Chapter 54

After settling our things in Colton’s house, we went directly to his cafe right after. He had been gone for a long time leaving only his manager in charge.

“Your employees surely missed you, Colton. You’ve been gone for what? A year?”

He chuckles. “Don’t exaggerate.” He said as we walked towards his cafe from the parking lot. “You sure though it’s okay that you went out?” He asked again in concern. He’s been really concerned for me I guess ever since I came to visit him after I was discharged from the hospital.

“Colton, what the hell. You basically suggested that I should come here.”

He shrugs. “I was just making sure.”

I stopped abruptly in the midst of walking. He stopped as well following my lead. “I need to tell you something. It’s about when we went on a trip...” I trailed when I saw a familiar figure inside the cafe.

“Rose?” Colton tried to pull me out of my trance.

“Why the fuck is that woman here?” I asked through gritted teeth. He then turned towards the direction of my sight.

“Shit.” He muttered quietly.

Coincidentally, she turned and our eyes met. I scowled at the mere sight of her. She then walked off from the counter and exited the cafe. She walked towards us in haste.

“The hell are you doing here, woman.”

“Rose.” Colton warned silently.

“Kura… I’ve been trying to ask where you are.” Her voice was that of pleading.

After ten years, I can’t believe she looked this old. How old is she? Thirty something? She looked like a mom who had five kids and they’re all annoying and frustrating. Nevertheless, she tried to dress up nicely but her face didn’t give away the stress she was feeling.

“Is that why you’re here in the hopes of finding an answer?” I scoff. “I made that clear ten years ago that I don’t want to see your face ever again. That includes my father. I despise the both of you. And you made it perfectly clear that you wanted me out of my father’s life so you could suck out all of his money.”

I was taller than her and she barely reached my chin. I looked all the more intimidating especially with how I treated her right now. And she couldn’t seem to get it.

I hate her. I hate her with all that I am.

She shook her head with tears pooling her eyes. I rolled my eyes at how good she was in acting. She’s always been talented. That’s why Alexander fell for her and didn’t believe his only daughter, his only family.

“Kura, please. Please let’s talk somewhere private. I want to explain myself-”

“No.” I cut her off. “I suggest you stay out of my sight, you bitch. I’m not going to guarantee that I won’t hurt you. You have no idea what a decade of pent up resentment could do.”

“Your father is sick, Kura. He’s now bedridden. He’s afraid he won’t live long. He wanted to see you!” She exclaimed with a sob.

“Shame. It’s not my problem now, is it?” I didn’t wait for her to beg again and just left. She intended to follow me while screaming my name but she was stopped by Colton.

I walked back towards Colton’s house. The long walk made me meditate, made me reminisce about the past.

My relationship with my father was not that great to begin with. I lost my mother when she gave birth to me so I never really knew her except from the pictures displayed at the tables and the walls of our house.

I was mostly raised by nannies and maids. My father isn’t always at home. He had business trips which were unknown to me. I didn’t really care since he never really showed his concern to me. He was cold and strict. That’s it. And somewhere deep down… I knew he blamed me for my mother’s death.

One day, he went home with some woman clinging to his arm. I was fifteen at that time. The woman was really really young compared to my father’s age. I knew sooner that she was twenty years younger than him and five years older than me. She was clearly a sister to me. Her name was Silena.

She wore revealing clothes that showed off a lot of skin. Her makeup was thick but one good thing about it was that she didn’t look like a stripper. She was just a gorgeous, sexy college girl.

I thought for sure he was just my father’s fling until years later, they still dated. And then dear old Alexander proposed to her. I never really cared what my father did but that was the time I showed a reaction. An extreme reaction.

I was furious.

How could he marry someone who’s evil and greedy? What’s worse is that he didn’t even see it? He was blinded by lust and obviously that woman’s manipulation but I never failed to see the wickedness that glinted in her eyes.

She always asked him for money and things she wanted to buy. She was materialistic and when it came to me, his daughter, I could not unsee the sneer she tried to hide from me. She tried to take everything from me. My things, my money and a little bit of Alexander’s attention that left for me.

She wanted it all.

I was eighteen when he proposed to her. Silena’s attitude fortunately became mellow gradually. I guess it’s the fact that it was better to ignore me. I mean it was no challenge when all I did was ignore her myself.

That was also the time when I have decided that I have had it. Their marriage was an added trigger. I took my father’s funds for me and left them. We had a long fight before that though. We had a lot of arguments and shouting. He even dared to let me go and never come back ever again.

And that’s what I did. I was very happy with my decision.

I stopped by a store and bought liquor and a pack of cigars. The depression was coming in again. I just don’t know how to deal with it but with this.

I was an alcoholic back then even before the ‘addiction’. It was just worse during the issue with Jacob a couple of years ago. After fixing myself, I was completely sober and fine.

But things like this makes me want to drown myself again in alcohol.

When I got into the house, I turned the tv on and played random movies on Netflix. I didn’t really watch it. It was just a background for me to lessen the loneliness and the silence that was devouring me.

Bottles emptied one after another. The pack of cigarettes was almost halfway through. The combination was numbing the pain my heart was experiencing.

I was glad Colton didn’t follow me. He always knows when to let me be. And I don’t think I want to let him see me like this. Well, he’ll definitely see me like this once he opens that door.

On cue, the sound of the door opening followed by footsteps slowly nearing towards me. Seconds later, I felt arms wrapped around me from behind.

The scent reminded me that it wasn’t my best friend.

The hold tightened as he pressed his lips against my ear. He whispered softly, full of emotion.

“lyuBImaya.”

And then I cried.