in between : love or hate

BACK

Diana leaned into the car seat as the driver sped through the highway accelerating to her father's house. Home. "I've sure missed this place, the scenery, the food and most of all, friends", Diana thought to her self as she looked through the windows and watched the trees and buildings disappear before her sight as new ones came to view. "The weather is perfect for window shopping don't you think Marcus?" she asked the driver.  The driver just nodded out of courtesy. Marcus's action didn't faze Diana as he spoke  less than hundred words in a day if one were to count.

The rest of the drive was something Diana couldn't remember as she let sleep wash over her.
....
"Diana must be arriving soon," Kate, Diana's mother said excitedly to the not so amused Sylvester Garcia. Not really surprised by her husband's disposition towards their daughter arrival, Kate ventured into the kitchen to supervise the cooking. She just couldn't sit one place, her daughter has being away from home for the past five years. She missed her terribly.

"We are here young madam", Marcus said to Diana as he tried waking her up. Diana opened her eyes  to see her father's mansion come to view. "Nothing has changed, I hope father has though", she thought to her self. She made a mental note to not make assumptions.

Kate heard the honking of the car and stood at the entrance of the house to
welcome her daughter.

"Hello mum",
Diana rushed into her mother's waiting arms as they engulfed in a long silenced hug. Kate was sobbing and sniffing as she held her baby girl. They both walked into the house and went straight to the dining where Mr. Sylvester was sitting at the head table waiting for the food to be served. Diana did not bother to hug her dad. They were never on good terms but they had a mutual understanding.

"Money".

So far Mr. Sylvester gives her money then all is well. She didn't need his love, she needs his money; She tried convincing herself.

Not so long after they've all made themselves comfortable, the food arrived.
They ate in silence with the mother and daughter duo pitching in how they missed each other and what they've been up to.
Diana looked at her father who wiped his mouth with the tablecloth and adjusted his fat self on the seat. Seems like he has something to say.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush Diana", Mr Sylvester said with a serious demeanor. Kate knew what he was about to say but must it be at this moment she thought, their daughter just came back. He didn't even let her finish her meal.

"I sent you to Germany to give you an education befitting for a daughter of the Garcia family. I've invested so much money on you and I expect you to repay me..."

"By marrying into a rich family" Diana completed his sentence for him with a roll of her eyes while picking on her food.

"Good", Mr Sylvester said. "It's good that you know your duties as the daughter of the Garcia family".

Kate could have sworn she saw flicker of pain in those doe like eyes that belonged to her daughter, but at this point she was powerless.

"I know my duties dad", Diana said. "How can I  forget it when  it's the only thing you say when an opportunity to talk to each other arises".

Mr. Sylvester couldn't refute what she said, though it did not sit well with him, he knew she was right.

"Now that we've reached an understanding, I'll brief you more after you freshen up and gotten some rest", Mr. Sylvester stated as he stood up and went to his study. His fat self making Diana wonder what her beautiful mum saw in him.
Speaking about her mum, Diana met her mother's eyes as she flashed one of her brightest smile and reassured her mother that she was okay with the arrangements. So long the guy was not the stingy type and is willing to let her spend, who is she to refuse marriage. That sounded weird to her ears.