Maybell

Envious because there existed a man who would be so indulgent and patient towards a young child.

As if that was fantastic enough, the man seemed to have walked out of a Vogue Magazine. Such a perfectly sculptured face, lean and muscular physique, and more than that – there seemed to be this aura around him that attracted people.

And he was such a young man, too.

He must be someone who just graduated from secondary school or something and entered the workforce early because he was in formal clothes. Not the typical shirt and jeans one would expect from a youngster, but a white shirt with light blue lines and dark trousers.

If it wasn't for his youthful-looking face, Pam would have thought he was a Director – or even a CEO or something, due to his aura.

Young, good-looking, and a CEO?

In Pam's view, such men only existed in novels.

Naturally, with such a perfect specimen, Maybell would react in such a negative way. She was a man-hater, firmly believing that all men were beasts in human skin.

The more perfect the person seemed to be, the dirtier she deemed him to be.

It didn't help that the strikingly handsome young man appeared to be in his twenties while the little girl was around 3 years old. Perhaps, even 4 years old, considering how articulate she was.

Which made Maybell even more convinced that the two were not really father-and-daughter. If the girl really was his daughter, it meant that he would have been 18 years old when he had her?

Though that was possible, Maybell felt it was ridiculous.

How could a boy have a child at that age and still be responsible enough to raise her?

Though Pam did agree with Maybell on that point, she felt the way Maybell said it, though – was a bit too much.

Just because it wasn't probable didn't mean that there could be anything so … dirty.

Didn't help that the little girl's restless hands tugging at the man's buttons earlier had caused it to get undone. Though it wasn't enough to display the entire chest, just that little bit was already tantalizing enough.

Pam never thought seeing a man's collarbone could be so unbelievably sexy.

Coupled with the doting look on his face as he looked down at the girl made one's heart palpitate, wishing that they were the ones that were in the little girl's position.

However, Pam didn't think there was anything untoward with that little scene – the innocent look on the girl's face and the indulgent expression was the epitome of a doting parent on their pure child.

It was just Pam's own fantasy playing about.

But the same scene filled Maybell with more disgust. Coupled with the 'teaching' mode of the man, Maybell's ire rose even more.

In a desperate move to vindicate herself, Maybell scoffed – slightly louder than her supposed whisper earlier.

"Raising a little girl to do such shameless things, even in public," Maybell sneered, "Learning to undress his shirt now, what's next? His pants?"

Pam looked at Maybell in horror, not believing the sort of words that were coming out of the latter's mouth.

There have been many occasions that Maybell's mouth got her into trouble, but it didn't seem to faze her at all. She always relied on the fact that she was a woman and would ham it up whenever the man got angry and confronted her.

Acting all defenseless and weak, yet her poisonous mouth constantly instigating the man to attack.

It wasn't to say that it was right for anyone to physically assault another – but any human being wouldn't have been able to withstand that sort of provocation.

This time, however, the object of Maybell's disdain didn't seem to pay them any attention at first; though his words were just as sharp and hit Maybell in all the right places.

Pam had gloated a bit when it first happened and felt that it was high time that Maybell got a taste of her own medicine.

Now, though, she felt like she was standing right in the middle of an impending war.

Maybell didn't seem to be backing out and from the way the man responded earlier, he didn't seem the type to back down either.

Pam gulped.

"Maybell! That's too much!" she hissed, uncharacteristically brave at that moment.

Normally, she would just sit back and cower, not able to say a word but this time, a little girl was involved. She had seen how the girl appeared to be rather worried and hurt, and the protective motherly instinct within her rose.

Pam had looked over at the table right after Maybell said those words and saw how the little girl's eyes went wide and she looked at the man's shirt. She bit her lips and frantically reached out to the man's chest, looking all worried.

Pam's heart just dropped at that moment and the surge of bravery rose up … but upon seeing Maybell's scathing look, it quickly died down as well.

"I-I…" Pam stuttered, glanced at the little girl then took a deep breath.

Getting up, Pam said with a slight bow of her head, "I'm sorry, Maybell. I can't agree with you on this."

Pam looked over again at the father-daughter duo and saw that the man looked towards them.

