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2025-04-01 06:43:07Vida woke up early the next morning to a call from James telling her that her father had finally gotten up. She was so elated that she promised to be there immediately; she was able to put herself together. She had a lot to do but she knew that her father had to come first. She hurried into the shower and took her bath before throwing on some casuals.
"You look especially happy this morning," Maria said as she entered the kitchen for a cup of water. "Better than yesterday at least," she added, and Vida hugged her from behind. "Which makes me conclude that you have gotten the information from James," she added, patting Vida's head gently.
"I am so excited that I can not wait to see him."
"Sure but I can not let you roam around without having breakfast first," Maria said, pulling her to the table where an array of waffles made in different forms and shapes were displayed.
"All of this for me? Or is there a feast I am not aware of?" Vida asked with wide eyes as she turned her head from side to side. She knew that Maria liked to go overboard, but she was not complaining; it felt good to be babied after a long time.
"I just wanted to make enough so you have enough to eat, and if you want, you can bring some to the hospital for Mr Manchester and James."
"I won't do that," Vida said, shaking her head before she lowered herself into the seat. She knew better than to argue with Maria about eating. The older woman would never let her go if she did not eat breakfast so she stuffed her face hurriedly and once she was done, she was in a car to the hospital.
As she approached the door of the room, she heard her father's voice, and it sounded quite stronger than she thought. She wondered who the visitor was and what he was doing there early. Sje did not mind; however, it was a thing of joy that her father was awake. She opened the door and the smile on her face dropped so fast that she was afraid of herself. 'Axel? What is he doing here?' she asked herself as she took gentle steps into the room.
Her father lifted his head, and their eyes met. "Vida? My Vida?" His voice came to her, and she could not help but hurry to his side. "Am I seeing things or is it really my daughter?" he chuckled as she rushed to his side. She tried to push back the anger and bitterness she felt from seeing Axel there. How did he manage to get there before her? She did not like that she was feeling replaced, and he still managed to find a way to make her feel even worse with all of his actions.
She passed by Axel and fell into her father's arms. He looked so healthy that anyone who had not seen him yesterday would argue tooth and nail that he had not been on life support since that time. She cleared her throat as she passed Axel and ignored the greeting he threw at her.
"It is my little girl." John's voice sounded better as soon as Vida was in his hands. "Oh, how I've missed you," he said after a while.
"You missed me, yet you act so cruel to me," Vida said, pulling away so she could look at his face. "You act like you are childless with me. I mean, why on earth would you act that way? I am your daughter, your only child, yet I had no idea that you had one heart attack and then you had two, and the doctors..." She stopped because she realised that now was not the time to talk about all those things.
Her father was not going anywhere and he had just recovered so she did not need to begin to ask him questions that might make him release. "I am just so happy to see you," she said instead of all the words raging in her brain.
"Same here," he said with a smile at her, and she returned it. "I am glad I was able to see you before I left this world."
"Dad, don't say," she said almost in a scream at him. "I know that since you got older, you like making such bad jokes but please don't make them now; this is such a sensitive time," she said.
John wanted to tell her that it was not really a joke, but he knew that she might not be able to handle it yet, so he shook his head. "Noted, ma'am," he said with a fake salute at her. He raised his head to Axel, who was just standing awkwardly like he had been pushed aside, and gestured for him to come forward.
Axel took a few steps and was at the end. Vida straightened her back and frowned. Why was her father calling Axel closer to his bed? She did not want to think of anything; she stood up to turn to him; she wanted to thank him for all he had done; after all, he might need it but before she could say or do anything, her father pulled his hand and placed it in his and then placed Axel's hand over hers before enclosing it with his second hand, leaving her confused at the situation.
