CHAPTER THREE.

CHAPTER THREE

CHARLES'S POV.

I ran outside towards Jane and Kira, they were about to enter Jane's car. Oh my God! I can't believe this girl is actually serious about leaving the house. No, no, no, I can't let her. She is my daughter, and I love her so much. There is no way I would let her go out there to face the harsh reality of life. I've worked hard my entire life just to make sure I get to give her all the luxury of life, the life I never had while growing up. I don't want her to get to experience what I experienced while growing up.

“Where is the masters card?” I ask her, holding her hand back, preventing her from entering the car.

“Excuse me?” She sneered with shock written all over her face.

I know for a fact she will be so shocked, I'm asking for the masters card. That is her only means of income and survival. The masters card is an unlimited card I gave to her on her 16th birthday. Jane has never had to work her entire life, so she has no means of income. She is so used to living a luxurious life and spending lavishly, she gets whatever she wants and goes wherever she wants whenever she wants to.

I'm asking her for the masters card, hoping she changes her mind and does not leave. That is her only means of income and survival, and the fact that she can't seem to cut down on her extravagant lifestyle and go live in a slum, with no means of income, might make her change her mind. I'm just hoping, hoping cause I know how stubborn Jane can be.

“Mr Peterson, just move out of my way.” I hear her groan, jolting me out of my own world. Jeez… I really hate when she calls me that. Typical Jane!

“Jane, give back the masters card. You can't cut off all ties with me, and still go with what belongs to me.” I say, trying so hard to keep a straight face, but I failed at maintaining eye contact with her. She looks surprised and hurt, not my intention to hurt, but this just seems like the only way for her to stay back or at least come back even if she leaves.

“You don't mean that. The master's card was my birthday gift, you can't take that away from me!” She screams with tears rolling down her face.

God! I can't bear to see her cry. Am I being harsh on her? She just lost her mom, maybe I should just let her go with the masters card. No, no, no, I can't do that. If I let her go with the masters card, I might just lose her for good, I might never set my eyes on her again. I can't let that happen, I can not.

“Jane, if you must leave this house, then you have to return the masters card, I can't let you go with it.” I say with all seriousness.

“Mr Peterson, you don't have to…” Nanny walks up to me saying, when Jane interrupts her.

“Here you go.” Jane interrupts the nanny, flinging the masters card to my face. “You can have it, I don't even get why I'm surprised you're taking it away from me. You've taken my world from me already, so I shouldn't expect much from you.” She sneered angrily.

I won't say I'm surprised, though I'm really hurt, because I get to see my daughter leave and without any means of survival, and I can't do anything about it. Can I trust my daughter with kira? I really don't like the lady, and I know she doesn't like me either. Will she be able to take care of my daughter and give her the Life she deserves? She can barely take care of herself and family. Oh God, what am I going to do right now?

“Jane, baby hear me out please, let's just sit down and talk about this please. You can't just leave me like that” I stammered, praying she listens.

“Get the hell away from my way.” She yelled very loudly. She seems really angry this time.

“How will you survive? Huh? How will you survive with your shopping, your spa dates, your travelling, your exquisite vacations and your luxurious lifestyle? You know you can't survive in a slum, you know you can't survive without money and luxury Jane. You can't even work, and that's because you have never worked your whole life. You have never experienced the outside world, you don't even know how harsh it is out there. Do you know what it is to make a penny? Do you know how to make that penny?” I ask, panting really hard. I was talking nervously and hurriedly. She just stares at me without saying a word, not like I was expecting her to answer my questions though. With the look on her face, I'm very sure I struck a nerve.

“Of course you can't. Jane you need me, you can't survive out there without me, without my money. Look baby, I know you are grieving, but please do not make a rash decision that you will regret later on.” I say calmly, taking her hands into mine. She let out a low soft laugh, jerking her hands off mine.

“You know, you're right, dad. I don't know what it means to make a living, I've never had to work before, and I'm so used to having it all. But you know, one thing you are not right about, is me needing you. You see, I don't need you and I'm putting it to you that I will survive with or without you, I will survive without your money.” She paused and looked me straight in the eyes, giving me a death glare. “I will learn to make a living for myself, I will earn a lot of money to foot my bills and keep up with my way of living. This I promise you, just wait and see.” She said softly, yet sternly. Shoving me away from her way, she gets into the car and waits for Kira to get in before driving out of the house.

At this point, I'm already on the floor sobbing. I can't believe my daughter just left me, I don't know what else to do.

“I'm really sorry sir, just take it easy. She will be back, she is just angry and needs space. Just give her time, she will definitely come around.” Doctor Antonio says while patting my back. I could not utter a word, I just nodded my head in response to what he said.

