CHAPTER 43(Chapter 41)
“No, I can’t. “, I said, “I won’t. I won’t join you in a fight against Justin all because of an enmity started by our fathers eighteen years ago. I will not ruin mine and Justin’s life just to avenge Dad’s death. “, I said boldly.
I gathered enough strength to pull myself together. I took her hands away from mine and stood up.
“I will not do that D. I won’t jeopardize my future and that of my family over a stupid feud.”, I said.
Madison stared at me with disbelief and disgust. She scoffed, kissed her teeth, and rolled her eyes.
” I knew it. I just knew it . I know you only think about yourself . I know how selfish you are “, she said, “For once Christen, can you not think about yourself alone?”, she asked with a look of disdain.
” This same man you are rooting for, Justin is the son of your father, my father, our father’s murderer “, she said, “Are you not ashamed of having a bond with him ? Are you not choking with guilt? Think about Mother, the poor woman is living in pain every day just because of The Dankos. You left home all because of the trauma of the death of our father. Our family was torn apart just because of how selfish and callous Ezra was and here you are supporting and loving his son.”, she railed at me. Then she grabbed my shoulders again and looked me in the eye.
” Who are you, Christen? Where is the Christen that loved me, that loved father wholeheartedly? Where is the Christen that was willing to go hours without food just to prove a point to father? “, she asked me, “We were so little but all those memories are still stuck in my head. I guess you forgot it all, lost in your new life. How selfish”, she said accusingly.
“Enough!”, I yelled at her and threw her hands off me, “I have listened to you speak but now you will listen. I haven’t forgotten anything. I remember everything, more than you do. But what do you want me to do? Ruin Justin’s life when he has done nothing wrong to me? Ruin his mother and sister’s life who did nothing but love me? Ruin my children’s life by ruining their father’s?”, I asked her. ” Answer me dammit! You tell me?”, I asked again.
Madison and I got into a heated argument, both parties speaking what they felt was right but none willing to come to a compromise.
I understood Madison’s pain but I couldn’t do it.
” Please D, please just think this through and do what is right. “, I begged her, “I understand you, I understand your quest for revenge, I understand everything, your pain, your fear. I understand everything please, don’t let your quest for revenge blind you from the truth, please “, I pleaded with her.
“Would Father want us to do this?”, I moved closer to her and cupped her face in my hands affectionately.
“You have no idea what Father wants, ” she said softly and took a step away from me. “You don’t understand my pain”, she said with tears welling up in her eyes, “Stop trying to cuddle me away from my pain. I have dealt with it for years and I can deal with it today without you “, she said to me.
“Madison…. “, I called as I tried to move closer again but she stepped back.
“Justin is going to get what’s coming to him.”, she said with determination in her voice.
“Mummy ?” Aiden called out .
“Aunt Maddy ?” Amelia did too.
“What’s going on? Where is Daddy?”, Aiden asked.
“He said he was going to stay awhile with me. I miss him,” Amelia added.
“Tell Daddy not to leave us again .”, Aiden said.
“Daddy will be home soon okay?”, I said to him, “I will tell him just that”, I added as I knelt in front of him with a smile. I didn’t want my children to see the ugly part of my siblings. It was easier to pretend with a smile.
When Madison saw that I was occupied with the kids, she picked up her bag and walked out the door.
I was scared. Scared of what step Disson was going to take. Scared for Justin’s life. Disson was blinded with anger that she was ready to take drastic steps just to satisfy her quest for revenge. She was willing to go the extra mile and I wasn’t ready for whatever was coming.
Justin needed to know what was going on. He needed to be alerted and if it was possible to hide, he needed to stay safe. Far away from Madison’s eyes.
I called him up but he wasn’t picking up my calls. I called over and over again just to have a word with him but I didn’t get through. My anxiety was creeping in, it was getting late and Madison I tried to call to reason with but it was all the same. She didn’t pick up.
“Did she do something to him? Has she gotten to him? Why? Why isn’t Justin picking up my calls? Where is he?”, I thought as my imagination kept conjuring the most terrifying scenarios.
So many questions kept me pacing up and down my room worriedly. I couldn’t take it anymore.
The tension, the anxiety, everything was tearing me apart. It felt like a storm inside my head.
I knew if I stayed a little longer, I would end up dying of anxiety.
