"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,"
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.
Her head hung heavy with the weight of everything happening around her, worse of all was she didn't have anybody to help her.
She picked up her phone and dialled the one number that gave her peace , that made her smile.
She called her boyfriend Josh.
But, Josh wasn't answering and it kept going straight to voicemail.
Alicia furrowed her brows.
"Today's terrible! Josh but I just know your warm hug would help me think straight. I'll see you in a bit, I love you"
She hung up on the answering machine . 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 on her.
Josh's house had an instant calming effect on her, one she couldn't quite explain. She had knocked three times and loudly but still she heard no response.
She was tempted to go through the back and peer through the windows, although the idea that Josh wasn't home frightened her.
She made to turn but the soft click of the door, made her pause.
Josh had an expression on his face.
"Licia!" He rushed.
Alicia smiled broadly and pushed past him into the house.
"What are you... What are you doing here?" Josh nervously asked.
"I had a rough day." She hugged him but 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.
"You didn't call?" He began, Alicia frowned shortly.
"I did, why didn't you answer?" Alicia asked
"can 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, noting for the first time, the enormous beads of sweat that decorated his bare chest and the thought she had... She didn't want to assume. The water fell from her hands. She saw his lips.
"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,"
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!