Valeria’s POV
Been an hour since school dismissed for the day, I have been waiting for my dad to come pick me up like he use to everyday but he is not here yet.
This is so unlike him. He never fails to pick me up.
I wonder what happened.
Is he okay?
I am not even with my phone. I left it at home.
I think I can find my way home. I mean he has been driving me to school and bringing me back. I usually study the road so I can go by myself.
But I haven't tried it before. It has not been long I moved to this place. What if I get lost?
What if dad comes and can't find me?
He will be worried sick.
Oh Valeria what are you going to do?
I am tired and hungry.
I am the only one in school right now. Well Mr Jones, our security man is here too.
I have been waiting for an hour now.
Dad where are you?
"Hey kid"
I get on my feet the minute I heard Mr Jones call out as he approached me.
"S..sir?"
"Why are you still here?" He asked as I fiddle with my finger.
"M..my dad is not here yet"
He scoffed. "What are you, a baby?"
His harsh words hurt me.
"Can't you go home by yourself?" He asked looking at me in an angry way.
"I..can but..."
"Then go on then" he snapped.
I look down my fingers because I am about to tear up.
"My dad will be upset if he comes and can't find me"
He scoffed again. "How old are you?"
I look up at him slightly.
"I turned eighteen days ago"
He murmured my age, sighing frustratedly. I sense him bring out his phone from his pocket.
"Give me your dad's number "
I fiddle with my fingers nervously. Oh no I don't have it off heart.
He looked at me. "What are you waiting for?"
"I....I don't have it off heart sir..."
"What the fu...."
I flinch a bit.
He sighed. "What about your mum's?"
My heart ached. I look down feeling my eyes tearing up.
"I don't have all day kid!"
I shifted a bit where I stood as I look up at him slightly.
"My mum is in heaven"
I don't hear a word from him making me look at him.
He is pressing his phone.
I look back down.
"I don't have time for this. Your dad better be here after I check the classes doors." He said walking pass me.
Sighing, I sit back on the seat. I wipe my eyes as I thought about my mum.
My parents and I use to live happily back then at Chicago.
Dad always go on business trips and stay for almost a month before coming back.
It makes me unhappy.
But when he comes back, he will buy me a lot of things. A lot of goodies, Barbie dresses and dolls. He would spend time with me, telling me stories and all.
I love my dad so much.
I love my mum too.
I miss her so much.
The three of us lived in harmony until I turned fifteen and something happened.
I came back from school and found mum crying.
It made me want to cry as well. I have never seen her cry before.
I walked towards her, she stared at me as tears filled her brown eyes. My heart ached.
Next she hugged me as she cried silently.
Dad wasn't home.
I can't tell what is wrong?
Until dad came came back.
Flashback******
"Get out of our lives Vince!" mum yelled at dad.
Dad stared at her with emotions on his face.
Why is she yelling at him?
"Baby listen...." He reached to touch her but she slapped his hand away.
It made me flinch.
"How could you? You have been lying to me for years! How could you do that to me?! You are a very terrible person!" Mum yelled as tears flowed from her eyes.
My heart ached as I stood behind, watching them.
They haven't noticed me.
"No baby please. I can explain. Just listen to me" Dad pleaded.
Mum scoffed. "Explain what? There is nothing to explain Vince. You have a wife and three sons I never knew about? "
I arched my brows.
"Yet you came into my life and made me fall in love with you. I even gave birth to your child!"
Dad bring his hand together like he wants to pray.
"I didn't mean to betray you my love. I.. " he paused sighing. "I never knew we would get to this. I never knew I would fall so deeply in love with you the way I did. You gave me a very adorable daughter"
"Get out Vince. I don't want to see you" mum said pointing at the door.
"Baby I love you"
"I hate you Vince! You are a very bad person. Get out of our lives now!"
"Please baby don't do this"
"I said get out!" Mum cried.
I couldn't take it anymore as my legs took me towards them.
I hugged my dad.
"Val..." He called holding me.
"Mum please don't send dad away" I pleaded looking at my mum with my tears filled eyes.
"Come here baby" mum said putting her hair strands behind her ears. Her eyes and face are all red from too much crying.
I don't like this.
"Laurel don't do this" Dad said to her.
"Valeria come here at once!" Mum yelled.
I released dad as I walk towards my mum. She bring me behind her.
"Laurel.." dad called
"Get out" mum snapped.
"You both are my family " dad said.
"No. We aren't. Go to your real family. Go to your wife and three sons. Leave us alone!"
