Chapter 6: Rule #6. Power is Attained by Thinking.

Beatrice.

I had no particular home in Greenville. Between the shelter, my apartment, and doctors' appointments I didn't really ever feel like I needed to put my stake in the ground here. Everything felt temporary. But every month I was called back to the place, the place that I had once called home but felt more like a prison. The place that still securely held my father.

I knew that he didn't control me. At least not in the way he did when I lived here full time.

My soon-to-be husband gave me a wedding gift, assured freedom away from my father. But even Geun Kal in all of his high and mighty influence couldn't shield me from the once-a-month wellness checks my father insisted upon putting me through.

Our house was closed off, set back from the main road, hidden behind lush overgrown trees. The white estate was older than both my father and I combined. Having been in my mother's family, my father mooched off of my mother's inheritance, and her family's societal connections until he ran them dry.

But regardless of our lack of funds, my father always found a way to keep the house in immaculate condition. With the sight of the current landscapers working hard on the acres of lawn, I could see he was back in the good graces of one of his many wealthy business associates.

I parked my car, which was the latest of 'get out of your house free' gifts leased by my future husband. It showed up in my driveway the next day after our deal. I didn't even get to pick it out. Much like the apartment I quickly grew to love.

I think it annoyed me how much Geun knew my taste.

He didn't even really know me. Except what was on paper or what he found out about me from his contacts and yet he understood me better than most people. He definitely understood me better than my father but I think that's because my father was always so caught up in his own mind, he didn't know how to focus on anyone else.

My father was in his office, nothing much had changed inside our house. It was a bare home at this point, and maybe the version of myself that used to live inside these halls would feel sad for him that he was stuck inside a shall of the man he used to be. And perhaps... There was a huge part of me that didn't want to acknowledge that I was bitter, and overcome with guilt because I was growing to hate my own father because of the situation he put me in. All because of his greed.

"Ahh. Bea. Is it that time of the month already?" My father called out from his desk upon seeing me. He always acted so surprised to see me, and so happy. Like any of this was normal.

"Time goes quickly," I replied unsure of what else there was to say.

"Sit, sit. You look like you're about to fall over!" He hurried me to sit in one of his burgundy brocade office chairs that always smelt like old cigar smoke.

My father always treated me like fine china. I'm sure if my child were sick and having spent more time in hospitals than in preschool, I too would be cautiously traumatized. But there was always an element of control with his sympathy. There wasn't the warmth in his words that a father who is concerned for his daughter should have.

He never really ever asked me how I felt. Always presuming to tell me that I wasn't feeling well. Truth is, I was feeling better than ever.

"How have you been feeling? Keeping up on your medications? Dr. Bradley just sent me an email, there's a slot available for a brand new cutting-edge medication. I've already set up the appointment..."

"...For when?" I interrupted him, flabbergasted at the audacity of his initiative, nonetheless accustomed to it.

"It doesn't matter, Bea, this is your health!" My father's fuse was short, and my questioning of him lit the end. My palms grew sweaty, knowing that the peaceful and short visit to my father's house was going to turn out to be a miserable afternoon.

"But Geun said..." I tried to gently remind him of the terms of Geun's agreement, but it only further ignited his anger.

"...I don't give a damn about what Geun said! I'll be damned if that man tells me what I can and cannot do with my daughter!" His fists slammed on the desk, my body jumped as a result. Triggering me, my instinct was to freeze and without another thought, I bottled my frustration and submitted.

"Okay," I said quietly, giving up. "I'll go."

"That's my good girl." His mood changed as if nothing happened. He fixed his shirt leaning back against his chair, rewarding me with his one-sided smile. "Now tell me, what have you been doing in Greenville?"

"I've made a friend... Her name is Abby, she's nice, we go to lunch..."

"...That's nice" Uninterested in taking the conversation further, his gaze slightly turned to his computer. "Dr. Bradley says you can be at his clinic on Wednesday at seven in the morning."

"Wednesday?" I questioned him, regretting it instantly as his face started turning red.

"Is Wednesday going to be an issue for you, Bea, do you have something pressing to do on Wednesday? A high tea you must get to on Wednesday? Some important date?"

"No." I quickly responded. "I just wanted to make sure I heard the day correctly, is all."

"The medication is purely experimental, but Dr. Bradly and his team are excited to see how your body responds to it."

"I just don't see the need if I'm being honest, my body has been doing fine with the course of medication I've been on."

"Did I ask for your opinion, Bea?" My father was terrifying when his face went from red to purple, his round face puffing up with anger.

"No, sir." I shrunk back in my chair.

"Correct, I didn't. You've been getting bold, Bea... but I'll remind you, though you may be marrying Geun Kal in some sham of a wedding, you're still under my discretion until then. Let's let the next two months be peaceful, yes?"

"Yes, father."

"Good. Now Dr. Bradley said..."

My stomach churned hearing him detail about this highly experimental medication that would be inserted into my veins, intermittently over the course of four hours. By now I was praying for the visit to end quickly, and peacefully.