chapter 2

Four years later

Charlotte stood by the roadside, waiting to hail a cab back home. She just got off work, and needed nothing more than to have a good rest, before heading out for another part-time job.

Charlotte had to switch from her night shift because she's now a single mother, and needs to spend time with her babies whenever they're back from school.

The manager understood her, and decided to switch her to a morning shift. She goes to work every morning and closes at noon, to go see her babies.

The incident that eventuate with the Mysterious man four years back, got her pregnant, and instead of aborting the pregnancy, she kept it, with the support of her mother. It wasn't easy, but she did overcome the struggles!

A cab halt in front of her, and she quickly hopped in and told him the address.

"Ten dollar ma'am." The cab driver responded, and she just nodded.

Charlotte stared at the window as the car drove to her destination. The thought of how she's going to earn extra income to take care of her octuplets babies filled her head. She has been taking care of their bills, for the past four years.

She has a mother, and eight babies to take care of, all her part-time job's still doesn't pay off her bills, she needed something to add to the list.

'What if father was still alive? What if we had not lost him to the cold hands of death? I won't be running here and there to make a living. He would have done everything I asked of him' Charlotte thought, her gaze fixated on the door glass, while she plays with her nails.

Being a single mother hasn't been easy on her, but she is glad, she could still provide with the little she makes from her Jobs.

"Ma'am, we have arrived." The cab driver announced, which pulled her out of her reverie.

She opened her bag, and pulled out a ten dollars, handed it to him, and stepped down from the cab.

As she turned to the direction of her apartment, she sighed, with a smile. The thought of her babies, brings her lots of hope. She marched to the entrance of the house, with the smile still marred on her face.

They stay in an apartment with two rooms, a parlor, toilet, and kitchen. Charlotte and her mother stay in one room, while the girls stay in the other room. Occasionally, Charlotte stays with the girls.

"I'm home, where are my angel's?" Charlotte called out to them, and before she could even sit, they came running like always.

"Mummy is back! Mummy is back!" They exclaimed, as they ran up to her, and she pulled them each into a hug.

"Mummy you must be exhausted, come have a sit, I will quickly get you some water." Nadiyah said, the first daughter.

Charlotte nodded, and hilda, Mariyah, Lailah, Zarah, and Naefah held her hands to the couch. Her mother strode into the living room with a sad expression. She has been waiting for Charlotte to come home.

Charlotte knew something must be wrong, but she restrained herself from asking questions.

Nadiyah returned with a glass of water, and handed it over to her mum. Charlotte gulped down the whole glass, and gave her the glass to return to the kitchen.

"Thank you sweetheart." Nadiyah smiled and turned to the kitchen.

Charlotte tilted her head, ready to question her mother. It could be money related, and she's ready to listen.

"Mother, what is wrong this time? Why do you have to always look this way when you have something to say?" Charlotte asked, knowing the type of mother she has.

"When are we going to keep living like this? Ain't you tired? Don't you also want to live a life like that of Arya? Don't you envy her?" Matilda asked.

Just like Charlotte had thought, it's the same conversation, and each time she comes up with it, it hurts Charlotte, she tends to be pained.

Arya got rich over the night, no one knew how she made her money, and each time her mom wants to compare her, she always uses Arya as an example, and it breaks her heart.

Matilda has been the one taking care of her octuplets, and it hasn't been easy on her. She keeps comparing her to Arya, and it breaks her down.

Arya disappeared after getting rich, she doesn't pick up calls, even if you have to call forever. Charlotte knew she was worth more than her, and instead of hanging back, she moved on with her life. Arya is her friend, but she never liked Charlotte.

It hasn't been easy on her for the past four years, yet she has never begged anyone for help. All thanks to her best friend who has been supporting her.

Charlotte looked at her mother, she wanted to utter a word of comfort to her, but was lost of words. It's always the same story, and she's not ready to delve in.

"Grandma, mummy is going to buy us a bigger house soon, you won't have to worry again, okay?" Mariyah, the fourth child, spoke up, and the other nodded.

"Yes Grandma, Mariyah is right, You don't have to worry, soon we will own a bigger house." Hilda, the second child said, and the rest nodded in agreement.

Matilda looked at them, and was happy with the statement they made. She can be mad, but each time she sees the children speak words of encouragement, she is always happy.

"I believe in your mummy, thank you angel's." Matilda responded with a tight-lipped smile.

"Mummy, look, ain't they the sons of the noble family? I once heard grandma say it." Naefah, the seventh child asked, pointing at the screen on the console.

Everyone's attention was now on the TV, watching the son's having an interview with the press. There are quite a lot of noble families in California, but the Xi family stand's out. They're known in different countries.

Matilda smiled, she recalled telling them, they' are sons of the noble family, but didn't expect them to still remember.

"We look like them? Don't we?" Nadiyah said, and her other twins agreed to it.

Charlotte and her mother looked at each other, and she let out a small laugh. They never cease to amaze her, continually searching for people to point out their look alike.

"Mummy Just needs to get a good job, and soon we will all be rich and noble. Not Just that, but we will also live in a mansion." Naefah said, and everyone including the girls laughed, cheering to what she said.

~

Arya, who has been living a luxurious life for the past four years, is seated in the living room, watching the ongoing interview with the noble's son.

Arya has always loves vanity, she spends extravagantly, not caring how the money is being generated. She lacks nothing, and is proud of what she has done.

She had a smirk on her face, as she watches the TV with the thought of Charlotte on her mind. If she had not collected the wristwatch from Charlotte four years back, she wouldn't be enjoying all the good things.

'It's good I didn't tell anyone about the watch. Charlotte must have become a mother of octuplets. I acted fast, and here I'm enjoying the good things of life'

"She must have been shameless, and become a joke in the city. Too bad she wasn't wise, I was wiser than her, that's how I got here." Arya said, and burst out laughing.

"This calls for a feast, I should celebrate this all by myself. Yes, I'm definitely having a feast." Arya said to no one, and stood up from the couch.

She marches her legs to the kitchen, but halt when she saw a maid approaching her.

"Good afternoon ma'am. The car has…" She was cut off, before she could finish.

"Tell the chef to meet me on the balcony, I'm having a feast, they have a lot to do." Arya said to the maid. She nodded, and quickly turned on her heels.