CHAPTER 57: PARK OF SECRETS ... (2)

**The Chapter contains scenes and concepts of violence that may not sit well with others. Please read with caution!***

"Get in!"

"Yes, thank you," Shelby whispered and got into the front passenger seat of James’ car, closing the door behind her. She turned instinctively to look at the back seat, finding it empty.

"Rocky didn’t come with you?"

"No, he had prior engagements..."

"Oh, ok."

James leaned across of her and pulled out the seat belt. His cologne wafted into Shelby’s nose, and she stopped breathing temporarily to stop inhaling the strong scent.

James settled back into his seat after securely hooking the seatbelt for Shelby, a small smile on his face.

"Are you okay, Shelby?"

"Yes, I am,"

’I am letting Ava get into my head. James is my stepfather and my mother’s husband. He is the father of my half-brother as well. There is no way he would harbour such abhorrent thoughts about me. Besides, what is wrong with my father touching me in any way? He now just strapped me in-’

"Shelby? What is it? Do you want me to pull over?"

Shelby snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head with a smile. James looked dazed for a while, then turned his attention to driving them to their destination.

Clearing his throat, he asked her,

"Did your mother buy a lot this time?"

"haha haha, do you really ask because you do not know?"

James laughed along as well as they both knew of Clara, "Ha ha ha, yeah that was a silly question. You did not get to ride your taxi. I get it!"

Shelby nodded, "Thank you for indulging her that much."

"Why would you thank you for how I indulge and treat my wife?"

"Sorry!" Shelby said playfully, and they continued chitchatting for a while and pulled up to the infamous park. This was one of those rare times that Shelby felt comfortable around her stepfather.

Standing in the parking lot that oversaw the large new state park, she smiled. The tranquil-like park was the perfect place to escape the city’s noise, and she fell in love with it at first sight.

They couldn’t have picked a better day to visit too. The blue and white clouded skies reflected perfectly with her blue eyes. They walked down from the open parking lot, and Shelby was enveloped with the shining embers of the sun. She raised her head and closed her eyes, taking in some of the rays.

She just loved the outdoors and wished that she had any of her painting materials with her.

’It’s okay; I can take in all the scenery and reproduce them all later,’ she reassured herself.

Myriads of different exotic flowers and plants were all around them on the sides of the foot-paved paths; beautiful butterflies, bees and others were dancing around the budding flowers, adding more colour and nature splendour to the scene. Shelby’s eyes took them all in hungrily. She closed her eyes once again and opened her arms, sensing the soft breeze coming through the vegetation around and probably the trees that lined the park as well.

She inhaled deeply, that earthly scent mixed with the scent of the lush green, and she smiled.

"I love this!" She whispered.

The singing voices of birds gave out an unexpected, alluring, and harmonious melody. She had always loved parks. They were her place to go to whenever she was out of her element.

After a few moments of nature time, Shelby opened her eyes and gasped. They were now in an almost secluded part of the park, but the sight was amazing! There were recreational facilities for children, such as swings, slides, climbing frames, and seesaws, which were vibrant and full of life. These evoked good childhood memories, and she smiled,

’The orphanage children would love this. I have to let Madam Ruby know about this. We can plan a day out for the children. I can already imagine their excitement!’

The recreational facility that had evoked these thoughts was far away from them but could be viewed from all sides of the park.

Unknown to her, as she took all of these sights in, James’ eyes had been glued to her. He followed her at a distance where he could see her side profile and admire her all he wanted. She was really similar to her mother in many ways, but at that same time, she was different. He could not pinpoint what it was.

The younger version of Clara just had a charm that the older Clara did not have. James had been patient enough. She was now eighteen years. She was legal, and he could afford to let his thoughts run free on her. After all, he was not breaking any law by engaging in such thoughts.

James had spent a few weeks ’prepping Shelby’ for this moment. She did not shun him when he ’accidentally’ touched her.

’Should I divorce Clara and take on Shelby? What should I do? The girl is just ripe for picking!’ James had already passed the threshold where he felt that these thoughts were bad or negative! He had gone through many scenarios and justifications and felt that he was doing the right thing!

[A/N]: How he came to that conclusion was beyond me!

He approached her and hugged her, startling Shelby out of her thoughts.

She did not know where her strength came from, but she felt something was not right, so she pushed James, earning an angry chuckle from him.

"W-hat are you doing?"

"Don’t tell me you don’t know how I feel about you, Shelby?"

She took a small step back, asking herself, "Are we role-playing something? This is not funny, James; you are my father!"

"I AM NOT YOUR father! I am not blood-related to you in any way, so do not play coy nor lead me on and act like you are unaware of what you do. Didn’t you want to come to the park with me today? You deliberately let your mother away with that stupid taxi excuse just to get me alone? I know all that, so save yourself the act!"

Shelby, "...."

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