" Is this how you greet your parent, you bastard!!!." His father roared and lunged forward.
" And don't you think you have an explanation to do?" His stepmother also added with folded hands while she walked toward Mira and hugged her.
" We're so sorry child, we just found out from his brother. We're very sorry."
" It's alright Auntie, it's all in the past now." Mira hugged her back and sighed as she watched Zach who was struggling from his father's grasps.
" Where is my grandchild! Where is she!" The older man repeated incessantly as he lashed him with the golden cane in his hand.
" Ouch, Ouch, you're hurting me, father. Aaaaaah! my back. Mum, please help " Zach pleaded while wondering what he did for his brother to give him out.
" hehehe, this is good." Lucy chuckled and clicked her tongue while recording the moment. She couldn't wait to post it on their friends' cycle. How dare he neglects her niece.
Mira watched helplessly and sighed again then tugged at the woman's arm." Auntie, please__"
" It's okay Mira, he deserves the beating. Hmph, he thinks he can fool everyone."?
Mira sighed again and her eyes darted to the door which had suddenly opened again and two people came out of it. ' What!? Did the whole family come?' Her eyes widened then she sighed in relief as she watched Carl snatched his brother who was now being strangled by their father.
" Ohhhhhhh," Lucy whined as she watched him being saved by her big brother.
" Y..You..., Little cat, give that phone to me." Zach dashed forward but was instantly drawback by Carl again and Lucy ran toward Mira whose surprised gaze was fixed on Vivian as she nonchalantly watched the show unfold.
' What is she doing here?' she frowned slightly while her eyes darted between her and Carl who was busy with his brother. She was broke out of her thought when Lucy suddenly hugged her.
By then, the older man had gone back inside the room after glaring at his sons.
Lucy looked up at her with teary eyes and Mira hugged her back with a chuckle. " Big Sis, is it true that your baby__"
" Lucy! " her mother cut her off with a glare then turned to Mira.
" Let's go inside dear." She pulled her and they both walked toward the door while Lucy followed behind them, clung tightly to Mira's arm.
Mira's eyes darted back to Vivian who was now staring at Carl as they talked with Zach and she sighed again.
" Big Bro, I'll go and book the resort. see you there, " Vivian said softly with a slight smile then left in her car, leaving only Zach and Carl standing on the verandah.
" Big Bro, what is she still doing here?" Zach asked warily as his gaze lingered on the car which was almost out of his sight.
Carl ignored his question and glanced down at his wristwatch. He couldn't believe he had to be dragged here just because he had mentioned what happened. Luckily, he had a business to do with the Mayor.
" And Big bro, this is not fair, how can you sell me out? Why are they here?" Zach whined as he stared at his brother who was now looking down at his phone.
Carl looked up and gave him a 'are you a fool' look. " To seek for her hand of course, " he replied and shoved the phone inside his pocket.
" Y..You mean marriage?" Zach's eyes widened with excitement and he quickly dashed forward to hug his brother who instantly shoves him away after glancing at his dirty clothes.
" Hehe," Zach stood up from the floor with a chuckle and dusted his trousers happily. ' But wait.' " Big Bro, about sister-in-law__" he didn't get to finish his sentence as he watched his brother's change in expression then he walked away.
" Hmm," Zach sighed and walked inside after watching his brother's car also drove off in the same direction Vivian's car had went.
______
Back inside the room, the older couple were sitting on the couch while being served snacks by Mum Sara with Mira serving the teas and Zach wondered where his naughty sister had run off to. He needed to delete that video.
" Come here, you idiot." His father snapped with a glare as his hand still shook with anger.
" Mum?" Zach whined helplessly, not daring to go near his father, as his whole body was still aching from the beatings he had received earlier.
His stepmother sighed and placed a hand on her husband's arm. " Calm down Henry, it's too late to turn things back, " she coaxed and glanced at Mira who was now sitting on the other couch with Zach.
" She's right, it wasn't the kid's fault. Everything was a misunderstanding. . . we all had to come to terms with it." Mum Sara seconded with a sigh then sat down on the couch beside Zach and Mira.
The room sank into silence as the older man had calmed down. He couldn't believe that all along, while he had been longing for a grandchild, he already had one. But was lost due to his son's recklessness. He sighed as his gaze landed on the girl who had her head down. " Poor child, we're so sorry for our son's negligence and all the pains you went through. . . Although we can't change the fact that everything happened due to mistake. . ., It was very unfortunate and we're very sad that our grandchild had to go through that."
Mira nodded slowly with a sigh and Zach slightly squeezed her hand as their palms were intertwined together. " It's alright uncle, Zach's not the only one at fault. I should have come to you, when. . . " she trailed off, as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Now that she thinks about it, if she had gone to his parents after getting the fake text from Diana, then maybe her baby would still be alive. It was partly her fault too.' I'm so sorry baby.' she sniffed and sighed heavily.