THE FIGHTS

"He seems so calm," I remark on my father, who is peacefully asleep.


After the talk we had about my marriage and agreeing, he made a call to Mr. Riccaforte, and they spoke. I never expected them to have a peaceful talk about this matter, but I guess my father was right after all. It is the daughter of the great Richard Bradley Riccaford that they are playing with. I bet they are willing to swallow anything just for me. After that, he fell asleep, and it had been almost three hours. It is about to clock ten at midnight, and he isn't showing any sign of waking up.

"He sure does. That seems to have been a huge load on his shoulder that he really needed to get off," Doctor Lemuel responds.

I nod, understanding just now how that weighed my father down. I took the issue so lightly and uselessly, but to him, it was killing him. I hope he feels much better after this. "I didn't know how heavy that issue was on his part. I wish I did. We could have avoided a lot," I assert with honesty.


"The most important thing is that you handled it well. He seems so peaceful. Let's see how he is up tomorrow," the doctor says, adding, "he is off for the night. You can relax, do a few things, and also get a rest."

"Okay. Can you watch over him for a while? I need to go downstairs for a bit," I ask. Even though he is asleep, I wouldn't want to risk anything. That episode earlier almost killed him and me too. I wouldn't want a recap of that.


"It is alright. Take as much time as you want. Like I said, he won't be awake until morning," Doctor Lemuel answers while pulling a chair and parking himself beside my father's bed.

He is a cute and dedicated gentleman. My honest view.

"I want to be sure anyway. I will be back in a few."

After he nods his head with a small grin, I stroll out of the room, colliding with nanny Aisha in the hallway. "I was about to call you for dinner, my dear. I prepared your favourite dish to welcome you back," she states, urging a smile from my lips.

She is always so thoughtful and caring. "Thank you so much, nanny. Where are those two witches?" I query.

I didn't mean to sound bitchy, but I am not ashamed anyway. Everyone in this castle is well aware of the feud between me and those two black witches.

"Ooh, miss. I don't mean to meddle in your family affairs, but don't they care about your father at all?"

That got me super curious. I know they don't, but this woman here is not a gossipmonger. She sits out of issues that don't concern her as much as possible. For her to speak like this, she must have seen something. "Why do you say that, nanny?" I query with so much enthusiasm. I am not so surprised, though.

Ever since the beginning, I have always sensed something odd about their relationship and my father. Nothing has ever been right about them. It is like they are here for something else. They are like a dark cloud that is waiting for the right time to fall. That is one of the reasons why I loathed them from the start.

"I am sorry to say this, but they seem not even worried about your father's condition. I can barely count the times I have seen your stepmother set foot in that room ever since your father got ill."

I knew these b*tches were not taking care of my father. What are their reasons for being here, huh? To just live like queens, which they don't deserve at all? Why can't they show even just a little appreciation to the man who has given them all the comfort they are swimming in on a silver platter? They don't work, they don't cook, they don't clean, and now they can't even take care of the man whose charity they are living under. What kind of witches are these?

"Don't worry about them, nanny. I am here anyway. I will take care of my father," I say calmly, but deep inside I am burning with anger and wrath. I want so much to kick them out of this place.

Then again, I can't offend my father. I have no choice but to bear with them. But they better not cross-step on my ass. As long as there is a boundary that they have never known, as long as they respect that boundary and stick to their lane, there will be no problem. Maybe this is another thing Papa has to explain to me. Where did he get these ungrateful, lazy-ass witches from? What is their real business here?

"Okay, dear. Should I serve food now?" Nanny Aisha asks.

I nod my head. "Start serving in ten. I will just take a quick shower and come down," I respond.

"Okay. Excuse me."She walks away, and I make my way to my room.

The first thing that catches my attention on the bed is my phone, reminding me that I was on a call with Damian before my father suffered that episode. I lean on the door, puffing out a heavy sigh.

I should call him, but what possibly will I tell him? That I am finally meeting my boyfriend tomorrow? That he can't see me? That I am uncertain of our future? Gosh, what's the way out of all this?

I drag myself onto the bed and grab my phone, weighing between wishing him a good night. Or perhaps telling him not to come, as I told him earlier.

But damn!

His face greets me the moment I take the phone. He didn't hang up for all those hours? How long has it been?

"Hey!" He greets me, and I swallow hard before responding.