"She is a nobody. She's a low class. She looks so ugly. I wouldn't even want her going out with me! How can you ask that of me? She has to leave mama and besides, I have someone I want to marry! You can't just bring any riff raff and expect me to marry her because you picked her. I'm not going to do that mama, you should ask her to get out now," Brandon said to his grandmother even though Alicia who was the subject of discussion was in the same room, her mouth open and wide on his audacity, hatred bloomed and blossomed in that moment but she was at crossroads and this marriage could save her and her dying mother. "Since you're turning down my request, I think it's about time I pulled out my shares from the company. I've been wanting to do that for a long time now,"
Chapter one.
Alicia had just left her mother's room in the hospital. Her mother was sound asleep when she walked in. She placed her bags on the little counter and looked at her mum who was fast asleep. She saw a little note by the counter. The doctor wanted to see her.
"I am sorry, but if you can't get the drugs to calm her down, we might have to withdraw from treating her here, asides the hospital bills that have piled up; we believe as a hospital and as a corporation we have tried the best that we can." The doctor who called Alicia into her office spoke with anger but on a mild level, you can sense how she tried to understand and how she held herself back. She adjusted her glasses and read through the files in front of her.
"I know, you have been patient and kind enough for me and my mum; Dr. Lawson." Alicia spoke with a sad tone, while she rubbed her hands on her laps, she sat down being restless. But who wouldn't be? She was called while she was on her job hunt. Her mother had so much that can't be paid if her life and her mum's life were to be used? It wouldn't be enough time to clear the debt her mum owed; it was since her birth after all.
She started working everyday after she dropped out of high school, with each debt she settles, another one pops up. With the various types of job she had done. She had never paid off the debt. Her mother worked hard too but it wasn't never enough. What's worse? She fell terribly ill; failure of the heart and kidneys they said.
The shock Alicia had when she was informed about this some months back, she had been working all day and night. This month hasn't been any different.
"I am glad you know and realize that I have been kind enough to be understanding in regards to you and your sick mother. But these bills are piling up and they have to be paid immediately. You know that; without these drugs I am afraid she might need surgery and that is like." Dr. Lawson chuckled before she continued. She was expressionless for that moment, the stare she gave Alicia gave her chills. She felt hot, her body generated heat from the thought of how she had to run twice as hard and work more than she did before. If she was working at the pace of a snail; she needs to power it up.
"That is a heavy cross, a very heavy cross for you to carry. And I won't be here to help, so if you may? You can leave my office and I hope the next time is for you to pay your bills." Dr. Lawson stretched her hands and pointed the way out of her office. Alicia sighed as she stood up.
She bowed immediately "Thank you so much." She gestured with the wai sign.
The talk she had with the doctor was one she didn't like.
"I should just go and see my boyfriend, I need a clear head." Alicia walked out of the main door and exited the hospital. She didn't want to think about how she would make the money. She shook her head momentarily and clutched her faded bag, it had a worn out zipper that could be managed.
She wore a long skirt and a short thrift wear top that she bought a few years ago, it's getting smaller but she wants to use it for its worth.
Her hair seemed dirty and unwashed. Her slipper had holes too. She had a little brown scarf over her head, she read in the weather updates, there might be a rain shower.
Alicia took a long walk to her boyfriend's house. Not a dime could be found in her body. She walked sadly and dragged her foot, with a clouded mind.
Alicia went to boyfriend's apartment. She had walked four miles, she was tired.
"I had a rough day." She hugged him when he didn't return the hug fully. He wasn't paying total attention to her either.
"Are you good?" Alicia asked as she dropped her bag on top of a piece of small cloth, she didn't pay any attention to it but her boyfriend did. He sighed as she walked away. He closed his eyes for relief.
"Yes, and what did you say happened today? Can we sit in the living room and talk?" He itched his head and asked her. Uncomfortable and nervous.
Alicia walked into the kitchen. He rushed in after her. "What's wrong?" Alicia asked with a chuckle. She found all his actions funny and weird.
She opened the water bottle, his eyes followed her. She tilted her head and noticed something.
"Oh my God!" Her eyes dilated and the thought she had. She didn't want to assume. The water fell from her hands. She saw his lips.
