In your Arms

Chapter Fifty Seven

After Amity finished her breakfast she went upstairs to her bedroom and inhaled deeply as soon as she's inside. It looks the same, untouched. She sat on her bed, her fingers touching the mattress. Her stuff had been brought up inside her room and were now on the floor. She stood up and went for one of her bags and took out the picture frame of her and Andrei and placed it on top of her bedside table and smiled a bitter smile.

"I'm back home my big brother." She whispered. If only her brother is still alive. She's very much in need of his comforting arms right now.

Amity sat on her bed for awhile staring blankly on the floor when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." She voiced out.

It was Elenor. She went in and walked towards the bed and sat beside her. Elenor brushes her hair with her delicate hands and breathed deeply. "You've grown.."

"I guess." She answered. Her mother looks at her with sad eyes.

"What happened to you when you left home?" Elenor asked.

Amity gazed on the floor. "I was fine. Nothing bad happened to me. Someone took me in while I was away. A good person. Simon, that's his name."

Elenor straightened up and was stunned. "A man?"

Amity looks at her mother and saw Elenor's furrowed eyebrows. "Yes, mother. And he's a good man." She answered in defense. "He never did anything bad to me. He took care of me. Treated me like I'm family." The last word made her feel guilty again.

Elenor let out a deep sigh and nods her head. "Well then, that's good to hear. Would you tell me his name and his address so I can send him some money just to thank him for--"

"That won't be necessary, mother. He won't be needing it."

"I am just going to repay his kindness of taking good care of my daughter."

Amity shook her head. "No, mother. You don't understand."

"What are you saying?" Elenor asked her looking confused.

"He.. He doesn't know who I really am. I.. I changed my identity when I ran away. And when he knew the truth about me, he went mad." Amity bit her lip. "He helped me but I lied to him. He hates me now."

"Oh, Amity.." Her mother held her hand.

She looks at Elenor and forced a half smile. "Let's just forget about it, mother. What's done is done." Amity knew her mother can see right through her, can see in her eyes that she's full of regrets about what she had done. But before her mother could ask more questions she changed the subject. "So how are things here while I've been gone?" She tried to sound a bit lively. Elenor studied her face for a moment before she spoke.

"When we found out that you went away your father was enraged. He hired a few people to look for you in an instant, but as days turned into weeks and you were'nt still found I saw in him the weakness he never dared to show us before. He didn't sleep much and didn't eat well. He's too worried about your safety and it affected his work. It was a terrible time for your father." Elenor tells her. "We decided not to use the media to find you for your life might be in danger. You are the only heir of one of the wealthiest man in this country, God knows what will it cost us once it'll be known that you're out there somewhere alone. Our only hope is that you would land on the hands of good people until we've come to find you. And it's a relief that you did." Elenor smiles at her.

What her mother told her only made her guilt more intense and she could feel it eating her insides. "I-I'm sorry, mother.."

Elenor shakes her head. "You're home now, that's all that matters.."

Amity went speechless for awhile. Her parents loves her so much, and it made her blame herself more for being so hard-headed. It was her fault all of this happened.

"What about the family's businesses? Now that father is ill who handles it now?" She suddenly asked.

"After your father had a stroke it was your uncle Ed who managed everything."

Hearing the name of her father's step brother alarmed her. She knows her uncle Ed very well. He's an ambitious person who wants to take over the family's businesses and properties claiming that it was his right. She doesn't trust him a bit and it surprised her that her parents had let him take over.

"Why did you let him? He might do something given that kind of authority! You know very well what he wants!" Amity spoke in a loud voice and it startled her as well as her mother but she stayed firm.

"It was the right thing to do during that time. Your father was sick he couldn't handle everything on his own. He needed help. I don't know anything about running a business and it was your uncle who was close enough to be in such position."

"Well now that I'm here I'll be the one to take over." Amity tells her mother sternly.

Elenor looks at her, unsure and surprised at the same time. "Amity, I thought you do not want this."

"But I have to. Don't I, mother? Besides, George can help me. He just have to teach me about the ways and means of running a business." She tells Elenor looking determined. George is his father's right hand, he can help her.

"My daughter, it's not something that you can learn in a short period of time. A lot of aspects should be considered."

Her mother's words were true. She doesn't know anything. It will be hard for her. Amity felt helpless.

"But if you really want to secure our family's fortune there's another way.."

Amity looks at her mother. She knew where this conversation leads to.

"I know what I should do." She tells her mother.

Elenor smiles at her although her eyes showed sadness. Amity knew her mother doesn't want to force her in this, but they have no choice.

She will have to marry Martin Gatchalian's son. She has to.