Chapter 9 Abandoned
The next morning, my mind was stuck in a haze.
For a moment, I found it hard to believe that I remarried. All of it felt like a sick fantasy but it was real.
I wonder what peace Vince was about to get out of this bond but whatever it was, I had zero strength to fight it.
Sighing, I freshened up and went down the next morning where I found Auntie bidding Uncle goodbye before coming to me happily, pulling me into a side hug.
“Morning, Dear, how are you?”
She was too elated about the wedding because I knew she wanted me to marry into her household as she loved me a lot and wanted a daughter.
She was happy, really happy.
“Fine,”
Unknowingly, my gaze scanned around the place, searching for a certain man who was nowhere to be found.
She noticed and gave my shoulder a soft squeeze.
“Vince had some urgency at work so he left. You were sleeping and he said to not disturb you,”
“I see.”
Trailing off, my lips curled upward but not in a smile as I nodded and went with her to have breakfast.
She saw me twirling my fingers around my dress, consternation creeping on my features and sat beside me, holding my hands in a firm grip.
“Nervous?”
I nodded innocently, “Mhm, I don’t know if it is the right choice or not,”
“I assure you, Alyssa, marrying Vince is not going to be among your regret list,”
To her words, I couldn’t help but to smile emptily, pulling my hand back and continuing eating.
“Even if it turned out to be, I won’t complain, Auntie. For someone who had nothing but regrets in her life, one more won’t harm me,”
“Please don’t be sad from life already. You have a life ahead of you, my dear, you are just 24,”
“I will try, Auntie,”
“One day, everything will get better,”
Although her reassurance did nothing. In my life, I had nothing but pain and remorse for my actions, for my feelings, nothing was beautiful to begin with.
And if it turned out to be another disappointment, I won’t be disappointed.
Later, after breakfast, I stayed in my room for most of the time until Uncle came home and called for me.
“Alyssa, Dear, your Uncle is calling you,”
I went down to see and saw he had freshened up, using his phone in the lounge casually.
“Welcome home, Uncle,”
“Hmm. Come here, child,” He smiled, placing his phone away to turn to me as I sat across from him..
“Yes?”
Exchanging a nervous glance with Auntie, attempting to find the right words to not pierce my already wretched heart, he took a deep breath and started speaking hesitantly.
“Alyssa, I know you went through a lot. And uh.. The betrayal from Ken and being disowned by your family has left a deep impact on your mind,”
To those words, all I could flash was a cold smile.
“Maybe my fate is ill when it comes to love and being loved.”
“Don’t say this. Everything will be fine soon.”
They both encouraged me but I saw nothing of this sort for me anymore. Life had become too worthless for me anyways.
Clearing his throat, Uncle continued, “Anyways, as I was saying, I agree your father must be furious with you but don’t you think of all things… you should tell him about your marriage with Vince?”
Distress crept upon me when I heard it. Forming my lips in a thin line, I wasn’t sure but the way he disgraced me before Vince flashed.
I was begging him to forgive me for my mistakes and take me back but he didn’t listen.
“He is your father. He deserves to know. Maybe that will lessen his anger too?”
“I don’t mind telling him, Uncle, but…”
“But, what?”
“But, I can’t forget that night when I came to him, begged him for acceptance and he… left me,”
My lips quivered, lowering my head in shame, clutching my dress with both hands desperately. I returned after being cheated, after losing it all, but his heart did not melt for his own daughter.
“If Vince hadn’t saved me, or offered this marriage, I would have jumped in front of that truck and end this misery for myself,”
The second I told him in a broken voice, he became stern, disliking the talk of my suicide.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Ups and downs are a part of life. Don’t let one moment of devastation break you,”
Reassuring me, he picked my phone and offered it to me.
“Here, tell him, parents can’t abandon their child,”
I glanced at him and back at the phone, Uncle’s smile evoked some expectations.
Not that I didn’t want to embrace my Papa, parents forgive their children, right? Whatever he said that day, he didn’t actually mean it… right?
Believing it, I knew if Papa would have accepted me, I would have regained my confidence so to attain my lost purpose, I called him, putting it on speaker.
“H-Hello…?”
His stern resonance came, “Why have you called?”
“Papa…,” I gulped, “Are you still angry with me?”
“Angry? I am furious!” He yelled, earning a flinch from me.
“You married Ken and when you got tired of him, you jumped into the arms of another man!? How depraved can you become, Alyssa!?”
“What? What are you talking about, Papa?”
“You sought help from Vince to ‘save’ you from Ken, huh!?”
“What!? No, no, you are wrong-”
My eyes widened, how could he possibly believe his daughter would be so debased. I only loved Ken, of all people, he should know that.
“Where did that love go now!? How low can you possibly fall, huh? And now you are with Vince? Are you planning to ruin him too?!”
Tears filled my eyes when my own father neglected me so heartlessly. The strength, the merest expectation began to die and I was left crestfallen again.
Maybe there was nothing in this world for me after all…
“I can’t believe where my upbringings went wrong that such an… immoral daughter was born in my home.”
“Papa-”
“Don’t ever call me again, I have no relations with you, lady,”
After taking out his wrath on me, Papa cut the call as I sat still with tears glistening on my cheeks. The phone fell on the couch as I lowered my head in shame.
What Uncle and Auntie must be thinking. Did they think I am a whore too?
Gulping, before I could react, Uncle scowled, “How could he say this? I will talk to Greg myself-”
I panicked, rising from my seat, waving my hand in the air to discard further interaction with Father. I couldn’t endure further.
“No! Uncle, please, you won’t… Please,”
“Alyssa, child…”
My lips parted to speak but after being humiliated and heartbroken enough, I ran back to the room, just wanting to hide myself from this world and never step out.
Why is life testing me so badly!?