Chapter 2: They Want Her Now

Sigh, forget it. It wasn't like she asked him to change anyway.

Velvetiana inhaled deeply and turned toward him, her brows knitting together so much that it could squeeze a lemon.

Pauly noticed this, and the man looked away, tactfully changing the topic.

"Well, now, now. Forget those froglets and listen to your Mama, dear. When you get there, remember what I taught you!" Pauly grabbed her hands, lowering his voice into the sage tone of a life coach.

"Chin up, boobs out. Even if you are pretty you can't slouch and walk like a gangsta! Oh my gosh, don't waste our beautiful genes okay? Perk those thick butts up and flaunt those naturally curvaceous thighs. There's gonna be a lot of bastards in college so you have to be picky. Don't just decide based on the face value, hot men are mostly jerks but nowadays even ugly bastards are very confident."

Velvetiana fought the urge to roll her eyes and grumble.

"I know you're going there to study, pudding. But Mama doesn't mind having an in-law early fufufu!"

Velvetiana held her throbbing temples, feeling the ensuing surge of headache.

"Oh gods, there he goes again." 

"What's with the long face? Darling, romance is not a sin! Fill your youth with rainbows and cotton candy, hihi~!" Pauly clapped his hands together, his eyes sparkling with unhinged enthusiasm. "As long as you don't lose your scholarship, of course. That's the line, baby girl." His glittery eyelids were fluttering.

"Also, if you do get a boyfriend, you have to grab onto the hottest guy you see even if you have to yank some other girl's extensions out by the roots! You have to be fierce, territorial, and most importantly, decisive! Don't let anyone, especially those rich bitches who've never even seen mud, step on your toes, alright?"

Then, without warning, he squealed like a dying poodle and clapped his hands on her cheeks. "Whatever it is that you do, Mama, ahem, Daddy's got your back! So make the most fun you can get in your college."

Sigh, "My baby, I won't be able to see you for so long," his eyes washed with tears again.

Seeing this, the girl pursed her squeezed cheeks and mumbled stiffly.

"Daddy, stop crying. I'm going to save up my allowance and see you soon. So don't get uglier by crying more. I'm not going there to find a rich lover got it? So, stop imagining things! Of course, I will never let myself be bullied and stepped on. But not over a guy. I won't fight another girl for that so why would I even care—"

"Oh no, sweety! What do you mean you won't care about the girls?" Pauly's eyes widened dramatically. He grasped her hands and whispered, "They wear deadly heels, darling. It will hurt so bad you know."

Velvetiana was speechless.

Damn, right. Of course, he's gonna say that.

"And don't forget," Pauly pressed on, undeterred, "A man's value is in his tan. My baby is fair and flawless, a pale motherfucker won't suit you. Don't ever entertain those walking cold corpses with red eyes. You're already anemic! Don't bother with them and find someone normal."

Velvetiana's eye twitched so hard she was convinced she was developing a neurological condition. She knew very well that he was pertaining to those blood-sucking vampires but coldly dismissed his ire as something normal.

The point here is why is he thinking she would hook up with someone when she's leaving home to study?

Who cares about that mating season or whatever it was?

"Pauly?!" She warned.

"Hmm? What is it? I'm merely just reminding my baby. If he's not at least three shades darker than you, he's not worth your time—"

"AHH! Fine, stop! That's it. I'm boarding the plane."

"Wait, what? But I still have so many things to say!" He shrieked but the girl was already out to leave. Pauly pursed his thick lips and blurted, "Baby, remember, just three shades darling not fifty, okay? That one's porno!"

Velvetiana's jaw dropped as if her mind just glitched.

Oh heavens bless her Dad!

She groaned and shook her head before dashing for a hug and a quick peck on the cheeks.

The lass quickly muttered 'goodbye' without waiting for more of his nagging.

"Darling, don't forget to write, okay? And oh!" Pauly's eyes widened with excitement. "If you see a tan guy, make sure he's got muscles! You know, like Daddy's buff—"

Velvetiana covered her ears and bolted toward the gate, fighting the urge to scream. She was halfway through when a tall figure in a crisp black suit appeared at the edge of her vision, looking like a model straight from a fairytale.

"Excuse me, young lady?"

The figure's voice was low and smooth, polished like the surface of black glass. She turned sharply and met the calculating gaze of a man standing just past the boarding gate.

"Are you talking to me?" she looked around only to see no one around her.

The man nodded and inquired politely, "Yes. Pardon my intrusion, are you perhaps Miss Velvetiana Red?"

For a while, Velvetiana looked at him with a tinge of suspicion but still answered, "That's right. I'm Velvetiana Red, why? Do we know each other? What do you want?" 

Following her barrage of questions and unfriendly tone, the man only smiled—a warm, almost inviting curve of his lips—but his eyes were like polished onyx, betraying nothing. His suit was tailored with military precision, black with a subtle silver trim.

A blood-red handkerchief peeked out from his breast pocket, the only splash of color. His gloves were white as bone, and his shoes gleamed so brightly she could see her reflection in them.

He bowed slightly—not too deep to seem servile, but just enough to radiate practiced elegance.

"I apologize for running late, my lady. My name is Hansel," he said smoothly, straightening to his full height. "I've been sent on behalf of the Corvinus Clan to accompany you to the Central District. Your father, Lord Lucien Corvinus, is very much expecting your immediate return to his side."

"Oh..." Velvetiana dryly muttered on cue, recognizing the name Corvinus.

However, that didn't mean she was agreeable to everything he uttered. On the contrary, the girl was intrigued by how this man could spout such nonsense without batting an eyelid. 

Return? She couldn't help but snicker inwardly.

How does one return to a place that she had never been to?

Where Pauly is, will be the only home she will consider.

And what? Father?

The word curled unpleasantly in her stomach like spoiled milk.

Velvetiana's expression remained blank. She didn't look happy or angry—just… empty.

Of course, they would want her now.