Chapter 11

Chapter 11


Brianna's point of view. 

I was down the stairs already; my heart was banging throughout my chest. When I reached the end of the staircase, I saw my father smashed an earthen pot on the floor. 

He stood in the middle of the room, eyes glaring like two fiery coals. "I'll show them," he was muttering to himself. "I'll show them all." 

I felt a wave of fear wash over me, as I realized that my father had indeed lost all sanity. No longer would he be able to keep things in control, and I had no idea what might be next on his agenda. 

Slowly, I tried to withdraw from the scene, but my father's eyes were glued on mine. "You," he growled, "just like your mother. Always meddling, trying to control me." 

I felt a wave of fear wash over me as I realized that my father had completely lost his reason. He was in the wilderness of his own wrath and hopelessness, and I did not think I would be making it through to him. 

It petrified me with fear when my father stepped towards me. It said in the depth of those eyes, with fiery wrath, that my life is now at mortal danger. 

Another move my father made towards me when I heard the doorbell ring, therefore rescuing me from another attack his fierceness charged over me. I could breathe again as I saw the private distraction. 
"I'll get it," I managed to say with as much composure as I could muster. 

When I opened the door, I was met with Logan King at the doorstep looking all grim, with Aunt Martha sharing the same serious countenance. 

"What brings you here, Logan and Martha?" I asked, trying to sound as polite as possible. 

"We've come to discuss the wedding," Logan said firmly. "Or, rather, the cancellation of the wedding." 

I could not help being surprised by it, but I tried not to show it. "Oh?" I reacted.

'What leads you to believe that the wedding is off?' 

Martha stepped nearer, her eyes burning with anger. "We already know everything about Brenda's pregnancy, George's schemes, and the whole act.'' 

I felt afraid because I knew that Logan and Martha knew all about it. I thought of a way of turning it around but my father turned up suddenly behind me.

"What is going on here?" he asked, his voice thundering.

Logan squared, looking his eyes hard at my father. "We're here to call off the wedding, George," he said. "Brenda's pregnancy changes everything, and we're not going to proceed with the charade."

The purple-red hue on dad's face told cases like that. "You cannot call the wedding off," he really stammered. "Its too late for that. The arrangements have been made, the guests have been invited...it's all set into motion. "

This was the very harsh tone in Martha's voice. Such patriarchal arrangements of guests were not everything. As if the entire case was that Brenda is pregnant with the child of another man. And we are not standing for anything." 

At this point, my father exploded and just rushed at Logan and Martha. "You can't do that to me," he thundered. "I won't let you ruin my plans." 

But Logan and Martha held their ground. "We're not going to allow you to bully us, George," Logan calmly said. "We'll do what's right, however." 

As the quarrel raised its temperature, I began to feel quite some apprehension and confusion. From where I was standing, things were not looking good. What now would happen? Would my father let such feelings consume him entirely? And what would happen to Brenda and her unborn child? 

This is really a turning point when nothing else can be done about it. I could see many things but could do nothing but just sit back and watch my family crack. But what could I possibly do in the end? And where would it all end?

His voice reached the ominous pitch. "How did they find out?" Now, by separating eyes between Brenda and me, he asked, "Who told them about the pregnancy?"

Brenda's eyes just widened fearfully as she shook her head in denial. "I don't know, Dad." Whoever it was to her knowledge, had not told anyone.

Then my father turned those dreadfully low blue eyes upon me, and instantly I felt that familiar rush of fear he always inspired. "What about you, Brianna?" he asked venomously. "Were you at all involved in this?"

I shook vehemently, trying to sound convincing. "No, Dad, I didn't tell anyone," I asserted. "I swear."

But my father's expression remained unchanged. He looked at me like he believed I had something to hide from him.

"Brianna, I'm warning you," he told me, the voice low and menacing. "If I find out that you had anything to do with this, there will be consequences. Understand?"

A shiver rippled through me as I nodded. I knew what my father could do when angry, and I wanted no part in that.

Yet I was gazing at Brenda, remembering how I might prove to be a shield over her. She was, in truth, the one getting hurt; not me. And I was going to do anything to keep her safe.

"I didn't tell anyone, Dad," I murmured again, hoping to sound sincere. "I promise."

Nothing changed with my father. His face was still cold, but loosened a bit. He turned viciously now toward Brenda to narrow his eyes in accusation. 

"What about you, Brenda?" he asked. "Whom did you tell?"

Brenda just shook her head, looking a little scared. "I didn't tell anybody, Dad," she said. "I swear.”

That was when my dad turned skeptical and raised an eyebrow. "Really?" he asked. "Then how did the King's  family find out?"

Brenda was pausing, her eyes not even blinking as if she were fishing for an excuse.

"But then, she seemed to realize that lying was not going to help her out of this one."

"I don't know, Dad," she finally managed to say while staring at the floor. "I really don't know."

The expression on my father's face turned cold and he nodded, saying, "Fine, we will get to the bottom of this. Mark my words.”