The old man snarled at Raven as I sobbed and held my breath. "I have loved her all my life; she is the only woman I want to present at the shrine. We promised to each other, but what did she do?!
She did nothing but hurt me, damn it! I loved her, but she just played with me. She chose that loser over me! She married him; she got pregnant by the man she told me was just her friend and that was my friend too.” I did everything not to make any noise, because if someone would hear or look at me it's the end of my life.
“Do you understand, Raven? They betrayed me! I just left her because I had to show off to Daddy in Canada. I work hard for our future, but what did she do? She damn failed me! She was three months pregnant with their first child; unfortunately, she had a miscarriage." He calmed down a little; earlier, he was aggressive, as if he poured out everything he was feeling.
"I loved her too much in my life, but she went with her friend, who I also considered a friend. Damn, how can that angel make a demon like me, tame me, right? How can she make me timid at all? It's just her; that fvcking woman is the only woman who can tame me. No matter how violent I was, she just held me like a candle that was going out. I love her, but she let me down." Hearing that story with a cracked voice is making me emotional; I don't know why they need to be added to our story. "That's why I promise to myself that Leon won't be delighted. I won't let Leon or their future child be pleased as well. That's why I made her life miserable; I am a selfish man!" He laughed out loud like he was a demon in a Disney movie.
"How could you do this, Mr. Smith, just because the girl you loved didn't choose you? You had my mom, but why? Why do you have to do all this?!" Even though Raven had a lot of difficulty he still managed to face his father with bravery on his face.
"Because I fvcking killed their child so she would come back to me, but what did she do? She hated me even more! She told me she would go with me because she loves me, but with that child who's not mine? No, I swear not to hold that kid, so I killed him! But she still didn't choose me!" I shake my head. My knees started to get weak from what I've heard now. I don't know what to do; I feel like I'm going to collapse.
How could he do that for love? And is that even love?
"How could you do that to an innocent?!" Raven shouted, "And why are you making us feel punished for your past? My children are innocent, so why are you including us in your madness?"
"Because I want all of you to taste what I went through. Do you know who told Lethia to kill that kid while Cbiara was not awake? Her mother! She suggested it because she also doesn't want Smith to watch over her family." I was trying extremely hard to cover my mouth so that I wouldn't make a sound when my two hands fell on my mouth. Struggling with the entire issue, I even bit my bottom lip. "She even pretended to be ill and told me to pay for the doctor. Because I love her, I did that, but I didn't know that would be the end of everything. She killed herself because she couldn't take the decision to kill her daughter's son." When I heard that, I was completely taken aback; my mother was deceiving us.
I can't help but want to go tell him to stop lying. I was firmly planted in my spot, and my feet would not move an inch. Everything I heard tonight seemed too good to be true; it was all just a dream.
Is that why my mother was so watchful and gave me an apology every time back then? She failed as a mother, but she also failed as a grandma, so I questioned why she was telling me that she was sorry. I detest her; how could she bring me such misery? How could he subject me to that?
"Because I love her so much, I followed everything she wanted even though I knew I wouldn't get anything. Even though I knew she wouldn't choose me in the end because she didn't love me, I made myself completely a fool because I love him so much." Mr. Smith stopped talking, and I heard someone fall. When I got up to see what it was, I noticed that he was bending over. Now it was only the two of them, kneeling, him and Raven. "I wasn't; I don't like this, but she made me like this. She gave me a reason to hate her daughter more!”
"I love Cbiara, dad."
"I'm like that too, Raven. That's why I didn't like her immediately when Roux introduced Cbiara to me. Roux changed just like I did before when I was in love. I was afraid that he would imitate me, so I did everything to make them apart. Good thing Roux can be fooled easily. But you?" He pointed at Raven, "you're like me. That's why many people say that you and I are the same, and they are right. We always do violence for love, we'll do everything for love; we'll give up everything just for a woman."
"But I'm not like you, Dad. I'll never be like you, cruel, cowardly, and a devil." Raven shook her head several times. "You should rot in hell for killing people who are innocent or not. You're not a God to decide people's lives."
"But I'm a devil," he said, standing up with a smug smile flushed on his face while looking at his son. "And I will be a devil, so you can forget about that woman."
"N-no, you'll only hurt me! Don't hurt them!" Raven tried to get up, but he groaned; it looked like he was writhing in pain. "Please, it's just me; I'm begging you."
"No, Raven! You'll never be like me for the sake of love. I'll cease you from becoming me when you're in love!"
"I'm not a devil!"
"Lethia, Roux, now!" I was even more surprised when the door opened on my side and I saw that the two were there on both sides holding my children while looking at me.
"N-no, don't!" I shouted and tried to walk to Red and Lethia, but Rayden and Roux were behind me. Fvck! I don't know where to turn.
"D-Dad, I'm fine, I'm fine. Leave them alone; I'll follow you; just don't hurt them." That was the last thing I heard from Raven's voice when he cried because something was done to him.
While I was looking side by side, I didn't know which way to go.