Life has a lot of things in store for us. We feel we are destined to be with someone or destined to be somewhere but later realise that it was just meant to be for some time. Avina Walker is the second daughter of the Walker family. Her father owns one of the biggest textile industries in Los Angeles. Despite having all the luxuries at her beck and call, she still felt lonely and sad. Her mother doesn't like her and her sister switches from being nice to being cold or cruel. She did all she could to be accepted but it feels like she was just meant to be an outcast. Her elder sister is engaged but Avina was not bothered and kept working hard. As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months and months into years, Avina's father worried about the single status of his daughter and didn't know what to do. Luck finally smiled at him when one of his friends and business partner also seem to have the same worry concerning his son. ************* Carter Blake Sanchez is a self-made billionaire and an heir to a conglomerate business, in Los Angeles. His name is known to both the old and young. His name is always on the front page of business magazines or fashion magazines. He has a few scandals on his name but his reputation and image have never been tarnished/tampered with. He mostly talks about business and how he got to achieve all he has. Questions about him getting married have always popped up during his interviews but he always ignores them. His handsomeness was enough to help him get a get but he was heartbroken and preferred to work. This got his parents worried and they played the role of matchmakers.
View MoreIt is a very bright morning. The sun shone from the sky into the well-decorated room through the opened curtains. The birds chirped happily as they flew about in the sky.
I kept turning around on my bed until I fell off. I groaned painfully as I stood up. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and yawned lazily.
I looked at the clock beside my lamp and realized how long I had slept. I was tidying up my bed when I heard a loud voice yelling my name.
"Argh" I groaned, stamping my feet on the floor.
"I'm coming" I answered back to whoever it is that was calling me.
I finished arranging my room and then went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. After I was done, I rinsed my face and went to meet whoever it is that was shouting my name.
I descended the stairs and saw my stepmother and sister sitting at the dining table. I greeted both of them and sat down opposite my stepmother.
"What took you so long to get out of bed?" My stepmother asked.
"I was arranging my room......" I was cut short by my stepmother who shouted at me.
"Who told you to answer me and how dare you look into my eyes while talking?"
"She's such a spoiled brat. She thinks because dad's around you won't be able to do anything to her" my sister interfered.
I rolled my eyes at them and proceeded to dish out my food. They were about to say something but were stopped because of my father's appearance.
He cleared his throat, looked at everyone and sat down. I smiled and gave him a side hug while he patted my head.
My sister rolled her eyes at our act but didn't say anything. I'm close to my dad since he's the only one who acknowledges my presence in the house, and I'm a little bit close to my sister, but she also acts like her mother once in a while.
"If you keep doing this, she'd get too spoiled." My stepmother remarked.
"I'd know what to do by then" my father retorted.
I laughed inwardly because my dad has a way of shutting my stepmom up. He still doesn't know what they do to me whenever he's not at home, but I've made a tough resolution which might be tough to carry out, but I'm not going back on that resolution.
We all started eating after the morning drama had finished. After eating, my sis and I cleared the plates and took them to the kitchen.
There are times when I think my sister loves me but acts that way towards me because of her mum and just when I am about to start liking her, she starts acting possessed.
To avoid issues, I just make sure to stay out of her way. I dropped the plates, and I was about to leave when she dragged me back.
"I need that black Porsche Dad bought for you. I'm going out with my friends and I need it." she explained
"You can take your own or is it not the same Porsche??" I asked her
"Please just lend me for today." she pleaded nicely
"I'm also going out today and that's the car I'm taking out." I informed her
"Give me the keys while I'm being nice." She demanded
You see what I'm talking about. She just switches from being nice to being wicked, I wonder how it's easy for her to do that.
I just walked out on her because I don't have the strength to argue this beautiful morning.
I went up to my room and pulled off my clothes. I dropped them into the laundry basket and went into the bathroom to take my bath.
I opened the tap and poured my soap into the bathtub and went to wash my hair till the water filled up.
After I finished washing my hair, I entered the bathtub and loved the way the warm water made my body relax. I closed my eyes to feel the water and enjoy the moment. Then I heard the door knob of the bathroom click.
I sprang out of the tub and tried to open the door, but it was locked, and before I could say, Jack, the lights went off.
Fear gripped me. I felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. I kept hitting my fist on the door in case anybody heard or if the person was still there but nobody responded.
As I continued hitting the door, my eyelids became heavy and my chest tightened. I couldn't breathe, my lungs felt twisted and compressed.
Memories of what happened 12 years ago started flowing back into my head and I couldn't help but fear again.
*************
12 YEARS AGO
Little Avina just came back from school and was happy to be back home not knowing what awaited her.
She ran inside the house and met her stepmom watching TV. She ran up to her stepmom and hugged her.
"How are you my darling" her stepmom carried her on her lap.
Little Avina was shocked because every day she came back from school and ran to hug her, she'd either push Avina away or scream at her to get her filthy self away from her.
