"It seems your father didn't like the news about you getting the company back" Joy passed Liana a document to review.
They had taken back the company within a week after Xavier transferred it back to her. Her old friends and staff had rushed back to work to restore all the lost deals and partnerships they had lost.
"Let him suck it up, Mom called me last night too asking if she could come & stay with me," she said
Joy frowned, "You sound like you're considering giving her a place?"
Liana fell silent, "Liana after what they did, you can afford to bring any more of them close to you " Joy warned.
"I know Joy and that wound will never heal, but if the father is hurting her then I will have to help," she said.
"So what are you planning to do?".
" I will go there today and see how they are doing, then I will base on that to see if I should help her or not".
"But you know you can't go there, what if your father uses it as a chance to hurt you again"
"He can't do anything, his plans have been failing one by one. I don't think he has the energy to do it again "
Joy picked up her phone, "Am reporting this to Xavier so he can go with you".
" Joy stop, don't tell him yet. I need to do this so I can know why my father hates me so much " she said.
"They are evil people Liana, there is nothing to it than that " Joy said.
Later in the evening, Liana left for her parent's home while Joy waited for Gerald to pick her up.
...
"I missed you love " she hugged him inside the car.
"I missed you more " he chuckled.
"My day was great and yours?"
"Full of Joy, just like your name " he answered.
"And why was that?"
"Cause I kept thinking of you the whole day " he smiled.
She fall back giggling, "that was a nice one," she said.
He started the car, "And how is Liana, Xavier was going to pick her up but she declined "
"She had some business to attend to after work "
"Okay, so what would you love for dinner?" he asked.
"You " she giggled.
He stepped on the brakes, jerking them forward.
"WHAT?!...really.You want me for dinner " he asked.
Joy laughed shaking her head, "No, No, am sorry love. I didn't mean it. I was only joking "
He frowned, "that joke wasn't funny at all "
Joy kept laughing as he started driving again his frown getting sadder and sadder.
...
The maid leads Liana to her mother's garden. She was sitting silently watching the darkening sky.
"Mom" she called. She turned slowly to see her red-headed daughter. A smile broke on her face.
"Liana " she called getting up.
She walked to her holding a gentle smile. Her mother sweetly hugged her something she had never done willingly, freezing Liana in stone.
She was so shocked to see and feel her do it. The last she was possessed but this time it was by her own will.
"Mother," she said weakly, "what's wrong?"
Pulling away she touched her face, "Nothing, just happy your here".
" Why did you want something from me?" asked Liana.
"No!, I just wanted to see you again. The last time was so long ago and I wasn't myself "
She lead her back to the swing where they sat. Holding her hand warmly as she turned back to the now-dark sky.
"Can you keep me company until I retire for bed?" she asked.
Liana stared at her pale face with sunken eyes and sighed something was wrong with her mother but she could not guess what it was. Her lips had no color and her hands were so cold it scared her at first.
"Are you okay, .mother?" she questioned.
Her soulless eyes looked back at her, "I am fine dear, just keep me company for a while, just until I go to bed".
" Okay," she smiled.