14| The debt

"There's absolutely nothing to talk about, Triana." My father,

Dr. Robert Jefferson, blandly answered without looking at me twice.

Are you so sure about that dear father? I scoffed nastily and grabbed the file he was signing before tossing it aside.

"That was a patient's document." His eyes widely opened.

"And I don't give a fuck!" Am ready to rip someone apart with my present kinda mood. "Now, you'll give me attention. For the last time dad, what agreement do you have with the Calloway's?"

"It's none of your business." He stood up, fixing his glasses. "And it'll be best for you to get back to work."

I think this man thinks am here for play or comedy. He hasn't seen the bad side of me since I was a kid, maybe because am a quiet being but today, not just him but everyone will witness my madness.

Am going to make sure, I display it to all of them, including Leo. He still own me an explanation. What did he meant by the words MY FIANCÉE and AM ALREADY BOUGHT?

Hehehe, I see heads rolling. I see blood flowing like a stream. Someone..... definitely one person will have his or her FUNERAL done today.

And I don't mind taking the service and songs.

"I just rounded up with college," I began to bring back the past. "I haven't smelled life yet then you handed me for marriage to a family I barely knew?"

"It's no longer called BARELY," He quoted with his fingers. "You and Leo already has three wonderful kids and that what matters."

"That's a big lie from the pit of hell. We only had kids because you and his family needed grandbabies urgently." I challenged him, fiercely.

"That was because...I thought you were gonna be infertile like your mom." Silence greeted us at once. I paused, my eyes opened like I haven't heard that word in my life before.

"You thought....?" I ended up whispering the words.

He took a deep breath, roaming around the room with both hands tucked into the pockets of his white coats as he began to explain what he just said.

"Years ago before you were born, your mother and I.....to cut it short it was almost decades after our marriage, still no kids coming. As a medical surgeon, I fished out the issue and found out that the fault was coming from her direction. I thought of something good and suggested we have to part ways. But before then, I tried someone else. Your stepmother" That's the witch, Fiona Jefferson. "She populated my life with kids but....it was so unfortunate your mother realized she was three weeks pregnant with you after our divorce."

So even mom is not trusted.

I can't believe she lied to me. She told me I was just five when she and my father parted ways.

"I was impatient with her—"

"Stop!" I interrupted his long stories. "You know what? Just stop, please." I rub my temples, trying hard to console myself. My life is such a huge mess. "I can't believe my family problems are weighing same size as my marriage too." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, sniffed my nose, then I opened it, not knowing it has turned red already. "All I want to know is how I was bought by the Calloway's." I wiped my eyes, "Tell me how you sold me to the Calloway's."

My dad was stunned. I believe he's still wondering how on earth did I found out about that little secret.

After a little moment which seem like a long while, he answered, explaining. "It was a deal after the debt I owed."

Jesus is lord.

Oh my God.

Oh my goodness, I can't...I can't believe my...holy Mary mother of Christ. This is preposterous.

"You sold me in replacement of the debt you owe?" My father couldn't answer anymore. He was downcasted as he slump on his seat. "Wait a minute, did you just say, I was used in exchange of a..... fucking hell!" I kicked the desk, throwing everything on the desk to the ground.

"Triana, try to calm down. You're ruining my stuffs."

"Oh you don't dare to tell me to calm down." Tears ran down my eyes. "You have no idea what I've been digesting in that house. You sold me to the devil."

"The deal has nothing to do with Leo. It was between his father, Edward and I." He pointed out, trying to defend my husband.

My brows rose, there, a nastily laugh ran out of my mouth. I clapped my hands, dramatically. "So, I was sold to the devil's son. Haven't I read that book once? Married to the devil's son? Holy cow. This should have been too fake to be called real. How much is the money?" Am ready to pay at all cost so far it ends my relationship with that bastard. "Tell me and I'll forward it to you right now, right here."

