The Abandoned Wife Makes A Comeback

Chapter Seventeen

             In the morning we were greeted by a knock on the door. It was Edgar. His voice held a slight edge.

                  "Young master. Young Lady. There's a visitor for you both. He says he's the young Lady's father."

             I froze in place. Could the Valencia family have already attacked or was he here to see if I could prevent it somehow? Either way I didn't feel ready to face him. I trembled slightly at the idea he could find me even in such a remote place.

                    "Tell him his future son in law will allow his brief visit. Emphasize the briefness." Vincent said in a groggy tone as he tried to run the sleep off his face. He turned to me with a soft reassuring smile. "Don't worry Princess. I'm here with you, we are all here with you."

            I smiled and nodded. V helped me dress, choosing something a wealthy young lady would wear and styling my hair in a mature sophisticated way. I looked like a strong woman who belongs along the elite despite the inside being the scared little girl I always was.

                  Waiting for him to get to the villa was more nerve wracking than I thought it'd be. When Edgar greeted him Coldly and ushered in I could see the weariness on his face. His strong features had become sunken since I last saw him many years ago. there was more grey in his hair and he seemed to have a slight slouch from the long office hours. He was still taller than me and broader but the once strong energy he had exuded in his earlier years was diminished.

                  He had the same blue eyes as me, the only feature I had inherited from him. They looked as broken as mine once were and it made my heart ache. He tried to approach me but Vincent stood firmly beside me, his gaze a daring challenge.

              "You must be..." My father said wearily as he extended a hand to Vincent who simply lifted a brow at the gesture. His tone was cold and even.

                       "Vincent Hart." His tone and stance left no room for further conversation between the two.

             My father sat quietly across from me. Edgar brought us tea and stood on the other side of Vincent, offering his support. Soon Alistair was with us and even V who glared at him, she always disliked my father. Spoiled rotten with paternal love she couldn't fathom my father's indifference to my suffering.

                  "Veronica... It's...a pleasure to see you again." I could tell he was trying to sound genuine but in reality they never got along. I knew he must be here to prevent the catastrophe that was about to befall him. V knew it too.

               "Cut the crap Mr. Jacobs. Why are you here?" Veronica hissed as she sat beside me. Her face was still marked from the altercation with Mom.

                    He cleared his throat and looked at me. "Sweetheart...i need you to attend a family dinner. It's not too big... Just a few family and associates."

              We all looked at him in shock, his audacity was boundless. I had already given my peace on the subject and refused to clean up Nadia's mess in our family.

                   "Dad...i made myself clear last time-"

          He cut me off and handed me a wedding invite. It was to Nadia and Jonathan's wedding.

                 "You need to attend. Your sister... She's been throwing a fit and refusing to eat due to all the looks... Jonathan said he won't marry her without your blessing and she's a poor single mother...i need you to have some sympathy for her...for the family."

                    Vincent gripped the couch in barely suppressed rage. His eyes were full of murderous intent.

              "Even you can't be this stupid. How could you possibly ask for something so absurd!"

                    My father trembled slightly. "W.. We need to bury the past... It's a family matter. You have no business..."

                 Vincent cracked his knuckles. "She will be my wife one day. Do you still think I have no claim in this?"

             We all looked at him in surprise, my father looked pale. Jonathan has been his equal, well off but not more secure than my father. Vincent however was a powerhouse. A tier all its own and he knew it.

                   "What's the meaning of this?!" My father looked at me hoping I would dispel the idea but I just held Vincent's hand calmly.

                "What does it matter to you who I marry? You have written me off from your life once before, simply do it again." My tone was cold and calm but my eyes reflected the pain.

                He became sheepish. "Please...Addie... Your mom has been so.. Distraught with everything and your sister... She's a mess.... Your nephew needs his family and the only one who can bring it all back together is you."

                      I teared up as I laughed a bit manically.

           It was always on me. On me to be the bigger person. On me to be the one that steps up. The one to sacrifice. To relinquish my things for the sake of family unity.

                "I can't believe none of you have changed... Not one bit. You still rest everything on me... Why can't Nadia or Mom take care of themselves? Why is it always me?" I clenched my fists in rage. I was tired of being the pushover. The scapegoat. The family punching bag.

                      He looked at me in shock. I can't blame him. I never spoke out against him, so used to bowing my head to be a 'good' child but now that I was older I could see he wasn't a good father, barely a father at all to me.

                "Addie...I had no idea..." He seemed, remorseful, it was brief but a genuine sense of apology lingered in his eyes before he steeled himself. Leaving the invite on the table. "It's in a year...you can decide for yourself but...your mother and sister will never let you know peace if you don't come."

                With that he left, quickly fleeing the scene of enraged onlookers. Vincent scoffed.

            "The audacity...how dare he come to my home and suggest something so outlandish?!"

                  V nodded. "He's apparently lost his mind!"

            I looked at the invite. Nadia looked so smug and happy, cradled into Jonathan's arms that once held me so tenderly. Seeing their happiness made me sick. I wanted to see them suffer. To see them all suffer just a bit of what I endured. I looked up at Vincent with a devilish smirk.

                     "Wanna go to a wedding my dear?" I said with a wicked glint in my eyes.