CHAPTERFIVE
1237 Words
“Speaking of the betrayer, here she comes!” Someone hissed as soon as they walked in.
Mitchelle pressed down on Ava’s hand as soon as she the nerves of her hands bubbling up and down.
“Good…”
“Hold your greetings to yourself.” The eldest in the house spoke, raising his stick up.
The Crystal family was made up of different generations and present were not some of the extended families both legal and illegitimate ones.
The eldest in the family Mr Grey Crystal was Mitchelle's father but he like other turned his back on her when she decided to marry someone below their class.
“Father, I just thought it respectful to greet the eldest.” She said, bowing her hard slightly.
“Hmph! I am not your father. You don't have the right to call me father anymore!” He huffed.
Mitchelle raised her head, looking around carefully for her dad. Among the tens of head gathered in the room, she could not spot her dad. Her dad would never miss out on an issue concerning her.
The one man caught her eyes roaming round the room.
“Searching for your saviour? Haha, well, you'll be doomed today without the help of your saviour.”
“Can't you be a little nice to your granddaughter?”
Everyone turned to look at where the voice came from. What was supposed to come out as a gentle question came out with a rather aggressive tone.
Lines formed on his face, twitching his cheeks as he heard the voice challenge him.
“How dare you speak to the elder that way?” A distant cousin stepped out, raising his voice to challenge Ava who had just spoken.
“And what makes you think you can butt in when I’m speaking, you son of a mistress.” Ava shot back with an evil smile curling at the corner of her lips.
“Yo..uu you…” He could help but stutter and stop as he had being shaken up like a jelly fish.
There were whispers all around the room as the elder stared at Ava with a straight face.
“Enough!” The sound of his stick stomping on the floor called everyone to order.
The elder's face turned red with rage, but he took a deep breath and composed himself. "Enough of this nonsense," he said, his voice firm but controlled. "We have more important matters to discuss."
Mitchelle's eyes narrowed, sensing the tension in the air. She glanced at Ava, who was still smiling sweetly.
The elder cleared his throat and began to spea, "Mitchelle, you have brought shame to our family. Your marriage to that...that..." He spat out the words, his face twisting in disgust. "You have betrayed our trust and our values."
Ava's smile never wavered, but her voice took on a cold, calculating tone. "I think that's enough, Elder Crystal. We're not here to rehash old arguments. We're here to discuss the future of this family."
The elder's eyes flashed with anger, but he seemed to deflate, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Very well," he muttered. "Let us proceed."
“Where is your scumbag of a husband?”
“Where is my dad?” She retorted. Had something bad happened to her father?
“Such insolence! Are you asking me a question in return?”
“I am not trying to disrespect you, father. I am only worried about my dad who is not here.”
“Are you asking because you suddenly care about him? I thought you abandoned him.”
“I never abandoned him.” she protested.
“Save your lies for another day.” he huffed
“Please can you tell me where he is?” She begged pleadingly.
She knew her dad had been battling with some health challenges and she felt bad for not coming to check on him in a long time.
“He’s not dead….” She breathed a sigh of relief on hearing the elder say that but she didn't breathe out to the end when he completed his sentence, “but halfway dead.”
“What have you done to him?” Mitchelle blurted out without realizing it.
All eyes turned on her with every look boring into her soul.
The elder's face turned a deeper shade of red, his eyes bulging with anger. "How dare you!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "You have the audacity to question me about your father's well-being after what you've done to this family?"
Ava's eyes flashed with warning, but Mitchelle didn't notice. She was too focused on the elder, her heart racing with fear and worry for her father.
"I just want to know what's going on with my dad," Mitchelle said, her voice shaking. "Please, just tell me."
The elder's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained cold. "Your father's health has been...declining. He's been bedridden for weeks, and the doctors say it's only a matter of time before..."
Mitchelle's eyes widened in horror, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was stare at the elder, her mind reeling with the implications of what he was saying.
“Can I go see him? I need to see him.”
“Not until you answer all my questions.” He huffed, stomping his stick on the floor.
“If it's about Drew and I, we are done.”
“Do you think I called to ask about your stupid relationship with him? I don't care if you're divorced or separated.”
“If it's not about Drew, then what is it about?”
“When would you pay back the money you took from the family?”
“Which money?”
“Don't play dumb here.”
“I don't get you, father. The money I took is under my shares.”
“And who gave you the right to the shares in the company?”
She kept mute, obviously seeing herself being corner by this cunny elder.
“Answer me! Who have you the shares?”
“Fine, let me answer it for you. I gave you the shares and I have the right to withdraw it whenever I want. It's not like you are a major shareholder or core member in the family so it's a piece of meat for me.”
“How about settling it some other time with me, elder Crystal?” Ava interrupted.
She was tired of the arguing back and forth and she could read from her friend’s body language that she wanted to go see her dad immediately.
“Miss Ava, this is a family issue.” The elder started, clearing his throat.
“Oh, I see… since it's family, you'll be losing the chance for a great deal.”
“Fine.” He stated, swallowing his pride.
Ava smiled sweetly, her eyes glinting with triumph. "I'm sure we'll come to a mutually beneficial agreement, Elder Crystal. But for now, I think Mitchelle needs to see her father."
The elder's face darkened, but he nodded curtly.
Mitchelle's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit back her retort. She was more concerned about her father's health than about arguing with the elder.
She turned her back on everyone, dusting her feet at the door. This might probably be her last time here.
- Writer
