KICKED OUT

Paige Summers busied herself as she moved about, trying to ensure that all the guests were well cared for.

She had been working since morning to make sure everything was perfect. It was the eighth-anniversary party of her father and stepmother. She wanted to be anywhere but there, but her father had warned that if she did not stay behind to take care of his guests, there would be dire consequences.

As she moved around, serving the guests, they kept calling her here and there, and some even mistook her for the maid of the house. When she thought it was finally time for her to rest, her stepsister, Candy came out dressed in a beautiful, red, Valentino gown. One would think that it was her anniversary party judging by how much time she took to doll herself up.

Once Candy was out, Paige began to hear different voices saying, "Wow! She looks like an angel!"

"She's the daughter of Mr. Summers."

"I heard she's a singer; one of the spark girls."

"Have you seen her gown? it's from a top brand."

As Paige listened to their different comments, she felt sick to the stomach and scoffed. Candy noticed the expression on her face and said, "Come over here, Paige," gesturing with her index finger.

Paige ignored her, not wanting to move. However, one of the guests sitting close to where she stood, said, "What sort of rude maid is this? Your boss is calling you, and you're still standing. Get moving."

Paige glared at the woman, recognizing her as one of her stepmother's friends. Most of the women present fawned over her stepmother for benefits and so Paige wasn't surprised.

Not wanting to give Candy a reason to cause a scene, She walked up to her and said, "Yes, what is it?"

"You're not doing your job," Candy said as she looked at her condescendingly. "I vividly remember Dad telling you that the condition upon which you can go to a Music Academy is to serve the guests here properly.

Look! Some tables are empty. What do you think you're doing? How would Mom and Dad feel if they see that their esteemed guests are being neglected?"

"Well, the empty tables are that way because the guests said they don't want to have anything for now. Once they need something, I will serve it to them," Paige replied.

After speaking, she turned her back on Candy and wanted to leave, but Candy held her by her ear and pulled her back, "Where do you think you're going? Stop being rude to me in front of the guests.

Listen, my dad and my mom are having their anniversary party today, so I'm more or less the star of the show. I'll be performing a wonderful song for them, so you had better show me some respect."

Paige slapped Candy's hand away and angrily looked at her.

Some of the guests who were staring at both of them began to wonder what was going on.

Seeing the way Paige was glaring at Candy, a said, "She is only a maid, yet she is so insolent and rude."

At this point, Mr. and Mrs. Summers came out. The moment Candy saw them, she walked up to them and smiled, "Wow! Mom, Dad, you both look so perfect."

The guests began to lavish praises on Anthony and Beverly Summers as they were decked in custom-made, Dior outfits. Some deliberately flattered them because Paige's father was very rich. He was the CEO of Blanco company, and he had many subsidiaries under him.

They smiled at the guests, waving at them, and finally, began walking to their seats. The M.C. was about to speak when Beverly suddenly gasped, "Oh no, my bracelet! I can't find it. Paige, look for my bracelet. It seems to have fallen off."

Mr. Sumners said, "Come on, forget about it. This is an important occasion."

"No," Beverly exclaimed. "It's the bracelet you gifted me during our last anniversary party, and it's worth millions of dollars. How can I just let it go?"

The guests who were sitting began to gasp.

"Wow, what an expensive bracelet," one of them exclaimed.

"But I never take it off. I don't know what happened. Could someone have stolen it?" Beverly wondered aloud.

As she spoke, Beverly turned to where Paige was standing and stared at her, asking, "Paige, did you take my bracelet?"

All eyes turned to Paige, and she asked, "Why would you ask me that?"

She walked closer, and her dad glared at her, "Lower your voice. Instead of looking for the stolen bracelet, you're here talking. Have you forgotten what your job is?"

"I'm sorry," Paige replied.

She turned back, intending to search for the bracelet, but Beverly stopped her, saying, "Hold on, stop right there."

Paige stopped and rolled her eyes, asking, "What now?"

Beverly walked up to her and said, "Let me search you. How do I know if you haven't stolen my bracelet? Nowadays, so many thieves do that. They bite the hands that feed them."

