CHAPTER FIFTYFLASHBACK (Con't)Clifford was the first to notice the absence of mercy at the gathering. After looking carefully and she was nowhere to be found, he moved his eyes to Faith and noticed that she was no longer carrying the baby. "Where is Maria?" He whispered into her ear immediately he walked up to her. She was standing in front of some guests and attending to them."She fell asleep," Faith replied nonchalantly. Faith was smiling as if nothing was going on. Clifford thought that maybe Mercy wanted to spend a little more time with the kid inside before she finally disappeared, so he decided to return back to his seat. Clifford's eyes were fixed on Faith as she walked around with a smile on her face. She walked from table to table, greeting everyone.Clifford didn't know the reason he wasn't feeling comfortable. He was just bothered, and one heart kept saying, "Go check up on your kid. He excused himself from the table where he sat with his friends and hurried into the h
CHAPTER FIFTY _ ONEFLASHBACK (Con't)It was really tough for Mercy raising Maria alone. She did menial jobs for people and the money was barely enough to feed the whole family, talk about giving Mary a good life. She wanted her daughter to get a good life, she thought she would be able to give her at least half of the life Maria had, but things got more difficult by the day. Mary grew up into a beautiful young woman who later fell in love with a billionaire's son. He was the heir to his father's company, and Henry's father didn't want him to bring home just any girl to the house. He embarrassed her and sent her away calling her a gold digger that wanted to hook his son down and force him into marrying her. She left ran away from Henry's House crying home to her mom.Mercy advised Mary to stick with Henry no matter what. She thought it would be a ticket for her to finally get rich, as she couldn't get it when she decided to go into the silly contract with Clifford. All her life she d
CHAPTER FIFTY _ TWOFLASHBACK (Con't)Maria called Sylvia and Sophie, who were her only friends, who ahnf out with her at the club. After drinking to the stupor, the three decided to go home. Sylvia, who was less drunk, offered to drive them home, but Maria insisted that she was just fine, and she wasn't drunk. She took the stirring with Sophie by her side and Sylvia behind. They connided into another car, and theirs fell off the cliff. Sylvia sustained a mild injury but was unconscious for days, Sophie died at the hospital while Maria lost her memory. After recovering from the accident, Fred, whom she had been dating before the accident, and Sylvia told her what happened. She couldn't believe the fact that she let her stupidness kill her friend. She would lock herself up all day crying, refusing to eat or drink anything. Fred and Sylvia were the only ones who could calm her down or make her eat something. Fred soon left the country, leaving her all alone with Sylvia.Clifford walke
CHAPTER FIFTY _ THREEBy the time Clifford was done telling his story, the whole table was already filled with tears. Everyone present at the table had already cried their eyes out, except Henry and Clifford. "I never intended to leave my family. I just needed a break, and that ugly accident had to ruin everything for me," Mary cried out."I am so sorry, my daughters, that I have to let you all go through all of these. I wish I could have protected you, I so wish I could take all your pains away from you. I wish I could bear it all and make sure you do not pass through any form of pain," Clifford said. "Clifford, you are wicked and heartless!" Faith cursed. "You saw how excited I was about having a child, and you took advantage of it, Clifford. It would never be well with you," she cursed further.Faith fell to the floor and continued crying helplessly. It was difficult for her to swallow it all in. Maria wasn't her child after all? How could she take all of that? How would she begi
CHAPTER FIFTY _ FOUR"Mom?" Maria called as she turned around and began walking towards her mom. She bent over and placed her hand around her mom's thigh. "Mom," she called again. "Are you really going to divorce dad now? Mom please don't do this. I do not want to be a product of a broken home. Dad loves you so much and I'm sure you love him just as much. Mom please, don't let anything come between you both I beg of you," Maria pleaded. Clifford walked up to them and bent in front of them."Faith, I am ready to give you whatever you want that would make you happy. Whatever would heal you faster, even if it means divorcing me, I'll give it to you," he replied. Faith raised her head to look at her husband. She couldn't believe he just said those words. She raised her hands and began hitting him continuously. "Who said I wanted to divorce you? Who said I meant those words?" She asked as she went ahead to punch him. Maria hugged both parents together as tears continued to drop down fr
CHAPTER FIFTY _ FIVEClifford wouldn't have a problem giving the two families a very good life. He would also let Mary have him around her, so he would be a father figure to her. He would gladly accept all of it if Mercy didn't thread on a dangerous part back then. He wished he had told about her complications back then, and they adopted the idea of surrogacy. Although he would never regret for any reason that he had these two lovely daughters. He only regretted the circumstances they grew up. He hated that the two were finding it difficult to get along.Clifford knew it wouldn't be easy to mend the situation at hand, but he was ready to do anything to bring to an end the ugly situation. He would only give Mary time enough time to heal so it wouldn't be too hard on her. She was still trying so hard to accept the fact that her father was a billionaire, and she had to go through all of that growing up. He knew it wouldn't be easy for her to forgive them right away.Faith was grateful t
