Chapter 5

"Mum you know that I have no one to go to. Don't worry yourself I will be fine" Catherine responded.

No matter how hard she tried, Catherine couldn't forget the ugly incident that took her to Topland. She shivered as she recalled what happened. Six years ago Andrew came back from the hospital drunk. He saw Catherine lying on the bed. In his drunken state, he tried to force himself on her. However, Catherine screamed and attracted their neighbors. They came in and saved her.

Evelyn looked at her daughter and sobbed. She felt helpless, it hurt her to see Catherine suffer like this. If not for her being incapacitated due to her accident, she would have been able to take good care of her daughter and protect her from all these traumas.

Catherine wiped her mother's tears and went out in search of a job. Andrew her stepfather, was a drunk and couldn't provide for his family. Her mother always depends on the neighbors for survival before her arrival. However, she has to take up that responsibility now she is around.

Catherine went to the Eastern part of the Northland where the rich and famous live to look for a job. After searching for hours, she was able to get a cleaning job at Toprank restaurant.

"I am very impressed with your work. I will encourage you to keep it up and you will be rewarded handsomely" Mr. Wilson the owner of the restaurant said.

"Thank you, sir" Catherine replied and continued with her work. She was determined to rewrite her history and make all those who hurt her pay for all they had done to her.

Catherine got home tired and weak. She worked double shifts. The little food she got from the restaurant is what she ate with her mother that night. The wages were not much but it can keep them going.

Andrew came back home drunk as usual, he did not say a single word to anyone, he went to his old couch which happens to be the only chair in their one-room apartment, and lay down. Catherine joined her mother on her little bed, afraid of being molested again by him.

After the incident, Catherine has been afraid of her stepfather Andrew. He too ignores her. His attitude toward her has also changed drastically. His life too became meaningless.

**

"I am not going anywhere" James shouted back to his father in anger. His attitude has changed since Catherine abandoned him as he thought

"I have noticed your abrupt behavior recently," Mr. Williams said

" You have changed for the worse. What is eating you up? Williams yelled back to his son James.

"Nothing is wrong with me. I am not going to study in the UK. I will not" he announced in resentment kicking off the small stool by his side with his foot in anger, before running into his room in pain.

He was too ferocious that he refused to eat his dinner.

"I am not going anywhere I must find her. She can't just come and mess up my feelings and leave just like that". He said as hot tears ran down his cheeks. James was elegant, intelligent, and arrogant, with a strong personality. However, he also gets too emotional at any little thing. Ever since the death of his mother, he cries at any little provocation even though he is a grown-up now.

The next morning James found himself in front of Mira's house.

"Coming" Mira answered from inside as soon as she heard a knock on the door.

"Oh, my, who did we have here". She exclaimed immediately after she opened the door.

"Hi, my name is James I..."

"I know who you are. I saw you at the party" Mira cut him off

"I came because of your friend, do you know where I can find her?"

He had asked Sonia about Catherine but she seemed not to know her, however, she gave him Mira's address 'instead because the girl came with Mira her best friend. within a few minutes, he found himself face-to-face with Mira.

"You sure have a nerve. Did you come looking for her after dumping her that way in that toilet? You are something else." Mira said not knowing how best to express her feelings about him at the moment. pouting her pale face while tucking her wavy carrot hair just to show him how angry she was.

Her grey eyes looked awkward on him assessing him up and down

"I did not leave her, I went back but she was gone, I waited for her at the park she did not show up even though she promised." He explained He halted.

" You have no idea what I have been through all these days. I have never felt anything like that to anyone before." He expressed.

Tears build up in his eyes. He turned away his face to avoid Mira's gaze. The last thing he wanted was to show his weakness before her.

"Alright, I will take you to her place. Wait a minute, Let me change to something better" Mira said and went inside. Within a few minutes, she came out and both of them left together.

Mr. Williams was in his study working with his laptop. When James came back from Claudia's.He tapped at the open door and went in.

" I am sorry Dad," he mumbled looking remorseful.

William lifted his head from his laptop. He glanced at his son in surprise closed his laptop and paid attention to him.

" I am ready to study in Uk" he added without meeting his father's stares. His heart was in great pain as he spoke.

"Do you honestly want to study in the UK?" His father asked him.

"Yes" he replied

"I will send my agent an email immediately to prepare your visa," Williams Smith said without throwing a gaze at him. He was known to be a mean and tough-minded man. He turned to his laptop and continued with what he was doing.

James knew his father well enough to discern that the discussion was over. He clenched his fists and went to his room with a gloomy face. His heart was filled with mixed emotions of anger and disappointment which increased his frustration.

Once in his room, James yelled out in anger. He throws away the things on his table and slumps himself on the floor, he wept bitterly.