Chapter Six
|Strange|

Elizabeth was lying on the bed, her back supported against the headboard. Her mother was looking at her, enraged.

Elizabeth had never seen her mother so angry before. She was trembling under her ferocious gaze. Her mother opened her mouth to say something, but she was cut off by the doorbell. 

Seeing as she wasn't going to open the gate herself, Elizabeth went to check who was there.

When Elizabeth opened the door, her eyes met with sparkly blue ones, just like her. The man looked at her in admiration.

"Hello, sir. Do you need anything?" she asked him. 

Before he could've said anything, her mother shrieked shrilly. She was shouting at the man to get out of her house, about how he wasn't invited here. 

Elizabeth looked at her mom and then at the man. They were contrasting each other. While her mother was red with anger, the man remained calm and uncaring.

Suddenly, Elizabeth was yanked back by her mother. The man walked inside the house, closing the door behind him.

Elizabeth felt fear. 

The man didn't seem good news to her. Not to mention that he had locked them inside.

Her mother screamed at him, trying to get him out. He didn't even flinch as she tried to push him over.

"Why don't you tell her the truth, Edna? It'll help her if anything. You cannot keep secrets from your daughter. It's not right," he said, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth.

Edna screamed in defiance as she tried to push him away. He grabbed her arms and held it back. Before Elizabeth could've reacted, he spoke up.

"I, Maxon Montgomery, am your father, Elizabeth." 

“W-What?”

Elizabeth's face turned pale. She grabbed a nearby chair to stop herself from falling.

As the man in front of her saw that she wasn't going to say anything, he let go of Edna's arm.

Elizabeth knew that he wasn't her father. Her father's name was Jake Scottson, not Maxon Montgomery. Besides, the pictures in her father's room weren’t even close to resembling the man who stood in front of her.

"I don't believe you. You’re lying," she said while trying to control herself from stuttering.

“I know that this may sound weird to you, but I'm your real father. Your mother and I were together before she married the man you think of as your parent,” he said, taking a step towards her.

"Your mother was pregnant with our child, but she kept it a secret from me. Jake isn't your father, I am. I've come to rescue you, Elizabeth. Come with me, my daughter."

By the time he was finished, his eyes were moist. Tears brimmed at the corner of his eyes, but he blinked them back quickly.

Elizabeth wanted to run towards him, to claim him as her father. All her life, the only thing she ever wanted was a father. And there he was, welcoming her with open hands. Before she could have made a move, her mother cut in the silence.

"She's my daughter. You have no right over her. I'm not going to give her to you. Get out of my house! Otherwise, I'll call the police," she screamed at him.

"She's my daughter too. I have the same rights over her as you. Don't act like you care, Edna. I bet you don't even give her the love she deserves. Please give her back to me. I'm begging you, Edna. Please..."

"There's no way I'm letting it happen. Do you even know..."

Elizabeth's temper was slowly rising as she tried to tune out their conversation. It was all way too much for her.

First that knowing she was going to die soon, then all this. It was taking a toll on her.

"Shut it!"

The room grew silent as her voice bellowed loudly. Both the elders looked at her, anticipating her answer. She looked at them for a few moments, a scowl fixed on her lips.

"I need some time to think. Please leave me alone for some time. "

Knowing well that it wasn't going to do any good, Maxon left the house without uttering another word. Her mother didn't move.

With heavy steps, Elizabeth retired to her room. She looked at the mirror. She was slowly starting to pity herself. 

“I… have a father...”

All she wanted to do was cry, but she kept herself back from doing so.

Her mother suddenly came in without knocking. As Elizabeth looked at her, she noticed that her mother's eyes were not uncaring like the usual. Today, they were devoid of any emotions.

"You are not going anywhere with him. If he comes by asking for you, tell him that you won't come with him. That's my order,” she said in a really low voice.

"Whatever he said, was it true mother?", Elizabeth asked with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes. Yes, it is. But you are not going anywhere. It is decided."

And with that, she was gone. As she banged the door close, something inside Elizabeth also broke.

Once again, the people she cared about were snatched away from her life. Her world was shattering beneath her feet. 

All she could do was wait as it fell to oblivion.

Maxon walked back to his car, enraged at the encounter. Edna wouldn't even let Elizabeth come with him, even though she was his own daughter. 

But there was no way he was going to let it happen. 

Elizabeth was his daughter, his only daughter. He was definitely going to take her back with him, whatever it took.

941 words

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Question Time

Q.1 What do you think about Maxon? Is he saying the truth?

Q.2 Does he really loves Elizabeth?

Q.3 What will he do now?

Q.4 What will happen to Elizabeth now?

Q.5 What about Edna?