She felt happy for the first time because she thought her mom has changed for good. She then came down from her mother's lap and ran up to her room to get changed as per her mom's instruction.
She freshened up then came back down to eat, did her assignment and was about to start playing games when her mom stood in front of her furious.
She pulled her ears and made her kneel in front of her while she sat.
"How dare you pack all the chocolate I kept in the fridge?" she queried, furious
"I didn't take any since you instructed me not to touch it." Little Avina answered, sobbing
"So now I'm the liar, huh?" The stepmother implored
She stood up and dragged Avina away despite her pleas and cries. The stepmom didn't listen and took Avina to the old storage room in the house and locked her up there.
The storage room was dark and dusty. Avina kept crying and begging but her stepmom already left. As she kept inhaling the dust and crying, she started coughing. As she was crying and coughing, she kept looking around and got very scared.
She was locked up in there for a very long time. Her stepmother only remembered she locked Avina in there when her sister asked of her and her mother explained everything to her.
Then the sister said she was the one who took it in the morning when they were about to leave for school. Still, she didn't release Avina after knowing the truth rather she said.
"That'd teach her never to take things she's told not to take."
Her phone rang interrupting her talk with her daughter and the caller was her husband.
"Hey sweetie," Mr Walker said from the other end.
"Hey honey, how was your trip?" She asked.
"It was good, and I'm on my way home now. What about Avina and Elena?" Mr Walker asked.
"Ohh, Avina. She's asleep in her room" She lied.
"And Elena is with me."
After she ended the call, she ran to the storage room to release Avina before her father arrive home.
She was shocked to see little Avina sprawled out on the floor, lifeless. With trembling hands, she hurriedly carried the little girl to her room and called their family doctor.
Luckily for her, the man arrived before her husband could reach home. He told Mrs Walker that Avina passed out due to shock and it would take some time for her to wake up, that she need adequate rest.
She thanked the doctor and saw him out. When Mr Walker got home, she cooked up a believable lie but he didn't believe it because he wanted to see his daughter since he was out of town for a week.
He went up to her room and saw her sleeping peacefully, he didn't want to disturb her so he left clueless not knowing what happened to his daughter.
*************
PRESENT TIME
Could it be that her stepmom is trying to endanger her life again?? But she hasn't done anything to provoke her this morning.
As her breath shortened, she prayed silently for someone to save her before it was too late.
CARTER'S POV We got to the villa Clinton purchased for the days we'd be staying. He kept bugging me on why we needed to purchase a villa for 3 days and sell it after again. Crazy right??? I just didn't want to do all this and we'd be staying at a hotel. Everyone was amazed including Avina, she didn't know about it because that was my job to do. "How did you pull this off, babe? I really love it." Avina hugged me "Well, I and Clinton found it." Technically, it's true because I was the one who picked it. We had staff to help, and when we finished freshening up, the table was set with different kinds of food. We took our seats and did a little prayer then started eating. We felt like one big family and I can't wait to break the news to them. We finished eating and then played some games before we all retired to bed. Everyone was tired and I can't wait for tomorrow.******************THE NEXT DAY The sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear. I loved this sign becau
CARTER'S POV I was home till the afternoon. I had some work to complete before I met up with Leonard. He called me a few minutes after Vina left the house. "Yoo bro. I'm just stepping out of the house. I'll meet you there in 10." I dropped a voicemail for Leonard when his number wasn't connecting. I dropped the key with the gateman and drove out of the compound. The evening breeze was so cool that I wanted to drive around town but I thought of Leonard and pushed the thought away. I arrived at the lounge and Leonard hasn't arrived yet. So I sat in a corner and beckoned the waiter. I ordered a mojito, and it was brought almost immediately. I sipped my drink and got busy on my phone while waiting for Leonard. "What's up, man?" We fist bumped "Everything has been smooth. What about you?" I asked "Same here man. These past days have to be my best ones ever." Leonard smiled so wide that you'd know something different happened from the usual. He ordered his drinks
ELENA'S POV These girls haven't let me rest for the past few days, all in the name of a meeting, and they've refused to tell me who we're meeting up with that's so important. I just got out of the bathroom, and I'm having a hard time picking out the clothes I'd wear. I needed to call those girls so they'd come to my rescue. "Hey, sis. Good morning." Avina grunted as she tried to sit up"Don't tell me you're still in bed. Let me add Kate to the call." I half yelled "Hy sis." Kate sounded worse than Avina"Are you girls serious right now? It's 10, and you both are still not ready for the so-called meeting you didn't let me rest about." This time I was pissed "Wait, hold up. What's today?" Kate's eyes widened"Wednesday, sleepyheads. Wednesday!!!" They didn't even allow me to say the reason why I called them, and they hung up at the same time. "Arrrrrrgh!!! Now it's all up to me." I grunted as I walked to my closet It took me forever but I finally picked a gree
