Who To Blame?

Grace took another step backwards. "Will he hit me?" she thought.

She turned to Steph and said, "Let's go."

"Wait," Mr. Chen said. He sighed and smiled at her. "How have you been? Are you living a good life now?"

His question surprised her; all she could do was nod. This man, whom she considered her father, had treated her worse than a slave.

"Don't leave; let's have a meal together."

"I am sorry...."

"Please, just one meal," he said, joining his hands and pleading.

Left with no other choice, they all occupied a table, and the hotpot was served with some drinks; no one ate.

Grace didn't even stare at her dad. "I understand why you left home; I do."

"I am glad you do."

"I am the worst father alive," he cursed, and Grace chuckled.

"That's not true; you are not the worst father alive. You are just a bad father to me."

"After all, he treats Nora nicely," she thought.

"I am happy you are living a great life; that house was torture for you."

Steph was shocked by his words; even Grace couldn't believe it. He took the chopsticks, picked some meat, and placed it on Grace's plate.

"You should eat."

After contemplating for a while, she decided to eat with the thought that the food wasn't poisoned as it was cooked by the restaurant.

"How is school?"

"Good" she answered.

"No matter what, you shouldn't stop school okay? And you should visit the doctor regularly. For your illness"

She dropped her chopsticks, she hated to be reminded about the fact that she was sick and wasn't going to make it.

"Did you hate my mother?" she couldn't help but ask, because why? why will he treat his very own daughter this way?

"Of course not, your mom was…she was cool"

He couldn't even pretend to say nice things about her "For three days mother didn't come back from work, I was scared because I didn't know about my other relatives"

"Then a man came to me, he had a message from my mom saying I should stay with my dad temporarily and she will be back for me"

She clenched her fist, its been three years and her mom didn't show up.

"I was so mad at her, but I was also excited to meet my dad. I had always wanted to meet my dad, it was a stormy night when I arrived at your doorstep"

"The first thing you did was to do a DNA test and claimed that it's because my mother was a whore"

"Grace…" he didn't want her to keep talking.

"After it was confirmed that I was indeed your daughter, I was happy about being with you and having a sister. But you let your wife show me to the kitchen, I still remember her words"

"A kitchen is too comfortable for a whore's daughter, so be grateful"

A tear rolled down her cheeks when Steph placed a hand on hers "Why are we talking about that?"

She tried lightening the tension, Mr. Chen smiled at Grace "I understand you, it's all my fault. So tomorrow I will be announcing something very important, you should come"

"I am never going back there" Grace frowned.

"It's about your mom, and I think you deserve to hear it. So come tomorrow after school, no one will bother you, I give you my words"

He placed his hand on his chest, she heaved heavily. It was about her mom, her life mission was to find her mom.

"Grace, don't go" Steph whispered.

"I will be fine, they cant do anything to me. I am no longer a member of that family"

"Then I will go with you"

"It's a family affair" Mr. Chen stared at Steph.

-

After they were done with the meal, they walked out of the restaurant and Mr. Chen bid them good bye before he took off.

"This man" Steph smacked his lips.

"Do you think he needs a favour from you?"

"Or maybe he really regrets everything" said Grace.

Steph laughed out "Don't be stupid friend, I know he is your dad and all but that man doesn't regret shit"

"Let's not talk about him, we should head back as well"

"Do you know we had to clean the field today because we attended Ancaan's concert?"

Grace laughed "Mr. Zhi wasn't joking huh?"

"Well, I can proudly say I am the most famous girl in school because I took a picture with Ancaan"

"Whatever"

They walked back to the car and Steph waved at Grace, she had refused to be dropped off so Mr. Li could only drive away.

While inside the car, Grace thought of texting Raymond, but she hesitated.

"What if he gets annoyed?"

[Hello]

She texted him anyways, there was no response "He will reply once he sees it"

*

Soon they arrived the mansion and she walked down the car and hurried in "Miss Chen, dinner is ready" Nel said but she shook her head.

"I am sorry but I already ate out"

Then she hurried upstairs to her bedroom, checked her phone and there was no message from Raymond, it showed that the message was, read, he had read the message.

"Why wont he reply?"

Grace stood by the window and counted the street lights, it was twelve "It's complete, if I lie about the lights again then he wont spare me"

She succumbed on her bed and hit the pillow "Why Is he so cold?"

*****

At the outskirt of the city, Raymond stared at his phone and waited for her to send another message, he was wondering if she needed something.

"I am talking to you, please pay attention to me" a voice said frustrated.

"If you feel you are ignored, then leave" Raymond shot him a deadly look, Ancaan chuckled.

"It's so comfortable here, why should I leave?"

"Ray, do you still sleep there?" he asked curiously, this question has been bugging him for the past six years and today he found a very big old cave in one of the bedrooms.

Raymond frowned at him "Does it sound absurd to you? don't forget you were supposed to be the one at my place"

"I know I owe you my life, but have you tried being an independent man? When I left, it was hard for me but I knew I was free"

Raymond clenched his fist and stood up "Since you are now a free man, then don't poke your nose in my affairs. You know how bloody it will become if you do"

Then he retired for his bedroom.

Ancaan kicked the table angrily "Who to blame for such a lifestyle? Who?"