"Back then when I owed him, I couldn't pay so I made a deal with him. Then, I haven't achieved all these. We went to the same college, I couldn't pay my school bills, he helped me so many times, though he was richer than me and I promised to pay back, so.... I told him, if he had a son and I had a daughter in the future, they'll get married in return of what I owed him."

My head is spilling upsidedown. I think am seeing double. The room is hot. Am sweating badly. I need to get a grip. I need air. I need to clear my head. I can't believe my own father could do this to me.

But why are men always like this? Is this how my stepbrother Shawn Todd would be too? I hope not because his girlfriend, Nina Dobrev would only end up suffering like me.

So these are probably the reasons why Leo treats me like a goat?

I left his office without standing for the next minute. If I wait in there for one second, I'll suffocate and die of breathlessness.

**************

First of all, I went to pick my kids from school after I left my father's hospital. I told Alyssa what happened and she was fumed.

She's not a neutral person or a stranger to me anymore. She accompanied me to my mother's place. Currently, I've made up my mind. I quit this marriage, I quit my job as a nurse in my father's hospital. I can go work somewhere else. I want to leave my life like the way I used to when I was a young girl without someone telling me how to live my life.

"I'm not returning to that mansion, mom. I've made up my decision. I quit."

"You can't, darling."

"Why?" Alyssa frowned at my mother.

She sighed and turned her face to grandma Sabrina. And my grandma chimed in, "You think it's that easy, Tria?" She smiled, placing Isabella to sit on her lap. "You see that hospital you assumed to be your father's, isn't his. It's given to him by Edward Calloway. The Calloway has invested so much in that from day one."

"Do I look like I care if they pull out their investments?" I try not to laugh. "Why are you guys doing this to me? Do you think I've been happy in that marriage for twelve years? We had kids out of lust. There's no love attached between us. Get it?"

"Easier said." Shawn walked in, holding hands with Billy and Becca. They settled on the couch opposite mine. Isn't he supposed to be in class having lectures? As far as am concerned, him and his girlfriend studies in NYU.

I rolled my eyes and Alyssa came whispering something giggling in my ears. "How come I never realize how gorgeous your brother was?"

I gave her the 'WILL YOU BEHAVE? YOU'RE ENGAGED AND SO MUCH OLDER THAN HIM' look.

"I....I um.....," I battled to let the words out. "I want to fly us away from here." All eyes pointing at me. Silence engraved us for a while.

"To where?" Mom broke the silence. "And what about Shawn's studies?"

I didn't wait for her to finish. "He'll continue here and join us later in Switzerland."

"Switzerland?!" They gasped in unison.

"With what money?" Grandma was the first to push the button.

I smiled. "I have more than enough for everyone.

"This is not gonna happen." Mom stood up, going against my opinion. She pointed a warning finger at me and I swore I've never seen this side of her before. "You're leaving your marriage to go far away, huh? You think that's the option? By wrecking your marital home?"

It's already wrecked after seeing Leo cheating on me earlier today." I retaliated. She can't be the only one insane here. When two people are mad, one is noted to be crazier than the other and that's me. "I caught him fucking another woman on the hospital bed."

"That's nothing, you hear me?" Mom gritted her teeth. "I've seen many in my life and I tell you, it's what keeps a woman strong. If she can't save her home after witnessing that shit then, she's not qualified to be called a woman."

"Oh, you mean, like you?" I scoffed, her eyes bugged at me. Alyssa quickly got up and covered my mouth from speaking any further.

I jerked Alyssa's hand off my mouth, "You call yourself a woman, but you couldn't even save your relationship with dad. You let another woman squeeze your man out of your hands, right under your nose." I inched close to her and said to her face, "If not that you're my mother, I'd have address you as SHAMELESS!" I turn towards my kids, "Billy, Becca, Bella, let's go."

I took my kids and we left.

Alyssa grabbed her bag and I heard her telling my mom before leaving with me, "I'll talk some senses into her."