Chapter 7

"What do you mean, 'she's gone'?" Her father's eyes widen. He had hoped to see her again, to hold her hands and tell her how much he regretted that day but now she's gone.

It sounded like the end of his world.

"She had an aortic dissection. I couldn't afford the medical bills on time. So..." Before Avery could finish, her father began coughing and choking. His breathing became faster and heavier. Yet it was as if he wasn't breathing. His body jerked up like he was convulsing.

"Help!" Avery screamed at the top of her voice holding his shoulder.

Victoria sprinted into the room. "He's dying!" Avery cried.

What was happening to her father? Minutes ago she buried her mum and now her dad. Was she cursed or what?

She couldn't cry.

Victoria helped her carried him to the road where they caught a cab and headed to the hospital.

Avery sat in the car, her hands trembled as she pressed them to her face, struggling to steady her breath. Her heart pounding.

"I know we've not really been in good terms but please don't die now" Avery turned to her father who was still breathing heavily.

When they got to the hospital, a stretcher came and he was immediately taken to the emergency room.

Both Victoria and Avery sat in the waiting room. "What happened to him?" Avery asked Victoria.

"He was poisoned with clostridium botulinum" Victoria said. The words sounded strange to Avery. More like medical jargons

"What does that even mean?"

"It means that he has botulism. It led to his respiratory failure. But thankfully treatment was administered to him on time, it could have led to paralysis and death eventually" Victoria explained.

"Are you his nurse, caretaker or what?"

"I'm his nurse"

Avery nodded and continued pacing the room. Questions spun through Avery’s head: Was her father going to make it? Why now? Was this really happening? She paced the waiting room floor, every step a silent scream.

"Just calm down, it might just be one of his heart attack episodes" Victoria told Avery.

"Heart attack!!" Avery paused in her steps, her brows raised and her eyes wide staring at Victoria.

"He usually has episodes like this after hallucinating"

"He was hallucinating?" Avery's face was pale.

Victoria nodded, her eyes sank and sadness flashed through her face.

After what seemed like ages, the doctor that went in to attend to Avery's father walked out and Avery rushed to him.

"How's he? Can I see him?" She rushed.

"His condition is stable now but he needs to rest. You can see him" the doctor said and then led them to the room.

Avery entered to see her father laying on the bed, his eyes closed. His breathing was normal, with his chest slowly raising up and down in rhythm.

Avery stood by the bedside. Her pounding heart slowly returned to normal. Her father seemed fine.

Back at the mansion, Anthony sat at the balcony with a stick of cigarette between his index finger and middle finger.

He sipped the stick and blew out the smoke.

Why wasn't she back? It was almost midnight. Did she forget that she was married?

He pulled out his phone and called Fish.

"Where is she?" His voice was rough and cold as he spoke into the phone.

"She's at the hospital, she rushed there with an old man probably her father"

Without saying a word Anthony ended the call and continued smoking.

Back at the hospital.

Avery bade goodbye with Victoria and promised to come in the morning before she left.

She got a cab and headed back to the mansion.

She got down from the cab and when she stepped into the mansion, she was greeted by the irritating smell of cigarettes.

She scrunched her nose.

"Where have you been?" A deep throated voice rumbled.

Avery's eyes shot to the corner of the living room. Anthony sat at the edge of his wheelchair, cigarette balanced loosely between his fingers. Smoke curled around his face as his gaze fixed on her, like a king passing judgment.

"I don't like repeating myself" he spat.

Avery's fingers curled into fists at her sides. Her jaw tightened. She looked him in the eye for a heartbeat, then turned and walked upstairs without a word.

Nobody had ever walked out on him but she dared to.

He would teach her an unforgettable lesson. He smiled devilishly.

He took out his phone and called Fish who quickly came. Then he called Mrs. Meyer.

"Lock her in the master's bedroom" he ordered Fish who nodded and bowed respectfully before leaving.

"She should not be given any food unless I say otherwise" Mrs Meyer's eyes were sad as she heard his order but there was nothing she could do other than obey the orders. No one dared to go against him.

They didn't even bother to ask who he was referring to, but they knew.