Its been a while but here's a very long chapter and I'll be updating everyday for a good two weeks to finish up the book.

Intense chapter ahead ⚠️

It was almost midnight when Mister Andrew Mason Scott arrived at the hospital. In the midst of all his sorrow there was a deeper anger. He was enraged, and all that stoic demeanour was held head strong in pillars of intimidation. James' father was nothing like his son. His presence was threatening. His authority over shadowed everyone.

Behind him came Miss Inez, tearshot eyes as she ran towards me in her little black dress. "What happened to him?" She cried, lips quivering.

My words were under my throat as my voice trembled, failing to speak.

"Betty.... Talk to me please. What happened to my little brother." I never heard Miss Inez sound so weak. All her make up smeared in tears as she held onto my shoulders.

"It was an accident, he....."

"Where? How....how is he?"

"He's been in the operating room for almost 29hours. Its really bad. I'm so scared of losing him. And I .... he's in critical condition."

Inez moved away from me. "I need to talk to a doctor." She raised her voice. "I want my brother moved to a better hospital immediately."

"I have the situation under control." Mister Scott came to stand beside his daughter. His well spoken voice did not match his intimidating appearance. "Stop raising your voice Inez, it doesn't suit your hypocrisy."

I doubled back at how he stop to his daughter. "I have every right to be her father. James is my brother and you can't talk to me this way. It's not fair."

"Save your search for empathy. I have none for you. I'm sure James would not have wanted you here, especially right now. Take the first flight home tomorrow morning." Mister Scott commanded with out pose nor mercy for how Inez was pained and neither regard that people were watching. I took a few steps back in favour of sparing Miss Inez her honour. It showed how much she hurt from her father choosing to humiliate her Infront of everyone without any discretion. He talked to her like she didn't matter.

Miss Inez swallowed, "Father please. I know the mistakes I made are unforgivable but I want to be here for James."

"I will not give you the chance to make things right. You don't get to be so lucky. That chance was always present until you decided this family was too much trama for you to handle."

"I was sixteen and I didn't know any better." She pleaded. "I have apologized a million times. I was a child."

"Don't you dare use James' current condition to earn the right to forgiveness. The selfishness inside you is dispeakable that you'd show your face here, where you aren't needed just to prove you are regretful."

"I'm not doing that father....."

"Shut your mouth and wipe those pathetic tears Inez before I throw you out myself." His voice was raised. "You should know I'm seconds away from stripping you the rights to even consider yourself a member of this family."

Inez paled. She knew she had no choice but to leave and I honestly felt sorry for her. I have no idea what she's done in the past and why her family hate her but she has always been good to me and a really nice boss. I never knew that her and James weren't in good terms. They seemed fine. But then again, there's usually more that's beneath the eye.

April and Enos were heads down shocked and still sited on the floor alarmed at the way Andrew Mason Scott discarded his own daughter. "I'll be outside." I heard April silently address Enos but he quickly held her down. "You aren't escaping any of this April. Don't make me tie you down."

"We're as good as dead Enos." She whispered angryly, tears already forming in her eyes and panic in her tone. "We're dead, do you hear me. That man won't spare us If we don't leave this place ..... you need to listen to me don't be an idiot that bitch put you here. It's all her goddamn fault and we got nothing to do with this."

Enos' eyes landed on mine. I wasn't sure exactly what thoughts run through his head as April kept on. "You gave her all you had and what did she do? She let that man back into her life and for what? Now you are stuck in her mess. She has taken advantage of you. If you stay here, mark my words, you will turn into the biggest fool on earth."

Enos grabbed April and stood up with her. He kept his deep blue eyes on mine and I couldn't decipher them. He was shutting me out and my heart sunk.

I couldn't bare it.

I knew if I watched him walk out of this........walk of my life like this...

I turned away.

April wasn't entirely wrong. All I've ever brought Enos was trouble. If there is anyone to bare the weight of all of this then it should be me.

"Nobody is leaving this place. It'll raise suspicion and I won't allow it." I heard him say.

"Is that the only reason you are staying? Or has Betty really turned you into her puppet."

"I'd suggest you watch those words."

"I can't believe this." April ranted. "Will you ever learn?"

