Immediately, her eyes catch up with them. Her heart skipped, she gaze at them for awhile and took a deep breath, "Isabelle, you can do this." Isabelle whispered to herself as she brace herself.
Isabelle slowly got a little bit emotional before acting on her impulses. Isabelle who was looking so beautiful and well dressed, ran up to her new parents with full of excitement and hug them tight, "Mom! Dad!"
Vida and George were surprised and was taken unaware. Vida gave a surprise look as she glance at her husband while George flick his brow and curl out a smile. Vida chuckles as she decided to play along, "Nikki sweetheart, I miss so much," Vida said as she and George hugged Isabelle feeling a little emotional.
It was at the moment Izzy realize that she is now, "NICOLE REYES."
"Oh my poor little baby you've grown thin from the last time I visited you in Australia," Vida held Nicole's cheek, then turned and glance at her husband and said, "I knew baby we shouldn't have send her to Australia."
George look at his cute wife and smile, he put his hand around her waist, " C'mon baby, you worry way too much. Just a little reminder she wasn't alone. Mr. Stewart, her personal driver and bodyguard has been with her all along."
Nicole turned and look at her Uncle. She was so surprise and lost. She raise a brow while staring at her Uncle expecting an answer from him. "Huh Mr Stewart?" She said in a low tone as she gaze at Ivan. Ivan bow his head while he wink his eyes and smiled at Nicole.
Ivan bow his head and greeted, "Good afternoon ma'am, sir"
Vida stare at Ivan feeling very excited, "Mr Stewart, it's nice having you around once more," Vida look at Nicole who was lost then turn to Ivan. Then she flared out, "I hope you did a good job out there Ivan because if I find out anything bad happened to my daughter you'll get it from me."
Deep down it was all pretence yet it felt so real.
A brim of happiness clutched round Nicole's heart, she was so happy and couldn't hold back the tears flowing down to her cheek.
So that's how it feels to have a mother who cares about you. Nicole wipe her tears as she curls out a smiles and hold her mom hands, "You don't have to worry too much about me, I'm fine and Mr Stewart did a great job looking after me. For now I'm so hungry I really miss your cooking and the Filipino dish around here," she left them in the living room and walk down to the dining room.
"Nice acting, that was incredible. Don't tell me you put her through all that and babe you play along perfectly well." George congratulates and tease his wife cheerfully.
Ivan scoffed, "I told her to do all that, beside if she can't act a small role as this how can she deal with the Avelino's." Ivan paused for a while, "Please man take care of my niece, She is all I have."
"Will you stop talking as if you're selling your niece to us, beside you'll be here with her be it as a driver or not, you'll still be here to guide her as Uncle." Vida concluded.
Nicole sat on a chair placed in the middle of the table. She lean back and laugh hectically, "Wow! All this is also mine... I can't believe I live here now, I'm rich!!"
Nicole jump up and laugh crazily, it was more like a dream than a reality. She put her act together and yelled, "Mom! dad! Are you going to come over here and join me at the table before the food gets cold and all your effort will fall apart or you want to spend all your time talking to Mr Stewart? Mr Stewart, can you please join us at the table too?!"
Nicole grab a spoon and fork and started digging in without them, "Look! I'm so hungry. I don't think I can wait anymore!"
George and Vida glance at Nicole scoffed. "Babe let's go join her," George said, he pats Ivan on the shoulder, "Are you going to stand here or will you join us at the table?"
Ivan chuckles, "I thought you wouldn't asks."
They'll burst out laughing as they head to the dining room.
Without hesitation, she took a bite of the food, "Uhmm yummy, the food taste delicious, Mom, did you prepared it?" She said as she devour as much quantity as her mouth can carry.
Vida look at Nicole who was so focus on the meal and ate without slowing down, "Yes I did."
"No wonder it taste so delicious. Im not surprised, because to me, your dishes never gets old..."
Vida grins beautifully, "Uh huh such a sweet talker I got here..."