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Axel cleared his throat multiple times when his skin touched Vida's, but she stood there with confusion written all over her. She could not understand her father's actions and the reason behind them. She was sure it was probably the side effect of him having been in a semi-coma. Instead of asking him the reason and going round and round in circles, she quietly removed her hand, which made them all take their hands off. She pulled up the small chair and sat beside his bed, taking his hand and gently tracing the pulsing veins."Everyone thinks that I am a bad child," she began."Who thinks that my Vida is a bad child, and how dare they think that?" John asked. Anyone could see the bond that the father and daughter shared and how comfortable they were around each other. It would make one wonder why Vida was so comfortable staying so far away from her father; at least that was what was running through Axel's mind at that time."Everyone," she said in a stressed voice. "The nurses were loo
Last Updated : 2025-04-1421st Century Bride EIGHT
Vida sat still; she was expecting her father to wave his hand in her face and laugh it out, calling it a pranl but he never did. Her father always had a jovial personality and he liked pranks so she was sure that this also was a prank; it had to be because this was the twenty-first century so how could her father be talking about an arranged groom? She knew that it happened in families like hers but she never thought it would happen to her."Dad, are you serious?" she asked when he did not announce it as a joke."Why would I be joking about this? Axel is your husband to be," he said and she sighed."I know that all of this is because of your thoughtfulness, but I have to decline.""Decline? Vida darling, we do not have the luxury of that.""I do not have the luxury of declining to marry a man." She asked with a face-changing expression as she was trying to understand what was going on. "Why don't I?""Did James discuss the finances of the company with you?" John asked calmly. He was s
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Vida stood there until the doctors and nurses finished their work; by the time they left his side, he was no longer coughing violently and was now resting quietly on the bed. She wanted to say a lot more things, but she knew how insensitive it would be of her to bring them up after all her father had just been through. Instead, she kissed him gently on the head and headed out of the room quietly.She needed time to blow off the steam she felt and the way her blood boiled. She hoped that Axel had left the hospital and that she did not need to run into him or deal with him if she walked. She walked to the hospital cafe, where she hoped to get coffee, and right there standing in line was Axel, who was at the tail end of the line."Oh God! If this is a punishment for something I have done in the past, why don't you just let me know, and I will apologise to you instead of having to constantly see this man?" She said with an eyeroll as she walked to his back. She wished in the moment that s
Last Updated : 2025-04-1521st Century Bride TEN
Vida went to see her father before deciding to leave for the day; neither of them brought up the marriage topic because it had ended badly. She told him that she would see him tomorrow before she left the hospital. All through the ride back home, Vida kept thinking of Axel and how she was going to get out of the marriage. She knew that if she had to marry him because of money, the only way she could get out of that situation was to make sure that the company was not able to file for bankruptcy; that way she was saved.She got into the house and went to her room. After changing out of her clothes and taking off her makeup, she called James. He was the only one who could help her with her plan. She had to find a way to get the financial status of the company and work from there; she was sure that there was a way to save the company from within, and the only reason her father was not doing it that way was because she was sick. She could not let her education go to waste like that."Ms. V
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Vida woke up the next morning feeling a little better; she even apologised to Maria for the outburst while having breakfast. The apology stunned Maria and even made her comment on how much Vida seemed to have matured since the last time they saw. Vida stopped over at a flower shop to get some roses for her father's room. She hated how damp and drag they felt; maybe some flowers would brighten up the place and make it smell nicer than it was. When she got into the room, she was happy to see that her father was much stronger than yesterday."You look stronger," she commented, and he threw her a smile."Of course I am stronger; I am Van Allen after all," he commented, making her smile as well. She took her time arranging the flowers into a spare vase she found in the room."Why did you bring flowers?" John asked as she sorted them."Are you thankful or are you nagging?" she asked him in a singsong voice."I just do not understand the need for flowers; that is why I am asking," he replied
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Vida excused herself early from her father to go meet with the financial team; she assured him that her plan was going to work and tried to make a deal with him that if her plan worked, she would not have to marry Axel, but he evaded it, saying he was waiting for results first. She was glad that they agreed to meet her, even though she was going to be spending a little money. "A little money for a great cause," she murmured to herself as she got down from the car.James was waiting at the entrance of the hotel for her, and he led her into the private room where three representatives were waiting to meet her."You have just an hour to go over the documents with them as they have to return to the office after the lunch break," James informed her as they stepped into the elevator."I will be sure to wrap it up within an hour," she declared and he nodded. The elevator ride up was silent, and once they got up, he led her to the room they were using. "Get yourself something nice for lunch a
