Chapter 43
Damien's POV
The moment I agreed on going on the vacation with Seraphine I knew what I was in for,but I decided to follow my heart instead of listening to what my brain was telling me.
I knew there was no way I could have gotten this close with Seraphine if I didn't agree to go. I don't regret making such decision.
I got to paint to my full,and also spend quality time with her even if it didn't last long as I would have loved. I still got to do most of the things I had on my bucket list.
I secretly wrote the list of things I wanted to do with her while on the vacation in my notepad the night before the trip.
Right from stargazing,to going on a date together, telling her all about me ,getting to know her more and confessing how I feel to her. I know I will definitely do the ones we couldn't do on the vacation later.
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Now was the time to face my father's verdict.
As I shut the door behind me I knew I was ready to pay any price,Seraphine is with me now and that's all that matters.
Mother came to me just before I entered dad's study
" Damien,don't go in" she pleaded holding my arm ,she knew the kind of person he was and he will go to any extent to punish anyone who defys his order.
" I'm sorry I couldn't manage the situation,I monitored the company well in your absence but I have no idea how he got to know you weren't there. That aspect still baffles me and I shouldn't have brought up the idea of a vacation,all these happened because I brought it up." She said sadly
I held her hands and said " You don't have to be sorry mother,dad has informants everywhere even in the office. I knew this would happen right from the beginning,at first I was scared of going but then I thought I actually needed a break,I'm happy I did mum so stop blaming yourself "
She released me and then I went into dad's room.
For some reason seeing my dad sit on his arm chair drained my confidence,I've seen this before. He always sit on his chair waiting for me in his study whenever I defy him,the end result isn't always good.
I remembered the day I was reported for truancy at school. Then I would leave for school in the morning but would then go straight to an abandoned house in that area to paint,it was my personal painting studio.
I would paint from morning till the time the school closes,I always had extra clothes in my bag which I wash myself immediately I get home,so no one suspected until the school principal who thought I wasn't in school because I was ill came to see me at home.
The punishment I received from my dad was brutal,he burnt all my paintings without listening to my pleas. Not only that I wasn't allowed to go out with my friends or visit anyone anymore,he would lock me up in my room to read for hours. Mother would plead for him to release me and also to feed me but he remained adamant.
While I was locked up in my room,the pain of him making me read for hours isn't much compared to the pain i felt when he set my paintings ablaze and instructed me never to paint again.
" Who will take over the company if you take up such a useless career " He asked
" But I love to paint " I protested but he still had his way.
I gulped hard and stood a bit away from him
" Come closer" He said in a commanding tone. I moved closer to him and then stood directly in front of him.
He got up from his sit and punched me on the face,I staggered backwards and for a moment everything seemed blurry and I couldn't see well. I managed to stand upright after the dizziness subsided.
" You worthless fool!" He cursed
" You left the company just to go on a vacation with that pauper ,I thought you said you hated her but it doesn't seem that way to me anymore seeing how she tried to protect you earlier and then you both going to have time to yourselves" He gulped the whiskey in his glass all at once and then he suddenly asked
" Do you love that girl?" He pointed towards the door as if Seraphine was standing or staying in that direction.
I hesitated a bit as I thought of how to reply him without making him go crazy
" Answer me!" He yelled,he took the glass on the table and shattered it by throwing it on the floor just close to where I was standing .
I could hear mumbling by the door,I knew mum and Diane were behind the door as usual,Seraphine would be there as well but wouldn't be able to enter because dad forbade anyone from entering his study without being sent for .
I got my voice and I answered " Yes I love her dad".
After I said that I felt at ease for some reason,telling him how I feel about her felt like an accomplishment .
" What?" He asked then he sat down and burst into laughter ,when he was satisfied he stopped and said to me
" You're such a jokester,you're just playing with her right? you will leave her when you're done right?"
" No sir " I replied firmly
" I brought Mia to you so you could make use of a good opportunity,do you even know how much she worth you fool?" He yelled.
" You know what..... just get out of my sight "
I turned to leave checking my jaw to see if it was still in place.
" Seraphine will freak out if she sees the blood on my face " I muttered silently, extremely exhausted as well.