Claimed By My Father’s Creditor

Eva woke up that morning with bright eyes and a wide smile written all over her face. She was so excited, not just because she had graduated from high school, but because she was finally going home to meet her parents. She had actually missed being treated like a princess and couldn't wait to be in her father's arms and be showered with all the love that comes with being an only child. She had planned to surprise her parents by showing up unexpectedly at home, so she did not inform them about her coming. Just when she was about to get out of bed, her phone began to ring. She reached for her side table to get it and behold it was her mom who was calling. For a moment she hesitated to pick "Could they have found out I'm coming home today?” she thought. But she brushed it off. “Let me hear what she has to say” “Eva dear, how are you” “ I'm fine mom, how are you and how is dad?” “We are doing fine” “How was your graduation ceremony yesterday “ “Everything went well, mom” “When are you coming home?” Eva smiled “Soon mom” “When? You should come home immediately, so your dad and i can celebrate our graduate” Eva smiled “Mom, I want to spend a few days with one of my classmates before returning home” Her mother was disappointed, she had hoped Eva would come home immediately after the ceremony. But her father had simply said, "Take your time dear." They had no idea she was already on her way. After the call ended, she heaved a sign of relief. “They never found out that I would be coming today. So the surprise was still intact”. She reached for her box, brought out some items and carefully began to wrap them. There were gifts she had bought for her parents. For her mother, she had bought a beautiful necklace and a delicate perfume she had saved for months to afford. For her father, she had bought a wristwatch. It wasn't expensive. But she had chosen it carefully. Her father had once told her that a good watch was more than an accessory. "It reminds you that time is precious," he had said. She had remembered those words. And now she couldn't wait to give it to him. When she was done wrapping the gifts, she brought out her beautiful blue dress that she had specifically bought for today and began dressing up. She sang beautifully all along. After she was done dressing, she brought out her boxes and headed to the exit gate. She stepped out of the campus looking all bright and radiant and boarded a taxi that would take her home. The taxi moved slowly. Eva sat at the back and leaned against the window watching the city pass by. The route was a very familiar one. It was the same route she normally take whenever she was resuming school and at the end of every semester while going home. She had changed so much in the past few years, but somehow everything around her looked exactly the same. The little grocery store at the corner where she usually visits with her mum to shop household items. The old church where they worship, opposite the pharmacy. The dusty volleyball court where she and her childhood friends used to spend their evenings playing volleyball. Even the large mango tree near her family's street was still there. Eva smiled. This is home. She imagined walking through the front door and shouting, "Surprise!" She almost laughed but stopped. The taxi driver noticed and glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "You look happy." "Yes." "It seems you've been away for a while?" "Not really, just excited to be home again." "Then, someone must be waiting for you." "Yes.. My parents." The driver smiled. "They must be very happy to see you." "They don't even know I'm coming." He laughed. "Ah! This is a surprise then?" Eva grinned. "Exactly." As the driver turned to their street, Eva's excitement grew stronger. She sat upright and looked ahead, she was just a few meters away from her family's compound. She spotted the familiar gray-colored gate. The short concrete wall. The flower pots her mother always complained about because Eva kept forgetting to water them whenever she visited. Everything looked normal. Eva's smile widened. "That's my house." The driver slowed down. But before he could stop completely, Eva noticed something.. A large shiny black SUV suddenly came out of the compound. Eva stared. Another black vehicle followed. Then another. Three expensive vehicles moved out of their compound one after another unto the road. The first SUV accelerated immediately. The second followed closely behind. And the third nearly brushed against the taxi as it drove past. Eva instinctively leaned toward the window and watched as they drove past them. She watched them disappear around the corner. Suddenly the excitement in her eyes vanished. She knew that definitely wasn't their neighbor. She knew no one in her father's circle drove those kinds of cars. She also knew that all his business associates usually come with company cars. So who were those people? The SUVs were luxurious, neat and completely unfamiliar. “Maybe they are new business partners,” she thought. She was slowly becoming worried but brushed it off immediately. She had carefully planned this surprise and didn't want anything to distract her. She told the taxi driver to stop and he pulled over at a corner. She paid him, took her boxes and headed towards the gate. The gate was still opened when she entered. Everything seemed alright. But as she advanced towards the door, she noticed that the front door was opened, something her parents never did. Her mom always made sure the door was closed at all times. She walked through the door and noticed that everything was in order. The sofas neatly arranged, their family portrait hanging perfectly on the wall, but then the house was unusually quite. She was a bit scared “Mom, dad” she called, but no one responded. She walked towards the staircase, but stopped halfway. She had noticed a file scattered on the floor close to the dining table. She bent down and picked it. It contained some documents she could not really understand but saw one whose heading had her father's company name - Sterling Crest Development Company Ltd. This was very strange, her father was very careful with his office documents and never leaves them flying around, so why was this one scattered on the floor? She brought out her phone and dialed her mother's number, but it wasn't reachable. This was unusual, they always had electricity in the house. So why was her phone not reachable? Where could she be? She arranged the documents and placed the file on the table. Just as she was about going upstairs, she saw some broken glasses on the floor, a cup had been broken, she also noticed some drops of blood on the floor. Then her fear instantly rose, she felt a cold shiver down her spine. “What happened here? Where is mom and dad?” Asking no one in particular. She was visibly trembling and then quickly ran upstairs.