chapter 27

 Priscilla's POV 

I struggled to control my sobs as I covered my face with my hands, my emotions all over the place. This kind of crying wasn't typical for me, but being pregnant has made everything feel so much more overwhelming. The thought of just walking away from all of this did cross my mind but how could I take the baby away from their father? I couldn't be selfish like that. But, I couldn't ignore what had happened yesterday either. Seeing Max drunk and collapsed on the floor with his vomit everywhere, was like looking at my father all over again. Even his grandmother couldn't keep her tears at bay watching her grandson like that. 

Although I was angry at Max, I couldn't blame him entirely. He was betrayed and hurt but did that justify his hurtful words towards me? What if this becomes my life now? Maybe I shouldn't have stopped him when I first saw him drinking. None of this would've happened if I had let him be. 

I heard Max's voice on the other side of the bathroom door, asking me to come out and talk. I quickly composed myself, splashing water on my face and brushing my teeth before facing him. He stopped me from walking past him, holding onto my hand. 

"Priscilla, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said yesterday. I was drunk and not In my senses. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to." Max apologized, his voice trembling with guilt. 

"It's okay Max, you weren't lying so you don't have to feel sorry about anything. I admit I grew up on the street but I'm not ashamed of it. You showed me where I stand and for that, I'm grateful. As for the custody of the baby, I've changed my mind. Once the baby is born, I'll leave and go back to where I belong. I don't want you to take care of me anymore, I'll manage on my own." I said, removing my hand from his and walking away. 

I didn't want to stay in this house anymore. I may not have an education or a place to stay, but I could survive on my own. As soon as the baby was born, I would leave and never come back. It was a difficult decision to make but it was the only one that made sense to me.

I was walking down the stairs when I noticed Liz pacing around the sitting room, looking visibly stressed and worried.

"Liz! What happened?" I asked, hurrying over to her side.

"Priscilla, Granny's not breathing. The doctor's checking on her. I'm really scared. After seeing Max yesterday, she became so stressed," Liz said with panic in her voice.

"Why didn't you inform Max about this?" I suggested he should know what was happening around the house.

"I didn't want to add to his problems. I just hope she's fine," Liz said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't worry, Liz. Everything will be fine, and I'm sure nothing happened to her," I said reassuringly as I pulled Liz close to me. She hugged me tightly, and I could feel her trembling with fear.

"I hope so, Priscilla," Liz mumbled.

Suddenly, we were interrupted by a man's voice. We turned around to see the doctor who was checking on Granny.

"Excuse me," he said, and Liz quickly rushed to him. I stood back, silently praying that everything was okay.

"How is she?" Liz asked the doctor in a hurry.

"I'm sorry. Your grandma has passed away. She had a heart attack, and I think it occurred in the middle of last night. I'm sorry," the doctor said.

I swallowed hard, taken aback by the news. Liz fell onto her knees, screaming at the top of her lungs. I quickly rushed to her and knelt in front of her, holding her in my arms.

"Liz, get hold of yourself," I said softly. I felt sorry for her; I knew how she must be feeling. Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things to go through.

"What happened?" Max's voice called out from upstairs. I wondered how he was going to handle this, especially after losing Nelly. This seemed like too much to bear.

"Granny has passed away," Liz cried uncontrollably.

"What kind of joke is this, Liz? What are you talking about?" Max said in disbelief as he walked into the room.

"Mr. Manh, your grandma has passed away due to a heart attack," the doctor confirmed.

A week later. 

A week had passed since Granny's passing, and her funeral was over. The mood in the house was very somber, and Max had taken to drinking nonstop. He had been at the bar for the past three days, consuming nothing but alcohol. Nobody dared to go and stop him, as they were all afraid of him when he drank. I knew that I couldn't let him ruin his life because of alcohol. 

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the bar. Max was holding a glass of whiskey, surrounded by the smell of alcohol. He hadn't done anything but drink for three days and had not changed clothes or bathed. 

I walked over to him, grabbed the bottle from his hand, and threw it on the floor. The sound of broken glass echoed through the bar. 

"What are you doing? Why did you throw away my bottle?" Max asked drunkenly. 

"Stop this nonsense, Max, stop! How long are you going to drink and wallow in your sadness? I understand that you loved your grandmother, but you can't sit around and turn yourself into a drunk. You are about to be a father, and if you don't get your act together, I'm leaving with your child. Go take a bath, change your clothes, and eat something. Trust me, if you continue like this, you will lose your child too," I said while panting and pleading with him to listen to reason. 

"But how can I move on when it's all my fault? Granny died because of me, I shouldn't have been drinking that day," Max cried out. 

"Drinking won't bring her back, Max. You need to realize that. Your grandmother loved you, and she wouldn't want to see you like this. Her soul will not rest in peace if she knows that you are wasting your life drinking. I, too, lost my mother, but I'm not drinking and crying. You need to stand up and face reality," I reasoned with him. 

"Priscilla, please leave me alone. Let me drink my sorrows away. I don't want to hurt you," Max said, barely holding himself together. 

"If you don't take a shower right now and snap out of this, I'm leaving with your child," I threatened sternly, hoping to shock him into reality. 

"I can't lose you and the baby. Okay, I'll bathe and eat something. Please don't leave me," Max finally relented. 

I breathed a sigh of relief as he went to take a shower, hoping that this was the start of his recovery. I couldn't let his addiction ruin his and his child's life. I knew that the road ahead was tough, but I was willing to fight for him and his family.