I picked up my bag and took a scarf from my wardrobe. My hair was a mess and In just a few hours of the discovery I had become a mess too.
My eye bags told me how stressed I was. It told a story that my mouth couldn’t tell.
Just said he had a meeting. Maybe he was occupied with that, I thought. He never ignored my calls no matter how busy he was. I thought again. My mind fought to come to terms with one reasonable explanation.
I decided I was going to go to his office. If he wanted to face Madison’s wrath then he needed to know what he was going to suffer for. And he needed to know now.
I rushed out of the house, impatiently waiting at the bus stop for a taxi. After a long while , filled with impatient wait, I got one. A taxi I wouldn’t have boarded if I was in my right frame of mind.
The driver was reeking of alcohol, and there were two men seated beside me dressed shabbily like thugs. I was uncomfortable with the whole set up but that was the least of my problems.
All I needed was to get to my destination safely and meet Justin.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Justin’s office. I hopped out of the car and rushed into the reception. Trying to keep cool when I truly wasn’t.
” Good day, I’m here to see your boss, Justin,” I said to the receptionist.
“Do you have an appointment with him ?”, she asked me.
“I.. don’t…I mean I do.”, I stuttered. An obvious lie. I didn’t. But If I had told her I didn’t, she would have probably told me he wasn’t around or to come back another time. I couldn’t take that chance.
“I’m sorry Ma’am but you missed him.”, she said, “Mr. Justin left the office a few hours ago.”, she explained.
“What? He .. he said he had a meeting and I…. “, I stuttered in between my words.
Being told Justin left the office only increased my anxiety. He wasn’t safe in the office either. I knew there was a possibility but I still would have preferred him there.
“The meeting was postponed.”, the receptionist said, “You can come back some other time or just reschedule. “, she informed me.
” Alright, thank you “, I said as I headed back to the entrance.
“Oh, my God, Justin….”, I whispered and hurriedly left.
I had only one option left. His house. I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. It’s been years since I last stepped into his house and today, I was on the verge of going back there.
The emotions were too overwhelming for me but I didn’t think about myself. I thought about only him.
Justin was my top priority.
I found myself standing in front of his house like a statue. Deciding whether to go in or just turn around.
The atmosphere was a whole different one for me. The cool breeze brought memories, memories of the past. I remembered stepping into his house. I remembered all the good memories. All the bad days just left like it never happened.
My legs stuck to the ground and my eyes glanced through the environment. I tried his number again, but it still didn’t go through. The next minute, I found myself standing inside the house.
It was quiet and calm. Like no one was in.
” Justin? Justin, Justin” I called out.
The house was unusually quiet. The calm and quiet scared me. I kept calling out his name over and over again till I saw him walking down the stairs.
A heavy sigh of relief I breathed. I was relieved. He was okay.
“Justin !”, I ran towards him and met him on the stairs.
“Easy Isabelle, you are here ?”, Justin asked as he was surprised and at the same time shocked to see me in his house after a long time.
‘Are you okay? Why didn’t you pick up your calls? You got me worried. Where were you? The office, I couldn’t find you there.”, I blabbered on and on while Justin stood still, looking at me silently with a smile on his face.
It’s been a while since he saw me tensed about him. The smile on his face said it all.
“Why are you smiling? I’m freaking out and all you can do is smile?”, I asked in an annoyed tone.
“I’m sorry. ” He said softly, “I was too busy and my phone wasn’t with me. I’m sorry I got you worried”, he apologized.
“You don’t get it. Your life is in danger. I…I think you need to know something. I don’t know what Madison is going to do.”, I said to him.
“Madison? What is going on?”, he asked.
“Just listen to me. You were wondering why she said all those words to you”, I said, “Justin, Ezra, your father Is my father’s murderer”, I revealed to him
“My father, your father? What are you even saying?”, he asked looking perplexed.
‘Just listen to me please “, I said to him, ” Eighteen years ago, your father and mine were business partners. One thing led to another and he hired assassins to eliminate him”, I told him.
“I left home, and my family was torn apart. My mom’s Mental health…Madison has been filled with anger and pain ever since. She made a vow to ruin the Danko’s and today she found out that you are his son. She wants to ruin you. I don’t know what she is going to do to you Justin and I’m scared I won’t be able to stop her. I’m scared for you. I can’t stop this war, I can’t stop it. Justin, I’m scared. “, I said to him with my fingers all fidgety.