AVINA'S POV I left Kate's house very early, so I'd be home when Carter arrives. He texted me later in the night after Kate had gone to bed that he'd be back the next day. I was so happy and couldn't wait for the dawn to break. "I'd miss having you around." Kate pouted as she hugged me"We're seeing tomorrow, so stop being a crybaby." I pecked her and entered the car. I already texted our driver, so he was here to pick me up. We made a stop at the salon. I wanted to look so good for him and let him see the beauty he got married to. Then I went to shop for clothes and lingerie too. It's not like I don't have lingerie. I have a lot of them, but it won't be bad to get a new sexy set just to entice my husband. After that, I got groceries and foodstuffs because I'd be cooking for him. His flight is set to land around evening, so I left early, so I'd be able to prepare and be all set for him when he arrives. I thanked the driver as I alighted from the car. He assisted me in carr
LEONARD'S POV I just concluded a meeting with the board of directors. They had so many unnecessary concerns about the company and whatever was happening in the outside world. I don't know why old people never seem to mind their business and face it rather than bother themselves about it. I've also been trying to talk with investors because I'm trying to make our new lipstick brand expand into the international market. It's been doing well all over the USA, so I want to push it into the international market. It hasn't been easy but it was successful eventually. As I stepped out of my company, I dialled her number. I bet she'd be mad at me right now, but she would understand. It rang twice before she picked it up. "How can I help you?" That was her way of greeting. I'd take that because she has all the right to be angry. I was pleading the week before, and I've already repeated the same thing. "Hey, hey, your anger is justified, but that's no way to greet someone yo
ELENA'S POV I've been busy with shoots for the past month in Dublin. I haven't been home in a while, and it feels nice to be returning. I already told my dad to send a driver to the airport. As soon as I landed and went to collect my luggage, I sighted him standing there. "Good morning, Mr. Patrick." I greeted the old man, who has been working with our family for the past 20 years. "How was your flight ma'am?" He asked as he collected my luggage and took it to the car "It wasn't bad. It just feels nice to be back home." I told him. He opened the car door for me and I got in. I took off my glasses and closed my eyes for a quick nap before we got home. "We've arrived ma'am." Mr Patrick announced a few minutes later"Thank you so much. I'd ask the maids to get my luggage for me." I smiled at him as I took my bag and entered "There she is. My princess." My dad was beaming with smiles as he sighted me "I've missed you so much, Dad." I ran to hug him"I misse
CARTER'S POV This week has been incredibly hectic for my wife, and I can see the toll it’s taking on her. She’s barely home for more than 30 minutes, just enough time to change clothes or quickly prepare meals for me to heat up later. As the week wraps up, I’ve decided to take action and surprise her at work. She needs to know how much she means to me, and that I’ll always stand by her side, supporting her in everything she does. I got dressed for work with purpose and grabbed my suitcase. The driver had just finished washing the car when I got downstairs, and we exchanged brief greetings. I climbed in, already smiling as the excitement bubbled up inside me at the thought of the surprise I had planned. When I arrived at the office, I was eager to share my idea with Clinton, my secretary. I would have reached out to Leonard, but his schedule has been packed lately, leaving us no opportunity to meet. “Good morning, sir!” Clinton greeted me with energy. “Morning, Clinton! It’s a be
AVINA'S POV After settling with Carter, I felt liberated in a way. Letting go of the resentment that had slowly built up in my chest is one of the good things I've ever done for myself. Thank God for blessing me with my sisters. What would I have done without them? I got up this morning, feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. I went into the bathroom, humming one of my favourite songs, 2002 by Anne Marie, smiling and grinning. I got out of the bathroom and dried my hair, then picked out my outfit for the day. While I was dressing up, Carter walked in with a tray of food and juice, smiling. "Good morning, baby." He walked up to me and kissed me"Hope you slept well?" I wiped off the makeup that had smeared the tip of his nose "With you by my side, I slept soundly." He winked "What's that?" I asked him "Breakfast. I didn't want to stress you, so I woke up early to make it." "Thanks, sweetheart. That's so thoughtful of you." I kissed him again "Anything
KATE'S POV It was a weekend, and I was neck-deep in chores. My bedroom was a disaster—a mess of clothes strewn about, new outfits still in their shopping bags tossed on the floor, and a general clutter that made me question how I’d let it get this bad. I usually pick an outfit in a rush each morning, tossing aside the rest of my clothes without a second thought. This weekend was my chance to regain control, so I’d committed to sorting it all out.I was pulling clothes from the washing machine when the doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and I felt a twinge of irritation at the interruption, whoever it was. After setting down the last load of wet clothes, I wiped my hands and made my way to the door, bracing myself for whatever surprise awaited. As I peeked through the peephole, my heart lurched. Standing there, of all people, was Leonard.What was he doing here? And how did he even know where I lived? My mind flooded with questions I didn’t have answers to, but he rang the bell
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