Chapter 21

Lan's POV

I can still feel his hands on my cheeks. My face felt warm as I recalled the short but nice moment I had with Mark. And like always Nate ruined it. If not for his stupid call then we would have stayed longer.

But the grumpy fellow just couldn't wait for me for 10 more minutes.

"Why are you pouting, you look like dead old grandma.. "Nate scoffed.

" You're such an idiot, what does grandma have to do with this. Respect the dead!" I slapped his leg offended.

He glared at me ready to retort.

" Just drive. I'm hungry!" I crossed my arms and looked out the window not ready for his snide remarks.

When we got home,we were about stepping down from the car but the loud scream of our mother made us halt.

I turned to stare at my brother. Confusion danced in his eyes as well. We walked up the steps and stepped into the house.

It sounded like two people were in a heated argument in the kitchen but mom's voice was over the other person's own.

I dropped my bag on the floor and followed behind my brother to the kitchen.

We stepped into the kitchen and before I could process anything,Nate had attacked the other person not giving me a chance to see who it was.

I went to my mom's side to comfort her since she looked a bit shaken up.

"Are you okay? Why were you screaming?"I asked her rubbing her arm in a comforting manner.

She stared at me with her teary face. I could see the amount of emotions that passed her face.

"You imbecile what are you doing here!"Nate yelled banging the person on the wall.

The sound alerted my mom and I as we both looked his way. His body was covering who ever it was that made mom so on edge.

"I-i'm your father. Don't you have a bone of respect in you anymore?"

Nate moved to the side giving me a view of the person. Of course it's dad why didn't I even think of it. He's the only one who can get mom in this state of emotion right now.

Seeing him right now in front of me, just hurts alot. It would have been better if I never get to see him. Right now all i wanna do is ask him why? Why us? And most especially what mom did to deserve what he did to her.

Nate pulled him by the collar every vein in his neck bulged out. He gritted his teeth.

"I wasn't born with a bone of respect. You're my father as you said. Respect was not one of the bones you were blessed with. That's Lan's bone that he got from mom. I'm you. That uncanning resemblance."He smirked annoying him.

Did he just kind of complement me right now?

Dad clinched his fist. He pushed him back yanking his collar out of his hold.

"Please don't fight."Mom pleaded letting her self out of my hold.

The two raving bulls didn't heed to her as they kept glaring at each other. Nate looked like he was about to punch the hell out dad and Dad looked like a lion whose pride was hurt. Both cases definitely won't go down well.

"Nate step back..."Mom said.

Nate's shoulders were firm as he kept glaring at Dad.

"Now!" Mom commanded.

Nate stepped back leaning on the kitchen counter.

Dad breathed out and arranged his collar.

Mom sighed as she rubbed her temple.

Not knowing what to do and I don't want to add to her stress,I stood by the side giving her space.

Mom stepped to the center of the kitchen as her eyes searched our faces.

"Your father---"

"His father!"Nate cut her off pointing at me.

'I thought he said he was his son. Stupid angry bull!'

Mom glared at him warning him with her eyes.

"Like I was saying, your father came here today to hand me the divorce papers."She said looking down.

My eyes rounded with shock as I turned to stare at my dad. He avoided my eyes.

"D-divorce papers?"I asked shocked.

Nate let out a chuckle as he folded his arms.

"B-but why.? Y-you c-can go for counseling,e-every family does that. You don't have to break up,just go for counseling or g-give each other space for a while I -i am s---"

" Honey, breathe"Mom cut off my rambling as she ran her fingers through my hair.

I forced my self to breathe. Breathing out of my mouth.

I turned my eyes to stare at my dad but he avoided my eyes again.

"Look at me"Mom turned my face. She held my cheeks firmly preventing me from looking side ways.

"There is no other way. Those divorce papers--" She pointed at the papers on the floor making me look at it.

" --has been prepared 3 months ago. This relationship already ended before now honey. Their is nothing we can do about it."She completed. A sad smile stretched out on her face.

I stared at my mom's eyes as every colour drained from my face. I could feel my pulse slow down. My breathing shallow. Every beat of my heart,I could hear in my ears. My mom's words resonating in my head over and over again.

'There is nothing that can be done'.

The sound of my brother's angry feet stumping out of the kitchen brought me out of my head.

My eyes connected with my mom's.

"O-our family is broken. Y-you're getting divorced?"I mumbled out.

A bitter smile meared her face as she nodded.

She stepped away from me and picked the papers up.

"Pen."I watched quiet as Dad handed her a pen. She signed the document and threw it on his face.

"Get out of my house!"She glared at him pointing at the door.

He picked up the document and tucked it away inside his coat.

"It's my house too and you're not cutting me off from my kids"He replied staring at her.

" Was your house. You lost every right to call this your house and she's not cutting you off from your kids,your kids are cutting you off from them" I said with a heavy heart trying to take in the shock.

"You heard him. Get out!"Mom crossed her arms glaring at him.

"Lan my boy...."

He took a step towards me making me step back.

He stopped and stared at me.

"W-why?"I stuttered out. I kept my eyes on the floor not able to look at him. I'm afraid I will breakdown if I do. I trusted and looked up to this man.

"Sometimes love is not enough"He smiled and left the kitchen.

Mom and I stood in the same position as Da- no Mr Jacob left the kitchen. The loud sound of the front door alerting us that he was gone and I wasn't sure if I'd ever see him again.

Mom fell on the ground alerting me. I ran to her side holding her.

Her face looked empty as she kept staring at the door. She wrapped her arms around me breaking out in deep sobs.

My shirt muffled her cries. I sat helplessly on the floor as my mom broke into pieces in my arms.