Chapter 48: No Longer Afraid

Amelia's POV 

As soon as we were done taking breakfast, I quickly took a shower. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go home and see my father, but no matter what I thought I should because I can't hold grudges forever. 

Williams drove to the house, my mother was standing at the entrance of the door when we got down from the car. I wasn't sure why she was standing there but I felt she was probably waiting for me. Looking at the face I saw the angry look on her face. I was ready for whatever she was going to do as I walked towards the entrance of the house, Williams followed suit holding my hands tightly. 

“You should let go of my hand for now." I said to him, 

“There's no way I will do that, did you see that Luke on our face?" He said. 

I smiled. " Yeah I saw that.” 

"How dare you sleep out of the house?” mother said as soon as I got closer. 

“Is that the best way to welcome your daughter?" Williams said.

I ignored all of that, I wanted to do that or just to go inside and see what was wrong with my father. I already knew you had cancer but I knew there was something more, something to make him come back home. 

“Are you trying to walk out on me? While I'm still talking to you.” She said angrily.

At this point I was glad Williams was there with me, because I had no idea what she was going to do next.

“You should go, Williams." I said, just wanted to hear his reply.

“Don't try me, there's no way I will." He said with a firm voice. 

" You don't dare sleep out of the house without my approval.” She shouted.

She could yell at me for all I care.

“Enough, I told you she was with me." Williams said, not hiding the disgust in his voice.

But still I wasn't scared. All I came here for was to see father, and when I'm done staying in I'm leaving this house. Detention in the air was thick  like smoke which choked the oxygen out of the room. With the look on her face, I could tell it was not just about me staying out of the house.

I tried to enter the house. 

“What's wrong with you?  you want to walk out on me while I'm still talking to you, are you okay? “ She said angrily, blocking the way. 

“I'm not here for your drama mother, I'm just here to see father." I said.

In frustration my aunt clenched instinctively. I've always known my mother to always do this. All she cared about was to control me. I wasn't going to let her do that anymore. 

“I'm not here to argue with you mother. I came here to see that please let me in." I spat. 

"Stop acting like you care about him. For your information I knew he had been sick all this while, so you should have visited him when he was in the hospital hooked up to the machine.”

"What? You knew he was sick all this while and you thought I shouldn't know?" 

“Yeah, and am sure you want to know what I told him. I told him his lovely daughter doesn't want to see him, you hate him so much." 

“I can't believe you told all those lies." I said.

"Why didn't he call to tell me he was ill?”

"He thought you knew already, I lied to him, I told you about it.” she said, turning her gaze for a second.

I could see the anger on her face but I don't know why she was so bittered.

“Well, he called this morning to tell me about his cancer so I'm here to see him now that I know." I whispered. 

How high is darted towards me and then to Williams. “I guess you got some nerves because Williams is with you.”

I need this Williams was about to step forward but I am getting back. 

“Don't do that." I said. “This is just the beginning of the battle." 

My mother looked at our hands which were still entwined. She laughed. “You respected me before, but you decided to change huh?" 

"I smiled. “Yeah, I've finally grown up and I can never be afraid of you again.” I said, with a firm voice.

The silence after saying that cut through the air like a knife. Williams' hand never left mine.

While we stared at each other for a while we assured ourselves to be strong. I heard a weak and familiar voice when I was about to say a word.

“Is that Amelia?" It was my Dad asking. 

Williams and I shoved past her. As I got into the house the hallway was filled with the smell of medicine. Just then, I saw my father sitting on the couch, immediately you saw me, his eyes lit up though they were pale.

“You came?” He said, with a small smile on his face. 

“I had no idea you were ill all this while, sorry for taking too long." I said, grabbing his hand.

I couldn't believe I was acting so nice to him after all he had done. Tears were even welling down my cheeks.

“What matters now, is that you're here." He said, squeezing my hand weakly.

My mother walked in, her presence was so cold and unwelcoming. I hated her so much. I saw the anger which was still on her face but I didn't care.

What mattered to me at that moment was my father.

After I had spent some time with him, I finally told him I wasn't going to be staying home.

“What?" He said.

Williams was also shocked. He thought I was coming home to stay for good but Nah, not after what they had done. 

I was cool with my Dad, I will come visit him anytime but I didn't want to see the face of my mother. 

“You won't do that Amelia. You want to leave home? You can't run away from those who care about you the most." She said,

“You can pretend you care but right now, I'm not gonna believe those lies that come out from.your lips." 

"You're doing this because of him right? I heard he was supposed to get married to someone from a rich family. You think his parents will approve of you getting married to him.” Mother said, laughing.

"I've never seen anyone who wishes so badly for their daughter the way you do. You're so bittered and I don't ever wish to be like you.”