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"I do not know if I am supposed to be telling you this," James began. Vida looked up to him with a confused expression on his face. If he did not want her to know, then he should not have said a word. He piqued her interest and now he does not want to say it? How would that make sense?"Well, now it does not matter if you should be saying it or not; you've begun the process of telling, so I am amused that you would not finish up whatever it is that you want to say," she said and took a sip from the tea in her cup.James cleared his throat and shuffled from foot to foot. He knew that all Vida was trying to do was help the company, and since she had asked him to help her, he might as well do that. John had asked him to take good care of the needs of Vida and maybe this fell under her needs."Well?" she said when he did not say a word. "You have to talk," she followed immediately. He cleared his throat again and pressed his eyes together."I heard that there is a bid where you can offer
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Axel's phone vibrated on the table; his eyes went to it, and James was calling. He was in a meeting, and he was not supposed to be getting the call, but James' call was a priority for him, so he excused himself from the room to take the call outside. It would be selfish of him to ask everyone to leave just for him to take the call. Why was he calling? His mind began to draw up different scenarios and reasons why he could be calling. Did something happen to John? Or was this about Vida? He could not help his mind from thinking about Vida.John had been so boastful about his daughter; he had spoken of how smart and beautiful she was. Although Axel had heard it multiple times, he was still not prepared for the sight he saw when he walked into the hospital room. She was more than everything John had described, and he could understand why John wanted to protect her; he too wanted the same.One thing he was still not able to place his fingers on was the reason Vida hated him; she had not sa
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After Axel left, Vida thought hard about what he had said. If she were being honest, she couldn't think of any other thing they could do that would be better than a year's contract in marriage with him. If she were able to play her cards right, then she could also make the company stronger, so she would not need a man to do it for her after she left the marriage with him. She would take extra classes and learn more if it meant that she would not have to be at the mercy of anyone for the rest of her life.Love and marriage to her were too important to just act as if there was nothing special about them. She had always wanted to fall in love naturally and just experience a good marriage. The kind she always heard people talk about, even though she had not seen what one like that would look like.She knew this was the best she could get as of now; at least he was being reasonable and one year was not that long; if they considered it, it would fly by in a flash and she would be out of his
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She could sense his nervousness, but she wanted to hear him speak before she jumped to any conclusions. Axel shifted to the edge of the seat and rubbed his hands together again. He thought of how best to say what he wanted to. He had stayed up all night thinking about it, and now that it was time for him to talk, it felt like he was not going to be able to do it."I brought snacks," Maria announced as she walked into the room. She set the tray on the stool before dragging it to a position where they could both gain access when they wanted. "Mr. Manchester, at least I get to see you again," Maria said, causing Axel to turn to her with a smile. "I mean, I thought I was never going to see you again since Mr. Van Allen had a heart attack. You've stayed away and proven to me that it is only him you like very much.""Oh my, you've gotten it all wrong; I did not mean it that way. It's been a lot trying to juggle everything, and I really do wish I could come around to say hello, but I've got
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Vida strolled down for breakfast the next morning, feeling a bit exhausted but she knew that Maria would have prepared breakfast, and it would be wrong for her to waste the food. She set the table and Maria served the food."Vida, you look too exhausted; are you okay?" Vida was reminded of why she was so close to Maria; she seemed to always know what was wrong at a glance. She could tell that something was stressing her out. "Did you not sleep well? Is there something you do not like? Is there something you'd want me to change?" Maria asked with a worrisome expression."Oh come on, I am fine; I have never been better, but dad is angry with me and Axel, and it is stressing me out a bit.""He is angry with Axel?" Maria asked with a questioning frown. "I have to admit that is kind of new to me. I do not think I have ever heard that. Despite the age difference between both parties, they always seem to get along just fine," Maria said, defending Axel, and Vida was not even angry at the poi
