a met gala today, and they all went," he stated, catching a yellow butterfly that flew past.

"Why didn't you attend?" I inquired, my tone laced with confusion as I turned my attention from the garden to his face.

"I just wanted a peaceful day and a party was far from what I wanted. Plus that was when you texted me you wanted to see me, so I decided had to stay." He concluded.

"I can't believe granny will do such a thing," I said, soliloquising only this time there was no anger. Just a plain feeling inside of me accepting defeat.

"Maybe there is more to the story, you should try to hear them out before concluding," Ralph advised as he touched my hands on the rail. That touch electrified my body.

"What more is there to say or hear? nothing tops this. I heard this from dad while he was on a phone call."

"He has been so cold and distant to me. No wonder he was always fidgeting and doing things secretly," I said, sighing tiredly as Ralph squeezed my hand in reassurance.

"Everything will sort itself out don't sweat it baby doll and if anything happens just give me a phone call, I'm only one call away," Ralph elucidated. He held my face in his other hand and kissed my forehead.

"But I don't want to go back there."

"You are brave and beautiful, running away won't solve a problem. Go back home and solve the issues like a grown-up because you are matured and understanding," Ralph massaged my shoulders till I could feel all stress elope, then he began kissing my neck, making me curl my toes in ecstasy.

I hugged him tightly again savouring his cologne and inhaling his smell.

"Thanks for lending a shoulder for me to cry on and for advising me. Sometimes you act like an idiot but today you are acting so matured and wise, I don't deserve any other boyfriend other than you," I said smiling while he chuckled softly.

"Your idiotic boyfriend is always at your service, come let me walk you off," he held my hand and lead me through the maze-like house. I baded the chefs' bye and found myself in front of my car again.

"Thanks, Mr big fat ego," I stated, kissing his cheek and entering inside my car.

He threw kisses at me and bade me bye till I drove off his compound. I drove back home calmly and coolly as I anticipated what to expect when I return.

The house was filled with loud voices, each person raising their voice higher so people can hear their view. I initially thought it was just my parents, but when I stepped in, I saw a bunch of unknown faces.

The FBI was present as they handcuffed Mrs Bailey, my old-time nanny, Gabriel, Luke, and a red-haired lady called Samantha. Well apparently, she used to be dad's high school ex and she refused to let go. They were all led towards the trail of a police car just outside the compound.

I ran into the house in surprise, met granny Abigail sitting on a sofa with Mom and Dad basked in silence as they all watched my every footstep.

"What the hell is going on here?" I asked irritatedly.

"Those traitors you saw outside were the ones behind your kidnap. They claim your father cheated them in a contract and decided to make money by capturing his daughter," Mom explained, her legs crossed over the other as they kept vibrating.

"And Mrs Bailey?" My phone fell from my hand in shock as my heart got heaved up before I settled on a sofa.

"Bailey was lured into their game through money, she exploited the trust we had for her and used it to help them internally giving them all information," Granny chipped in as she dabbed her sweat with a handkerchief.

"And Granny?" I interrogated peering at dad.

"Well, during granny's stay here, Bailey often asked granny questions and that was how she was able to help those criminals. Granny supplied answers innocently thinking of Bailey as a friend and family but turned out she is the foe," Dad stated. He stood up and grabbed his keys and headed outside the house to probably clear his head.

"So what is S.B.G.L?" I looked at dad's retreating figure.

He was halfway out when he stopped without facing me. "It is the acronym of their first names each. Sam is the founder, Bailey is the chief assistant, Gabriel is one stupid boy who is after revenge for an unknown reason to me. And Luke is just a greedy bastard. His father felt I cheated him in our last contract."

I gasped and clutched my chest as dad began leaving again. "You should apologize to Nonna."

Guilty conscience takes over a portion of my brain as if dealing with the energy of pain expenditure isn't enough.

Tears spiralled down my cheeks as I crawled towards Granny slowly and carefully. I hope she doesn't hate me. I said a lot of wrong things about her.

I apologized to granny for accusing her wrongly. She said it was fine that anyone would have reacted that way that even her son didn't trust that she could do such a thing.

Mom pulled us all into a hug as we finally sorted out the mystery.