Chapter 2

How I came to Live with my rich uncle, His father and Grandfather.

The day my world turned upside down, I awoke to the soft cooing of my newborn daughter, her tiny fingers curled around my index finger like she was holding on for dear life. It was a surreal moment, one that made me feel both terrified and overwhelmingly in love. The sun streamed through the parted curtains, painting the walls a warm shade of amber. I shifted gently in bed, careful not to wake her, and reached for my phone to check the time.

It was then that I heard my father’s voice, raised in anger from downstairs. I recognized the tone immediately, the same one he used whenever he was dissatisfied with something. My heart began to race as I threw on a robe and hurried down the stairs, hoping to diffuse the situation before it got any worse. As I rounded the corner, I saw him pacing back and forth in the living room, his face flushed with rage.

“I can’t believe you did this to me!” he shouted, pointing an accusatory finger in my direction. “After everything I’ve done for you, you go and have your baby with that ... that quack!” I tried to remain calm, but the venom in his voice cut me to the core. “How could you do this to your own father?” he demanded, his voice cracking with emotion. I felt a lump form in my throat as tears pricked at my eyes.

“Dad, please,” I begged, taking a tentative step forward. “It’s not like that.” But he wouldn’t listen. He continued to rant and rave, his words hitting me harder than any physical blow could have. I felt as if I was being torn apart, my world crumbling around me. Finally, unable to take any more, I fled back upstairs to my bedroom, slamming the door behind me and collapsing onto my bed, wracked with sobs.

My daughter, who had been sleeping peacefully throughout the commotion, began to stir in her bassinet. Her tiny face scrunched up as she let out a whimper, and I felt an overwhelming wave of guilt wash over me. How could I have put her through this? How could I have put my parents through this? I knew I had to face them eventually, but I just needed a moment to myself to collect my thoughts and calm down.

I wiped away my tears and picked up my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I found my uncle’s number. He was always there for me, and I needed him now more than ever. After a few rings, he answered with a sleepy, “Hey, what’s up?” I burst into tears again, barely able to get the words out. “Dad’s angry about the doctor,” I managed to choke out between sobs. “He’s really mad and I don’t know what to do.” There was a long silence on the other end of the line before she finally responded.

“Oh, babe,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry to hear that. But you know what? You did the right thing. You had your baby, and you’re both safe and healthy. That’s all that matters. Just give him some time, okay? He’ll come around eventually.” Besides if he doesn’t you have a place here with me, my father and grandfather” His words weren’t magical or false, but they did give me a tiny bit of hope.

I knew that I couldn’t stay up here forever, and eventually I would have to face my father. But for now, I needed the comfort of my uncle’s voice.

I thanked him and hung up, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself. I walked back downstairs, my steps slow and deliberate. When I entered the living room, my father was still pacing, his back turned to me. I cleared my throat, and he spun around, his expression hard and unyielding. “Well?” he demanded. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

I took a deep breath and forced myself to meet his gaze. “Dad,” I began, my voice shaking. “I know this is hard for you, but I had to do what was best for me and the baby. I’m sorry if I let you down, but please try to understand. I love you both so much, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.” There was a long silence as my words hung in the air between us.

Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I just wanted you to have the best,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought that doctor was the best. I thought ... I don’t know what I thought.” He turned away from me then, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Why did you have to go and make things so complicated?” I wanted to say something, to try to comfort him, but I couldn’t find the words. Instead, I moved to sit beside him on the couch, and we sat together in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

Time passed, and eventually my father’s anger began to subside. He still wasn’t thrilled about the situation, but he seemed to understand that there was no going back. We talked about my pregnancy, about the birth, and about my hopes and dreams for my daughter’s future. As the day wore on, the tension in the air began to ease, and I felt a small glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other.

Later that night, as I tucked my daughter into bed, I heard my father’s footsteps on the stairs. He paused in the doorway, watching us for a moment before speaking. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you can’t stay here anymore” he said softly.

As I sat there watching my daughter sleep, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease wash over me. Maybe things wouldn’t be perfect because at the end of the day, I was kicked out of my home by my own father. He said I was a failure, that I was nothing but a burden on him and my family. He told me to get out, to find somewhere else to go, that he never wanted to see me again.

But it wasn’t a dream; my uncle’s assistant had called me earlier that week to confirm the details of our trip. They would be picking us up at the airport and flying us there in their very own helicopter. As I got ready, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. What would my daughter think of all this? And how would we even get to the private helipad at the airport?

As I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, I glanced over at my daughter sleeping peacefully in her bed. It was still dark outside, but I knew that today was going to be an adventure. My Uncle Victor who lived in Colorado, who I hadn’t seen in years, had contacted me last week, inviting us to visit him at his mansion, I couldn’t believe my ears; he owned a private helicopter and a massive estate? It sounded too good to be true.

But it wasn’t a dream; my uncle’s assistant had called me earlier that week to confirm the details of our trip. They would be picking us up at the airport and flying us there in their very own helicopter. As I got ready, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. What would my daughter think of all this? And how would we even get to the private helipad at the airport?

As if he’d read my mind, my uncle’s assistant texted me the address and directions to the private helipad, assuring us that it would be easy to find. When we arrived at the airport, a sleek black car was waiting for us outside. The driver introduced himself as Fred and escorted us to his waiting car. The interior was as luxurious as I expected, with leather seats and a well-stocked bar. As we made our way to the helipad, I couldn’t help but wonder what my daughter was thinking. She seemed a bit overwhelmed, but also excited.