A Trillionaire’s Revenge

As I walk down the hall of my home, I feel nostalgic as I remember all the moments I'd spent in the house, mostly with my father and Aunt Ruth. A few drops of tears fall from my eyes but I compose myself as soon as I get to the front of my father's room. I take a few deep breaths and adjust my hair. I enter the room without knocking.

"Daddy?" I see him laying on the bed, newspaper in hand. He looks up from his paper. Unconsciously, my left hand goes over my mouth as I prevent myself from sobbing. I hug him for a long while. No words are said as he hugs me back.

"I know there's a lot of explaining to do, but first, I just need to know you're fine, dad. Are you?"

"Yes, Natalie, I'm better. Now, you need to tell me where the bloody hell you've been." He states and we both laugh. Bloody hell.

I sigh and rub my temple. I had thought my mother would be decent enough to tell my father all the horrible things she'd done while he was in coma or even give him an acceptable explanation as to why I had gone missing in action. "I need you to be totally understanding and supportive of what I'm about to tell you." I say as I get up from the bed.

I rub my temple again. "I got married." He takes off his glasses. I put my hands forward to prevent him from saying anything, "I did that because I thought it was right, and although I did have regrets, I do not, not anymore. It happened so fast that I couldn't see it coming and there was no way for me to stop it."

"You're just twenty, Natalie!" He exclaim. "We're you pregnant? Your mother consented to this?" He gets up, "Did your mother force you to do it?" He asks, a frown forming on his face.

solely my decision and I'm an adult, dad. I

you'll always be a child—my child. I will always worry about you,

of these things, you know, and daddy, it's too late for that now. You were in a coma, and I had to do it." I say as I go in for a hug. A

this. Is that why you couldn't visit? Your mother said you visited severally while I was unconscious." He

Dad, and I'm happy. That's all that matters.

****

at the dining table, ready to have lunch. Luke is understandably quiet and my mother, as usual, has a fake smile plastered on her face. Dad joins us and I stand. "Dad," I say and I notice Luke getting up too. "This is Luke." I say, gesturing to my husband.

He smiles- a gesture I wonder if is genuine. I shrug it off and face my father as he approaches

and I let out a giggle. "Oh, daddy, please sit." I say as I hold his arm, leading him to sit.

mother speaks, "So, Natalie, tell us about your

Judith and

your son-in-law is a socialite, a very rich one