106: Deaths and Burials.

GIOVANNI.

The moment Fifi was dragged out, father spoke, “what do you mean by you wint get married to her?” He questioned with an eyebrow raised.

“Exactly what it means, father. Exactly that, you forced her in me due to her father’s involvement with you and the company and then you didn’t even give me any chance to speak whenever she reports me to you, I’m done with that life now, father. I can’t marry her or continue with that situationship we have either and that’s it.” I said, standing up for myself.

“So you’re getting married to her instead? Why?” Father said so calmly as he looked in Kiki’s direction and for some reason, I was quite shocked that he had not slapped me yet or yelled at me for daring to make my own choice instead of doing what he wants me to do.

“I love her, father, its as simple as that, she’s my life and the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.” I said as I took Kiki’s left hand in my right hand.

Father looked at own entangled hands and then at Kiki, he didn’t look so pleased.

Mother bursted out laughing making us direct our attention at her just before she started to speak, “like father, like son. So you’re choosing that golddigging bitch over a woman who actually loves and would do anything for you, you’re choosing this poverty striken idiot over the one who’s wealth is sure to help you even climb the ladder of success higher and higher? Are you both dumb? Do you not know that it would be such a disgusting stain to have someone like that marry into our family, huh?”

I glared at her and so did dad and I couldn’t help but ponder over the ‘like father like son’ phrase that she used.

Was father also forced to get married to mother? Did he love someone else but was forced to let go of her?

“You don’t have any say over me anymore, mother. I spent my life trying to do everything to get your love and attention, the one that wasn’t faked and done only in the public, I wanted to feel that love that you bestowed on my siblings but that was then. I don’t even want it anymore so you do not have any right to speak on me nor matters that concern me again. This goes to you too, father,” I paused as I turned to my father’s direction.

“I’m going to do whatever I like henceforth, whether or not you like it. I’m not going to go in whatever path you ckear for me just to be in your good books and earn the good son tag. I don’t want it anymore, and I honestly don’t care if I get disowned by you either, I don’t even think this family is worth it anymore.” I said to him as he simply remained mute for seconds and just as he was about to speak, he started to cough instead.

A cough that went on and on without ceasing, I immediately rushed to his side and so did majority of us in the environment.

Soon, he started to vomit blood too and then we knew that this was getting out of hand, we rushed him to the hospital and he started to look like he was getting well.

I got hotel rooms for both Grace and Kiki and I spent a night with her as I tried to bond with Grace too. Father was in the hospital for two days and he had even sat up to greet me when I visited him, his lawyers visited him frequently too and so did a lot of family and friends.

Grace and Kiki had spent almost a week in Italy with me and we were having a catchy conversation in the hotel room when I got a call, “Dad is dead.” Was what the feminine voice on the other end of the line said as soon as I picked it up.

It was Imelda.

From her tone and shaky voice, it was obvious that she had been crying.

I immediately rushed into my car and drove to the hospital and it was confirmed that Mr. Leonardo Callisto was dead.

I was shocked and speechless, I was heartbroken and sad. He might not have been the best dad but he was still my father.

His death was painful despite all that he had done to me as a child. I couldn’t help the tears that streamed down my cheeks as I reminisced the few good memories that I had with him.

Even as we held his burial under the rain with umbrellas over our heads, I couldn’t help the sadness that filled my heart as the ceremony was all done. Mother and Imelda cried the loudest, Grace cried too and Kiki just kept patting my shoulder and holding my hands and to be honest, her presence here with me at this moment of my life made a huge difference. She consoled me and let me grief at the same time, she seemed to understand the pain I was feeling and the balance needed.

After the burial was done, we were back home for the rites and ceremony and soon a lot of people left already leaving a few relatives.

One of the relatives left walked up to me, “is it true that you killed your father with your troublesome acts and stubborness? How do you feel now?” She had said in the most insensitive way that left me wondering if she had her head screwed on right.

I already heard about the rumours that mither had been circulating about me since dad was sick, all in preparation to get me thrown away or blamed for father’s death and just in case I inherited something but I didn’t care.

“You can get your filthy selves put of this house now,” mother said to me suddenly.

“Why should they? Its his house too and we are all mourning, is this even the time for this?” Imelad countered while Mother threw her a harsh glare.

“Shut it, Imelda! Why should we let him stay when he’s a problem and bad luck in this household. The moment he brings these people in, my husband died, a coincidence? No, I think not!” Mother snapped.

“Yes, they should get out, mom. I’m sure he’s just here to see and plan how he would take over the company and all of that, what you should keep at the back of your head, Giovanni, is that you’ll never own anything, dad will never leave any tangible thing for you because you’re just an illegal and bastard son of a nobody.” Gaston added to his mom’s illtalks.

I simply shook my head as I motioned for both Grace and Kiki to just let us take our leave from this insane environment, but before I left, I could hear Imelda chastising them both.

“How dare you talk about the company or who inherits it when father had barely just died? Is that all you are all concerned about? The property he left behind and not him? Do you even hear yourselves? You both sound like the golddiggers not the ones you call that name!” She said and I smiled.

At least, there was one sane person amongst them.