Rio Hondo prison was known for its compulsory free visitation every Friday, which usually lasted all through the day. Melissa had decided to pay a heartfelt visit to her father after such a long while.
As Melissa sat at the visitors looking out for the father, she never thought some day she would pull up at the prison to pay a visit to a pal let alone her father.
With bated breath, she couldn’t wait to see her father and vent all the hurt that had piled in her heart . At the time of her life she was jaded and abandoned to abject poverty and guilt ever since I revealed my true identity to them.
A few nights ago she had zeroed her mind to take drastic decision which had lingered in her heart over the past few sleepless nights.
When Fanny Luis was let out of his cubicle to meet with his daughter, the smile on his face came a bit mild and since he was smiling at her, he expected her to return the compliment. But right on the reddened face of his daughter were fury and thunder which informed him of the brimstone she was going to throw at him in no time soon.
Promptly the huge smile on his face subsided to a maddening frown as he sat behind the desk to lock gaze with her.
The gloomy accusing looks on her face repelled him so much that he was forced to lower his gaze, fondle with his hand and thought it riskier to initiate a decision.
A few nights after I sent Fanny Luis to jail, her first visit had bordered on apportioning of blames over my divorce. And about now, he expected Melissa to have moved on with her life.
“Been long I saw my daughter,” Fanny mumbled, with his gaze still settled on his fingers, “I appreciate for visiting for the second time.” He stole a glance with the corner of his eyes and he regretted it because no form of brightness seemed to have crept into her face.
Melissa snorted and swore under her breath, “I wish I would never visit.” She sighed and grinned at the sight of the skinny face and lanky shoulders Fanny had grown into. Jail life was gradually sucking into him.
“I hear he is worth five hundred trillion dollars now.” His voice died off as soon as it came not because he wanted it that way but for the sin he just committed by mentioning me in their discussion.
Melissa cursed with her chocolate eyes. I seemed to have dominated even her little manageable world now. Whenever she perceived escape, I would always spring forth; I was just everywhere now.
As though she wanted to rub it on his face and make him feel as hurt as she was, her eyes burnt as coal when she winked irritatingly at him, “You mean your son-in law whom you underrated, huh?”
Fanny’s brow knitted , before he let a struggled breath, “Apologies if it hurts you just that these days news about Mike Don has dominated the media homes even the populace in jail. They often reel curse at me if I tell them that the world richest man was once my son-in-law…”
Melissa interrupted him without remorse, “And you are lucky they didn’t beat you to a pop for such blasphemy.” She rolled her eyes at him, her words sinking into him as stone .
“Blasphemy? Fanny retorted and sucked a deep breath before averting his gaze to the wall, “Whatever happens , Mike Don was once my son-in-law and nothing is going to change that fact.”
“You are such a disgrace to fatherhood,” she slammed, “Why are you so hell over him now after you and grandma ruined my marriage and happiness? Look at me, father, do I measure up to anything close to life? I can barely feed these days.”
Fanny Luis sniffed and struggled to look in the teary face of Melissa which burnt as hell. “Why do you starve yourself , daughter ? can’t you get yourself job out there that could fend for your needs, huh?”
Warm tears had already leaked through her eyes. Repeatedly she sniffed and sobbed, “Mike Don seems to be aware now. He keeps appearing in my life and rubbing it on my face. Father, do you think I can be able to exist in this Rio Hondo with my peace in tact without the guilt and nightmares of the divorce? Do you think it is going to be easy for me each time I realize that the world richest man who is worshipped all over the world today was my ex-husband ; a man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with or without money…”
“Stop this, daughter!” Fanny yelled at her and almost charged forth like a bull.
“Stop this, father!” she yelled back at him, “If only I had disobeyed you and grandma, if only I had turned down your opinion of maintaining the family’s reputation by divorcing Brian Patrick for a billionaire, I wouldn’t be suffering and unhappy today.”
Already their sonorous echoing voices had attracted the attention of jail inmates and jailers who gazed at them and later went about their duties.
“But you had a choice to make,: he beamed and fought back tears . Before now he had agreed not to shed tears for whatsoever may be the reason for her visit.
“From the very first day I started breathing, you and Lisa Bake have always decided for me. You never allowed me to explore my life, even my marriage with Mike Don was one hell in a summer. You both never allowed that boy to play his role as a son-in law…”
Fanny raised his gaze at the ceiling in exhaustion. Ruin knotted in his throat. “We only wanted the best for you. Brian Patrick was too poor at the time…”
“And today he is not just rich but the world richest man!” she slammed, stood to her feet and added, “I want to disappear from Rio Hondo!”
“Why?” Fanny queried, widening his gaze at her…