Their conversation was interrupted with the presence of James' father. We had barely noticed him approaching us and I was not prepared in any sense to be confronted by him. Most of my thoughts were on James and I often wondered to his side of the world as I made silent prayer for his sake. And even though I had so much in my head on nobody else but James, they all perished the moment his father asked me whether or not I witnessed everything.

"I won't repeat myself Elisabeth." He warned me by my name and I was taken aback. He knew exactly who I was. That spark fear inside me. I never met this man in my life. But he pronounced my name and called me out like he has known of my existence. Almost like he has been keeping an eye on me. "Where you present when my son's car went falling into that cliff?" That didn't even sound like a question but more of a solid statement.

He stood tall before me and I'd never felt more beneath anyone in my entire life. I stumbled upon my own responses before I'd gained the balance to speak.

"Let me clarify the question then. To make it easier for you." He continued with eyes baring immense anguish as a father, and also resentment towards me that I couldn't forebare. "I know my son came to Georgia for you." When he said that, I realised that Mister Scott was infact keeping a close eye on his son and also on me. I felt invaded and naked, which was a terrible feeling. " And I was provided with information by the police regarding this accident and I listened to your statement. Not just yours, but also your boyfriend's. And I'm also aware that you and my son have history. So Elisabeth, let me ask you this, Is it or Is it not your fault that my son's lifeless body was dragged out of that cliff and he is now fighting for his life?"

I wasn't prepared for that question.

That question was a blow on the chest. But Mister Scott was serious and he was waiting.

Somehow April's constant accusations just came repeatedly in my ears. And even the voices that I was desperately pushing into the dark came slowly to the surface and made it nearly impossible for me to speak.

"I'm sorry. I am truly sorry that..... That this happened."

"Answer my question."

I couldn't bring myself to do that.

"Sir, this accident wasn't anyone's fault." I heard Enos interrupt. "You can't make Elisabeth confess to something she didn't do."

Mister Scott wasn't there to pay attention to anybody else. He had his dark eyes on me and I was terrified because he looked at me in a way that warned me to say nothing other than what he wished to hear. He hadn't threatened me. There was no gun pointed to my face and I wasn't pinned down and forced to speak anything other than the truth. But I felt like...... He made me feel like I couldn't say anything else other than what he wanted to hear. And though he hadn't told me of what to say.... The atmosphere around us, just from how he looked at me, it was as though he wanted me to take the blame.

And I ended up making the worst mistake of my life that day. The second I replied, I just knew I messed up. But I only said what I was feeling because the guilt was eating me alive. If James never met me, he wouldn't be here.

And that's the truth.

"Right answer." Was what Mister Scott said to me before he had his guards drag me outside that hospital and throw me into what appeared to be a police car.

Enos came running after us as April stayed behind. He had this look on his face, he was angry, and was being fueled by the need of some kind of justice. But deep down, him and I both knew that there was no justice here. Because to Mister Scott, I'm the problem and I had to be terminated.

I was confused but mostly scared. And I didn't want to leave that hospital without knowing whether or not James was going to be alright. I tried fighting off the guards and leave that car but my body was worn out from lack of food and my own injuries.

"Please don't do this." I pleaded with James's father as he watched me from outside the vehicle. He had no remorse nor sympathy for me as he watched me struggle. "I'm begging you to let me see him. Atleast until.......until he w_wakes up please." I was already shedding tears. Enos was being held back by more guards as he tried to reach for me.

"It's not her fault." He kept repeating. "This isn't fair, let her go."

Mister Scott walked closer to the car, "If you really cared about my son, then you would have thought twice before running off with your lover. I wasn't planning on offering you any kind of mercy but because you've begged me so much then I'll do you this one favour."

I tried so hard to ignore everything he was saying because I didn't want to provoke him any further. "Will you let me wait for him to wake up?" I pushed my agenda in hopes that he might consider.

"NO."

My heart dropped.

"I won't let you see my son, not ever again. But here is what I'll do for you Elisabeth Wilson. The day my son wakes up from that hospital bed, on the condition that he's well and good, that is the day I'll let you go free. But for now, I'd rather you rot in a dungeon as you reflect on everything you've done."

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