Chapter Thirteen: Our Father Who

Months went by, and Ki became more bitter and angry with all the women in the compound, mainly lashing out at the younger ones. Myla's job became more unbearable, like when she first came to the compound. Ki became his old self… Ki was becoming his father again. Things are the same as before, unloving.

Ki’s dad was one to be feared, feared even by his own blood. They never once felt love from their father. He was a stern and distant man. Their mother tried her best, but in the end, the tension was too much for her to handle. The manic episodes got really bad once he died. She became unhinged and couldn’t live without his control and orders. Ki’s childhood wasn’t perfect, but for Ki, his father's words were life.

Ki became more controlling with Myla and fully took over the teaching duties of his sons to ensure they could carry on the family legacy and to make them the men they should be. But this control of every action became too much for Ki as well. His job started to become more unbearable to the point where Ki fell ill.

The head of the Chicago district, Ares Blackwell, told Ki. Ares is the primary doctor of Ki. Ares became the new head of the Blackwell family when his father died. Ares was appointed by Ki to become his primary physician. Ki and Ares have been close since they were young.

Tap…

Tap…

Tap…

“Sir, I think it's stress caused by the betrayal. Although you're in mental anguish, it can affect the body as well, sir,” said Ares. “What do you recommend? Asked Ki. “Sir, I think it's something not impossible but something you may have issues with,” said Ares.

Slam…

“Tell me what it is already, Ary,” said Ki as he got up from his seat, looking intensely at him.

“Sir, you must take medicine, tea, and you have to cut off firewater,” said Ares. Ki takes in the news of giving up his biggest vice.

Ki gets up from his chair and heads to a hidden cupboard, and takes his last firewater. “My father's mother made this for when I was born,” said Ki.
“For how long… do you think I have to stop- pause my vice for?” Ask Ki. Ki is looking at the bottle like it's his only salvation from his feelings. “Sir, we will have to see. You are gonna have to take it day by day. You are quite strong, but we will see if your vice is stronger,” said Ares, carefully not to bruise Ki’s ego.

Months later, Nightime…

“Tae, why are you wearing a dress?” Ki says with utter disgust. “Look, Dad, now you have a daughter again,” said Tae.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,” screamed out Ki.

SLAM…

Steps shuffling into the room…

“Sir,” yelled out a bodyguard.

“Call for Myla,” said Ki with a panicked voice.

Myla takes her time and heads to the main bedroom where Ki is. “What is the matter, K- Sir,” asked Myla, bowing down on her knees. “Leave at once, let me be with my wife,” said Ki to the guards.

“You can get up, don’t you see I need you?” said Ki. “What is it that you need of me. Sir?” asked politely but without any real care, Myla.

“Make me the tea,” said Ki in a soft voice.

“Here you go, sir,” dryly said Myla. The tea Ares has been prescribing affects Ki, making him kinder? No, making him weaker. It's not my job to care for his health and well-being anymore;, that's the job of Ares, thought Myla.

The air filled up with silence, so much so that you could hear dust settling back down.

“Myla, come back and sleep here again,” said Ki. 

At the start of Ki’s treatment, Ares kicked Myla out. She slept in a different bedroom. Ares needed her away from Ki. His excuse was that Ki could rest better, and that Myla wouldn’t fall ill herself, if they slept away from each other. During the months-long distance, Myla was busy working with the head maid, making sure everything was perfect, being a host to the other wives while their family heads had meetings with Ki. Myla was distant with her sons, and Ki kept them away from her. Ki feared that the freedom Myla had was the cause for his- the people who should not be named, the betrayers' free minds. Ki even distances himself from Myla so he doesn’t become a weak man again. But Myla always had Danni by her side, making the isolation from her family bearable. Danni is always checking on the young masters and keeping tabs on everyone for Myla.

*In Ki’s mind, him being loving towards his children and bought wife made him a weak man. Him letting Myla be free affected how the girls were raised. Different from how he was raised and how his father taught his mother to be.*

“Myla!” yelled Ki. Myla was busy thinking about tomorrow's duties and what needs to be done before the big family meeting. “Yes, sir,” said Myla, still listing out the things needing to be done in her mind. “You will sleep here starting tonight, and will teach the boys courting and show them their prospective wives, said Ki. Myla made note of it and grinned a bit. “Finally, some time with the boys, they have grown so much, can’t wait to see them again,” thought Myla.

That night, Myla stayed with Ki. Ki fell asleep very quickly. Myla couldn’t sleep thinking about seeing and holding her sons again after a long time without them. Myla grabs the blanket and makes sure Ki is fully covered and tucked in. She grabs another blanket for herself and places it on top of his.

Myla thinks

I know I should hate and despise you, but I can’t. You took me out of a terrible family and gave me one of my very own. They are freer than you and I will ever be; the girls are free. I wish the boys could have been also. But then I would be alone as well. No, I shouldn’t think such things. I am a mother. As soon as they were born into this family, I couldn’t be so selfish. I could not wish for them to be a doctor, teacher, singer, or writer. All I could wish for is their health and that no matter the danger, they would be safe. Being in this family is better than being free. I had freedom, but the part of the world I was born in led me to be sold. Freedom is only true when you have the money or power, that's when you can do anything. But those with the freedom only do harm. Kill, rape, buy people, drugs, etc, every bad deed done is from those who are free. I can only be grateful that all you do is hit me, the pain is bearable, and has now become comforting.