Chapter 11
"Father, you can't do this to me! I'm your only daughter!" Judy's voice trembled with desperation as she confronted her father, Robert Wilson, who responded with a calm demeanor, focusing on his newspaper instead of her pleas. "You'll understand when you're older; it's for your safety and the family's," he replied dismissively. Her stepmother, Agnes, added harshly, "Stop those crocodile tears! This is an opportunity many girls would jump at. You should be grateful your father secured this for you."
Judy's heart raced with a mix of anger and sorrow at the word "opportunity," tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She realized arguing would be futile, so she rushed to her father, kneeling and clinging to his leg while shaking her head fervently. "Please, Dad! You can't do this! Charles is awful—everyone knows he womanizes. Do you even love me? He has killed innocents without a second thought. No sane father would hand over his daughter to a monster like him! Please..." her desperate protest was cut short by a sharp slap.
Agnes's voice resonated with anger, clearly having reached her limit. "Did you just call your father insane? You're ungrateful!" she shouted, raising her hand for another strike. Robert, however, interjected by standing up to prevent further aggression. He looked down at Judy, maintaining an emotionless facade, and sighed quietly. "I've given you enough time, Judith. You either accept the marriage to Charles or you are no longer a Wilson."
Judy's heart sank at her father's ultimatum, feeling as though the ground had fallen out from under her. The weight of his decision felt suffocating, crushing her spirit. She was trapped between familial duty and societal expectations as fear and anger battled within her. Torn between her love for her mother and her instinct to rebel against the arranged marriage, Judy found herself feeling isolated, betrayed, and alone. The chilling thought of losing her identity and connection to her family loomed large, overshadowed by her stepmother's disdain and her father's cold indifference. At that moment, she felt like a pawn in a game she couldn't control, staring bleakly into her uncertain future.
Stunned by the slap, Judy pressed her palm against her cheek where Agnes had struck her and felt a rising tide of emotions. She realized this was the breaking point for her. Overwhelmed, she sprang to her feet, her tear-filled eyes echoing disbelief as she dashed up the stairs to her mother's room, only to find it locked.
Struggling to cope, she remembered a text she had received from her mother earlier. Instead of waiting, she headed to her own room instead. Once inside, frustration enveloped her. She slammed the door behind her, the force of the bang reverberating through the space. Finally, she collapsed onto her soft bed, tears cascading down her face as she buried herself in the pillow, weeping over the tumultuous emotions and the seemingly insurmountable situation she faced.
"No, no, no," Judith lamented inwardly, resolute in her decision not to let anyone dictate her future. The thought of marrying Charles felt like a death sentence for her , her independence, her career aspirations, and her overall happiness. With newfound determination, she wiped away her tears, stood tall, and headed to her closet to gather her essential belongings. Judith believed she would be better off on her own, refusing to become a resigned participant in her family's plans. She wasn't aware of the agreement between her father and Charles, but she made a firm choice to extricate herself from this entanglement.
After packing her most important items, Judith made her way to her mother's room, using a spare key to gain entry. She opened a cupboard adjacent to the bed and retrieved a large, brown envelope that contained her vital documents. Standing in silence, she quietly observed the room, "I'm sorry, Mummy," she whispered before quickly exiting the room.
Meanwhile, Robert sat on the couch, his expression clouded with worry as he grappled with the situation. He had a newspaper on his hand but his mind was far from it. Anxious thoughts flitted through his mind, and on the other hand Agnes's nagged insistently: "You see, you don't discipline her enough. Let me handle this, and she'll be married to Charles in no time." His reflections faded as he sensed an unsettling presence approaching, enveloped by a heavy silence that heralded an impending confrontation.
His dismay turned to shock as he and Agnes witnessed Judith descending the stairs with her trolley in tow. She was determined to leave, unfazed by their astonishment. Judy made for the exit,not sparing them a look. However, Agnes swiftly intervened, demanding, "Where do you think you are going ?"
Rolling her eyes, Judith ignored Agnes and declared her intent to her father, "I am leaving for good." Robert hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction. Standing up, he admonished her, "Do not act in anger, young lady. How do you think your mother would feel?" He asked bothered, Yet Judith was resolute and unwilling to back down.
"The moment you leave those doors, you stop being a Wilson," Robert asserted, his voice firm. Judith, fueled by anger, continued toward the exit, disregarding his warning.
"Fine, then you should drop the bag and everything you've gotten as a Wilson," Agnes interjected, a sense of triumph in her tone as Judith paused, stunned by the ultimatum.
"What?" Judith questioned, her disbelief evident. She turned to her father,a questioning look on her face.
"And your credit cards," Robert added, intensifying the pressure on her. Judith was incredulous she couldn't believe her ears . "Dad!!" her response came immediately.
"The phone and the car keys as well," Agnes folded her arms across her chest, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. It seemed that Judith had run out of options; the threats effectively tethered her to her family.
Judith, however, surprised both of them with her next move, showcasing her resolve and defiance amidst their attempts to control her decisions. She stood tall, her frustration boiling, yet unyielded by their threats, signifying she would not be easily deterred from claiming her own path in life, no matter what her parents did to bind her.