TORN AND REJECTED.
“Mum, another one.” Tom opened his mouth for a snack known as “Chin Chin”, at least that was what Kira said the name was.
Even though tonight was their first time seeing and eating it, it was so tasty. When Evelyn inquired about it, her friend said it was a Nigerian-made snack that was made by a colleague of hers so she decided to share hers.
Evelyn put another one as requested by Tom into his mouth while they continued watching the news. Tom saw no need to watch it as he busied himself with playing games on his mum’s iPad. Evelyn felt so relaxed and happy when something popped up on the screen, and her smile faded away just as it did three years ago.
On the screen was her father’s picture, the name of her family, and a picture of their company.
“… it’s been observed by our media personalities that the company that is being headed by a famous businessman, Hezekiah Johnson, has been going through an internal turmoil based on the fact or excuse that for the past three years or so, the company hasn’t been able to come up with strategic plans or new designs whereby a lot of beginners in this system of business are leading further from Mr. Hezekiah’s company. What could be the reason? Let’s listen to one of the former shareholders of this company…” The newscaster said with a smile and the view was changed.
Evelyn’s eyes hardened as she flashbacks to the past.
THREE YEARS AGO.
Pah!
That was no other than the slap Evelyn received from her father. She staggered backward as tears filled her eyes. She looked at her father who was looking down on her furiously.
“How disgraceful! I knew that you were a bastard from the first day I set my eyes on you. Even when I thought that you were going to make me proud and conceal my thoughts, you made a mess instead, how relatable just like your mother!” Johnson barked at her and proceeded in wanting to slap her face but his wife Jessica held his hand while Evelyn shifted back, she was sobbing so hard.
“Darling, you should calm down, okay? Think of your health as a major and not what she has done. I understand that you needed the marriage to work between them because you want the best for her but poor her [looked at Evelyn with fake sympathy], she doesn’t see the need for you to do it. She doesn’t appreciate it.”
This riled up Johnson’s anger and he proceeded to hurt Evelyn more with his words.
“Can you just hear that? I have tried my best for you, what else do you want, you bastard?”
“Love,” Evelyn yelled back and it got the parents by surprise. She broke down in tears as she tried forming words to defend herself.
“I need love and care…I need your love and care.”
“Are you trying to say that I don’t care for you? If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have allowed you to stay in my house.” Johnson shouted at her.
“It is our house, father! Our house, it belonged to my mother in the first place and I have every right to be in here, with or without your permission. And yes, you don’t care about me because if you did, you wouldn’t want to make me your transaction for business with your partner. You don’t even know how much I suffer and how hard…how hard I try to prove myself every day to you that I can be your best and favorite child but you are always blinded by Ruby’s childishness. Even when she is so full and has nothing to offer or contribute to the family’s business, you still follow her and do what she wants you to as if you are her servant.” Evelyn spoke with anger.
Jessica left her husband’s side and walked closer to her stepdaughter in a fierce manner but Evelyn didn’t retreat for once neither did she show any sign of fear. Why should she be afraid of the witch who ruined her whole happy family in the first place?
“I am impressed.” Jessica chuckled and then slapped Evelyn.
“But then I am also disappointed at how ‘bastardly’ you are. You open that stinky mouth of yours and refer to your father as your sister’s servant, are you not the one using your father as a tool in cleaning every mess that you make? Is this the first mess or failure or disgrace or disappointment that you have brought to this family? No, you have such worthless bad luck, you made your father clean after your mess so, in real talk, you are the one using your father as a servant.
Moreover, Ruby is your younger sister and the baby of the house so she is expected to be treated like a princess more than you. You are her elder sister therefore you are meant to take care of everything on behalf of your father and not just dump the responsibility of guilt on him.” Jessica scolded.
Evelyn’s face turned pale as she was finding it hard to contain her anger.
“You are here defending your daughter, professing how great she is when you are either pretending not to know or you aren’t aware of your sweet and innocent daughter’s misconduct at all. The main reason I ended the relationship with Jade was that I caught him cheating on me with Ruby in the hotel room.”
“What!” Johnson was stunned and felt like he just heard the most horrible news ever. Jessica looked at her husband nervously.
“No, darling. Don’t listen to her.” She tried dissuading her.
“Shush.” Johnson silenced her and walked closer to Evelyn.
“What did you just say?” Johnson asked his daughter.
Evelyn looked at Jessica with a scornful look, finally, she was about to get the upper hand. She looked at her father tearfully.
“I caught Ruby with Jade that morning. It was mis…”
Pah!
Another slap landed on her cheek.
“What are you even doing in a hotel? Don’t you know the reputation of this family? Do you want to soil it?”
Evelyn looked at her father with disbelief, “Father…”
“Shut it! I am not done talking. Don’t you know how hard I have trained you and you just want to ruin it by going to a hotel? What were you doing there, huh? Oh, you have turned yourself into a slut, huh? Now you want to push the blame on your sister? Wow, you are so cunning. I still can’t believe that you claim to be my daughter.”
Jessica’s lips curled up behind her husband as her eyes met with Evelyn’s. Evelyn couldn’t even believe what was happening, the whole situation had escalated more than she expected. Nevertheless, she tried explaining again.
“Father, you aren’t even getting the point. You are saying something else…”
“Enough! Are you trying to say that your father does not know what he is saying? Like he is mad?” Jessica interrupted.
“I am so done with your behavior. I need you to pack all your belongings and move out of this house this instant!.” Johnson ordered.
Evelyn was shocked that she slumped down to the ground, her whole body trembled and it felt like her brain was starting to malfunction. She looked at her father.
“You want me to…”
“If you refuse to leave, I will make you leave. At least, try to be obedient to your father for once this time around.” Jessica said.
“But I…”
“Not another word! Jessy, help her pack up and make sure you don’t step your dirty legs in here. I disown you as my daughter.”
“FATHER, NOOOO!!!!” Evelyn screamed but Johnson only turned his back against her and walked away.
Evelyn hit the ground in tears and pain. What had gotten into her father? He just…he just disowned her over such a petty issue that she wasn’t even at fault for.
As she was crying hard, pleading not to make her leave, Jessica walked around her.
“Poor unfortunate soul…in pain…in need.” She chanted the line.
“Mother…mother, please, help me speak to father on my behalf. Help me apologize to him. I promise to do anything that you want me to do but please, tell him not to disown me. I can’t leave with that, please.” She pleaded tearfully.
Jessica laughed, ” So now, you need my help after saying bad things about my daughter in front of her father? That’s now how the world works, my dear. I am a mother and an enemy of my daughter is considered my enemy too.”
“You are the reason why all of this is happening…you are! You despicable witch!” Evelyn blurted out.
“I know…I know, I just don’t feel the need to be remorseful as I am taking what belongs to me in the first place.”
PRESENT TIME.
Tom looked at his mother when he noticed that he had opened his mouth for the past few seconds yet he wasn’t given any Chin Chin to eat. She was crying and he was confused. Why was she crying?
“Mommy, why are you crying?” He touched her shoulder and Evelyn looked at him then wiped her face with a smile.
“I am just glad to have you here with me, my son. I am just glad.” She whispered and kissed his forehead.
TBC…