"I walked in and the whole family was sitting there. As soon as I stepped in the living room, my father who was sitting by his wife, walked up to me and slapped then backhanded me so hard that I fell to the floor. I held my cheek and looked up at him in shock and fear. Never has he ever laid a hand on me.
He was emotionally and verbally abusive but never physical.
"You whore, you tramp! Exactly like your mother! How could you?! Sleep with Collins and try and trap him with a child. You will not trap him like what your mother did to me. You hear me! You won't!" He was screaming so loud that the glass shook.
Hooked up trembling. There were my grandparents, three other people I didn't know, my siblings, and Collins.
"I don't understand" I whispered.
"Diane, are you pregnant?" My stepmother asked me softly.
She looked disappointed. And there was an indiscernible look in her eyes.
How did they find out? I never showed any signs. The only person I told was Collins. I looked at him but he just had a blank look in his eyes. I looked down and answered quietly.
Yes"
My father grabbed my chin causing me to look at him "You better speak up!"
"I said yes" I repeated a little louder.
"Who's the father?" she asked again.
"Collins" | replied pointing at him.
"How can we be sure? I mean she is like her a mother; a tramp.
The baby could not even be his" Judith interjected.
"Don't you dare speak about my mother! Leave her out of this!" | yelled.
They looked shocked, for years I had never stood up for myself or talked back.
"How dare you " Judith said rising up from her seat, with her hand raised.
"Judy that is enough!" Her mother cut in. She reluctantly kept quiet and sent glares to me. I glared back. I was beyond mad. I had enough of her insult.
"Diane, did you know who Collins was? I mean, did you try to trap him with a pregnancy? Is there any truth in that?" Rachel my step-mother asked.
"What no! He was my boyfriend. Why do you guys even care?"
"Because you are trying to trap him just like your mother did to me. But you've surpassed her, what were you hoping for that he would marry you? You could finally land yourself a billionaire, huh?" Eric said with so much disdain and disgust. What the heck was he talking about? Collins was not even rich. And let them know that.
But they looked at me like I had gone mad.
"That's a good one Diane" Morgan laughed.
"Playing the innocent naive girl, you should be an actress. But l'll play along" my father chuckled darkly.
"So you didn't know that he was Collins Dwight. My godson.
Heir to the billion dollar architecture empire. You really do not know that? "I find that hard to believe"
It was now my turn to look at him like he had gone mad. But the truth was I was mad. Mad to think that love existed. Mad to
think that I would be different. Mad that I was in this situation.
Mad at myself. When I stopped I looked at them. I was tired. I was tired of arguing. Nothing I said could change their minds.
So for the next half hour, I stood there in the living room with my arms crossed and hot tears sliding down my cheeks. My family standing against me, ridiculing me. Accusing me.
Even Collins, the guy who claimed to have loved me, called me a couple of choice words.
When the last person finished speaking I finally spoke.
"What do vou want?"
"What I want is for you to be out of my life" Collins answered in a bored voice.
I looked at him hurt. I could not believe the man that I thought was the love of my life was telling me these things. What happened? Who was he? I thought I knew him. Where was the guy who used to whisper sweet words to me? But I guess I never did. I was a fool.
But he was not finished " And I don't want what comes with you. Hence I don't want that bastard and thing in you." I looked at him. I never felt so much hate for someone in all my life. So much disdain. This child was his flesh and blood.
And he was walking away from him. And the idiots by him were nodding their heads in agreement.
"Fine. You won't have to be in his or her life if that is what you want" I whispered quietly.
"Good choice Collins. I will not allow you to destroy your life like her mother did to mine" my father said with pride. He signaled to a man I had never met before.
A man stepped up. He had a piece of paper in his hand.
"Miss this is a waiver that waives all rights of Collins Dwight to your child. He has already signed. Would you please sign and date"
I looked at him. I would swallow my pride and beg one last time. I would beg for the sake of my child. I
plead with my eyes. But the prick just rolled his eyes.
"Just sign it Diane. I have somewhere else to be" he said impatiently.
I took the pen and signed. Confirming that Collins was no longer the dad. And had no right or legal rights to my child. He would never contact my child or come near him or her. The lawyer handed me a copy.
"Good, as of this moment Collins Dwight is no longer the father of your child. You have also signed to keep silent about the matter, and you are not even permitted to tell the child who the biological father is. Is that clear?"
These people are unbelievable. At my lowest of lows, they even tricked me. Wow. But I just nodded my head. I was exhausted. My life had done a 360. It was horrible, then I thought that my life had changed thanks to the love I thought I had for Collins. Now it was back to the crappy place called my life. A real 360, my life sucked, then I thought it was changing for the better, now it is going back to sucking. But what could I do? Nothing so I just nodded my head.
"Good. There is also a fee for you in the amount of $800,000" the lawyer continued.
"I don't want it"
"Come on Diane drop your act. Just take the money"Collins urged rolling his eyes.
I don't want it" I repeated. I turned to walk away when my father yelled at me to stop.
"I have had it with you! You could never be like your sister or even try. You are a disgrace. What are you even doing with your life? Besides sleeping around! Why can't you be like Judy or Ashley or Sara? Look at them!" My father pointed to my sisters who sat beautifully basking in his compliments.
Ashley finished high school last year and instantly followed her desires, to walk down the runway with
all those labeled clothing and praised by the people around the globe.
Judy worked as a fashion consultant for an elite magazine.
My Morgan took after my father and grandfather. He worked in automobiles. He was making millions.
Sara just finished high school, the same year as me. But I was younger than her having skipped a grade. And she was chasing her dream of being an actress.
And Zion was going to his senior year of high school.
"What is your plan with your god forsaken life?!" He growled.
I simply stood there un-moving and emotionless, my arms crossed tighter wrapping itself against me. My eyes were cast
down.
"You're doing nothing but wasting precious money. You know what you are, you are the greatest mistake I ever made! You are a punishment to me!"
Ouch. That stung. But I always knew this.
"As unplanned as you were, hell I told your mother before to abort you but oh no! She was too weak! Just like you. And here I am still paying the price for her weakness" He bellowed louder and it took everything with me not to slap the bastard that I should call father, so I just bit my cheeks in.
"I should've kicked both you and your mother and to the curb." Looking at me in disgust and my siblings and Collins laughed uncontrollably.
"Since you're already old enough to fend for yourself, pack your bags and get out of my house. I don't need or want you. From this day forward you're disowned." My father spoke with finality.
"I'll do that right away. Goodbye" walking out of the living room I went down the stairs two at a time. Ignoring all the employees I went to my room to discover my mother packing my things.
"Let's go" she spoke with authority.
I trailed behind her and helped. I started to pack the essentials like my laptop that I saved up and bought for myself and of course, the extra cash that I earned from working shifts and over time in diners and stores. We were soon done.
"This is a new start Diane" my mother spoke softly to me whilst hugging me close to her.
We walked out back and straight to the gate. We didn't bother to say goodbye to anyone.
And at the gate, we walked to our future. Leaving back every single memory. The three of us were on our way to freedom.