Venessa’s P.O.V.
Mr Jonathan Nash, a successful businessman, influential approach in the active politics of the state. He took care of everything that I needed to avoid any kind of legal involvement in what my condition required here. I didn’t want any kind of legal complication right now. I was going through a lot those days and I didn’t want any other problem on my plate.
Mr Nash told me that it was his son, William, who brought me to the hospital at the right time. It was a coincidence that he was passing from there when he saw me lying there. I was thankful to him for saving my life. Though I hate that boy but what he did out of humanity was appreciable.
I stayed in ICU for 3 days and then I was shifted to a normal room. None of my family members came to see me and I was glad for that. I didn’t want to see their faces. I knew that I had to face them very soon but I was not ready yet.
“I need your signature on these documents, Ms Hamilton”, I looked at the lawyer, Mr Keith Billiard, standing in front of me with some legal documents. “What are they?” I asked him while taking the pen from him. “This is property transfer papers. You have already crossed the age limit and I think, now is the time to take back what is legally yours, Ms Hamilton”, his words were calculative and his voice was firm. I looked at him for a few seconds and then read the papers thoroughly. I narrowed my eyes on some clauses and smiled inwardly. At last, I signed them and gave them back to Mr Billiard.
“According to your request, Mr Nash has selected a studio apartment for you near to the college. You are going to be discharged tomorrow. You can go straight to your apartment or you can go to your house too”, he informed me and I nodded.
“I don’t think that I want to go there, Mr Billiard. Let them have that house as my parted gift to them”, I smiled weakly and he nodded. “Let me prepare the papers than”, he said and I nodded. He then left me and I closed my eyes while resting on the hospital bed.
“Hey, Vanessa”, I heard someone greeting me and I lifted my head up and saw Nathan standing at the door. He was looking nervous but still smiled. I smiled genuinely and greeted him back and gestured him to come inside. I was thankful to both him and William for helping me that night.
“How are you feeling now?” he asked me in a low voice and I laughed a little. “To be honest, a complete s**t”, I answered him truthfully and he laughed this time. “You are looking fine now”, he said while laughing and I laughed with him. “You are good in lying, you know?” I said to him and he nodded while putting his hands into his pockets and came near to my bed.
We both laughed a while longer. He then raised his hands and I just watched his action cautiously without moving my head. I watched his hand when he tucked a loose strand behind my ear and caressed my hair while looking straight into my eyes. There was a relief in his eyes that made my heart skipped a beat.
“I don’t know why you were in that condition but I really glad that William managed to save you”, he said in a soft tone and I smiled. “Convey my sincere thanks to him. I owe him for what he did for me”, I said truthfully and he just patted my cheek. It was a friendly pat and my heartfelt warmth of his gentleness.
“I heard that you will be discharged tomorrow. Hope to see you in college soon”, he said with a smile and I nodded. He then bid his goodbye after patting my cheek one last time. I lay down again and thought about him. He was the first boy that touched me in any sense and I felt good.
“Venessa”, I heard a familiar voice and my good mood went bitter. “Why are you here?” I asked without opening my eyes because I knew why he was there. There was silence but I could hear his light footsteps. “You asked for the transfer of property?” he asked me in a calm tone and I scoffed. Yeah… what could I expect from him? I was in the hospital for more than a week and he came only to ask why I ask for my property.
I opened my eyes and saw straight into his brown dull eyes. “You heard right. My lawyer will soon contact you”, I said in a monotone and he sighed. “That…. That… man is misleading you, Venessa. We… we … are family and how..”, I shot him daggers and cut him off instantly, “Family????? What kind of family we are, huh???? Tell me Mr Patrick Hamilton…. What kind of family we are …”. I yelled at the top of my lung this time and felt pain in the wound area in my chest.
He opened his mouth and I cut him off again. “You and your b***h wife and daughter beat me to death and then left me alone to die and now you are here…. For the sake of family???” I was fuming in anger now. My body started trembling.
“Venessa…. I … I .. really care for you… it’s just… I couldn’t stop them but it… doesn’t mean that you will snatch everything from us”, he accused me and I scoffed while looking away from him. “I am taking what is truly mine. You will get what is truly yours. I don’t want to talk anymore. If you have any question or disagreement… you can talk to my lawyer”, I said in a disgusting tone.
“Venessa…. I worked hard all these years not to leave in the end”, he raised his voice and I snapped my head towards him while narrowing my eyes. “I don’t f**king care what you did all these years ….. and don’t do anything that leads me to find out what you did all these years. Take what is yours or else”, I paused and he shot daggers at me.
He was about to take a step towards me when William and Nathan entered the room. “Is everything okay, Venessa”, Nathan asked me immediately when he looked at my pathetic excuse of an uncle in front of me. “It’s none of your business, boy…. She is my family and I know how to take care of her… so leave us alone”, he tried to intimidate my uncle and both of them scoffed. William stood up in front of him between me and him while Nathan came closer to me from the other side.
“Tell this to whom who didn’t have the true face of your care. She was almost dead that night”, William spoke with him in a very cold tone. My uncle stared at him looking displeased with his tone.
“Is this the way to talk with your elders, huh?” my uncle taunted and William scoffed with disdain. “This is the most polite way that I am talking to you. After what you and your family did to Venessa, I want you to throw out of this building after dragging you throughout the way”, his voice raised and I bit my lower lip. No one had stood up for me till yet. We were not so close yet they were here for me.
“She is still under my guardianship”, I scoffed at what my uncle tried to lay his claim on me. “You were my guardian until I attained the age of 18 and I”, I paused again and his face went pale. “I am already of 19 now”, I smirked and he just blinked on me.
“You heard her, right? So get the hell you’re a** out of this room before I call the police”, William threatened him while taking a predatory step towards him. “I will come again”, my uncle said and without waiting for any reply he almost ran out of the room. “How did you bear him all these years, huh?” William looked at me and suddenly his face went cold. I looked at Nathan and we both were confused at his reaction.
I followed his gaze and blushed hard. I didn’t know when did I and Nathan hold each other hands. I looked at Nathan and he still had that confused look on his face. “Nathan… my hand”, I whispered and he shrank his nose. He then looked down and immediately we both left each other’s hand.
There was an awkward silence in the room as if I was caught cheating on William. “I am going to call my dad to place some bodyguards here”, William broke the ice and was about to go out of the room when I called him from behind. He looked back at me and I passed a small smile to him. “Thanks for standing me”, we both looked at each other without saying anything. “I will again if he tries to bully you again”, he spoke in a determined tone making me skipped a beat.