After Daddy Had Tortured Us

The Learning Of The Past

AUDREY POV

"Unlock your phone and give it to me!" He ordered

After about two minutes, he gave it back. My wallpaper was now one of the pictures that we had just taken, and in my gallery were tons of photos and videos of Mr Watson. There were some in which he was dancing and a lot of funny ones too.

Who would have thought that the eloquent businessman had such a carefree side.

I gave him a puzzled glance and asked, "Why did you replace my Dad's photo?"

"To help make it believable that you're Frederick's daughter," he replied

I don't want to be his daughter. I am content with being my father's. I only did what I did to get accepted.

"Audery, I am not endorsing that behavior of yours, but I need you to play that role for now, and I am assuring you that playing his daughter won't change who your father is.

But I don't want to be a liar or continue lying.

"Sweetheart, you're no longer a liar because you already confessed."

Mr Watson is the one whom I offended. Therefore, until I confessed to him, my confession would be void.

"Listen, Audrey, we will tell him at the appropriate time. Mr Watson isn't himself right now, so if he finds out, he will hate you even more," he said.

Mr Watson doesn't like me? I asked in the saddest tone. In a panic, he tried to modify his statement, but what he said was even worse.

"Audrey, you aren't the only one. It's kids in general."

Oh, my, God! So, in the eyes of the public, Mr Watson portrays himself as Santa, the lover and wish granter of children, but in reality, he's a misopedist? I am deleting these photos. I threatened

"He's not a misopedist, nor is it a case of misopedia. He's under the influence of something powerful."

Ah, is he possessed? I curiously asked

Well, sort of, and he needs a sweetheart like you to help break that enchantment. The best part is if you compile after this, your mom's reputation and everything that is truly hers will be restored.

How is this connected to my Mom's life? I asked

"She used to work as the manager of his company, and she was also considered a family friend. Saddly, after the lawsuit, the chaos began.

What lawsuit? He filed a lawsuit against my mother?

"No, it was your mother who did," he clarified.

My mom.... sued someone?! That's preposterous! Anyway, what was the basis?

"I can't recall what her allegation was."

Were they high school, sweethearts? I asked enthusiastically, hoping my assumption would be confirmed.

"No, they weren't. They were more like nemesis."

Eww, rivals? Well, then it's safe to say that the lawsuit was about his constant intimidation.

"That wasn't her allegation."

Did he try to incriminate her, then?

"No... the allegation was that he forced her into something," he replied, sounding irritated.

What, thing? Was it embezzlement?

"He owned the company. How could he steal from himself?" He asked

That's what the Bible refers to as "the love of money." For instance, some members of the parliament, although very rich, still get involved in such.

"Good point, but he's a very decent person! Can we just forget about the lawsuit and focus on the story, please," he pleaded.

So, as I was saying after the jury—"Oh, I think I know what the lawsuit was about, I interrupted again.

She sued him because—

Please, Audrey...stop.... interrupting, it's disrespectful.

I'm sorry, Uncle Benjamin, but I just can't. If you hadn't noticed, I am a curiosity-driven person. Sometimes, it feels like I have OCPD, you know what it is, right?

"Yes, I know what an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is, but you've to stop, or I will leave," he threatened.

Okay, I promise to stay quiet. But seriously, who remembers an entire story but not the characters' driving force?

If it's something horrible, you don't have to shield me from it. Trust me, I can handle anything," I said convincingly.

"Alright then, I'll tell you, Mr Watson took, advantage of.. her," he said, scrunching his face like someone who just blurted a forbidden word.

So, what's the difference between this and what you said earlier? Oh, I get it. You can't bring yourself to tell me that she was being treated like a slave. I'm just glad she stood up for herself.

"Yeah, I am also glad she did," he said, letting out a "phew." Before continuing;

"As I was saying after the jury ruling, both of them cut ties, which led to your mother quitting her job. However, there was one person who couldn't accept the separation, and that was Trevor, Fredrick, four years ago son.

As someone who's obsessed with English, I knew, that the context, gesture, and mannerisms of the speaker can affect the actual meaning of the word or phase therefore I began to goggle that phrase," but the moment he mentioned Trevor my full attention was drawn back to the conversation forgetting.

"Trevor was so fond of your mother that even though she, Fredrick and his mother weren't on good terms, she was still allowed to spend time with him, taking him to parks, party and the like, and just like always she would return him to his parents in one piece. Unfortunately, on this faithful day after his mother had dropped him off at your mother's two hours later, Fredrick got a call while he and I were together—

—"That his son was poisoned to death," I said, completing his sentence.

"I can see your Mom already told you the story.

She didn't. What mother would want to terrify her child like that?

"I won't call it terrifying since she was innocent. But how did you find out then? He asked.

I learned about it through research, and before you even asked, I didn't confront her because even though I didn't know what kind of relationship she had with the child or his parents, to me she was innocent beyond every reasonable doubts.

Not only because she's my mother, but because no woman who had just found out that she was about to bring a live into existence would think of taking another.

I do agree with you on your Mom being innocent, but she wasn't pregnant at that time. In fact, by then, she hasn't even started seeing your father.

She was very much pregnant, I argued.

Fine, let's not fuss about that. What's important is that we both know that she didn't do it, so let's not lose focus.

So Mr Watson hates me because he thinks my mom murdered his son?

Audrey, Fredrick doesn't hate you or other kids he's afraid of loving kids.

But why?

"Because he believes that if he does, he would be betraying his son. If you don't help him, one day, when he becomes overwhelmed by his grief, he might do something very bad."

"Umm," I would love to do that, but there's just one little thing that might throw this off just a smidge.

And what could that be??

I am not a therapist.

Can't you guys just hire a private investigator or some detective?

"Audrey, a detective, will only uncover the truth, and what Fredrick needs is healing.

You're more than a therapist because you, too, are dealing with a similar situation. You have to love he as if he were the father you lost. It will be difficult you both, but Audery please be the son he lost. I am begging in the name of God."

But what if the school or someone finds out?

"I assure you that no one will, but if they do, I will tell them that it was all my idea," he promised.

"One more thing, Audrey, if your mother was really pregnant at that time, how come we didn't know, and why were you only born about a year after?" He asked. I then responded with a question;

Haven't you heard of cryptic and overdue pregnancies?

"Ouch," a pain hit my scalp as he adjusted the helmet. Did you just pull out a string of my hair?

"Not intentionally, it got entangled with the helmet.

Audrey, I gotta go. I will call you," he ran off even before I had acknowledge.