All the guests continued watching as Beverly put her hand into Paige's pocket. To everyone's surprise, she pulled out the bracelet.

"What! You dare to steal from the hand that feeds you?" Beverly asked feigning disappointment.

Paige stared at the bracelet in surprise. At that moment, she recalled when Candy had called her and pulled her aside. She realized that Candy must have put the bracelet in her pocket without her noticing. Paige turned, intending to point fingers at and expose Candy, but at that moment, Candy walked up to her and slapped her.

"Enough of this, Paige! I've had enough of you. What do you think you're doing? Trying to ruin my parents' ceremony? Did we do wrong by taking you in? Did we do wrong by caring for you all these years?" Candy scolded.

Paige stared at the three people in front of her as tears fell from her eyes.

"I did not steal. I didn't take any jewelry," She defended herself.

Someone from the audience suggested, "Why not call the police? I think you should call the police. Nowadays, some maids can't be trusted. You give them a roof over their heads, and they start stealing from you."

"I'm not a maid!" Paige screamed.

However, her dad also walked up to her, turned her around, and slapped her face.

"How dare you yell in front of me? Who do you think you're talking to? You want to insult my guests? I'm so ashamed of you. What was your plan? To pawn off this bracelet and make a lot of money? You know what? I've had enough. You have stolen and committed so many other crimes, and I have put up with it. Well, not anymore," her dad said angrily.

"What are you saying, Dad?"

"How many times have I told you not to call me that today?" Anthony gritted.

"It doesn't matter. You are accusing me in front of everyone," Paige replied boldly.

"Accusing you? For crying out loud, the bracelet was found in your pocket. Why do you keep disgracing me every time, Paige? How many more chances will I give you?"

"But I did not take it!" Paige exclaimed. "Candy must have put it in my pocket. Yes, Candy put the bracelet in my pocket."

At this point, her father couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed her hand and forcefully began dragging her outside.

"Where are you taking me, Dad? Let me go! Please, let me go!" Paige pleaded.

When they got to the door, he said, "Henceforth, I cease to be your father. You've humiliated me severally, and I will not tolerate it anymore. Get out of here and never show your face in front of me again."

After speaking, he pushed her out of the door.

Paige couldn't believe what had happened. Everything seemed like a dream. She stood outside and stared at the heavy rain pouring down. She turned back, wanting to go inside, but at that moment, Candy appeared from inside standing by the door.

"What are you still doing here? Didn't you hear what my Dad said? He said you should leave," Candy said.

"Leave to where? This is my mother's house. Blanca is my Mom's company. Everything here belongs to my mom so I'm not leaving," Paige insisted.

The moment the words left her mouth, Candy pushed Paige so hard that she fell on her back and hit her head on the ground.

She felt pain in her the back of her head and cried out. The rain pelted her face mercilessly as she struggled to get up. Meanwhile, Candy turned went back in, and locked the door.

Paige got up with difficulty and knocked on the door, but no one answered. As she heard the laughter and sounds of merriment from inside, more tears streamed down her face. Her clothes were already wet and she felt cold at this point.

She hadn't eaten anything all day and it was already past lunchtime. She stood outside for more than an hour and eventually, she turned and began walking away from the house, under the rain which showed no indication of stopping anytime soon.

She kept walking without a destination in mind. She didn't have her phone with her or anything else that belonged to her. She didn't really have friends because Candy had turned them all against her. Even the boys she used to have crushes on had become her enemies.

As she walked dejectedly on the road, Paige felt that living was too painful. Perhaps it was better for her to die.

When her mom was alive, her life was perfect. Her dad adored her and so did everyone else.

But after her mom's death, her dad got married to Beverly and her life world suddenly went downhill. She became the Paige who was treated worse than a dog.

She lost her will to live and kept walking aimlessly until she became dizzy. As thunder rumbled and the sky turned even darker, she stopped and looked up.

Her body could not take it anymore and as the world around her spun, she fell to the ground and the last thought in her mind before she blacked out was that death should take her as well.