“I will be on my way now sir. Once again, I'm really sorry for your loss.” I hear him say. I still didn't utter a word, I looked up and let out a sad smile while I just slightly nodded my head.

Nanny walks him to his car, leaving me all alone in this sad misery. How did I get here? If only she knew, I didn't mean to hurt her mother. I really feel bad I fell out of love for Emily. One can't always control how they feel, not that I'm justifying what I did to her, but I just couldn't help it. I feel bad I wasn't there for her. I'm in love with Nina, my mistress. I have been in love with her for a very long time now, I even have a child with her. I can't bring myself to tell Jane, I can't end things with Nina because I love her. I only have to use the partnership between my company and her parent's company as an excuse. Though it was also part of the reason, but it's not the main reason. I didn't mean for all of these to happen, and I'm really sorry it all went sour. If I could turn back the hands of time, I'd gladly do it to Change things for the better.

Will Jane ever forgive me? I could see the hatred, sadness and disappointment in her eyes. I love my daughter so much and I don't want to ever lose her. I can't afford to lose her.

“Sir, you need to go to your room, the weather doesn't seem too good out here” I hear nanny's calm voice. I don't say a word, I just sit there and sob quietly.

“Dear, I'm really sorry for your loss, I'm sorry all of these are happening. I know how much you love Jane, I know how much it hurts you to see her leave. And I'm really sorry about what you are going through right now” she paused and sighs, rubbing my back soothingly. “Dear, you should understand her. She is grieving right now and she feels betrayed by you. You had a bad relationship with her mother and then you've got another who you're in love with, you have another child out there. All these she knows, you don't expect her to feel good about all of these, you don't expect her to take it all well and be happy with you. You know you messed up everything, you destroyed your family with your family with your own hands. I really don't want to point out your faults and apportion blames her, but I need you to know you caused all of these. So instead of crying, get up and take responsibility for your actions, make things right. Fight for your daughter, but before that, give her the space she needs.” Nanny advised calmly, hugging me and patting my back soothingly. I'm literally crying now.

Nanny is like a mother to me. She had always acted like a mother figure in my life. She is always here to console, she is always here to lift up my spirit whenever I'm down, she never fails to give her advice at any given opportunity necessary. She has been mad at me ever since I started seeing Nina. She tried talking me out of it, she tried her best to make me be there for my late wife, Emily. But it was already too late, because I was deeply in love with Nina. Even with her anger, she was still there for me when I needed her, she is still here for me even now. I love and respect her so much, I know I have disappointed her and hurt her deeply, which I'm really sorry for. I promise to make this right.

“I'm sorry nanny, I'm really sorry I messed up everything. I'm sorry I hurt Emily and Jane, I'm sorry Emily had to die because of me… I'm so so sorry. I wish all of these never happened…” I say crying loudly. She didn't say a word, she just hugged me really tight. I hear her sniff, she's probably crying too. She loved Emily so much. After a while, she releases herself from my grip.

“You should head inside now, before you catch a cold.” She sniffed, wiping her face with her hands. She offers to help me up. We walk straight to my bedroom, where she bids me good night and walks towards her room.

I walk straight to my bathroom, take off my clothes and walk into the bathtub. I just lay there in the cold leather water. My head seems to be clouded by a lot of thoughts. I can't stop crying, I didn't expect Emily's death to get to me like this. I really did love her, but I couldn't control my feelings, I couldn't control how I fell for Nina, my mistress. If she had just agreed to sign the divorce papers and leave, maybe she wouldn't have been dead by now, maybe she'd still be alive now. Maybe, just maybe, we won't be in this state right now. I guess she was so scared of losing Jane, just as much as I am.

Laying flat on my back, I deep my head into the water for some seconds. I stayed there for a while, reminiscing over the past when we were high school sweethearts.

“Guess things change, guess people change too, and for what it's worth, I'm glad I met you Emily. You gave me the best gift of my life, you gave me Jane. I'd forever be grateful to you Emily. Thank you for everything, thank you for tolerating me, thank you for believing in me even though I hurt you deeply. I'm so sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry for everything. I promise, I'd take very good care of Jane. May you rest well in the blossom of the Lord.” I say softly to myself, sobbing.

I get out of the bathtub, drag a towel from the rack, and walk out of the bathroom while drying my body. I walk towards the wardrobe, take out a brief and put it on. Walking slowly to my bed, I lay down, facing the ceiling and tearing up. Thinking and tossing on the bed, I could finally feel sleep engulfing me.