Eliza rushed upstairs with a pace that was equal to her racing heart. As she tried to make out where the scream was coming from, she realized it was her dad's room and she barged in. She was unprepared at the sight that greeted her.

Meredith was seen crouching down on her knees, her two hands on her stomach while Eliza's dad towered over her with his hands clenched in a fist.

"Please, please, stop. I'm begging you"
Meredith pleaded. Her mouth all bruised.

"Mechie ọnụ gị! ( Shut up your mouth!)" Her dad shouted at her. "How dare you flirt with him right in front of me?"

He raised his leg and kicked her in the shin with a force that sent her riling backwards and she fell, coughing out blood and groaning.

Eliza's eyes widened as she shouted. "Dad! Stop!"

She stood there unmoved. She couldn't believe what was unfolding right in front of her.

Her dad whirled around and saw Eliza. His expression softened.

"Eliza, why are you back so early?"

"What did you do?!" Eliza yelled at him and rushed to Meredith's side, shaking her slightly. "Meredith, can you hear me?"

Eliza couldn't make out a sound from her. She felt panic rise in her throat as she shouted for the maids in a fit of alarm.

"Oh, come on. She's just pretending. She'll be fine."

Eliza ignored her dad's annoying tone and shouted for the maids again.

Ikenna, the driver rushed in immediately.

"Small madam, wetin dey happen?!"

Small madam was what all the staff called her to differentiate her from the actual madam of the house. Eliza got tired of begging them to stop with the formalities and call her by her actual name.

"She's badly hurt. I think she needs immediate medical attention"

"Right away, madam" He carried her carefully and left the room.

Eliza noticed that there was no trace of shock or alarm in Ikenna's eyes.

She felt like this was a normal occurrence in this house. The maids were nowhere to be seen.

As she glanced at her dad, she realized her dad was busy texting on the phone. Unfazed by what he did.

Eliza couldn't bear it anymore. She needed to leave the house as quickly as possible.

*.          *.          *.           *.            *.            *

It was already 1am, Eliza heard the neighbors outside shouting 'Happy new year' to each other.

She knew she had to leave immediately. She felt confused and shocked at the same time. She knew she won't be able to get over the image of Meredith lying lifeless on the floor. She wished she would be okay. She heard a ping on her phone, a message popped up from Isaac.
I'm outside your house

She thanked God that she texted Isaac to come pick her up before going to her room to pack.
When she was done, she twisted the knob, as the door swung open, her dad was on the threshold with folded arms, his expression neutral.

"Where do you think you're going so late in the night?"

Eliza felt a twinge of fear as she stared at her dad.
"I'm leaving" She stammered.

He sighed, stepping forward as Eliza stepped backwards. "I wish you could just forget what happened this night"

Eliza didn't say a word.

"I thought you hated her"

"Yeah, but not enough to wish her dead, Dad!"

"She misbehaved and I punished her. It's as simple as that"

Eliza couldn't believe what was coming out from her dad's lips.
"You did the same thing to mom, didn't you? All the bruises I saw on her, that was you, wasn't it?"

"Your mom was a very selfish woman, she still is. Putting her work first, over her family."

"That doesn't make her selfish dad!"

"And she cheated on me, I caught her"

Eliza shook her head. Thinking her dad was delusional.

"And why do you care now? I thought what you were after was my money and the status. Why do you suddenly care about the family?"

" I made a mistake dad. A huge one. Mom was trying to shield me from realizing who you truly are. John too. He knew what was going on all these while, that was why he became too distant from you"

She sighed as she picked up her luggage. "I have to go back home to rectify the damages I've done. I don't care about the money and status dad. Not anymore."

She moved past him.
"I hope your wife is okay"

Eliza left the house meeting Isaac outside. She made a new year resolution deep within her heart that she was going to be real.

She knew it would be difficult but she had to at least try.

Starting with Isaac.

Hey guys, what's up? It has really been a long time.

Well, I'm back with a new chapter guys, I know it's short but it's interesting too. I'll be posting frequently now.
Expect more from me soon.