End roads

Nichole's Pov

I rubbed my hand on my forehead. I just hope there will be no problem.

"Do you hear me?!" My mother shouted again.

"Yes mum, I will be there soon," I said.

She ended the call without saying anything again and I groaned.

I stood up to start getting ready.

"Are you sure you want to see them? I wonder what that conniving Daniel and that snake Lila might have told them." Claire said with concern.

"Well, I won't know until I get there, and besides, they are my parents, I have to give them that respect," I replied.

"Parents indeed! Like they ever treated you like a daughter!" Claire snorted.

I know Claire was angry on my behalf and I smiled to see that there is still someone who has my back.

"I know you are angry at them Claire but at a point, they treated me well." I tried defending them.

"Yeah, defend them all you like but that won't change the fact that they discarded you immediately they got their precious daughter back." Claire retorted.

I went to where she was and hugged her from behind.

"I know you care about me Claire and I don't take it for granted but let me just go and hear what they have to say." I pleaded with her.

"Yeah, go freshen up, you smile like alcohol." She joked and we both laughed.

I freshened up and since Claire and I were of similar size, I borrowed one of her clothes and wore it.

"Call me if anything goes wrong okay," Claire said as I set to go.

"Yes, mother hen!" I replied jokingly.

I took a taxi and in no time, I was at my parent's place.

I took a deep breath as I wondered what awaited me but as much as I thought I was prepared, I was still caught off guard by the reception I received when I got inside.

"Where the hell have you been?" My mother shouted at me.

I saw that Daniel was in the house with them so I guess they must have relayed what happened to my parents.

"I went to a high school reunion and decided to sleep at Claire's house," I explained.

"Wow, you have now grown wings that you think you can stay outside overnight without informing your fiancee?" My father demanded.

"I do not have a fiancee." I simply told them.

"What? What madness is this?" My mother asked angrily.

"I already broke off my engagement with Daniel yesterday so he would be free to be with the woman of his dreams Lila." I sneered.

It was as if I had landed a blow on them because they suddenly became quiet but then, Lila recovered quickly and went to meet me.

"Please Nichole, don't do this, I know you love Daniel and you are angry because you saw us together yesterday but it was also a reunion." Lila lied.

I scoffed at her audacity. They all must think I was dumb. Though I knew Lila and Daniel went to the same high school I also knew that Daniel was two years older than Lila, so how could they do a reunion?

"Lila, you must think I'm a fool, but don't worry, I want you to have him all to yourself," I told her.

She held my hands not wanting to let me go.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted at her.

Immediately after I said the words, she let go of me forcefully and felt like I had pushed her.

"How dare you push my daughter!" My mother said and slapped me.

I placed my hands on my cheek in shock. I was still trying to comprehend what was happening when Daniel shouted at me.

"Apologize to Lila now Claire and I promise I will forgive you and let go of your errors, I will even make sure we get married today," Daniel said.

"I am not wrong and I will never apologize even if you promise me your head which I don't even need!" I retorted.

My mother and Daniel helped Lila up and sat her down on a chair.

"Please forgive Nichole, she did not mean to push me, it's because I'm too fragile and have poor health," Lila said coughing.

I was almost fooled by her acting and felt like clapping for her. She was good, I had to give it to her.

"You useless child! We took you from the orphanage and gave you a home and this is how you repay us?" My father said.

"I stopped being your daughter a very long time ago," I told him.

"Look Nichole! You must agree to marry Daniel or we will disown you this instant!" My father threatened.

"Nothing in this world will make me go back to Daniel!" I stubbornly told them.

"Alright, since you have proven to be stubborn, from now henceforth, you are no longer our daughter." My father said.

"Daddy please don't!" Lila pleaded with fake tears.

"No Lila, we have had enough, let her go!" My mother said.

"Nichole! Can you stop being stubborn? I said I will marry you, is that not what you have always wanted? Come on, stop this fake strong girl act you are putting on and apologize to your parents and Lila immediately!" Daniel said.

"Yes, Nichole, apologize to Mum and Dad now and Daniel and I will beg them on your behalf! I'm sure if you apologize now and agree to marry Daniel, they will forgive you and let go of everything you have done, you don't even need to apologize to me." Lila joined in.

At that point, I could not take it any more, their acting and false care became too funny to me and I started laughing.

"What is the meaning of this, why are you laughing?" Daniel asked.

"You are all so funny, for your information, I do not want to have anything to do with you any of you again, most especially you Daniel, from now on, I will live my life like the orphan I really am!" I said to them.

"What?" They said they were shocked.

They did not believe that I would not beg and grovel at their feet like I used to.

The truth is I was already tired of being around them, I wanted my freedom and I will get it.

"Good riddance!" I said as I slammed the door and walked out.