CHAPTER FIFTY _ SIXMary stopped running, and turned around to face Henry. "Can we talk for a bit please?" Henry asked. Maria hesitated for a while. She didn't want to have anything to do with Henry anymore. At least for the fact that Mary was already mad at her for stealing her name and position. She didn't want anything that would increase Mary's hatred for her. "What do you want to talk about?" Maria asked Henry, as she took two steps downstairs. "Can we talk somewhere private? Just for two minutes. I promise I won't take much of your time," Henry said. Maria walked downstairs and immediately she stood in front of Henry, she turned to look at her parents who were still at the dining. "We will leave you both to talk," Clifford said. He tool Faith's hand, she was still seated on the dinning chair, while Clifford stood in front of her. She stood up to her feet and took her hand away from Clifford. "I am still mad at you honey, so you are not allowed to hold my hand," Faith sai
CHAPTER FIFTY _ SEVEN "Henry, stop," Maria pleaded. "But I'm not lying, Maria. I discovered that I love you, I have never been so sure about my feelings for anyone. Please Maria, listen to me, I love you so much.""Then what about her? What about Mary? You were not sure then about what you feel for her, or you are just obsessed over me?" Maria asked Henry. Henry stood up from his kneeling position and sat on the couch. He kept quiet for a while, then he sighed and continued talking. "I said those words back then to hurt you, so you could leave. I wanted Mary to come back home, maybe then I would be able to move on from you and start loving her afresh but I just couldn't. Yes, I loved Mary, you could see that I even went against my father's wish to marry her. I disowned him when he mistreated her and made her disappear and didn't know it was because God wanted me to meet you. Maria when I met you, I realised that I love you even more than I had loved her, I have never loved any wom
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ FOURClifford removed his phone from his pocket and texted an unknown number. "Close your eyes for five minutes, " he told them and walked over to the door.He returned with two men, twin kids, and two lawyers. Mary stood up to her feet, screaming at the top of her voice while she rushed to the man who held twin kids by his side. She hugged him passionately and sobbed in his arms. Henry stood up with his eyes and mouth wide open. "Dad," he called out. Fredrick opened his arms wide to receive his son. Henry walked into his father's arms and hugged him warmly. "I am so sorry, dad."Henry's voice sounded as though he was going to cry. "It was my fault that we ended up this way. I should have let you choose your life and your wife.""No, father. Every disappointment is a blessing. You helped me find true love when I thought what I shared with Mary was true love.""Okay, can we do something fun and forget all of these ever happened?" Maria asked. "Not bef
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ THREEMaria and Henry continued walking down the stairs but got startled when they saw Clifford and Faith seated on the couch with Mercy and her mom. "What is going on here?" Henry asked. Faith rushed to Maria and hugged her tightly. She began sobbing silently while hugging her daughter. Maria softened as well and began to sob. The rest of the parents stood up to their feet to watch the unfolding drama in front of them."I am sorry, Mom. I know, I know I promised never to leave you but the pressure was too much. I didn't want to marry Fred, I didn't want to go to florida. I wanted to stay somewhere safe. I wanted a place their was love. I never told you this mom, Fred hits me. He would turn me into a punching bag in florida, and their wouldn't be a single soul I would report to. I couldn't stop myself from running away mom, he would definitely kill me if I married him."Faith hugged Maria even more tightly and patted her hair. "I love you so much, honey,"
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ TWOMaria ran upstairs with Henry following swiftly behind her. She began packing up her things. "Maria, please don't leave. Don't do this to us. You know you have to give us another chance, right?" Maria ignored Henry and continued packing up. He walked up to her and hugged her from behind. He tightened her hands in between his, and she tried to free herself, but of course, he was stronger than she was. "Maria, please. I would die if you ever leave me.""What will you have me do then? Tell me. What do you expect me to do?"Her voice cracked. It was pale and weak. She sounded as though she was going to cry. "You can't give up on us like this. Okay, you know what? Let's leave together," Henry suggested. "What? What about your son?" Maria asked.She wiped her face. Henry let go of her hand, and she walked up to the bed and sat on it. She sighed softly and raised her head to look at Henry, who was still standing where she left him. His hands were placed on
