Chapter Forty.

"How can you say that? Don't you love your daughter anymore? " Lucas asked.

"How many times do we have to tell you that she is no longer our daughter. And who is this Zawadi? One of your clients'?" Charlie asked.

"How dare you? " Lucas pinned Charlie on the wall, his hand around his throat in a chock hold.

"I bet you don't even know that she is a filthy prostitute ." He chocked out.

"Stop" Zawadi shouted when Lucas increased his hold on Charlie's throat.

Zawadi went to Lucas and pulled Lucas away from her father.

"It's okay. He is my father, please don't hurt him. Come down " Zawadi told Lucas.

" I am only letting him go because he is your father, otherwise I would have done worse " He told Zawadi, then he turned to Charlie and said "I am only letting you go because of your daughter. You don't deserve her or her love. She is kind hearted, sweet and strong woman. But you don't want to see that.

You didn't even ask her how she has been all these years. You didn't care to know how your daughter has been doing. Instead, you judge her so harshly at first sight. People like you are a disgrace to parents everywhere" Lucas said.

"Mom, dad. I am so sorry that you feel this way. But what could I do? I was lost, alone. How did you expect me to survive? I was only eight at the time.

And when Ahana decided to help me, I was so grateful. She decided to take a stranger to her home. She treated a stranger like her own daughter.

So what if she owned a brothel, she kept my life separate from that place and not even once did I ever step a foot inside that brothel. Because she didn't let me.

She was a better mother than you will ever be, Lisa Mwamba. And... if you don't think of me as your daughter anymore then that's your loss.

I have survived all these years without you both and I will continue to do so . If you don't want me then I don't want you here. So goodbye ."she turned to Lucas and took his arm, leading him out of the room.

"You can go, and never show your face to us ever again " Lisa shouted behind her.

"Don't worry Mrs Mwamba, you will never see me for as long as you live" Zawadi retorted.

She speed walked to where Lucas car was parked, not bothered to look behind her.

"If they don't want me then I don't want them either. I don't need them. I can live without them. They don't matter to me and they never will ever again... "she continued to vet out.

"Zawadi"Lucas called, softly. Taking her hand in his. Still she didn't look at him.

She rambled on "What do they think of themselves? I am a disgrace they said. They are the ones who are a disgrace..."

"Zawadi"

"If I am dead to them then they are dead to me. I will not think of them anymore... "

"Zawadi" Lucas called louder, shaking her harshly.

"What, What is it. Do you also what to pledge your hate for me. To remind me my worth? To call me names? "She shouted back.

She fell on her knees before him and broke down.

She sobbed furiously, her head buried on Lucas's shoulder, who was now kneeling before her.

"I knew they wouldn't like me. No one does" she whispered in between the tears.

"That's not true cupcake, I am here and I love you" Lucas soothed rubbing her back.

"Oh Lucas they hate me. They don't even want to see me. I have waited so long for this day. I have dreamt so much of this day and in all the dreams, none of them turns out like this.

Look at this, this bracelet. My mom made it for me. She gave it to me as a present on my eighth birthday" she smiled weakly at the memory.

"It has become small. It doesn't fit me anymore. But still I have kept it with me all these years. So what if it doesn't fit, it is the only reminder I have of her.

I would look at it every year on my birthday and it felt like she was there with me. It was the only hope I was holding onto of finding then.

And now that I have found them, they have rejected me. They have rejected me, Lucas.

"But me... "she wiped her tears with the back oh her hands and sniffed.

"I love them so much. I really do. "she said as if desperately trying to make him believe her.

"I know, baby. It's okay. If they don't want you, it's their loss. You are a sweet kind and intelligent person. If they cant see it then they are the problem not you" Lucas hugged her body close, offering her the comfort she needed and she couldn't be more grateful.

"But it still hurts .It hurts so much. I don't know how to make it stop. Please help me" she cried, pushing her body further into his.

"It's okay baby. I got you. Let's go back home " he said and helped her get into the car.

He got back to his side and drive off.

Zawadi cried through half of the drive and slept the remaining half. By the time they got back home, she was exhausted.

"Just drop me at the hotel" she told Lucas.

."No, I can't just leave you alone. You will stay with me tonight at my place " he told her.

"It's okay, I'll be fine " she assured him.

"I can't let you be alone, Zawadi. You need someone with you. Please don't push me away " Lucas said.

When Zawadi didn't speak again, Lucas drove them both to his house. He got off the car and picked Zawadi bridal style taking her straight to his room.

"Stay here tonight. You can sleep on the bed. I'll take the couch." He instructed.

"Okay, thank you "she said as she crawled under the covers.