008

Chapter 8

DAHLIA

“Why are they suddenly here?”

Seeing them at that moment, the realization of what I've been tolerating all in the name of love for Desmond flashed on my mind.

I had completely forgotten that they had a key to my home. Desmond had given it to them in the past. I never had an issue with it, because I was so focused on being a good wife and daughter in-law to them. But thinking of it now, that was so stupid of me.

“Dahlia….I didn't want to come here today, but I needed some cash. Desmond didn't give me any, can you help me out?” Anita, Desmond's younger sister asked, holding my hand.

Mind you, I was still standing outside the door.

“I need money too, Dahlia…the allowances you send me are barely enough these days,” Frank, his brother added.

“You should increase our allowances too. It's barely enough,” Gideon, Desmond's father added.

“Dahlia dear…Can you take me to the hospital later, that's….” Martha was speaking, but then I cut her off, fed up and tired of being treated like an ATM machine.

“Can you all step aside?” I pulled my hand away from their grasps and walked into the living room.

They all followed.

“You do know you were rude to mother just now, Dahlia. How could you cut her off like that?” Frank confronted me, the moment I settled down on the couch.

I looked up at him, then scoffed.

My reaction seemed totally unexpected. In the past, I was the perfect ass licking daughter in-law. But at that moment, I was so pissed off that I didn't care what they thought of me.

“You think you're all high and mighty just because you pay us and few dollar allowances each month? You think I'll let you disrespect us this way?” Frank kept ranting, insistently challenging me.

“Let it go, Frank,” Anita grabbed him and tried pulling him away from me. But then he flung her away like she weighed nothing.

I gasped.

“Are you shocked?” He stared at me.

“That's exactly how the women in this family are treated! Desmond has been so damn soft with you that you forgot your place and think you can disrespect us!” He yelled, grabbing onto my collar.

All this time, Desmond's parents stood there. None saying a word.

“Listen Frank, bark from now till tomorrow. You still won't get a penny from me. And if you dare raise your hands on me. I swear you'll rot in jail…ungrateful pig,” I retorted, not hiding my anger and disgust.

I made eye contact with Anita who was sprawled on the floor, clutching onto her head. I had no sympathy for her, they were all disgusting to me.

“There is food in the fridge. You can heat it up and eat before you leave,” I told Martha, pointing at the fridge, then turned around to walk into the bedroom.

They all seemed so shocked by my sudden attitude that they didn't move a muscle. They simply stood watching me like I had lost my mind.

I walked away and was almost out of the living room, when I felt someone grab me, turning around, it was Frank.

“You!” He raised his hand and before I could utter a word, it landed on my face.

The moment his hand met my face, every single negative emotion that had been drowning me the entire day came crashing down on me with full force.

“You bastard!” I clenched my fist, and landed a punch right on his lips. It cut and began bleeding.

Gideon screeched and quickly rushed over to his son.

“Listen, all of you. I have put up with your nonsense for too long. I won't tolerate it again. If you need money so badly, work hard and earn it! Or ask your son for it!” I fired.

Walked away and slammed the bedroom door shut.

“What a bunch of ingrates!”

I kicked off my shoes and slumped myself on the bed and broke into another round of sobs.

Over five years of my life have been a lie. The ever so loving in-laws I felt lucky to have were nothing but pretenders. All they wanted was to suck me dry, till I go bankrupt.

“Why am I just realizing this now?” I cried.

“You're a fool, Dahlia,” I told myself over and over again.

In the midst of my crash out, my phone rang, it was Desmond.

Staring at my phone, I felt like smashing it on the wall, but then I held back. I can't crash out on him yet. I can't. I kept reminding myself.

I answered the call and didn't bother to utter a word.

Desmond's heavy breathing filled my ears.

“Dahl. I'm sorry. I don't think I can come home tonight,” he began.

I kept shut, waiting to hear what he had to say.

“Anita just called me, my mum suddenly fell sick. I'll be sleeping over at their place tonight. My mum needs me.”

His lie sounded so genuine and believable that I almost doubted if the greedy people in the living room were even there in the first place.

“Say something, Dahl, please…Things have been rocky between us these few days, I wanted nothing more than to resolve things with you the moment I get home today. But things turned out this way. I'll buy a proper apology gift on my way home tomorrow morning. Please, baby,” his voice was so calm and suiting.

“It's alright, Desmond. Go to mother. I have no problem. Call me when you get there, so I can speak to her, I'm really worried,” I faked a sob.

“Why is she always falling sick, oh my gosh. Maybe take her to the hospital. Take good care of mother, please,” I kept sobbing.

“Don't cry, Dahl. I'll take good care of her, you have nothing to worry about,” Desmond assured me, before finally hanging up.

“So, all these years. This has been a lie!”

I have lost count of the number of times Desmond pulled this particular stunt of his mum or other members of his family needing him urgently and each time, I completely fell for it.

“Your days of playing with my emotions are finally over, Desmond. It's my turn now,” I declared.

First, I need to speak with the people in my living room.