One year

[Watson mansion]

Punching the wall, George growled, "I am going to kill that ba*stard." And he wasn't lying. He would definitely kill Oliver whenever and wherever he found him. How dare he break his little sister's heart?

"My poor angel—how could God do this to her?" Reeta Watson, Rachael's mother, wept.

"Why aren't they here?" Grabbing his coat, George said, "I will go—" But his father stopped him.

"Roger is bringing her. Calm yourself and sit down."

"How can you be so calm, dad?" he frowned. "That man ruined Rachael's life—"

"Nothing will happen to Rachael. I will never let a slime like him ruin my daughter's life," Michael snapped. "I am more mad at the son of a b*itch than you are. I want to tear him apart alive. But this isn't the time to act recklessly. Rachael needs us, she needs her family right now and we have to be there for her."

"Master, they are here," one of the helpers informed.

When Uncle Roger brought Rachael inside, George was the first one who ran towards her. Pulling his sister into his embrace, he gently tightened his grip around her. "You are so cold."

"George—" Tightly clutching his shirt with one hand, she buried her face on his chest and sobbed.

Placing his chin on the top of her, George closed his eyes. A tear rolled down from the side of his eyes. His heart ached for his sister. He knew she was in pain. And the fact that he could do nothing to take her pain away made him hate himself.

Kissing the top of her head, he whispered in her eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. I am here for you, mom and dad are here for you."

"Darling—" Reeta gently caressed her daughter's arm. "My baby—"

"Mom—" Embracing each other, the mother and daughter duo cried their pain away.

"Everything will be alright—"

Shaking her head vigorously, Rachael mumbled in between her sobs. "No…..nothing is….going to be….okay mom. I lost everything…..today. I lost everything." Clutching her chest, she trembled. "It hurts….it hurts so bad. I don't feel like living anymore mom, I—"

"Enough—" Michael growled. "How dare you say that Rachael Watson?" He stormed towards her. "This will be the first and last time you say something like that. Do you understand? What do you mean by you don't want to live anymore? Do you really wish to give up on your family, friends and everything you have for a man who abandoned you? Are you so weak and selfish?"

Not having the courage to face her father, Rachael lowered her head. What had happened was a huge embarrassment for her family too. Because of her they had to face all the backslash from the media, society and their relatives.

"My daughter is strong and wise. She knows how to stand up again when life cripples her down. She is not selfish, she cares about others more than herself." Lifting her chin up, he stated, "Look at me young woman. When someone is talking, you are supposed to look at them, not the ground."

Gently wiping her tear stained face, he caressed her cheeks. "I want you to always keep your chin up no matter what happens. Whatever happened today is not your fault. So stop blaming yourself. Did you understand?"

She nodded and wiped her tears away. "Dad, I am sorry—" Burying her face in his embrace, she apologized again. "I am sorry, I should have listened to you. I am so sorry—"

Patting the back of her head, Michael sighed. "Cry, cry as much as you want. It will make you feel better. Holding your emotions in will make things worse."

Grabbing her shoulders, he gently pulled her away. He then cupped her cheeks. "One year. I give twelve whole months to get over this. Cry everyday, go for a long vacation, take up a new course, start an NGO, adopt hundreds of cats and dogs, turn this place into a shelter—I don't care. But within one year I want my daughter back. Is that clear?"

She nodded, "Yes."

....