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ ONEMaria was about to answer the question when a slight knock was heard on the door. Henry excused himself and walked towards the door, while Maria continued towards the dining. She went on her knees in front of Mary, and folded her clapped her hands together in front of her face. "What are you doing here?" Mercy asked again coldly. "My parents were going to sell me off and send me to florida. I needed somewhere to hide pending the time they would change their mind." "And you think that this is the best place to hide? Is this the best way to behave when your sister is rotting behind bars? Why are you so inconsiderate Maria? Or you want your parents to come here and gundown everyone because of you? I guess that is the only time you would learn."Maria shook her head continously, as her mom spoke. Mercy didn't bother to look down at her. She kept a straight face, and kept her gaze fixed on the food she was about to eat. "Mom, please. I do not want to mar
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED Maria was stool staring at the little girl with her eyes and mouth wide open. She was still wondering if she was still in hallucinations or not."Ma'am? I know I have asked this before, and you didn't respond. Are you sure you are fine?" "Yea, of course I am fine. Please repeat what you just said earlier. ""Your parents are here, Ma'am, " she repeated innocently. "You mean, you mean Mary's mom and grandma, right? I mean our parents and the kid, right?" Maria asked. "They didn't come with any kid. Henry called them Mr and Mrs Clifford. They said they wanted to be sure that he wasn't hiding Maria here." "Shit!" Maria exclaimed. She pulled the girl by the hand and walked straight to the kitchen with the girl following steady behind her. They got into the kitchen, and Maria locked the door. "What did you say to them?" Maria asked, resting over the girl whose nack was rested on the wall of the kitchen. "I didn't talk to them. I pretended to be dumb and asked s
CHAPTER NINETY _ NINETime flew by real quick and the camp days were finally over. Henry and Maria had prepared a banquet for the family. She hadn't figured out yet where to stay, and she hoped on convincing her biological mom, and grandma to let her stay even if it meant moving to their room with them. She wouldn't want to bother Dylan in his room, and Mary's room would be a no go area. Of course, they wouldn't want her to stay in Henry's room, so the best thing was to either move into theirs. Or she could even manage with the housekeeper, afterall she's human..The both of them were busy setting the dinning and exchanging kisses when they heard a soft knock on the door. The housekeeper walked over to the door to help get the door, while the two rushed the work to quickly finish it before the three would walk in. They already concluded that it was grandma, Mercy, and Dylan. The two laughed immediately they were done, and Henry hugged Maria. "You know they shouldn't see us this wa
CHAPTER NINETY _ EIGHT Henry lay in bed thinking about Mary. He once loved her and still did, although not romantically anymore. He wished there was something he could do about her, but there was absolutely nothing. She was guilty of the case charged, and although Maria hadn't pressed charges yet, she would as soon as Faith succeeded in convincing her. Henry was so worried for Mary's safety. It was so early in the morning, and Henry hadn't had any sleep yet. The wall clock that hung on the wall facing him read the time to his face. And it displayed 5am.Henry sighed, as he remembered Mercy, Dylan and granny. The three were in Dylan's school camp. He felt bad for the kid, none of his parents could attend the camp with him. Henry would have gone but Dylan insisted he shouldn't attend the camp without Mary. He didn't want to create a scene in the school by going there against the kid's wish, so he decided to just stay back at home. He heard the door bell ring and jerked from the bed
CHAPTER NINETY _ SEVEN The day was a very stressful and yet very successful one. Everything the Clifford's planned on achieving for that fay they did before dusk. Everyone was exhausted and just retired to their rooms to sleep. Maria lay in bed with her eyes closed as thoughts flew freely in and out of her mind. Tears rolled down her left eyes, dropping on the sheets. She heard a light knock on the door and wiped her face immediately. "Come in," she managed to say and sat up in bed. She was too tired to stand to her feet and thanked her stars she didn't lock the door yet. She saw her mom walk into her room with a sad smile on her face. She sat on the bed beside Maria and held her jaw up. Maria understood that her mom was only trying to make her happy. She didn't like that all her life revolved around a man who was married to her own sister and wished that she could help. This was her best way of helping Maria move on from Henry, but she didn't want to. She couldn't forget the l
CHAPTER NINETY _ SIXA FEW WEEKS LATERMaria stood behind the door of her parents' room. She could hear them talk in whispers and laugh. Soon, their tone increased, and she realized they were talking to someone or some people on the phone."We should just fix the wedding, and they would come together, get married. It is not like they have a choice after all. "That was Faith's voice. She knew the meeting they held was about she and Fred, and she also knew it was Fred's parents on the other end of the call. "Maybe you would just come over to the house so we would plan the wedding properly," Clifford's voice sounded. She felt betrayed that her dad was part of the plan. Why would he? She thought he was on her side and would help her achieve whatever she wanted. Why would he switch sides all of a sudden? She sighed sadly and returned to her room. She sat in bed and banged the door against the wall. She was breathing heavily and fuming at the same time. She stood up.from the bed and wa