CONTRADICTING ACT



And he better stop acting so romantic with me! Sigh!

I bow slightly to his parents and excuse myself, and we walk out hand in hand with Damian.

"I brought my chauffeur, so there is no need to drive your car," I say as Mark comes to get our doors.


"I will drive the lady, Mark," Damian says, shutting the door that poor Mark had opened for me. He is unbelievable, you know. 'Follow us with mine." They exchange the car keys, and I remain silent.

What else can I say?


He doesn't want to ride with his parents. I thought conflicts of this kind and degree were only in my family. But just how wrong was I?

Seeing Damian like this reminds me of that time when my father suffocated me to the core. At that point, my anger hit my core, and I made the decision to flee from my father. This sight of him reminds me of the wrath I had for my father until four days ago. I hope he can learn from my mistake even without me saying a word to him. This life is so unpredictable to live with this much grudge, especially if you are holding it for people so close to you. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Not even the next minute is. I hope he can somehow swallow his pride and mend the bond between his father and him.

We manage to get to the hospital in only five to two minutes. No word was spoken on the way here. We maintained silence. Total silence.

"Any idea why your father wants to see me?" He hoarsely whispers as we near the door to my father's room with his parents right behind us.

"No. I am as clueless as you are," I retort.

"Did you tell him anything about this plan of yours?" He whispers again.

Excuse me? "Do you think I am that stupid to risk it all? Why would I even do that? To kill my father?" I scoff.

"It was just a question. I didn't say anything like that."

"You fucking insinuated," I sneer again through gritted teeth. If only his parents were not just a step away behind us, this guy would have gotten more than just that. How can he think that I said that to my father?

"You are being awfully paranoid."

I am what? We halt at the door, and I glare at him, boltering myself to unleash the anger in me, but too bad, his parents have just caught up with us, saving him from my wrath. I am paranoid? He is an idiot! An annoying one at that!

I open the door, and we walk in. The witches are still unbelievably here, and I hope they didn't cast a spell on my father.

"Hello, there, friend?" Mr Riccaforte greets, shaking my father's hand as we trail behind him. "How are you, my friend? My family and I would have come sooner if we knew."

"It is nothing. Thank you for coming," Papa responds.

"It is almost time. Why don't you wait until the surgery is over, Riccaford? You will talk to Damian then. We will all be here," Mrs Riccaforte says.

At least she is backing me. Maybe he will listen to her instead.

"I asked the doctor to move the time to 2:30 p.m., so I have time. It won't take long."

See this adamant man! He even went through the trouble of pleading for more time? Doesn't he care about his well-being? What is more serious and important than the surgery that his life depends on, huh?

"You know you are really stubborn, Riccaford!" Mrs Riccaforte says and adds. "There was no need for you to go through all that trouble, you know? Did our son tell you he wouldn't be here when you woke up?"

"I know he isn't going anywhere until he espouses my daughter. Then they can travel the whole world together. But I wanted to take precautions still. So, if you all don't mind, please let me speak to my children in private."

Marriage! Marriage? Is that what he wants to talk about? That is what can't wait?

Gracia and Damian's parents excuse themselves, leaving me, Damian and this other whore. Why didn't she leave? Since when did she become a Riccaford?

"Nelly?" Papa speaks, and we all snap at him. "You too, leave us!"

Great! I don't know why she has to wait and get kicked out like this. It is like she enjoys being slapped with the bitter truth everytime.

"What? Why? You told your children. Ain't I included, father?" she snaps, making turn to her.

That sounds so comical coming from her! Father? Again, since when did she ever regard him as her father? I don't…I don't recall ever hearing that title roll from her stinking mouth since they came in. This is suspiciously new. I mean, she just decided to honor him at this exact moment? What are these schemes of theirs now?

"Even if I wanted to, Nelly, I could never be a father to you after what you did to my daughter."

Ahem!

"It has always been her, dad! You do everything for her, including using me. Is that what parents do?"

Dad, huh? She sounds so gross! The title alone rolls out so awfully disgustingly from her mouth. What is she doing here? Someone tell me what brought about this change in her!

"From the beginning, you didn't regard me as your father. You never honored me as the father figure that I wanted to be to you. You ruined it all for yourself, Nelly! Now leave!" The father elucidates calmly.

I am so glad that he can see through her mask. I am delighted that he is not falling victim to her game, for which I am still battling to know the title.

She shakes her head in annoyance, taking a step closer to her father. "I can't believe that even in your last moments, you are tossing me aside."