Dorothea thought that she had done a great job until recently, she found out that Vaughn might've poisoned Vincent's mind ever since he was young, turning Vincent into the second him.
'Or maybe Vincent is just built that way. I tried so hard to protect him when he was young, but he still evolved into the new Vaughn that I hate so much,' Dorothea thought. 'Or maybe it's my fault, because I didn't raise Vernon at all when he was young, it was Chloe who raised him, and he turns out to be a good person.'
Dorothea was lost in thought until Mackie called her, "Granny!"
"Ah--yes?" Dorothea looked down to focus on her granddaughter again.
"Mommy told me that you'll be staying here for a long time, does that mean I can visit you anytime I want?" Mackie asked.
"That--" Dorothea turned her head towards Chloe, asking for permission. She knew that her position in this place was still very tentative. Vernon could kick her out anytime he wanted, and she didn't want to displease Chloe, because Chloe's approval was her lifeline right now.
Chloe smiled in response and nodded, much to Dorothea's relief.
Thus, the old woman returned her focus to her granddaughter and replied, "Of course, dear! You can always come to my room. I will bake your favorite cookies--well, not for everyday, of course, that'd give you a toothache."
"Awww, but I want to eat your cookies every day...." Mackie pouted. "Oh well, as long as I can meet Granny every day, I don't mind! I don't have any friends after school ends. Granny can be my friend after school!"
Dorothea chuckled and lightly pinched Mackie's nose, "I want to be your friend too, Mackie."
Mackie hummed happily and hugged her Granny tighter than before. She never thought that she'd be able to meet her beloved Granny again!
Mackie looked at her Mommy, who stood right beside Granny, "Thank you, Mommy!" she chirped as she thought it was her Mommy's help that reunited her with her Granny.
But Chloe shook her head, "You should thank Uncle Vernon first. He is the one that allows your Granny to live here."
"Oh! I want to meet him now! I want to thank him, hug him, and kiss him for being so kind!" Mackie finally released her koala hug of Dorothea and grabbed her Mommy's wrist instead, "See you later, Granny! I want to thank Uncle!"
Dorothea chuckled, "Yes, sure! You should thank him first!"
"We'll return soon, Dorothea, don't worry about new clothes and other stuff. I will get it ready by tomorrow morning," Chloe said before she left with Mackie.
**
Vernon was still in the same spot since Chloe last left him to pick up Mackie from school. He was still watching a cartoon, though it was a different one he couldn't recognize, and he still had the same bottle of gin from before.
He hadn't finished it simply because he lost interest in the gin after realizing Mackie would return home soon. He didn't want his breath to smell like alcohol.
He sighed and tossed the half-empty bottle of gin behind his sofa. He was still wondering whether his choice of allowing Dorothea to meet Chloe and Mackie was right.
After all, he still couldn't believe that old woman.
No matter how many tears she shed, Vernon would forever be prejudiced against her simply because Dorothea was his abuser.
'Of course I can't erase the image of her screaming like a madman, raising her empty bottle and hitting my head or body repeatedly until I could only cry and cower. The image of a mother has been forever ruined in my head, and no amount of apology can fix it,' Vernon thought. 'Seriously, why am I becoming so weak these days? Is it because of Chloe? Did I become soft and kind because Chloe is in my life right now?'
Vernon was still busy fighting against his own thoughts when the door suddenly opened.
He darted his eyes and saw his beloved woman and daughter enter the penthouse with a smile on their faces.
Mackie's face brightened even more when she spotted her Uncle.
"UNCLE!!" Mackie ran towards Vernon and jumped right on him. She hugged him so tightly around his neck.
"Wha!" Vernon was caught off guard by Mackie, who hugged his neck until he couldn't breathe.
"UNCLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Mackie chirped loudly. "THANK YOU FOR BRINGING GRANNY BACK! I'M SO HAPPY!!"
"Urk--" Vernon hurriedly patted Mackie's back a few times. He could yank her out, but it'd probably hurt her, so he patted the little girl until Chloe noticed that Mackie was choking him.
"D--Dear, don't hug him too tightly. You'll choke your Uncle to death...." Chloe said.
"Ah, sorry!" Mackie released her hug, and Vernon quickly took a deep breath to fill his lungs. Mackie sat on her Uncle's lap, staring at her Uncle, who was coughing a few times. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I'm just too happy!"
"I--It's okay," Vernon assured. "Did you meet with your Granny just now?"
"Yes! She said that she will stay here for a long time, and Mommy told me that you're the one who gives permission, so I have to thank you!" Mackie replied.
Chloe sat beside them on the sofa and smiled, "Well, that's true. You have to thank your Uncle for it. He has done a great sacrifice to keep your Granny in this apartment."
"Really? Un, thank you so much, Uncle! I will call you Good Uncle for today! But you will still be my Big bad Uncle when you bully Mommy again!" Mackie warned.
Vernon finally smiled after he watched Mackie's doe eyes and puffy cheeks. It was so cute, and he couldn't help but pat her head, "Then you will have to call me Big Bad Uncle for the rest of your life."
"Whaa!" Mackie glanced at her Mommy, and her Mommy didn't seem surprised at all. Then she returned to her Uncle with a glare that wasn't intimidating at all, "Bad Uncle! Big bad Uncle!"
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