His priorities

I watched the scene before me in great shock. Not because dad raised his hands on her but because of her immediate confession. What is she planning??

"Why would you do such a thing to her? Why would you want to harm Catherine??" Dad asked Amara furiously.

Amara bursted into tears immediately. "I wanted to teach her a lesson." She muttered.

"What??"

Amara turned to me and eyed me with great anger; "For a while now, she has been mocking and threatening me of using contraceptives, only because I couldn't bear you a child." She accused. What the hell??

"She's lying dad." I defended myself, while giving her a cold stare.

Dad was really quiet when Amara made that accusation so I turned to him only to see that his expression had wavered, he was showing signs of doubt.

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Hector recalled the gossips among the household staff relating to what Amara had just explained ans now, the rumors about Catherine seemed clearer to him.

With anger and shock in his eyes, he turned to stare at Catherine; "Why would you do something like that to her, she's your step mother for christ sake."

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I was really shocked at that moment. Despite all my efforts, Amara had managed to turn the whole issue back to me with just one lie.

"Dad, believe me. I would never do such a thing. What do I stand to gain from it?" I asked.

"Everything."

"You mean the company?" I asked with a small scoff.

"It's mine to begin with so why would I play with my inheritance?" I asked but it didn't seem like she was going to back down at any moment.

"You see this Hector, after all my efforts in this family, she still treats me like I'm a nobody." She complained bitterly.

"Is that why you planned to kill me??" I asked.

"Kill you? I only used a mild sleep aid on you. I had no intention of harming you. If I did, you'd already be dead." She muttered viciously. Dad just watched quietly as both of us argued with ecah other.

I smirked inwardly, seeing Amara's adept manipulation of the situation. It was impressive how she could spin lies so effectively. She's really is an expert at this but what she doesn't know is that I'm on the same level too.

I held my stomach tightly and pretended to be in great pain. Dad rushed to my side, holding and patting me affectionately.

"What did you actually feed her that caused her health to deteriorate much?" He berated Amara.

Through his voice, I could tell that although he was angry, his tone was less severe than when he first learnt about the situation. I could sense his internal struggle and conflict.

I turned to dad and stared at him silently. I felt a deep sense of helplessness as my own father wavered between Amara's pleading and my plight.

At that moment, the butler hurried in, breaking the tense standoff between I and Amara.

"The hospital car has arrived to take Ms. Catherine for the check-up." He announced.

Dad nodded in understanding and allowed the health practitioners take me into the vehicle. After I was settled in, dad came in and they took us to a private hospital.

There, a doctor conducted a more thorough examination on me as per my request. When the result was out, it showed that my condition was relatively stable but I just required rest and recovery.

In the hospital room, I was laid on the bed with a drip connected to my skin. I stared at nowhere in particular as I was lost in thought. Dad was wavering already so I'm not really sure things would go as planned.

But why? Why was he still listening to Amara when she obviously tried to end my life. Even though the doctor said that I was fine, it does change the fact that she drugged me.

What if the overdose ended my life? Why is dad not thinking that way? Why?? I was still lost on my thoughts when the door was opened from the outside. It was dad and he came in with a shopping bag.

"How are you feeling now Cathy?" He asked as he stared at me in concern.

I didn't answer his question, rather I stared at him quietly. Does he really care about me?? He walked towards me and sat on the chair close to my bed. All through, my eyes didn't leave him.

"I brought you some food. I figured you'd be so hungry." He muttered, pointing towards the shopping bag he was holding.

"Dad.." I called out.

"Yes Cathy. What is it?" He asked, eager to hear what I had to say.

"How do you plan to deal with Amara?" I asked inquisitively.

"Well, I plan to strip her off her position in the company and send her to the countryside for reflection." He answered.

I stared at him in great disappointment. I was really confused, not understanding why, despite Amara's actions harming me, dad still protected her.

"Why that?? Why not just divorce her and send her away entirely??" I asked angrily.

"It's not that easy." Dad muttered with a sigh.

"If I could do it with Andrew, what makes her any different??"

"Catherine, you should understand by now that family matters shouldn't be exposed. I really hope that you would understand my decisions." He muttered as he tried to touch my hair but I slapped his hands off.

"She's not my family!!" I said angrily.

"Cathy.."

"She might be your family but she isn't mine. No matter how you family has wronged you, you would never wish nor bring any harm to them. I almost died for christ sake!!" I said at the top of my voice.

I know I sounded like a nagging woman but at that moment, I needed my voice to be heard. I needed dad to know that he was making a very bad decision.

"What if she tries to harm me again?" I asked.

"Like I said, I'm sending her to the countryside. She isn't going to be anywhere near you." I scoffed when he said that. Like she would never come back.

He continued trying to explain his decision to me, reminiscing about the happy times with my late mother, trying to make me understand his

leniency towards Amara was not without reason.

"No matter what happens, I would always stand by your side." He muttered, trying to comfort me by showing his love and affection towards me but I really couldn't see it anymore.

His actions today just proved that I was never his number one priority. I stared at him quietly,feeling bitter as he remained blind to Amara's true nature.

My heart ached. I sighed and walked out of the room, ignoring his numerous calls. At that moment m, I wanted to me alone. If I stayed there longer, I was going to say things that would really hurt dad.

I passed through the busy hallway and sat alone on a bench in the lobby. I reflected on my past, feeling deep pain and then, the tears started pouring out by themselves.