" Father, what is the meaning of this?" He turned to the man beside him and said in a low tone filled with anger.
" Isn't it obvious; you and Vivian are getting married." His father glared at him and Carl glared back.
" No one gets to decide my marriage. I'll marry whenever I like and whoever I like, " he said while his gaze was now fixed on his step-uncle whose expression has darkened.
" What do you mean by that!? My daughter waited for you for complete twenty years. You should be happy that we're proposing this marriage and not the other way round!." His step-uncle jerked up and yelled angrily.
" Yes, he's right. It's time to get this matter over with. You didn't expect her to wait for you for another more years do you!!!" His father seconded after standing up angrily.
" I didn't ask her to wait for me and don't care if she waited for twenty more years... I'm not doing this marriage and that is final."
" You__" His father's eyes widened and he stomped his cane on the ground while pointing his other hand at him.
" Enough!!!" The elder man stood up and snapped. " What insolence! Do you call me here to speak about a wedding or listen to your preposterous squabbles!!!."?
" Father-in-law "
" Father"
Both Carl's father and step-uncle stammered at the same time.
" Silence!!! you two." The man snapped again then turned to his son. " And you, get my granddaughter out of here this instant!!!"
Carl's father's eyes turned red and he glared at his son with burning anger. He was about to say something when the door suddenly opened and his wife barged in with teary eyes.
" Father, please listen__ the kids are not ready yet, we have to give them more time, " she pleaded and held on to her father's hand who instantly shoved her away.
" This is all your fault!!!. Is this how you wish to continue downgrading my family!!!.?" The man scoffed then glanced outside the door which was now ajar. " Where's Vivian, get her here right now! We're leaving this place!"
Both Zach and Lucy who were caught peeking inside the room gasped at the same time then quickly scurried away.
" Where is she!" The man berated then scoff again and strode out of the room.
Vivian's father turned to his sister who was now weeping in her husband's arms. after glaring at Carl. " This is all your fault Grace, I thought you wished to finally come to peace with father, and now you've angered him more. You can't even control these boys. Is this how you call yourself the mistress of this house."
" You don't have the right to speak to her like that, " Carl muttered in a low tone and clenched his fists.
The man turned to him and scowled. " You should be happy that I'm giving out my daughter to you. Do you think no one knows that it was your fault all along. . . she took the blame for you, is this how you repay her!!!"?
" Brother..., please stop," the woman turned to him and sobbed but he ignored her then continued.
" You didn't lose any memory. They made you forget. Because you killed her. You killed my niece with your hands and they all saw that!!!."
Everyone's eyes widened in the room and even Vivian who had suddenly rushed inside dropped her bag on the floor with a plop.
" F..Father, what do you mean__ who are you talking about?" She stammered and looked between the three people in the room and her father.
" Shut up!!!. And this wedding is canceled for now. Let's go." The man said while glaring at the dumbfound Carl whose gaze was now fixed on his parent. He emphasized the word ' for now.' Then grabbed Vivian's hand.
" B..Big Brother." Vivian gasped and her eyes darted between Carl and her father as he dragged her out and the room sank into silence again.
" It's alright Grace, stop crying." Her husband patted her back then sat her down on the couch and heaved a deep sigh while trying to control his anger.
" You see what you've done now!" He looked up and snapped at Carl who broke out of his trance then walked toward his stepmother.
" Mum__"
" Don't touch me, " the woman whispered and held on tightly to her husband while burying her face on his chest.
Carl sighed and retracted his hands. " Father, Mum... I already have someone that I love and want to marry__"
" You can't marry whosoever it is. . . we'll go back to Vivian's house and seek her grandfather's apology." His father cut him off.
" I won't marry her father__"
" Don't you see, son... It's the only way..." His stepmother turned to him with red puffy eyes and Carl frowned slightly.
What does she mean by that? What his step-uncle said, was it true? " Father, Mum. What he said..., is it the truth?, " he muttered coldly and both couples stared at each other with widened eyes.
" N..No son, he was just bluffing... N..None of it was true. " his stepmother shook her head frantically and Carl's frown deepened.
His father sighed again while trying to catch his breath. " You will marry Vivian. And that's final, " he said coldly and stood up with his wife. Now that the cat had been let out of the bag, it's too late. He never thought that his father-in-law already knew the truth.
His thoughts drifted to that night that they had found his son in the backyard after searching for a long time. He was sitting in front of a bloody baby whose face was barely recognizable and the only thing he uttered was. ' She was disturbing me.'. But how comes his father-in-law knew the truth? It was only him and his wife that was present, then that boy Jack, and his parent.
He shook the thoughts out of his head then looked down at his weeping wife. " Grace, let's go, " he said softly and they walked out of the room after glancing at Carl who stood there motionless.