"Hello.." Tina smiled with a strange look and thought in her mind 'Not bad. She looks decent. However, none can beat my mother's beauty'
Noticing her child's strange expression, Isabella narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"Nothing" the little girl gave her mother a fake smile, almost immediately.
Isabella knew her daughter was acting weird and wasn't telling her the truth, but she dropped her doubts for now. She would ask about it later.
On the other hand, Helena was fascinated. She turned towards Isabella, commenting "Look at her. That mannerism, and those keen eyes. She's exactly your photocopy"
"Helena... it's just that she becomes vigilant towards new people. Don't mind, okay" Isabella spoke awkwardly.
"Haha...okay. Let's go" Laughing, Helena took them away from the airport and then to a modern apartment building complex on the east side of the city.
All three entered the apartment and Isabella looked at the decorations she vaguely remembered.
'Its been five years yet this place still looks the same..' She thought as she moved her head to see all around.
The little girl had already knew that she should adjust to a new environment and calmly entered the house. She looked at the decorations and the theme in the house. It all looked dark and also disturbing.
Everything was in dark colours and strange to look. Other children of her age would have already started wailing on seeing those weird and scary paintings inside the house.
"You guys can stay in this room" Helena showed them the room and left to prepare dinner.
After a few minutes, the mother-daughter duo unpacked their luggage, washed up and walked out.
Helena was not at all worried about Isabella as her house wasn't new to her. But on seeing the baby adjust perfectly to the house, Helena finally felt her tensed heart relax. She then asked them "What do you want for dinner? I'll cook them for you?"
"Anything is okay" Isabella replied honestly.
"How about your favourite pasta?" Helena asked again looking at Isabella.
She was confident that Isabella still had a craving for her cooking. But she wasn't sure what the child liked so she added "Baby...what do you want to eat?"
The little girl didn't respond to Helena. She thought for a few seconds and said " I want what mommy wants"
Hearing that, Helena decided to cook Isabella's favourite food.
The mother-daughter watched some cartoon shows on TV while Helena was cooking in the kitchen. Isabella wanted to help but was immediately rejected.
Helena prepared a set of dishes that looked eye feasting. The mother and daughter looked at the food before them and were stunned.
A big bowl of goat cheese vegetable salad, a pan of french onion meatball pasta, Roasted potatoes with cheddar, three bowls of onion soup, and a plate of apple tart.
"Isn't this too much for us?" Isabella asked looking at the dishes. She never thought her friend would sweat to this extent for a simple dinner.
"It's nothing. This is all I can prepare for now since I didn't prepare many ingredients or else I would have made even more. You can't leave even a single bite of food. Empty the plates now, hurry" Helena hurriedly served the food.
Isabella took a bite and it tasted delicious as always. Helena's food was one of the best foods she ate. She gulped the food wholeheartedly.
The little girl was more than excited. She can finally eat yummy and flavourful dishes unlike what her mother usually cooked. She stuffed her mouth and chomped on the food like a cute little hamster.
"Since when did you start cooking again? Didn't you say that you'd never cook again?" Isabella asked Helena with a confused face.
"I said that because I was a fool back then but that man's long gone. I simply moved on. Now I can cook to whomever I want. I can't keep myself shackled to those bad memories, right?" Helena answered nonchalantly.
"...." Isabella didn't know what to say. She was in no position to question her again. She fell into a deep slump and was only recovering because of her daughter. How could she question about other woman's decisions and opinions?
Isabella smiled awkwardly before stuffing her mouth.
Helena understood Isabella's awkwardness. She knew Isabella had even more horrible times than her. She was only in love with an over obsessive man who never even let her cook for anyone other than him. On the other hand Isabella had a child born from a stranger.
She successfully broke up with her boyfriend and was living a happy life while Isabella was bound by the responsibility of looking after her child.
Helena simply changed the topic.
"Right, Bella. I should welcome you rightfully. How about I ask all our girls to gather for a party tomorrow?"
"Party?!" Isabella was stunned and looked at her daughter.
'I can't let those people see my daughter. They bothered me enough in the past. I can't let those women bully me again especially Clara' Isabella thought and narrowed her eyes.