16

AUDREY

As soon as I saw Anton in front of the manor house—the only thing my mother left me that was almost gone, I threw my arms around our old nanny Mila and cried on her shoulders endlessly. Not only did I miss the woman who actually raised me, but the death of Samuel also hit my guts the moment I stepped down the car.
She cupped my face. She was older than the last time. Time flew so fast.
“How are you, my child?”
I forced a smile. “I’m fine, Mila. I missed you.” I hugged her again.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Later on, Mila led us inside the house, and only a few people were present. Most of them were Samuel’s friends. Anton and his wife approached us and then ushered Chelsea and me to Sam’s cremated remains placed in a ceramic jar filled with white flowers around it. I cried even more.
I never got to see his face one last time. I should’ve come home and visited him. But I let my pride get in the way, ending up leaving him alone.
I found Dad sitting next to his side, almost lifeless. I caught his mouth in surprise and noticed how time took away his youth. The once-mighty lord of the estate looked twice his age. He had shades of silver hair and deep and dark eyes that made him look older than his wrinkled skin.
“Dad?” Anton called him. “Are you drinking again?” My brother walked towards him to pick up the two empty liquor bottles next to him. “Just what am I going to do with you? Samuel just died. I told you to quit drinking just for this time!” he scolded, making sure the visitors wouldn't hear us.
But that didn’t matter because he shouted. “S-shut up. Give it back to me!”
“Stop it! How long have you been living this way?”
“I have no more reason to live! All my children have already left me. What can I do more in this pathetic life?”
Anton sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Shouldn’t you know why we left you? Because you are like this. By the way, Audrey is here. Don’t show her the reason why she left. At least not today.”
Dad’s eyes shifted to my side, looking up. His eyes glowered, terrifying Chelsea as she hid behind me and gripped my arm. “Is he your dad?” she whispered. It was an embarrassing sight.
I nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s a good thing that I came,” she whispered back. “I don’t think I can leave you alone in this situation.”
“Thank you.”
Dad forced himself to stand up and paced towards me. His eyes didn’t change. He looked even more frightening. After all this time, I had no match for his horrible personality. I looked down at the ground. I couldn’t believe he could still dominate me.
“You.” He pointed out a finger on my temple that made me step back. “We don’t need you here… Listen here, everyone!” Dad said loudly, capturing the people’s attention. Pairs of confused and curious eyes shifted on us.
“This is my prodigal daughter! Ah, no. She was never my daughter.”
My eyes grew wide. I couldn’t speak.
“She’s just a fucking daughter of my whore mistress! She is not my daughter!” He announced and then laughed evilly. It was sickening. My chest tightened, and suddenly, I was out of breath.
What was he saying? I was suddenly confused.
“I wasn’t here for you,” I tried to speak, but it was almost inaudible. I breathed. Fear crawled all over my body.
“Yes, you wicked woman. You are not my fucking daughter! We don’t fucking need you here. Get out! Get the fuck out now!” He screamed in my face as I heard the murmurings begin.
“Dad, stop it! Not now.” Anton came into our midst. “Audrey, could you go out for now, please. I’m sorry. Wait for me outside.”
I nodded, and then I wiped my tears away, keeping my head low.
I walked as fast as I could outside while Chelsea followed me behind. I was so confused… hurt. I had never heard such a thing nor expected to hear something like that.
Did I hear him right? What was he saying? I wasn’t her daughter? Wasn’t it enough that he destroyed my life? He had to go lower than that? Was that why he couldn't give me the affection he was giving Anton and Samuel?
“Hey, where are you going?” Chelsea called out as she followed me outside. She grabbed my arm and spun me around.
“I shouldn’t have come here.” I sobbed, then wiped my tears.
“Hey, stop it, okay? As you have said, you didn’t come here for him. You came for your brother, remember?”
I whimpered. “B-but, I didn’t know… I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to believe what I heard.”
Chelsea pulled me into her arms. “Shh… it’s okay. Don’t think about it. Calm down,” she said softly while rubbing circles on my back.
“It hurts! It’s just too much, Chelsea! After all this time, I still don’t belong here.” I cried so hard, as if I was going to die. Suddenly, Anton appeared, and almost sympathetically, he drew me into his arms and clasped me tight. I couldn’t remember the last time he held me.
“Why don’t you and your friend come up and rest? I had your old room cleaned up.”
I gritted my teeth. “I can’t stay here, Anton.”
“We already booked a hotel reservation near the area so she could rest properly,” Chelsea informed. “We will be back later if it’s fine with you.”
“Well, if you are more comfortable that way, it’s okay,” Anton said. “Take a rest, Audrey, and I’ll talk to you later. Until when are you staying?”
“Until we settled everything.”
“You can come back tomorrow. Maybe just not today. People are talking and asking things. I’ll handle them and Dad first.”
“I’ll help you later, Anton.”
He forced a smile. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
I didn’t answer. Right now, he was as confused as I was. He did far worse things in the family, but he was still my brother. He was the family I knew.
Leaving the manor house made me feel lighter. As if there was energy pushing me away from that house. It was the same feeling I had felt when I left.
I settled the personal things I needed for the next few days while Chelsea organized the toiletries in the lounge room we rented.
My phone beeped, interrupting my deep thoughts. It was Mr. Stark. But it wasn’t sent in my email. It was a text message. I was maybe on leave, but I shouldn’t forget I was still working with him. Ignoring his message might cause trouble.
I really do wish to send you my regards in person, and I also don’t think it’s appropriate for two females to stay in a motel – Gabriel Stark
I almost squealed. I covered my mouth immediately. How did he know where we were staying? I wanted to type a message, but my fingers were shaky.
Chelsea came out of the bathroom. “Oh my God!”
“What, why?” I frowned.
“I didn’t know Dave Kline messaged me.” The words came out of her mouth fast.
“What did he say?”
“Of course, he already knows we’re in Phoenix. But he told me that Mr. Stark suddenly had to fly here for some business. I didn’t know he had business here. If there was, I might have known about it from Jameson.”
My eyes grew wide. “Oh my God…”
“Yes! Oh my God!”
He’s here…
Another message came on my phone.
I shall wait for you and your friend at the Waldorf Hotel in ten minutes.