Flustered to have such piercing blue eyes on a strikingly handsome face looking directly at her, Pam nonetheless managed to do an apologetic bow towards them and dashed off.

Maybell, having been left behind, looked at the back of her friend speechlessly.

✿ Author posts on WN and neovel ✿

"Daddy?" Ariel said softly, her hands held in her father's hands tightly.

She hadn't realised that her fidgeting earlier had caused her father's shirt to be unbuttoned, but she became horrified upon hearing the bad lady's words earlier.

She didn't understand what was really wrong with that, other than the fact that it was not good to have Daddy's shirt opened like that.

He was always so neat and tidy when he was in his work clothes, and she had messed it up. Yet, he had not said a word and when she tried to button it back, she failed miserably.

She didn't even know how she could have unbuttoned it in the first place.

She always had trouble with buttons, but this time? If it wasn't for the fact that she felt bad making Daddy look untidy, she would have been amazed at herself.

But Daddy had taken her hands in his and kissed them, telling her that it was alright.

Now, however, she could feel like her father was all tensed up and he was staring a the table of the bad lady.

She could feel this rather dangerous vibe coming out of Daddy, just like a lion that was crouching while watching its prey that it was hunting. Like Max, when Brother Alex was training him.

Ariel wasn't scared though.

She was just worried about Daddy being upset.

"Daddy? Ariel called out again, louder this time.

Kyle retracted his sharp gaze and looked down gently at his daughter, "Come on, Rie. Let's go. It's close to dinnertime now and everyone should be back soon."

Ariel nodded.

Kyle got up, carrying Ariel who wrapped her little arms around his neck.

She leaned close to him, and said softly, "Daddy, I'm sorry."

Kyle frowned a bit and looked down at her worriedly as he slowly walked towards the exit – while deliberately using the path that would pass the foul-mouthed woman.

"Whatever for, sweetheart?"

Ariel touched the shirt buttons that were undone, "I didn't mean to."

Kyle gave a smile that was so gentle that it struck the hearts of many people that were still watching.

"Ah, I know, Rie. Don't pay any attention to what the bad lady said," Kyle replied, patting her back as they passed Maybell's table.

He stopped for a brief moment and gave Maybell a glare and said while staring at her, "Sometimes, such people shouldn't have the ability to speak."

Maybell had wanted to make a retort, but for some reason, the cold stare of the man-made the words die in her throat. She felt frozen all over, and she even imagined some pain tingling around her body.

Her mouth just opened but she closed it quickly, feeling utter relief to see that other than the sentence he uttered – like a warning – he left, still speaking to the little girl tenderly.

Maybell didn't realise she was holding her breath until the man left.

Letting out the air through her mouth, she put her hand on her chest, beating it.

Just what had gotten into her earlier?

Why couldn't she fight back like she normally would?

It's just that, at the moment, she had sensed that if she had, she would not have been able to win. Her sudden survival instinct saved her from further embarrassment.

Now that he had gone, and she was alone, Maybell didn't think twice about staying. She called the waiter over, intending to either cancel her order or pack it up if it was already prepared.

When the waiter came, Maybell opened her mouth to tell him her intentions when her eyes went wide open.

There was no sound.

Maybell clutched her throat, and kept on trying to speak, but her voice seemed to be gone. In a panic, she screamed soundlessly, flinging her arms about mindlessly and ignoring everyone around her.

She finally had to be subdued by several waiters and the ambulance was called. When the Emergency Response Team (ERT) arrived, she had to be tranquilized and sent to the hospital.

However, it seemed as if Maybell couldn't accept her condition and would start attacking people randomly each time the tranquilizers wore off. In the end, she had to be sent to the psychiatric ward and monitored strictly.

When Kyle received the report of Maybell's condition that night, he smiled contentedly. Yes, such a person did not deserve to have the right of speech...or to be allowed to live amongst society.

Let her continue living in the psychiatric hospital until the day she dies – though Kyle would allow her some sense of sanity once in a while, to let her know the despair of her living conditions; before stimulating her again with drugs.

Having MIB sleeper agents almost everywhere was truly a boon.