"Now that stepmother is gone, let's talk about what will happen to this house." I told father and William solemnly.
"How was your grandfather?" Father asked as he ignored whatever I just said.
"Doctor Le said he needs to stay in the hospital for observation. Grandfather can not be stressed anymore." I explained and father nodded in understanding.
"I'm planning to bring grandfather to stay here for the meantime." I continued.
"Yes. That would be good. Father is already old and no one is watching him at the villa. Tell your wife to stay at home from now on. It'll be better for your wife to stay at home rather than going out and mingling with god knows what people. You better be careful too. You just saw what your stepmother did." Father seethed.
"I will not." I replied.
"What did you say?" Father asked in a low voice with shock and unconcealed anger.
"I said I will not tell my wife to stay at home and slave for you." I answered.
William looked at me like I've grown another head while father's eyes narrowed at me.
"My wife is not the same as stepmother and I am not the same as you. Don't worry. I will also not be like you. I won't turn my back on my family for some woman who sleeps with my grandfather's secretary." I replied.
My vision turned dark for a second and I realized I'm sitting on the floor. My cheeks sting and I can taste blood in my mouth. I saw William trying to restrain father.
"How does it feel to be betrayed by the same woman you betrayed my mother for?" I mocked.
Father pushed William away and lunged at me. I covered my face while he punched me repeatedly.
"Are your bones already strong enough? How dare you mock me?! I did everything for you and your siblings and you still dare to mock me?" Father seethed as he punched me again but I pushed him away.
"You did everything for us? You did nothing for me! You only got what you deserved!" I shouted at him.
Father stood up and tried to attack me again but William restrained him again.
"How dare you! Get out! Get out of my house!" Father shouted angrily.
"Your house?" I scoffed.
Did he really forget who bought this house?
"Your face is really thick, father. You want me to get out of the house my mother bought for our family?" I asked sarcastically.
He tried to lunge at me again.
"Should we go to court and see who owns this house? The factory? My mother may have transferred the ownership to you but wasn't it because you tricked her with your words of undying devotion?" I continued.
"Go and see who they would believe!" Father shouted angrily too.
"Sure. I may not win but let's see how other people would view you from then on. You betrayed your wife and brought in a woman whose children weren't even yours." I said and father's face reddened once more as he tried to lunge at me one more time.
"I don't care about this place. You can have it for all I care but I'll remind you once more that grandfather can't be stressed again so I suggest you keep your act together. I don't care how you do it but do it and you better not bring another woman here as long as grandfather stays here." I told him angrily.
I looked at him and William. I wonder how the real Seth must've felt seeing this sight. Would he feel bad for this father of his?
"From now on, we will do things on our own. Meaning, you cook your own food, you do your own laundry, and you clean your own house. Don't worry about grandfather, my family will take care of him." I explained unbothered by the glare that I am receiving.
I will not let them treat Athena like she's the family's maid nor will I let them treat my daughters the same way.
"You! How dare you! After I brought you up, this is how you treat me!" Father shouted angrily.
"You had never brought me up. You have never looked at me like I'm your son. You were never a father to me." I replied.
"How dare you speak to me like that! I am your father!" He shouted.
"Are you worthy to be called my father?" I hissed.
"Brother, father, please stop." William said.
"I've already said all I have to say. You can keep this mansion and the factory. You go and live how you want to live your life. Whether you look for another bitch or not has nothing to do with me anymore but you better make sure it won't affect grandfather's health." I said before leaving the house and returning to the hospital.
When I reached the hospital the nurses saw my bleeding lip and the bruises on my face and helped me clean up the wound before I went back to grandfather's room.
It was already late in the afternoon when I arrived and grandfather was already taking his afternoon nap while Ashley was reading her book. She raised her head at me when she heard me open the door. She looked shocked when she saw the bruises on my face.
"Father, what happened to you?" She asked worriedly.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about this. It doesn't hurt at all. How's your grandfather? Did Doctor Le come here?" I asked, trying to divert her attention from my bruises.
"Grandfather slept mostly today. Doctor Le said that if there's nothing wrong with him tonight then he can go home tomorrow." Ashley explained and I nodded in understanding.
I sat down and thought of what I should do next. I looked at my weak looking grandfather before standing up and telling Ashley that I will call home first.
I told Athena to prepare our things since I will fetch them to return to the main house since grandfather would be discharged tomorrow. I've asked her to bring Grandfather things also.
When I returned to the room, I told Ashley that I would fetch her mother and siblings from grandfather's house and I will change with her after that. I consoled her again that I'm alright when I saw her worried face before leaving.
When I arrived at grandfather's house, Athena and the children were already ready to leave. I've informed the helpers that grandfather would be staying in the main house so they would only need to keep the house clean for the meantime.
"So what happened to your face?" Athena asked me when we were driving back home.
"I got in a fight with my father." I replied and Athena looked at me with wide eyes.
"What happened?" She asked worriedly.
"Words that should have been said a long time ago came out." I shrugged.
She continued to look worriedly at me but I told her it's fine. It's about time Seth's father hears them.
Before we arrived at home, I told her to ignore whatever father had to say. I've asked her to open the shops tomorrow too. I dropped them home and went to get Ashley from the hospital, she and the other children will return to school tomorrow too.
After that, I returned and accompanied my grandfather to the hospital.
"What happened to your face?" Grandfather asked when I entered his room.
I set up the table and handed him some food.
"It's nothing." I replied.
"The doctor told you not to stress me right? I'm feeling stressed looking at your bruised face without knowing what happened." Grandfather stated.
"I've just let some anger out." I told him.
"Did you feel better afterwards?" Grandfather asked and I looked at him.
"I feel lighter." I replied and smiled reassuringly at him.
We finished eating and I cleaned up our food before Doctor Le entered the room and checked grandfather.
"His results are looking better. If this continues till tomorrow then you can go home." Doctor Le explained and I sighed in relief.
Doctor Le gave a few reminders before heading home.
"Grandfather, you will be staying with us at the main house after we leave the hospital. I know you don't like staying there but me and Athena would feel better if we could see you and take care of you." I told him.
He sighed and agreed reluctantly.
"Don't worry. I'm thinking of leaving there soon too. We'll bring you with us and I won't take no for an answer. Both Athena and I are busy dealing with our business, it will be good to have you watch the children." I told him.
Grandfather looked at me shocked when he heard what I said and smiled happily.
"Do you have enough money to buy a house or even rent one?" He asked worriedly when he remembered about our affairs.
"Right now, no. Don't worry, grandfather, I'll take care of it." I responded confidently.
We talked some more before I told him to rest so we can leave the hospital tomorrow.