"I don't- I don't use red lipstick." She said with a shaky tone. She blinked so many times. She didn't want to cry but who was she kidding?
She left the counter and opened the bedroom door.
She saw something she would have never expected in years to come. A naked woman who was comfortable in her boyfriend's bed.
"Babe?" The lady said, eyeing her up and down.
"You got a maid?" She shouted from where she laid.
"You better change this one, she looks broken". The naked woman spoke with no regard and cackled. Alicia has never felt horror like she was feeling now.
She gasped at the words she heard, she had goosebumps all over.
"You told her I'm your... Maid?" Alicia gasped
" I'm your girlfriend!" she laughed in pain. She tried to construct words.
A tear fell from her left eye, dumbstruck she stood and watched the terror that was in front of her. She couldn't think of anything. She could hear the sound of her heartbeat through her ears. Her breathing pattern increased. Alicia couldn't believe that her boyfriend of four years could cheat on her.
"I am sorry but it just happened." He reached out to her but she took a step backwards, leaving the room that now spun before her.
"How?- how could you?" She sniffed her nose as she yelled.
"And you didn't really think we worked out did you? You are always working like a dog, you aren't even a girl I can take home and what's worse? You don't even know yourself? You embarrass me!" Josh finally said, his face contorting in disgust.
"How could you?" She whispered and used her right hand to cover her face. She threw her hand up in a fist. She saw her whole life flash right in front of her.
Alicia knew he said somethings but she didn't hear him, she couldn't hear him.
She turned and grabbed her bags, she dashed out of his room with tears and a running nose. She lost her senses.
She shook her head as she walked down the stairs, she suddenly felt dizzy, a migraine hit her.
She wailed. On the stairs where she sat down and cried again. "A maid?" She raked herself and sighed again. The tears didn't stop, she had another episode. She replayed the words she heard over and over again.
She remembered the first day he kissed her and what he said to her under the rain, his words melted her that day. She wiped her tears and stared at the ceiling, she tried to calm herself down.
Her phone buzzed, she raised her head up to stop the tears again..
She checked her phone and it was a call; not the kind she expected instead it was from her childhood friend: Laura.
She smiled and picked up the call. "Hi." She said with a faint smile as she adjusted herself where she sat.
"Alicia! How are you? Where are you? Let's meet up and talk. We haven't had our girl time in a long while." Laura said over the line the excitement in her tone was so loud that Alicia had to move the phone away from her ear so she won't go deaf.
Alicia always had a hyperactive friend who was always bubbly and full of life.
"Wait. Are you ok? You don't sound ok. What's wrong licia?" Laura's tone calmed instantly.
"Currently at Josh's place,
She took a deep shaky breath
"-crying . He cheated on me ." Alicia replied with a sad tone, she wanted to hold herself back but she said it.
"what!?"
" Oh my God licia. I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"
There was a pause in between them.
"I'm in town for a bit and I know we haven't seen each other in a while, how about we catch up... Let's get over this ok?"
Alicia sniffled through the phone.
" I'd like that" Alicia said with a sad smile.
"Good. I'll buy the drinks and where we're meeting, I get icecream. I'll send you details, I'll see you soon" she said and ended the call.
A message entered, the details of the location.
Alicia sighed and waited. She didn't know where to begin anymore. Where would she start from? She thought she had her life planned but she obviously didn't.
"I need to work hard and make my own money."
"She is a nobody. She's a low class. She looks so ugly. I wouldn't even want her going out with me! How can you ask that of me? She has to leave mama and besides, I have someone I want to marry! You can't just bring any riff raff and expect me to marry her because you picked her. I'm not going to do that mama, you should ask her to get out now," Brandon said to his grandmother even though Alicia who was the subject of discussion was in the same room, her mouth open and wide on his audacity, hatred bloomed and blossomed in that moment but she was at crossroads and this marriage could save her and her dying mother. "Since you're turning down my request, I think it's about time I pulled out my shares from the company. I've been wanting to do that for a long time now,"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on herâ "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffmanâthe heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it allâfrom standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didnât return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachelâs terminal illness and realized she didnât have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wifeâs countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. âLetâs get married again.â
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. Whatâs worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldnât thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesnât seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that heâs different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?