Chapter 16

Fred watched as Karen entered the kitchen to prepare him a quick meal.

He narrowed his eyes as he asked "Must I inform you about coming home before you prepare my dinner? Moreover, I don't recall you ever bonding with Avery so what is this 'walk in the park' talk all about?"

"Actually I had told her I would be going out for a short stroll but I didn't know she tagged along and by the time I knew, I couldn't just send her back home alone. Avery, go to your room, this instant! And for upsetting your stepdad, no dinner for you!" Karen said.

Avery caught on and acted along.

She cried "Please mom, please Sir Fred, I'm really hungry"

"Did you hear your mother, you brat? No dinner for you. Now scram to your room!"

Crestfallen, Avery went to her room with dragging footsteps.

This was the way Karen could at least save herself and Avery from Fred's scrutiny.

She had to stage an act and she desperately hoped Avery would understand and play along.

Fortunately, Avery was smart to pick up.

She knew Avery wasn't hungry because they had both just finished a scrumptious meal at Kenny's.

She only used those words to send Avery safely away from Fred and thankfully Fred didn't catch on.

Fred pinched Karen on the chin "Except it's an emergency, this had better not happen again. Have I made myself clear, woman?"

Karen painfully nodded with tears in her eyes.

Fred threw her head backwards "Go and get me my food. After that, get yourself cleaned and refreshed and go wait for me in the room"

Karen sobbed quietly as she did what she was told.

In her room, Avery almost made a call to Kenny to ask if the option of travelling out of the country was still open.

She almost wanted to tell him she had changed her mind.

With each passing day, Fred was becoming even more terrifying.

Though she wanted to help in the fight against Fred, the real reason Avery refused to run away was because of her mother.

As far as she was concerned, her mother had no right to eat her cake and have it; what a man sowed, he must reap.

Infact, she was happy that Karen and Fred were always at loggerheads. She would definitely use this to her advantage.

She was totally grateful to uncle Kenny for the gifts he had given her.

Now she knew for certain she was no longer on her own; she had been given her own fairy godfather in the flesh.

Avery was indeed very grateful and she slept soundly that night.

The next day, after Fred left for work, Avery prepared to go to the library while Karen planned to go shopping.

Avery was on her way to the kitchen when she came across Karen in the living room.

On seeing her, Karen could no longer conceal the anger she was feeling towards Avery.

"Avery" Karen nagged "If you had only accepted your uncle's offer, we would have long left here and not have to pass through what we did last night. Are you happy now? Hurry up, call uncle Kenny, tell him you have changed your mind that you don't want to stay here, Avery please!"

"Mom, I won't tell uncle Kenny anything. Have you taken a moment to think why I refused his offer?"

"I don't know why you refused his offer Avery. I'm only concerned about your safety" Karen said.

"Mom really? If that's so, then I'll call uncle Kenny and tell him that you're so concerned about my safety that you've chosen to remain behind while I flee alone from YOUR husband"

Karen flew up "What are you implying, Avery? Oh, is it because I took you to see your uncle, you have now grown balls to talk to me as you like, right?"

"Mom, I turned down uncle Kenny's offer because of you!"

"Avery, why would you turn down such an awesome offer because of me?" Karen asked incredulously "I know I haven't really been there for you but I promise, it's your safety that is uppermost in my mind. Don't waste any more time, tell Ken you've changed your mind!"

"Mom, my decision won't change no matter what you say"

"Such an ungrateful child. After everything I've done for you? I do all I can to protect you from that beast, Fred and you still treat me, your mother, this way? I wish I never gave birth to you. I wish I had gotten rid of you. If I had, I wouldn't be going through this pain I'm currently going through now. You'll surely be the end of me" Karen cursed.

"What have you done for me besides being indifferent and calculating towards me? All my life, I looked up to you but what did you do? You plotted with your current husband to kill my father, your previous husband!"

"WHAT!!??" Karen shouted. "How dare you falsely accuse me? And how dare you talk to me in that tone of voice?"

"Although I've acted ignorantly all this while, don't think I don't know the truth about the metal box in your dresser, mom!" Avery exploded with righteous rage.

The shock on Karen's face was almost comical. Her eyes bulged with unbelief. Her knees felt weak and she sat down heavily on the sofa.

Avery looked down at her mother "All this while, I've behaved as if I knew nothing but I already knew, mom, I already knew how you conspired with Fred, the lover you now call a beast to kill my father!"

She continued, her voice dripping with so much passion "I am aware of how you spiked his food on a weekly basis and made his health disintegrate. I am also aware of how Fred hired a hit and run driver to smash into my father's car, killing both my dad and his driver on the spot. Should I go on?"

Avery's hot anger did not make her realize that she had just raised her voice at her mother for the very first time.