Tears rolled down my eyes.
Dad looked at me.
I begged him with my eyes to stay.
He looked back at mum.
"Go!"
Dad makes some steps back.
My heart ached the more as he moved away.
"And I don't want you here ever again. Don't even come an inch close to my daughter" mum said to dad as he opened the door and go out.
Mum broke down.
I held her. She hugged me.
I cried silently.
She made me look at her.
She move my hair behind my ears.
"Listen baby, that man betrayed me. He betrayed us"
My heart ached hearing her say that.
"He has been lying to us ever since. He hasn't been going on a business trip. He is living a double life. He has a wife and three sons. He goes back to them under the disguise of going on a business trip. He is a liar and scum."
I look down feeling my eyes tearing up the more.
"Look at me honey"
I obeyed.
She wiped the tears off my eyes.
"You are fifteen and a big girl. You know what a bad person is. Your father is a bad person. He doesn't love you. He has three sons he goes back to. I don't want you anywhere near him is that clear?"
I nod slightly.
She sighed, bringing me in a hug.
My heart bled.
I hate this.
We aren't going to be the sweet family that we use to.
I hate this so much.
Flashback ends*****
I feel a tear roll down my eyes. I quickly wipe it off.
Those are bad memories.
After dad left, the house was no longer the same.
Mum was no longer the same.
She was always moody.
She never smiled.
She never laughed.
She cried all the time.
I felt very terrible.
A month passed and dad started visiting me secretly at school.
I was very happy to see him.
I missed him that whole month.
Flashback*****
"Dad!"
"Princess!"
I quickly rushed towards him and hugged him.
I didn't care if my fellow students were watching.
I missed my dad so much.
"How are you princess?" He asked.
"I am fine." I said smiling.
"Hmm I can see that. Let's go to my car. I bought you a lot of things"
"Yepee!"
He chuckled as he held my hand, leading us towards his car.
My dad is tall. I can barely reach his chest. I got my baby blue eyes from him. I got my brunette from my mum.
Mum.
She will be so upset with me that I spoke to dad.
But she won't know that I did except I tell her.
Oh Valeria you are being disobedient.
Mum will be so unhappy with you.
"What's wrong Val?" Dad asked calming my attention.
"Huh? Not..nothing"
"Come on princess, tell me"
I heave a sigh. "Mum said I shouldn't speak to you"
I see a sign of hurt on his face.
"She said you are a bad person"
He looked down.
"How is she?" He asked looking at me.
"She has been crying"
He sighed.
"Dad?"
He looked at me.
"Do you really have a wife and three sons?"
He looked at me.
"Yes"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't want to loose you both. I love you both so much princess"
I look down.
"I love your mother with all of me. I didn't mean to keep my other life away from her"
"She is really unhappy "
"I know. I am so sorry princess. When you are older, you will understand "
I nod.
"Come give dad a hug"
I hugged him.
"Dad?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Are we ever going to be together as a family again?"
He sighed. "I hope we will princess. I hope we will"
I heave a sigh.
Flashback ends*****
We didn't live together as I wished.
Mum never want to have anything to do with dad anymore.
I had to live with it.
For a year and half.
But mum was never herself. She was heartbroken.
It made her very sick.
Still she doesn't want dad to see her.
I hate that she is like that.
I wanted her to forgive dad. But she hated him.
She hated so much.
Her sickness became very serious.
It led to her death.
I was heartbroken.
Dad took me with him to his house.
The house is a very big one. Big and beautiful. It has so many rooms.
I met his wife and sons.
They were unhappy to see me.
Dad had quarrels with his wife for days because of me.
They all don't want me here.
Especially his sons.
They are triplets.
Marco, Leo and Mark.
They are five years older than I am.
They bully me at home all the time.
They hate me so much.
I don't know what I did to them.
They are supposed to be my brothers. Yet they treat me so badly. Dad would scold them every time they bully me.
It gets worst when dad is not around.
I would cry myself to sleep in my room.
Their friends would come over and they are not nice too. Their girlfriends are not nice as well.
I don't have any friends.
No one wants to be my friend.
I don't know why.
Only my dad love me.
He treat me so well.
Dad will tell me, my mum and I are his peace.
That melts my heart.
He also told me how he ended up marrying the triplet's mother.
He didn't want to. He was forced to by his parents.
He met my mum on one of his trips to Chicago.
He fell in love with her.
He wasn't expecting their love to grow so much and stronger the way it did.
Their love produced me.
He married my mum without anyone present but a priest.