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Vida took a deep breath and ran her hand over her face. She had to convince him that she did not haet him but she could not tell him that she was jealous of the close relationship between her father and him. Every time she saw the two of them, it reminded her of what could have been between them, but she blew it all off because of a life she wanted to have. If she was being honest, she could be all she wanted while being at her father's side, but she wanted to prove what was not, and she could not tell why she had done that."I do not hate you," she said finally."Well, it does not seem that way; it seems very much to me like you despise the sight of me," he said."I just do not like how my father constantly brings up marriage to you. I do not want to get married to you," she said, and he frowned. "Oh, don't worry, it's nothing against you; if my father had brought any other Tom, I would have rejected him as well. I have no intention of getting married, like it is a business deal or c
21st Century Bride TWENTY
"A jerk?" both men asked with confusion written all over their faces. Axel tried to play back what had happened in his mind, and he was sure that he had not done anything to bring up such a reaction from her."Vida Van Allen, what do you think you are doing?" John asked his voice to and strong."I just knew that you were not to be trusted. Oh my god! i was just a fool to think that you would do just this one thing for me.""What on earth are you talking about?" John asked, and Axel was glad that John was speaking on his behalf because he was too stunned to even say anything in his defence."Dad, I am your daughter, and you should be on my side and not this stranger's side. I knew you would take his side as well. Why?" She asked, dropping the coffee to the stand and crossing her hands over her chest. "Do you hate me because I did not come home when you asked me to?" she asked, and her father frowned."I have no idea why on earth you are creating like this. What is happening? Can you pl
21st Century Bride NINETEEN
Axel got to the hospital and strolled to the room; he was somehow excited that he would finally get to see Vida but as he walked into the room, he could only see John sitting on the bed. "Hello, John," he murmured as he walked in."Well, it's so lovely to see you as well," John replied, looking at him with a suspicious expression. "You look as delighted to see me as I am to see you." Axel looked in the direction of John and shook his head."What do you mean?""It seems like you were expecting someone else to be in here aside from me.""I am here to see you; why would I be expecting someone else to be in here?" He lied. He was somewhat disappointed that Vida was not in the room but how could he say that to John?"Someone else? Maybe someone like Vida?" John asked, and from the change of expression on Axel's face, he could tell that he was spot on with his argument."I was just wondering if she had come already," Axel confessed. He was trying not to give too much away, but since he had
21st Century Bride EIGHTEEN
Axel sat at his open laptop in front of him, but he could not get a single thing done; he kept on daydreaming about Vida. Although she had been nothing but rude and mean to him in all ways, he still could not help but find her charming. He was sure that he would be thought to be a crazy man if anyone heard of it."Vida Van Allen, what are you doing to me?" He asked himself as he ran his hand gently through his hair. He stood up from the chair he had been in for an hour and got up to get coffee. He went down to the kitchen only to meet his sister there; he frowned at the sight of her."So you were in? The house was pretty quiet."You weren't sure if I was in, but you let yourself in?""It's my brother's house after all.""Really? If I had not been at home and you were caught here, I would have asked them to process you as a criminal who was breaking in to steal something valuable.""Really? To steal something valuable? You have nothing valuable in here," she declared, squinting her eye
21st Century Bride SEVENTEEN
Vida put a call through to James, and he confirmed what Axel had just said. She was mad at him. Why did he send her there if he knew this was what was going to happen? Did he want to make fun of her and call her stupid for trying to save her father's company without knowing anything about it? Was this fun for him? She did not stay on the call because she didn't want to be mean to him, so she cut it off while he was still furiously apologising. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned back to him with tears lining the corners of her eyes.She did not like him but she was sure that she had said pretty hurtful words and it made her even angrier that she would be caught saying something like that. She cleared her throat and sniffed to push the tears back in her eyes. "You can go ahead and laugh," she murmured. She could barely hear what she had said so she knew he wouldn't have either."What?" he asked, his eyebrow furrowing as his hands latched to his side. "What was that?" he sai
21st Century Bride SIXTEEN
Vida pulled him from his grip with all her might, causing him to stop and turn to her. He had a mixture of anger and surprise written on his face. He opened his mouth to ask her why she had thought of coming here when she beat him to talking."Who do you think you are to do this?" The anger she felt was well portrayed in her voice."What?""I asked you who you think you are to do this," she asked."You were about to make a mistake in there and I saved you," he said. She laughed but it sounded more like a threat to him. He took a step back and furrowed his eyebrow. Why was she laughing?"Is it that important to your ego?""What?""I asked you if this situation and everything happening right now is that important to your ego.""What do you mean?""What I mean is, are you that desperate to inflate your ego using me? You know very well that if I had managed to close a deal with that man, then I would not need to marry you, but you can not bear it, so you had to walk in there and try your
