I closed the door to my apartment and slumped down against the door. I pressed my knees to my chest, my hands wrapped around it. My eyes closed as the memories that I had buried deep made its way back.

We were invited for dinner at my one of my father's business partner's house. I was wearing my favorite pink dress that made me feel like a princess, my golden locks braided into a pony tail. I was eager to meet their son and show him my barbies. We were sitting in the dining room with Isabella, Xander's mother. 

"Where is Xander mommy? I want to show him my barbies."

"He is in his room. Why don't you go call him for dinner honey?" Isabella asked softly as she stroked my hair. I nodded. I pulled my mother and walked towards Xander's room. Mommy and I were on the third floor of the mansion when we heard a loud bang.

"Stay here baby until Mommy comes back. Don't move from here," She told me, her eyes wide with fear. 

Noting the urgency in her voice, I nodded. "Come back soon mommy." 

"I will. I promise."  She said softly and walked away from me. I was scared but didn't move from there. I waited for mommy to come back, I knew she would, she had promised. I stood there waiting for a long time when I heard hurried footsteps make their way towards me. My mother's eyes frantically looked around as she picked me up and ran towards the exit. We passed by what seemed like the study when I noticed my father standing over someone. He had his gun pointed at a man, blood staining his shoes. It was not hard to understand what happened here, not even for a ten year old. 

We had made it out of the gates when we saw a fast moving car spiraling out of control. My mother pushed me away. I felt my head hit the pavement. I felt a liquid drip down my head. I laid there in agonizing pain, slipping in and out of consciousness as I saw the car hit her. It did not stop and drove away. Mommy! Help my mommy! I wanted to scream but I could not get my mouth to open. All I remember after that was hearing the sirens as I blacked out. I woke up in the hospital and saw Daddy standing there near the door, glaring at me. I had never seen Daddy so angry. 

"Daddy?" I called out to him. "Where is Mommy?" I asked him softly as my eyes searched the room.

"You little brat." He spat out. "I have lost my wife because of you. You should have died in that accident and not my sweet Cecilia," He roared. I recoiled at his words, his words sending a stab to my gut. Fury masked his face. His black eyes were empty, bottomless pit. 

My eyes widened at his words. "No No No." I cried. Mommy couldn't leave me. "Mommy.... Mommy...." 

My father had changed since then. He never hurt me physically but he did make me feel unworthy, made me think little of myself. That is whenever he was home from his business trips.  If it wasn't for Martha and Mr Mathews then I don't know what I would have done. They encouraged me, they taught me everything that I know. 

Now I know why Andrew Lorde seemed like a familiar name. Why hadn't I linked them before? How stupid could I have been? The man that my father had murdered was Nicholas' father. Xander Nicholas Lorde's father.

Nicholas' betrayal had cut deep. I knew how dangerous my father was, I had witnessed it first hand. For some reason I could understand Nicholas' hatred for him but what I could not understand was his hatred for me. Why did you have to do this Nicholas? Why? I had already been a victim to my father's scorns, the one person who was supposed to protect me broke me. Now you betray me, the only man that I had trusted, the man I had given my heart to. 

****

I heard my phone ring, waking me up. I rubbed the sleep from eyes and opened them to find the morning sunlight streaming through the curtains. I was still sitting slumped to the door. I sighed and took out my phone wanting to switch it off, not in the mood to deal with anything right now. The display showed Sky, she was probably calling me to know how my date went. I decided to answer. Knowing her, she would worry if I didn't.

"Hello Sky! I don't want to talk about yesterday," I told her as soon as I answered the call. 

"We will talk about yesterday later but for now there are more pressing matters. I am assuming you haven't checked today's news. Go switch on the T.V."

Curious, I got up and switched the T.V. on to one of the news channels. I gasped. My father's face was plastered on every news channel as I flipped through them. His company was going bankrupt and he was being tried for fraud and money laundering. They said that every proof was against him. It didn't take me a minute to realize who was behind this. I guess Nicholas has got the revenge he desired. 

"How did this happen Hayley?" Sky asked. 

"I don't know," I whispered back not wanting to divulge about the bloody past of my family. I was not ready for that yet. 

"Are you going to talk to your father?" she quietly asked after a moment of silence. 

"I really don't know what to do. We both know my father is not a good man, this is not surprising," I said having mixed feelings about this.

"But he still is your father."

"I know. I know," I whispered. 

After the phone call with Sky, I took a shower and got dressed. I drove towards the restaurant. There were thirty missed calls from Nicholas and more than fifty messages. I couldn't get myself to open any of them. I switched my phone off, not wanting to talk to anyone.

I was in my office trying to work. My mind drifting off to Nicholas and my father. I wouldn't be able to get anything done like this, I sighed as I closed the files. My concentration level being next to nil. I stood up and made my way towards the kitchen and kept myself busy with cooking different dishes till it was time to close. 

"Are you okay?" Jade asked. "You look tired. You should go home and rest. We will clean up the kitchen and lock up the restaurant." I nodded. Grabbing my things from my office, I left. 

As I reached home, I decided I needed to do this. I had made my decision. It was time that I face it. It was time that I face him. With that I dialled the number that I never thought I would. After a few rings, a deep voice answered. 

"Hello father."  

****

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