A TYCOON'S PROPOSAL

Memories

CHAPTER FIVE:

Growing up, both Yuri and Mitchell watched their mother get beaten up everyday by their father. The man didn't only hit his wife, he cheated and he contributed nothing to the family. It wasn't always like that, they once lived happily till Mitchell turned 4. Their father thought he was landing a job, a huge one at that, one that would forever change their lives but it was all a scam.

It started out with him keeping late nights, getting drunk, betting and when mom couldn't take it any longer, she confronted her husband. But that was the start of her abuse.

Yuri's lashes fluttered, and her eyes opened. She shut them back just as she opened them, then, slowly opened it again. She tilted her head to the side, taking in her surroundings. Hospital. How could Mitchell bring her to the hospital? Is there even money to pay the bills? Silly girl. She thought.

"Yuri!"Mitchell gasped, rushing into the room. She was literally jumping. "You gave me a scare. Never try that again"Mitchell said, sitting beside her.

"What happened?"Yuri asked, trying to sit. Mitchell helped her up, placing a pillow behind her for support.

"You suddenly started finding it difficult to breathe while we were arguing. Then, you passed out. You should learn to stop shouting and stressing yourself, it's bad for your asthma"Mitchell said.

Yuri laughed. "You're the cause of it. You're a handful and you never let me rest"she coughed

"That's why I have to leave the house. I don't wanna see your face every morning and the house holds so many bad memories"Mitchell grumbled

"Then where will you go? To Henry's? You're not living with your boyfriend if that's what you have in mind"

"It's just for a while, till I get my own place"Mitchell faced down

"Till you get your own place? Last I checked, you're broke, don't have a job and you're even in debts. Don't think I'm letting you go without paying me. You're delusional"Yuri hissed

"Let's get you checked out first then. You look totally fine for someone gasping for breathe hours ago"Mitchell replied and began standing.

"With what money? You stole again? From who this time?"

"No one. Granny May paid it already. I just have to sign some papers and we can go"

"Why'd you let her pay? She has alot on her hands already"

"Then get up, get to work and pay her back. You're the one she paid for anyways."Mitchell hissed and walked away.

"That darn girl. She's growing a lotta wings these days."

Mitchell signed the papers and Yuri was allowed to leave the hospital.

"I'm stopping by the center today"Mitchell said as they walked out of the hospital.

"Oh!"Yuri mouthed

"Just oh! When will you grow balls to see mum? She doesn't even hate you and I hate that"

"When will you grow balls to visit dad too? He misses you"

"Did he tell you that? Like from his grave?"Mitchell faced her. Yuri turned too.

"Are we about to fight again? Finish were we left off?"she raised a brow. Mitchell smirked.

"Don't pass out this time though. Good thing we're not far from the hospital"

"Mitch..."

"No. Visit mom, and you can call me that. That was mom's pet name for me anyways. You're not allowed to call me that"

"I told you, didn't I? I'm too ashamed to see mom. I turned a blind eye to all the beatings from dad. Even when the cops got a wind of it and asked questions, I had lied that I knew nothing about it. I was supposed to be mom's witness but I was too scared to say a word. I was scared I'd get sent to the orphanage like you. I was a coward and I'm still am"Yuri said

"Then why do you still pay respects to dad? Why? You should hate him just like me. He sent me to an orphanage when I was just five because unlike you, I wasn't going to let him hit mom. He knew my loud mouth would one day, invite the cops so he sent me away instead"

"He's still our father nonetheless. And I'll always remember him for the man he was once, not the man he was before death. I'm sorry to disappoint you again, Mitchell. I'm sorry but I don't think I'm worthy of visiting Mom"Yuri muttered and started to walk away.

Mitchell stood still, staring as Yuri walked without looking back. Tears rolled out her eyes as she remembered a part of her childhood.

Flashback

Their father is at it again, he's beating up his wife, not minding that the kids are watching. Their mom sat on the floor, hands to her face as she tried to protect it. She could wear long sleeves and turtle necks and trousers to cover the bruises on her body but she can't cover the ones on her face since she doesn't even have make ups to conceal them. So, anytime she's getting beaten up like this, she always protects her face.

Yuri's bending at a corner, covering her ears and crying loudly. She's shaking her head too and constantly inhaling from her inhaler so she doesn't get an asthma attack. Mitchell on the other hand, is standing beside Yuri, her small fists are folded. She's not crying, just staring and as she stared, she had different thoughts. She's only five but she's like the smartest kid.

She had this friend who had an older brother who loved watching crime movies. Five years old Mitchell would always tag along to watch such dramas with the boy who didn't care that such movies were not for a five years old. Because of that, she was already exposed to such things and when her dad started beating her mom when she was four, she knew what was going on.

Still standing beside Yuri, she sighted her mom's tailoring scissors and she wasted no time in grabbing it. Before anyone knew what she wanted to do with it, she already stabbed her father on the leg. The man yelped out, and turned around. He grabbed her hair, and threw her towards the end of the room. She passed out immediately.

By the time she woke up, she found herself at Hope orphanage with Granny May, tending to her wounds. She was told her father brought her here and asked that she never comes home again. That was the last time she set eyes on her father till today.

"Even in death, I wish never to come across that man. That's why I must leave the house no matter what. I won't keep staying in a house that holds such memories.