After sometime went by, Gregor and Emily fell in love with each other but never had the courage to tell each other. Instead, they tried to know each others families and personalities better. One day, Emily invited Gregor over to her house to meet her parents. When Gregor arrived he only met Emily and her mother. After Emily introduced Gregor to her mother, they both went upstairs to talk privately. "I know this is none of my business," said Gregor curiously. "But am so curious to know what happened to your mother. Why is she using a wheelchair?" Emily took a deep breath as she got ready to tell the story. Then she started, "It all happened when I was about 5 years of age. That day, my father came back from work and started arguing with my mother. I was very young then and didn't know what they were arguing about. All of a sudden, my father slapped my mother and then started beating her up. All I did was cry as I watched him beat her up. I didn't just know what to do. The sight was terrifying. Then he took her upstairs into the master's bedroom, pulled out a huge stick and continued beating her. After beating her, he locked her up and left with the keys. I sat down near the door and wept bitterly. Later that evening, Pretty came around and helped me calm down. She advised me to go to bed that everything will be fine in the morning. Pretty was kind enough to spend the night in my room. The next morning, Pretty woke me up saying that my father was back. I quickly ran to him and begged him to let my mother go. So he opened the door and we found her unconsciously lying on the floor. We immediately rushed her to the hospital. After much tests conducted on her, the doctor confirmed that her spinal cord is broken and that she will never walk again. My mother under went surgery to correct other damage. Since then she's been on that chair. She's never been happy again. And till date I still don't know what caused the argument that day. That was how it happened."
Gregor was shocked and lost in thought. He didn't even know what to say to Emily. He thought to himself saying, "If my mother were to be alive, my father would have forever cherished her and treated her like a queen. What will make a man beat his wife so badly?" After few minutes of silence, Gregor finally spoke saying, "I am so sorry for that. It must have been so painful for you to witness such a thing." "Yes it was," said Emily. "This only means that your father is capable of anything," opined Gregor. "A father who is capable of forcefully engaging his daughter to a man who she so much dislikes just because of business and personal benefits, is capable of anything," said Emily. "Even murder." "How do you mean, Emily?" Asked Gregor as he became uncomfortable and anxious to know if Emily was referring to herself. "Did he do so to you," he asked. "Speak of the devil," said Emily. "Here comes my father." Gregor stood to his feet as he saw Mr. Charles approaching them. "Good day sir," greeted Gregor. "Emily, who is this?" Asked Mr. Charles anxiously. "This is Gregor dad, a friend of mine," replied Emily. "Young man," said Mr. Charles to Gregor. "Who are you and what do you do for a living?" "I am Gregor Leonard," replied Gregor. "I am a student aspiring to become a doctor. I work in my father's poultry as well." "Poultry you said?" Asked Mr. Charles. "Yes sir, you heard right," replied Gregor. "Interesting," said Mr. Charles. "Excuse me," He said as he took Emily to another area of the house to talk to her privately. "How many times do I have to tell you that i don't want you to keep poor people as friends. Why will you keep a friend who is still dreaming of becoming a doctor which only God knows if he would even become one. Your mates out there boost of their friends who are already doctors and engineers and so on. Must you bring shame on me, Emily? You just never seize to amaze me," said Mr. Charles. Emily stood still. She could not alter a word. She was very afraid and feared that her father might hit her. Then Mr. Charles continued, "Look my friend, I don't want that boy as your friend for long. Get that into your big for nothing skull. And better start getting prepared for your up coming wedding. It's in 4 months time. Nonsense!" After saying this he walked away. Emily was disheartened but she didn't want Gregor to find out what just happened. So she went back to meet Gregor and acted calmly. After their long chat, before leaving, Gregor also invited Emily to his house to also meet his father, Mr. Leonard.
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