Chapter 3. Two Choices

Ayana’s POV

[Flashback continues]

How can my child, their first grandchild, the great heir or heiress of their great empire—how can he call my baby a bastard?

“I have no time, Ayana,” he hisses between gritted teeth. “What is your plan? Speak up before I lose it all!” He speaks again before I can finish analyzing his facial expressions or digest his unbelievable words.

My, plan? At least now we are talking, though his insults to my baby are still itching my soul. I take a deep breath, amassing all the boldness in me to exude my willingness to take responsibility for my actions as is expected of me.

“I will raise my child alone, father. My child will...”

He raises a hand to my face, shutting me up. He shakes his head countless times. Uncontrollably. Differing from my plan.

A cold chill cuts through my bones, almost paralyzing me. That is what they expect of me, right? As a responsible person and their responsible child, that is what I ought to do best in this situation, right?

“I see you have decided to throw your life away just like that, and even though I want to kick you out right now and disown you for disgracing me this way,” I fix my gaze on his cold one, each word from his mouth cutting deep through me: “I am still your father, Ayana. And only for the sole reason that my blood runs through your veins, I will swallow this bitter pill and let you have that cursed bastard, but here are my orders for your shameless actions and staining the name I have built and protected for years.”

Dear good Lord, I hope this is good, even though I am sensing otherwise!

I swallow hard, holding my breath as I await my judgment. Everything in our surroundings falls silent once again, and we all snap at him in awe as he speaks with authority.

“You are forever grounded!!!”

Shock slaps me off guard, leaving my head spinning with disbelief and my mouth wide ajar with questions clogging at my throat.

“There is no more college, and not even your shadow should appear in any of the family’s activities or be seen roaming out of this compound. Your face and that of the bastard you are carrying will remain hidden like the disgrace that you are.”

Hell just broke loose! His words from the beginning of his verdict are echoing in my head with rebounds.

God, please tell me I did not hear any of that right. Forget about the college because I gave it up the moment I ran out of the classroom. But, grounded? For good? Or for how long? Even my child? And the fact that he continues insulting my child hurts more than anything, you know!

The ground I am standing on trembles. It is as if it is being ripped off from under me. I attempt to fix my eyes on him to try and see whether he is joking or not. But the opaque curtains of tears in my eyes are impairing my vision. I see nothing but blurriness. My whole being is convulsing while his harsh words of injustice hang in my head like a heavy cloud.

Hang on. No! My loving father cannot do this to me. I messed up, yes! Big times, yes! But the situation is not this serious; come on!

I swallow hard and dry, roughly scouring the tears from my eyes in haste. I take a step closer to him, still wobbling. “Dad, I am sorry, okay? I am deeply sorry for what I have done, but please, you cannot do this to me. Please, Dad!” I plead, scouring away the tears from my eyes so that he can see the sincerity of my plea.

But as our eyes meet, I can bet on the innocent seed in my womb that my words did not mean anything to him. They either hit a deaf ear or reached him with zero meaning and feelings. He has made up his mind and expressed his thoughts. And there is no going back on his words. I know him so well, and this scares me to death!

Mom is my choice right now. She is his wife—the only one who can handle him when he is like this.

I turn to my mom, pleading for her intervention on this, but her glare alone shifts mine from hers. It was as if she had anticipated my move and prepared for it. It is crystal clear that she has righted my father’s unjust judgment. She will not help at all.

I look at my sister, but she gives me the same look as my mother’s. They are all in agreement. Nobody is willing to do anything to help me.

Only I can help myself.

I drag my blurry vision to my father, reaching for his hand to plead with him. But he grips my hand tight, pressing it so hard that I scream in pain. “Dad! You are hurting me!” I cry out, wincing at the pain.

“This is nothing compared to the pain and shame you have inflicted on me and this entire family, Ayana. I am so ashamed to even call you my own!” He lets go of me and starts to walk away.

But I am still his daughter despite all this, right? He still has a soft spot in his heart to listen to me and show me a little bit of mercy. Even just a little. Anything that bonders mercy will do at this point.

I hike behind him, screaming my plea, “Dad, please! Do not do this to me, I beg you. please. It is not fair!” I howl, and it seems like luck is on my side because he halts in his tracks.

I was not wrong to think that he still has some sympathy and love left for me.

He turns to me, and we lock eyes, mine glowing with gratitude and expectations, but his is an assortment of something I cannot decipher. Something that makes me doubt my take on him stopping.

I swallow hard!

And he speaks, proving me dead wrong, his voice dripping with chilled venom: “I said I could not kick you out, Ayana, but I did not say that you were not free to leave in your own free will. If you cannot take what I am offering, then by all means, the door is wide open. Just make sure you do not take this family’s name the second you step out of that door!!!”

And with that, my father does not even spare me another glance. He turns his back on me, and my mother and sister follow behind him, leaving me to make my own decision: to either leave my home and everything behind and chase freedom, or stay like a prisoner in my own home.

[End of flashback]