Nicole blushes as she said in a low tone, "You better start getting used to it."
She glance at Ivan and said, "Thank you Ivan. Now, I feel more like a mother."
George pulled out a chair for Vida, "Don't get too excited, this is temporary. It wouldn't last forever."
"Hmm..." Vida sighed.
They join Nicole at the table and ate peaceful with joy and laughter.
After having nice chit chat with her new parents and also getting know the in and out of the mansion, Nicole got exhausted and went up to set her things in her room. Her room is very big and spacious with a king size bed. It was painted blue and white, her favorite color. Her bathroom and closet was as big as her whole room. She could not believe she will be living the life of a princess.
Nicole gulps and jubilate happily. This is a new world and a new beginning for her. Will she get to experience and enjoy life like every other kids or will she keep feeling the emptiness and loneliness which has been permanently installed in her?
Nicole jump on the bed, 'Oh my gosh the bed is too soft, softer than the one in my formal place' she keeps jumping up and down, 'This place is cool, I can sleep here all day without getting tired.' She feel so relaxed.
While she was enjoying the ambience of her new room, the door wide open. Nicole rushed up and immediately put her acts together, she stare at the door.
Surprisedly, it was her Uncle. Nicole heave a sigh of relief, "Uncle Ivan?"
"Nicole..." Ivan was about saying something before Nicole interrupted him.
Nicole knit her brow in disappointment, "Great! Uncle, you too? You are now calling me Nicole too," she paused and continue "You know that I'm still Isabelle right?"
Ivan chuckles, "Isabelle, I know but we can't risk it, I want you to get used to it. It's now your name." Ivan replied shortly.
He sat on the bed and move close to her. "Uncle, what was that earlier?" Nicole asked. She remembered what happened earlier when they arrived.
"What do you mean?" Ivan furrowed his brow in curiosity.
"It's about you being my driver does that mean you're going to stay here with me." Nicole added.
Ivan heave a sigh of relief. He thought it was something serious. "Yes, Nicole. Like I said before I will always be here for you," he pat her on the head. "Get some rest, you must be very tired after the trip. Tomorrow is another day and just to let you know, don't forget your mission."
"How will I ever forget that, I'll never forget it since you always reminds me of it all day long," She smirked and made a slight gesture.
He smirks and pat her on the head and kiss her forehead then walk away.
After fixing her luggages in her closet, Nicole took her bathe and was about getting some sleep before Vida and George step in.
"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" Vida said as she entered in with George.
"I'm fine, you don't have to pretend we are all alone now." Nicole said feeling a little uncomfortable with the whole acting.
George move close to her, "Nicole I know how you feel, this is hard for you to take in at once, but we need to do this for ourselves. Just like you, something is missing in our lives too, so please let's not make it obvious alright. I hope you get used to us around you as your parents." Nicole flushed down her head and nodded in satisfaction.
Vida stroke Nicole's hair softly, "You look so much like your mother. You have her beautiful smile and her stubborn aura."
Nicole raised her brow in amusement, "Really?"
"Yea... But there is a little differences between you two."
"What?"
"You have your father's courage and you are not naive and gullible like your mother. That's what makes you different and unique," Vida said sweetly as she stare into Nicole's eyes.
Nicole shove her face down again, "It's such a shame. The funniest part is, I haven't met either of them."
George and Vida glance at each other and sighed.
George pats her by the head, "It's okay. Atleast you'll never feel that lonely again."
"Yea... Besides, tomorrow you'll be going to school, we have taken care of your registration and everything you will need. Nanny Susan will help you prepare, now sleep well for tomorrow is another day." Vida hold her hands, admiring her beautiful face then kiss her forehead.
They assisted her as she laid on her bed and they watch her shut her eyes. "Good night sweetheart..." Vida said with so much love and admiration.
"Good night," Nicole squeeze out a smile and said in a low tone before closing her eyes.
George nods his head as he flick the light off and close the door quietly. They both went quietly to their room with so much warmth and excitement.