Chapter 4 04

"Are you really standing by your decision not to visit your father, Kaia?"

My thoughts shattered when my bedroom door flew open. My aunt stormed in, slamming it behind her. I straightened in my seat and took a slow breath before looking at her. "What?"

"Don't play dumb with me," she snapped. "Do you think I wouldn't find out that you went to the police station but didn't even bother seeing your father? What were you there for, huh? To talk to the cops? To talk to the prosecutor handling his case? Is that what you did?"

Her voice echoed through the room. I looked away.

I stayed silent. I didn't tell her that, yes, I talked to those people. She didn't need to know. And besides, I didn't gain anything from going there anyway. Except for one thing-

"Why, Kaia?" she demanded, stepping closer. "Did you sell your father out to the police? Did you talk? Was this all your doing?"

Just like before, I said nothing. I avoided her gaze, a quiet refusal to answer. She let out a sharp breath, and before I could react, she yanked my hair in anger. I gasped.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn't let her see that I was angry too-no matter how badly I wanted to pull her hair right back. None of this would've happened if she hadn't tolerated my father's sins. If she had stopped him back then, if she had gone against him even once, maybe everything wouldn't have come to this.

"I'm asking you a question," she hissed. "Did you report your father to the police? Was this your way of rebelling? Because if it is, then just fucking stop-"

"I didn't report him," I said calmly, finally meeting her eyes. Her grip was still tight in my hair. "Trust me. I didn't. I told you a long time ago that this day would come and that he'd eventually get caught. And now he has. That's not my fault."

I tried to pull away, but she only glared at me harder. Her bloodshot eyes locked onto mine as if trying to intimidate me. I let out a long breath.

I wasn't a child anymore. I wasn't the same girl who used to tremble at their glares, their insults, their cruelty. I wasn't that obedient, soft Kaia anymore.

They changed me. Why were they so surprised?

"If I find out you said anything against your father while you were there," she warned, "I swear I'll throw you out of this house-"

"I asked the police how long he's going to be locked up," I cut in casually, shrugging. "I needed to know how long I'll be free. Because the moment he gets out, I know I'll be the first person he'll come after for not helping him."

She slapped me.

The sound cracked through the room. My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning. I scoffed. "Why did you slap me?"

"You really think your dad is going to prison?" she shouted. I laughed.

"Obviously he is," I said flatly. "Just accept it. Defending him is a waste of time because he did all of it. And if I help him, people might think I'm an accomplice. I'm not a thief-"

"As if you didn't benefit from his crimes!" she screamed, yanking my hair harder. "Do you think you'd be sleeping in this bed if it weren't for what he did?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "I never asked for any of this. I never told him to steal from the public. I'm a Political Science major. What he did disgusts me. I'm ashamed of him-"

Her palm hit my cheek again.

"He didn't raise you to be like this!"

I laughed loudly and faced her head-on. "You're wrong. This is exactly how he raised me. He raised a monster. He raised his own nightmare. That's his fault for not leaving me with my mother!"

I shoved her hand away with force. She stumbled back, releasing my hair.

I stood up slowly, a smirk forming on my lips. I met her stare without fear... the same stare that used to terrify me when I was younger. Back then, one look from her felt like a death sentence.

But not anymore.

My father once called me a monster while I watched the police take him away. And maybe he was right. I was the monster they raised, and for that, I should thank them.

"I stayed quiet when he brought other women into this house while he was still married to my mom," I said coldly, stepping closer. She instinctively backed away. "I stayed quiet when I caught him dealing drugs with fellow politicians. I stayed quiet every time he hit me when he was drunk or angry from work."

I smiled when I saw fear flicker across her face.

"But do you remember how I begged you?" I continued. "I begged both of you to let me go to my mom's wake. Just that. Just to see her one last time. You didn't let me because you said people might think she died from stress because of him. So even in death, I wasn't allowed to see my own mother."

My voice shook, but I didn't stop.

"I stayed obedient after that. Silent. Until I found out he cut off the allowance for my grandmother back in the province. That's when I couldn't take it anymore."

"The doctor said it was a waste of money to keep supporting her," my aunt scoffed.

"So what?!" I shouted, clenching my fists. "So what if it's a waste? He stole that money from people anyway! Why couldn't he at least help my grandmother? Where was he even planning to use that money?"

She didn't answer.

"I'm done cleaning up his mess," I said through gritted teeth. "If you want to help him, then go ahead. Convince everyone he's innocent even though you know the truth. He's guilty. Of everything. And I will never defend him. I'm tired of obeying him. I'm tired of obeying you. Let me live however I want."

I turned my back on her.

"Step outside this house and you'll never be allowed back in," she threatened.

I laughed.

I turned around and smiled sweetly. "This house is mine. All the documents are under my name. And since he's in prison, nothing changes. What's mine... stays mine."

Money had always ruled them. They raised me themselves so what did they expect? Of course I'd turn out just like them. I'd take what was rightfully mine.

I grabbed my coat and purse, then glanced back at my aunt. She watched my every move, her hatred palpable even from behind. But I wasn't afraid anymore.

I smiled at her... fake and sweet. "Send my regards to my father. And tell him I'd rather die than visit him or defend him. I'm going to live my life without him. Happily."

"You're a demon," she screamed.

I shrugged lightly, still smiling. "Runs in the family, right?"

I walked out of the house with my head held high. I felt no remorse. I didn't know how I'd survive on my own but I didn't care.

As long as I was far away from them.

"Beasts like me," I whispered to myself, "we are meant to live alone."