Chapter eight 《The Anniversary》

The moment you let go of the wrong people did to you, Karma gets to work.

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|VELVETTE |

A black Saturday, 13th of August, 2017.

He died of stage IV liver cancer. Diemos Macmillan, Owner of Macmillan Jewels worldwide.

When the doctor declared that he had three months left, we organised a 'getaway' trip to Switzerland per Dad's suggestion mainly to escape from our furious demons, to have some days for ourselves and forget about the impending doom even for a little while.

That day, we were particularly set and ready for the trip. I went to help Dad in getting dressed, after a while he asked me to get him a glass of water.

I shouldn't have left him all alone because when I returned, he was kneeling beside his bed with his hands clutched tightly around his stomach and he was dead. Just thinking about that day makes me nauseous.

Today is Dad's fourth year anniversary and as a tradition, we visit his grave together as a family to pay some respect.

Vel!"

I heard Mum's high pitched voice calling out for me.

"In a minute," I replied hurriedly.

I wrapped a black scarf around my neck, placed my round black glasses on, my bag in the other hand as I descended down the stairs.

The drive to the cemetery was short and full of distress. We pulled into the driveway directly infront of the brick fenced Macmillan's private cemetery.

It's an ancestral cemetery located on the private land of the Macmillan's. All my great grandfathers and external family members were buried here.

The place was dirty and unorganised. The dry leaves of the surrounding plants cracked beneath my boots as I made my way to my father's tomb.

I knelt beside it and cleared the dirt and leaves on it with my gloved hand. The flowers I brought few months earlier had withered and shrivelled with time. I removed the old flowers and replaced it with fresh, heavenly smelling crimson roses and planted two camellia seeds on either side of his grave all the while my family stood beside me silently, calming me with their presence.

It was now time for each one of us to have a private chat with him.

Mum went first while we stood within a reasonable distance from her. I could still hear her voice even though I tried not to.

"I miss you," she whispered in a hoarse voice stuggling to hold her tears in.

For the past three years, it's been a mantra she recites every time we make an appearance. No more, no less.

It feels like the moment she opens her mouth to say something else, she'll break down and never recover from it. The grief will swallow her whole and she'll lock herself in her room and never come out.

The only reason she hasn't allowed grief to overcome her is because she knows that her children needs her, that's the only reason she wakes up every morning with only one motive in mind, 'to survive.'

When it reached my turn, I went and knelt beside his grave and with a pained voice, I muttered,

"Old man, you told me that the day I'd bring my talent to life, you'd be there by my side.

To proudly claim that I'm your talented daughter. I did everything for you and I was more than ready to show it to you but you vanished into the thin air.

My wave of thoughts drifted to last heart to heart conversation we had before he passed away.

I was enthusiastically putting a final pearl to the necklace I was making, I held it high and admired my handicraft with a proud smile.

"Wow, it's beautiful baby doll," Dad complimented as he made his way towards my bed.

He took the glamorous necklace out of my stretched hand and traced the intricate patterns with his index finger.

"It's stunning Vel, you're a a talented young lady. One day I'd witness my daughter standing on the platform of extravagance making her dreams a reality. I'll be there like the proud Father I am to support and cheer for you."

"I'll make you more than proud Dad," I smiled assuredly and laid my head gently on his laps, quietly enjoying the fatherly warmth it provided. "Promise me you'd be there with me on that special day."

"I promise, my angel. I love you." He muttered and placed an affectionate kiss on my forehead.

"I love you too Dad."

"You lied, you're a deceitful liar who does nothing but break people's heart. How cruel of you old man, how could you be so heartless to leave us all by ourselves." I screamed, the sharpness of my voice bringing me back to the situation at hand.

I was trembling with raw fury now, every year when I think I've moved past the grieve It slaps me ten times harder in the face when I visit his grave.

"I can't help but feel anxious that something really bad is about to happen. You have the answers to every problem, you'd have found your way around this easily if you were still here. All the same, I'll make you proud as I promised. I'll make it a quest to win this competition for you."

I wiped the tears angrily willing for it to stop, I got up and dusted off my dress. With puffy eyes I forced a smile.

"Bye Oldman."

I have lived in this mansion for twenty three freaking years but it still manages to take my breath away. The outside of the mansion is secured with two gigantic metal Iron gates.

The first black automated gate opens to a driveway that leads to a second gate.

The second gate opens to a driveway that leads straight to a big garage. Either side of the driveway situates a star shaped garden guarded by Mum's artistic hands. Each garden holds a fountain with a sculpture of my father in the middle.

The interior of the Macmillan mansion is one set of a history book. It's a three floored mansion that has ten bedrooms, an enormous university- like library, a gym, a swimming pool, a cinema, a great hall for special events, a pictureque museum and a cellar.

The gym is directly opposite to the swimming pool on the first floor. On the left of it resides the great hall for special events. The parlor has a big flat screen television, a fireplace and cosy couches and sofas. At the far end of the parlor humbly abodes the grand piano.

The massive restaurant- like Kitchen is adjacent to the living room.

The second floor welcomes seven of the bedrooms starting from the master bedroom. We all have our bedrooms on the second floor. Each room has a queen size canopy bed with an ensuite except for the master bedroom which has a king size bed.

The third floor basically holds two guest rooms and one bedroom for the cook. The cellar is between the cinema and the museum. The library is quite isolated from the rest of the building.

The living room is painted in a cream colored atmosphere. Sleek, artistic, million dollar paintings decorates the walls and the glassy chandeliers compliments the glittering paintings at night.