Chapter 8

• “I am assuming Nick is the father,”
• He said. Karina’s eyes met Ava who was watching her. What did she expect her to say? No?
• “Obviously. Who else have I been with for the past couple of months?”
• Karina asked.
• “Young lady, you will answer my questions respectfully. You will accord me the respect I deserve as your father!”
• Her father yelled at her. Karina wanted to laugh in his face. The only time he called himself her father was when he wanted to command her respect.
• “Dad, I am pregnant and the child belongs to Nick,”
• Karina answered.
• “Good then. Since you are marrying him. if not, it would have been a shame,”
• Her dad spat out.
• “I am not marrying him. The wedding is off,”
• Karina revealed. What was the point of keeping it anymore? She saw the shock in her Dad’s face but the others in the room didn’t look shocked at all. Her best bet was that they knew and were all in on the plan.
• “What did you just say? Are you out of your mind? The wedding is the day after tomorrow and you are pregnant with his child. What do you mean by the wedding is off? Why would the wedding be off?”
• Her dad asked in anger. Karina swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat.
• “I don’t know dad. Maybe ask Ava your favorite daughter why my wedding is off,”
• Karina let out. Her dad’s shocked face went from her to Ava and back to her.
• “Why would I ask her? What is her business with your wedding? As far as I know. She stayed away from it. she isn’t even in your bridal train or any of your wedding party, she is going as a family member so why should I ask her when you went out of your way to exclude her from your wedding preparation?”
• He yelled at her. yeah, another lie they sold to him that he had believed without asking her. Even though Ava wasn’t the best sister, Karina had offered her the role of her chief bridesmaid but she had turned her down which was why she asked one of the girls on her team at work to do it.
• “You should ask her since she would know the reason. Ask her where she was today and who she was with.”
• Karina said. she didn’t take her eyes off Ava while she said the words. She had a rigid facial expression. Not showing anything, not giving anything away. Karina knew that expression too much. It was what she does best when she tries to play the victim card.
• “What are you talking about? What kind of nonsense are you spitting right now?”
• It was her stepmother that spoke. Karina turned to her.
• “Your daughter is a whore, that’s what I am talking about!”
• Karina told her firmly without breaking eye contact with her.
• “What? What kind of accusation is that, Karina?”
• Her dad yelled. Karina faced her dad again.
• “I caught your beloved daughter in a hotel with the man I was supposed to marry. I guess she couldn’t let me have that one thing. Well, I don’t intend to fight with her over a man so she can have him,”
• Karina said.
• There was complete silence in the room. She could feel it coming. This was the silence before the storm. She even started doing a countdown in her head as to how long it would take before Ava burst into fake tears and pulled the victim card and right on time, she heard her voice.
• “Daddy, don’t mind her. She is lying,”
• Ava tried. Karina let out a laugh. She just had to laugh because if she didn't laugh, she would be forced to look at her sister and that happens, she would not be able to hold herself back from jumping on her.
• “Can someone explain to me what is going on here?”
• Her Dad yelled. For once, he wasn’t taking Ava's side. However, Karina knew not to let that get to her because she knew all too well that he would still take her side. Since she wanted to clear the air soon and go back to her room. She responded.
• “I already told you. Ava likes Nick and they have been playing hide and seek. Only that today, they decided not to hide it anymore. I know you always wanted everything that I have but I thought Nick was an exception. I guess I was wrong,”
• Karina said. it hurts, what Nick really hurt her because she never expected it from him but Ava? It was just another day.
• “Is this true? Or are you making this up just because you don’t want to marry Nick?”
• Her dad asked.
• “Honey, do you really believe her trash? It is obvious that she is lying. Why would Ava do something like that? Am I right, darling?”
• “Yes, mom. I don’t know what she is talking about. Karina if you developed cold feet because the wedding is close then you could have said it. you don’t have to lie on my name to get out of marrying him,”
• She knew she would do this but she had to give it to her. She was good. Fake crying and all. She was a damn good actress. If she didn’t witness it herself. She would have assumed she was lying on Ava too with how she spoke in tears. And sure enough, her Dad bought it.
• “If that’s what you are trying to do then you better stop it. the wedding will go on especially now that you are carrying his child. I don’t want a bastard as a grandchild,”
• Her dad said. Karina opened and closed her mouth a couple of times because she couldn’t get any words out. a lump formed in her throat again.
• “What? Dad, you are just going to believe her? Do you really think I would make something like that up? "that I am lying?”
• Karina let out when she finally found her voice.