The Devil's Sweetheart

Tears uncontrollably poured through Leena's eyes. Unlike the grievous tears she had before, they were a sign of unspoken happiness this time. The pearl droplets coursed down her cheeks, dampening Francis's shirt, leaving him in a wave full of emotions. 

She could never imagine any man taking her Francy's place, even if it was the so-called biological father, and now she doesn't need to worry about that anymore. 

He held her little hand and walked alongside her when she learned to walk, protected her from dangers, taught her values, showered her with unconditional love. How can he be so selfless by sacrificing his entire life for a girl of no importance? He doesn't even know that she was his daughter at that time. She still can't believe her hero, her Francy is her father.

Francis gently released himself from the hug and glanced at Leena's face. He could sense her face clouded in happiness. Francis had expected this much reaction, but the blitheness in witnessing it in his daughter's face was priceless. My Daughter, he repeated the word like a hymn. How does it sound to hear her calling him dad?

His thoughts suddenly went back to Leena's childhood. After Leena learned to talk, she started calling him dad because he was always around this bundle of joy. Heather reprimanded several times, but Leena never gave a damn to her words. Francis also didnot correct it. For some reason, he loved it and didnot intended to. But never he thought the little kid's innocence would bite him back one day. On her fourth birthday, she dragged him and Heather to the table when it was time to cut the cake. Although Heather had divorced Max by then, she still invited him for Leena's sake. Fortunately, Leena completely ignored him like he didn't exist, and that annoyed Max.

'I wan cut cake wid mommy, daddy.' She spoke in her usual broken language in front of guests. Max, who was already raged, immediately left the party. It further raised suspicion in the guests. While Leena was staring at the colorful barbie cake with a twinkle in her eyes, hoping to cut it soon and devour it, Francis and Heather stood there in embarrassment. The party somehow ended well with his brother's intervention.

The next day, Francis harshly reprimanded Leena without realizing the little kid had cried until her eyes burned. She didnot talk to him for three days until he brought her a limited version of Steiff teddy bear. Leena did talk but never called him dad again. She even gave him a new name as she could not roll her tongue over his name correctly. In the end, she cut it short and called him Francy. That's how the name Francy came into existence.

Breaking the bitter thoughts of his past, Francis returned to the present. Tables have turned now. His gaze was impossibly kind as he said. ''Daughter dear. call me dad.'' He said in a determined tone.

''Dad.'' Her voice choked with emotions as she gazed into his eyes. ''Dad,'' Leena repeated tersely, testing her tongue. Although the word sounded foreign to her tongue, she loved it.

Francis felt like his life appeared complete today. Like a happy little stone rambling in the lone road, he was bubbling in happiness. 

Heather captured father and daughter sweet moments in her memory without missing a beat. ''Done with your reunion? Father and daughter together left me alone,'' Heather said, her voice toned down to a complaint.

''Mom.'' Leena pursed her lips into a pout as she held Heather by her arm. ''I am sorry for yelling at you.''

''I expected this much from the drama queen.'' Heather pinched Leena's nose, her eyes twinkled in mirth. ''Google should put on an award for this drama queen.''

''So that mother and daughter compete for the top position?'' Francis teased. Like a picture-perfect family, Heather and Leena completed, with Francis standing in the middle.

''No worries. Leena will secure the first position,'' Leena brandished herself without any hesitation.

Francis and Heather's shoulders dropped.

''I am sure it's your narcissistic traits.'' Heather glanced at Francis dubiously.

''You started accusing me the moment you discovered I am her father?'' Francis protested. ''Honestly, it's your traits. Weren't you proud of your beauty always?''

 ''Me? Not a chance. Although I am a beauty after all.'' Heather refused as she crossed her arms. ''It's yours. Weren't you proud that girls were swooning after you? There was one woman_''

''Stop both of you!'' Leena interrupted, standing in between them. She doesn't understand why people call her a narcissist all the time. All in all, she is tired of explaining that she is better than everyone else. ''Let's have lunch. I am hungry.'' She added angrily.

''I am sorry, baby,'' Heather said. ''Call Devin. Let's have a family lunch here.'' What Heather forgot to witness was someone's gloomy face at the mention of Devin.

Speaking of Devin, Leena was excited to tell the newly discovered truth. ''Thanks for reminding mom. I will do it right...'' And before that, Francis grabbed the mobile from Leena's hands. 

''I have to call_''

''WD is very far.'' Francis started by interrupting. ''It takes an hour to reach here. Considering the hectic traffic, it might take an additional half-n hour. Lunch takes an hour. Why bother him? He could do something productive instead of wasting four hours. We can three eat lunch together today.'' Francis explained. He is not allowing that brute to spoil his happy day.

''WD is not that far. It takes only half-n an hour to reach here.'' Heather retorted, clearly seeing through Francis's plan. ''Considering that it's not peak hour, it hardly takes twenty minutes to reach here. Eating food is also productive work.''

Leena stood there watching her dad's face twisted like a crumpled newspaper. She could foresee the senior elephant and the junior elephant's drama going to start soon.

''I have been observing you lately, Francis,'' Heather added. ''Your jealousy is reaching Everest. Keep it limited.'' Heather gave him a pointed look before she snatched the mobile from his hands and gave it to Leena. ''Call him, Leena.''

''He started first,'' Francis grumbled as he went to the dining hall. ''You don't know about that brute.''

''I can hear you.'' Heather followed after him.

''Lunch is not going to end well today.'' Leena thought of sharing the news with Devin over the call but held back to see his shocking expression. Exactly fifteen minutes later after the call, Devin arrived at Heacis. His frown deepened, looking at Leena.

''What's this funeral dress?'' Devin asked as he saw Leena in a ridiculous black loose dress. She looks like a modern Grim Reaper, except that there is no scythe in her hands. She even pinned a silly synthetic flower on the left side of her dress. Knowing about her craziness, it was not a great surprise to Devin.

''I will tell you the story later.'' Leena smiled sheepishly, looking innocent. She dressed up like the death of haunted folklore to create a negative impact on her father, but it backfired on her in the end when she learned the truth.

''Hey, Devin.'' Heather greeted him. ''You are pretty fast in arriving. Did you exceed the speed limit?''

''Hey, mom-ish.'' Devin greeted Heather cheerfully. ''To answer your_''

''To answer your last question,'' Leena contributed to clarifying. ''Don't worry, ma. Devin is a racer.''

''Is there a rule that racers are ostracized from following the traffic rules?'' Francis questioned, his gaze serious.

''Look who is talking about traffic rules.'' Devin taunted. ''If I remember correctly, you snubbed it during our racing to overtake me.''

''You both went racing?''

''We did once, and that was the last.'' Devin had a teasing smile as he looked at the grumpy man. ''Too bad you lost, isn't it, France?''

''That's because you cheated at the last second.''

''Cheaters don't think cheating is wrong until they get cheated on.'' Devin retorted. 

''It was a small mistake. But you_''

''Then what I did was negligible.''

''Negligible my_''

''Stop both of you.'' Their bickering continued until Leena and Heather have to intervene.

''You are behaving like a Kindergarten kid, Devin.'' Heather scolded.

''Thanks to you, Heather. I was about to tell the same thing.'' Francis laughed, ridiculing Devin. ''He is_''

''And you are no better, Francis." Heather added. ''You are worse than a nursery kid. Better you go back to the playschool.''

Francis attention went to Devin straight away.. He could see the corner of Devin's mouth twitch in a mocking grin.

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