"In this life, the ones who think they're untouchable often forget—we all bleed the same."
unknown
Chapter 62
I ran to the minister to try to offer assistance, but was brushed off by kamir, who had beat me to it.
"Please get away from here! Haven't you done enough?"
Before I could open my mouth to respond, we were distracted by more loud noise coming from outside.
I remained by the minister's side as everyone else ran out to see what was happening, kamir included.
"What is going on?" my unfortunate husband asked, his voice still raspy.
"It's Amanda!" madam maria exclaimed, running back into the house. "They caught her trying to throw what looked like tear gas and bombs into the estate!"
"What?" the minister exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. "What kind of demon has descended on this household today?"
Joining everyone else outside, I was saddened to see that it was indeed Amanda, the same Amanda that was high on crack some months back, pinned to the ground by the guards.
"Haven't I been telling you people to fix the security more?" the minister shouted, his voice still hoarse. "Now, look. A woman was able to find her way inside. Don't you all feel ashamed?"
Before he could even finish speaking, she pushed the men holding her down, with more strength than I would have ever given her credit for, and sprinted back to the damaged part of the fence, from where she'd gained entry. In a flash, she was out of the compound.
"Look at them! Fools!" the minister yelled, the veins in his head pulsating. "Go after her!"
The guards in their confusion ran in different directions; some jumped out of the fence to chase after her, and others ran to the gate. In all the 20 years I had lived in the ranch, I had never seen anything like it. It was utter confusion.
"Madam maria, arrange to have that fixed immediately! And have more security" the minister barked.
"I will do that, sir. You have my word," she said, reaching to hold him. "Please, let me take you upstairs. You need to rest. I should even call Dr. Jacobi to come and have a look at you."
"No need for that," he answered. "I'll just go to my room to catch my breath for a little while. I feel completely drained."
I watched as the monster, flanked by madam maria and kamir, made his way upstairs, and just stood there like a casual bystander. This was the same man outraged that people were coveting his 'wife', but who still treated this same wife worse than a common stranger.
"You okay?" Ibrahim asked. "Is this how exciting things get here?"
"I'm fine," I answered, looking at him. "But you need to take care of that lip."
Returning to my room, I retrieved the bag I'd initially packed when Jacobi and I had made our grand plans.
After the events of the morning, I was more than ready to leave the dysfunctional environment.
When Demien and his friends showed up, I wanted to be ready.
I remained in my bedroom for the better part of the day, peeping out of the window on occasion. The raucous had long died down, and everything was pretty much back to normal.
I realised I hadn't seen Catherine in all the excitement and deduced she'd probably been at her flat in New-York. I smiled and shook my head at the irony.
Catherine had a flat in New-York, while her parents were squatting in the cramped bas
apartment they had been allocated.
I could bet everything I owned that her mother didn't even have any idea about the flat. Well, she was old enough to do as she wanted. I only wished she was around to help me send a message to Demien , a message imploring him to speed up his plans.
By evening, hunger pangs had set in, and I decided to damn the consequences, leave my room, and go hunting for food in the kitchen. But walking down the corridor of my floor, I heard soft shout from the abandoned family lounge. As mine was the only bedroom in that wing, the recreational lounge there was hardly ever used, so it was enough for me to wonder who had found their way there.
"Those are just tears," I heard the minister's voice. "How can you ask me for money to start another business, kamir ? How many of your failed businesses have I had to pay for?"
I pressed forward to try to hear her answer but could only hear a muffled voice.
"Why is it always your excuse? 'They scammed me! They scammed me!' Why is it only you people scam?" the minister retorted. "Over 40 years old and nothing to show for it. A wife , no. Children, none. Job, no way. Business, who hasn't scammed you??. You are good for nothing, and you should be ashamed of yourself!"
At this point, I couldn't take it anymore. Almost involuntarily, my hand reached for the door knob, and I walked into the room. Both Chief and his sonlooked up, surprised.
"What do you want here?" kamir exclaimed through her tears.
"Do you have no heart at all?" I said, addressing his father. "Do you feel proud of yourself, reducing your son to tears? Does it bring you joy when everyone around you is unhappy?"
"Look at this wretched girl!" he laughed mockingly.
"So, because everyone has had a go at me today, you think you too deserve a turn?"
I shook my head, disgusted. "A man with everything, but yet nothing. Kamir is the only one on your side, and look how you are treating her?"
"When I am talking to my children, never deceive yourself into thinking it will ever concern you. It will never concern a wretch like you. Wretched girl from a poverty-stricken family!" hr retorted.
"You are a sorry excuse for a man," I said to him, the first time I was brave enough to stand up to him. "You are the worst decision my father made. If only I could go back in time, so much would be different."
"The worst decision you and your father made indeed. You are just a joker. You and your harlot of a mother who is still looking for whom to sleep with in exchange for money even in her grave!" he mocked, laughing. "Did I tell you I saw her before she died?"
His words stabbed me in the heart, and I felt sadness and regret, for my mother's sake, for mine, and for my family's.
"Imagine you telling me I'm a sorry excuse for a man! Zeynep, I've been very lenient with you, don't let me show you my other eye," he said, the sardonic smile still on his lips. "It was out of pity for you that I left your doctor boyfriend alone and just decided to teach him a small lesson by destroying his hospital. Left to me, you know he wouldn't even be breathing by now. But my respect for his late father made me go easy on him."
Goosebumps erupted all over my body. "You were responsible for what happened to the hospital?"
"From the very moment the boy came here that first time to tell us he was in town, I saw how you two were exchanging puppy looks. When I left you in his care before I travelled, I wanted to see if you would fall into my trap…and you both did; hook, line, and sinker. It amazes me how much of a fool you take me for, zeynep."
Kamir's tears had by now dried, and he watched his father and I with rapt attention.
"You are a Monster," I said, after standing silent for a while.
"If I hadn't married you, I would have made something of my life. You will live to regret ruining my life."
"zeynep, please leave. My father and I were having a conversation before you rudely interrupted,"Kamir interjected, but I saw what looked like concern in his eyes. He wasn't dismissing me for her benefit…but mine.
"No, let her stay!" thr minister countered. "Let her stay and listen to me wash her down! Imagine the wretch I picked from the gutter having the effrontery to stand there and talk back –"
I stepped out of the room, closing the door shut, all desire for food gone.
As I returned to my room, I had no idea it would be the last time I saw minster Omar alive.