Mum was an orphan. She had no one until she met dad. They lived happily ever after.
But she found out about his wife and sons.
It broke her heart to pieces.
I felt terrible.
I wanted us to come back together and live as the family we use to be.
But my wish never came to pass.
She died. She left dad and I.
She is in heaven now.
I really miss her.
I wished she forgave dad.
I wish everything turned out well.
I don't like living with my step mother and step siblings. They bully me all the time. And worst when dad is not home.
I don't even report them to dad because I don't want them to fight because of me.
But I am tired.
A familiar car drove towards me. My heart lighten up as I stand up on my feet happily.
Dad is here.
To my disappointment, Max, our security guard at home came out of the car.
"Max....where is dad?"
He sighed. "Your dad is ill"
My heart sunk.
"What?"
"Let's go" he said.
I walk towards the car, entered the passenger seat and he drive off.
Dad is ill.
I asked Max what happened but he didn't give me a straight answer.
My heart ached all through the ride till we got home.
I didn't waste a minute as I run straight to his bedroom.
I found him on the bed and a drip is connected to his body.
My heart ached the more.
"Dad..."
"Val.... princess you are here" he said.
God he sound so weak.
How could this be? He was fine this morning.
He was the one that dropped me off at school.
I kneel beside him as I held his hand.
He is very sick.
He looks so down.
So pale.
Oh God please.
"Sorry I couldn't pick you up at school sweetie"
I shake my head. "it's okay dad. What happened? You were fine this morning"
"Yeah princess. I don't know baby. Must be something ate." He said caressing my hair.
Thoughts about how my mum died filled my head. My heart picked up.
"Dad.... please don't die"
He chuckled but coughed. "I won't princess."
I held his hand tightly.
"I am going to be fine okay?"
I nod.
"I am not going to die. I am going to watch you grow into a very fine woman. And watch you fall in love, get married and have beautiful kids" he said smiling.
I let out a chuckle, ignoring my tearing up eyes.
"Whoever that will be yours, will be very lucky to have you my beautiful princess"
I smiled as I kissed his hand.
"I love you dad"
"I love you too Val"
I heave a sigh.
"You look tired and hungry. Go eat something and rest okay?"
I shake my head. "no no dad I want to stay with you"
"I will be fine princess. Just go, eat and rest. I know you had a long day at school today "
I heave a sigh.
"Don't worry baby girl. I will be fine before you know it"
I nod.
I kiss his hand again before walking away.
Heading towards my room, I bump into Leo. The middle one among the triplet.
He is the second worst bully among his brothers. Marco is the first.
"Look who we have here. Annoying dummy." .
His words always hurt me.
"Back from school huh?"
I don't respond as I move aside to walk pass him.
He blocked my way.
"I asked you a question little bitch"
My heart arched.
"Yes" I said looking down.
He scoffed. "Pathetic" he said poking my head before walking away.
I heave a sigh as I walk towards my room.
I close my door as I sight my mum's picture on the nightstand. My eyes went to another picture of my dad, mum and I together.
My heart ached.
I strip off my uniform as I walk into the bathroom.
Done freshening up, I put on a stay at home dress. I lost my appetite to eat but I have to obey dad.
I head out towards the kitchen. I served myself food and head back to my room.
Done eating, I kept my used plate on my desk. I lay down on my bed to get some rest as dad said I should.
Not long, sleep took over me.
*********
I wake up to meet a dark day.
Geez I slept for so long.
I quickly get off my bed and head to see dad.
He must be okay by now.
He said he will be.
I trust he will.
Getting towards his door, I didn't knock as I open it and entered.
"Dad ...." I trail off the minute I saw the last thing I expected to see.
My heart dropped.
Mark, the last of triplet is holding a knife with blood filled on it.
My eyes went to dad, he is not awake but has blood all over his chest.
My heart picked up in a fast speed.
"Da..dad?"
"Valeria...."
My eyes went to Mark who looks shocked to see me.
What has he done?
"Valeria what are you ...."
"Wha...what did you do..."
"Something happened. Hold this I will be right back" he said as he quickly placed the knife on my hand and head out.
I stood there dumbfounded.
I look back at dad.
Tears rolled down my eyes.
"Dad..."
"What the fuck?!"
I flinched the minute I heard Marco's voice.
I turned towards the door.
I see the three of them.
"What the fuck have you done Valeria?!" Leo yelled.
I arched my brows. I look at the knife on my hand and then at them.
My eyes widened. I shake my head "No I ..."
"She killed dad!" Mark blurted.
What?