Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 20

“Nothing. We are here. Let’s go and greet my Father-in-law.”

He smirked as I got out, frowning at him, “Was it a mock?”

“No. Unintentional.”

“Hmm.”

We went inside, I couldn’t help but to notice he held a dominant aura and posture in public, exactly the menacing one I saw when we first met, which intimidated me.

I mean, he was scary no doubt.

He led the way and I saw Sarah there too and jumped into her arms, “Sarah!”

“Saafia! Good evening, Mr Cannedy.” She smiled, hugging me back before pulling away.

“Hmm.” He looked away, resting his hands in his pockets, forcing out a faint smile which I could tell was fake… or not?

It felt real but it didn’t look.. Real.

‘Whatever.’ Shaking my head, I didn’t think deeply about it and turned to Sarah, “Did you see Father?”

“Mhm.”

We entered his room, him stuck between those medical instruments again, clenching my chest to find him there. Honestly having no idea if I could see him again.

If I could apologize…

“You look like your Father.” He whispered to me, bringing a proud smile on my lip.

“Aren’t I?”

Turning to him and then back to Father, I narrowed my eyes in anguish, the day we lost him flashed before my eyes, piercing an arrow through my chest.

Closing my eyes, I took a step, pressing my teeth together to not cry and kept staring at him for a long time not noticing he also sat beside me.

His silver orbs scanned my reactions for a while, not parting them from my distressed features, bringing his hands to hold mine for assurance but stopped.

“Hey, are you okay?” He whispered softly, waving his hand slowly to drag me out from my thoughts.

“Huh? Yes.” I nodded, breaking the contact and turning to him tenderly.

“Are you hungry, Mr. Cannedy? You haven’t eaten anything.” I asked in the same tone but unknowingly, it made his jaw clenched while I had no idea why.

“Mr. Cannedy?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, that is what I call him. Anyways, tell me. You just came and took me along. Shall I grab us a sandwich or something?” I continued.

Realizing he was sitting to close so I moved back slightly, maintaining distance from him. Why did he sit next to me in the first place?

Of course it would be for show.

“No. It’s okay. We will grab something on our way back.”

Clearing his throat, he turned his head away and put his one leg over the other, looking assertive.

“If you say so.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I didn’t think about it and stayed for a while before leaving. During this time, I noticed him holding a deadpan look but then again-

When he didn’t look dangerous?

So I didn’t bother to pay attention, he was a stoic man after all.

“Take care, Saafia.”

“You too.”

We left and entered the lift alone. Standing beside him with a sweet smile, felicitous in a corner that he did this. I checked my watch, it was late and my stomach was empty.

“Ah, I am starving. Mister Cannedy-”

Before I could continue monotonously, he abruptly grabbed my arm and yanked me to him as he growled in a whisper, destroying the two minutes of peace I gained with him.

“Enough Saafia, stop calling me Mr. Cannedy. Use my name, dammit!”

“Ah!”

“Just for one moment, huh?!”

A tear pricked in my eyes at his iron grip that left his mark on my arm. I trembled at his wrath, averting my gaze sadly.

“Leave my arm.” I whimpered, suppressing my tears but growling, he pressed me in the corner more.

“I won’t.”

My heart skipped a beat in dread when he placed his other hand beside my face. My dried lips parting in distress, shaking in fear.

“I have the right to touch you and now you tell me what you thought for one moment, hmm?”

His grip tightened, I gasped in fright releasing the tear I held back so far. Tense, I didn’t dare to look in his venomous eyes, panting before his wrath.

“That we could be together? Be a couple? Because if you did, you are imagining. None of it is going to happen. I feel nothing for you and never will..”

Hissing, his grip was becoming harsher by each passing second to the point, I hit his chest slightly to knock some sense into him, releasing a feeble sob.

“Ah! let me go-”

He let me go fortunately, causing me to hit the edge, legs weakened before his overwhelming dominance. Breathless, taking the support from the wall.

Showing the side which I was frightened to confront all this time, showing why I shouldn't be with him.

“And if I am showering you with two talks and some generosity don’t take advantage of it. You are with me for a reason or else I won’t cross my path with a woman like you in the first place!”

He whisper-yelled, pointing his finger contemptibly at me.

Pulling away from me, leaving me in the corner with tears blurring my vision and a shaky mess.

Setting his collar, he turned his head away, not bothering to spare a glance at my scared form. Sniffling, I wiped my tears and before he could react to scolding me, the doors opened fortunately.

I kept looking down when he held my hand roughly and dragged me with him as I kept looking down with tears glistening in my eyes with one thing clear-

He was an insensitive bastard.