1

"Grandma, please. I can do this. Just give me a chance to prove myself."

"Those were the same words your father used all those years back. Where is he today? "She replies coldly with her back turned to me.

"He was after a right course ma," I reply and she spins to look at me.

"See! This is why I can't let you do anything. You think just like your father and I think one bad egg is just as enough for the family as it is for the business! "She scolds and I swallow.

"Grany, you can't do this to me," I beg.

"Oh yes, I can and will. Till you prove to be different from your father. "She replies and I stare at her.

"But I am. I am different from my father and I will do much better than he did. "I reply and she smiles.

" Well, you better start acting like it, Christiana." She replies before patting my face and walking past me.

"I really don't want you to end up where your father did." She says to me from the door and I shut my eyes.

I listen to her footsteps move away from the room and I exhale in frustration. My father is not a bad egg and I'm proud of him. I'm proud of him, and I will do him proud.

*********

At The Family Dining Room.

We are all sitting at the family dining table, maids bring in our food and once everyone is served, Stella and grandma have the first bite. As usual, Stella has to act like she's above everybody, whereas, she's just the second to the last grandchild of the family and is my age mate. I am the last grandchild by the way.

We give grandma the honor of taking a bite first, as she's the eldest member of the family and is also the head. However, our dear Stella here has grown a big head due to all the things she's helped the family business gain and attain. So, she acts like she's just as important as grandma.

I watch grandma pause and Stella gag.

"What is this? " Grandma screams, and all of us at the table jump in fright.

"Who prepared this nonsense? "Stella's annoying voice adds and I roll my eyes.

"What is it? " Raymond questions as he comes running out of the kitchen, into the dining in an apron.

Oh no. Oh God please no. Please don't let him be at fault again.

"Who prepared the food? " Grandma screams at Raymond and I see him tense a bit. Grandma has always never been a fan of him and he's always ever tried to please her.

"I... I helped with the food today. "He replies and it takes every willpower in me to avoid slapping my forehead with my palm. Why Raymond? Why do you always throw yourself in a tight spot?

"Is that why you want to kill me with salt? "Grany yells at him and I feel like entering into the ground. 

" But...But I specially made yours with less salt. How come your food is salt.." He begins but Stella cuts him.

"That's because you mixed her food with mine. I got the saltless food! " Stella barks and I glare at her in anger. My fists clenched on my laps.

"Oh, I'm..I'm sorry the maids must have.." He makes to speak but is cut by Stella again.

"You can't even do anything right. Like father in law, like son in law. " Stella remarks and I lose my cool.

"Say one more word against my father, and I will rip your tongue right off its roots! " I yell at her. Slamming my palms on the table and ignoring the fact that her father is also at the table.

I make to leave when grandma speaks.

"Just get lost. You're just a good-for-nothing gigolo husband. I don't know why my stupid son had to go get you married to my granddaughter. "Her cold voice says and my heart snaps.

I feel the heat build-up in my chest. The heat of anger and embarrassment. I look up at Raymond in anger and his face drops.

Once again, he has managed to disgrace me before my family of over eleven members.

I walk away in annoyance and frustration. For how long are we going to remain the laughing stock of the Duran family?