CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

Adele heaved out a heavy sigh as she stepped out of her black Audi and gazed up at the villa standing tall before her. That was the residence of the Dominicks, who happened to be the wealthiest family in the nation. They owned the largest business conglomerate in the country named Dominick Co.

Adele had been adopted by the mother of the man, Mr. Michael Dominick, who owned this company when she was five years old and she was raised by that woman even though in a different country. It was until when she had her college degree that her adoptive mother forced her to come and live in the family residence, which she did not want to because she knew she wasn't welcomed there.  However, she did not want to disappoint the old woman, so she decided to come and live in the family residence, making sure to mind her business.

"Good evening to you, Brand" She greeted with a cheerful smile as she playfully threw her car keys to the parking valet  and made her way into the luxurious living room.

It was almost dinner time, so she was not surprised to see servants in their uniforms, walking helter-skelter around, trying to organise places, especially the mighty dining because dinner at that household everyday looked like a banquet.

They were rich people and they did not fail to flaunt their wealth anywhere they went or in anything they did, even at dinner.

"Good evening to you, Kain" She greeted the butler who approached her to take the thick winter coat she had on. The freezing weather left her no choice but to always have it on, especially as she was cold intolerant.

"Good evening Miss MacKenzie, I will take your coat" The butler replied with a smile and without resisting, Adele quietly took off her winter coat and handed it over to the butler who quietly nodded his head and walked away. The aroma of the food coming from the kitchen made her intestines grumble, but a sudden wave of sadness overcame her when she thought back to the fact that she would be eating dinner with the entire family that seemed to despise her.

When she had been adopted by the old woman eighteen years ago, there was a big fight in the house. The wife of the old lady's son, Mrs. Aliya Dominick, was very angry and till date, that woman still despised her and even her daughter, Shannelle, had joined her mother in the hating game.

"Adele!" She heard a familiar voice call as she was ascending the staircase leading to her princess bedroom upstairs. She turned around and a wide smile formed on her face when she saw grandma Devon standing in the living room. She immediately swivelled around and descended the staircase to go and greet her properly.

That woman was the most important person in her entire life and she loved and respected her very much.

"Good evening grandma" She greeted as she hugged her grandma.

"How was your day at work?" Grandma Devon asked concerned and Adele playfully rolled her eyes as she scoffed.

"Terrible grandma, terrible. I just want to go upstairs and have a  shower so I can calm my nerves." She spoke eloquently with her rich British accent.

"Yes, you should do just that. And I want to let you know that after dinner, there will be a family meeting in my private library, I have a very important piece of information to pass to you all"

"As in, all of us? Including me?" Adele asked, disturbed.

"Especially to you" She stressed and walked away and the mischievous smile on her face did not go unnoticed by Adele.

She could feel that grandma Devon was up to something and she knew what she was about to announce, "especially to her '' was going to take her off guard.

She went into deep thought as she lifelessly ascended the staircase and when she got into her bedroom, she threw herself on the bed with her arms and legs spread wide on it.

"Grandma, what are you up to this time around?" She asked rhetorically as she tried to figure out what the announcement would be about.

Grandma Devon was a very ambitious woman who was more than capable of getting anyone to do anything she wanted.

When Adele turned ten years old, she sent her out of the country to live with her sister in England and study and the moment she had her college degree, grandma found her a job back there in the country and called her to come back home. The night of her return, there was a heated argument in the house between grandma and the wife of her son, Aliya,  about Adele's stay, but Aliya stood no chance against the influential women, so she stayed.

Ever since she got to the house, Aliya and her daughter, Shannelle have not failed to make her feel unwelcome. She has begged grandma time and again to let her go stay with somewhere else, but grandma  turned a deaf ear to her pleas over and over again, so she stopped asking.

She could only pray and hope that whatever announcement she was about to make would not be something that will make her life take a drastic turn.

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After dinner, which was silent as usual, Adele went straight into her bedroom to put on another sweater. The house had a sophisticated heating system, but her cold intolerance made her feel like there was no heating system in the house. If they had to adjust the temperature of the thermostat to her taste, then everyone else was going to die of heat, so she always made sure to double sweaters to keep herself warm.

Once she wore the sweater, she exited her bedroom and descended the flight of stairs that led to the third and second  floor which happened to be grandma's chambers. The villa they lived in had six storeys. The first floor had the largest living room, kitchen, dining and other rooms. The second floor was Grandma Devon's chambers, the third floor was for Mr and Mrs. Dominick, the fourth floor was for the children (Adele, Shannelle and Jamal) , the fifth and the sixth floor  were for guests.

When she arrived at Grandma Devon's private study, he let out an enormous sigh before stretching her hand forward to knock.

When she did and the reply came, she softly creaked open the door and froze on her tracks when she saw the numerous pairs of eyes staring at her.

Everyone else was already present, and it looked like they were all waiting for her.

"I'm sorry I'm late" She apologised as she closed the door behind her.

"You dare keep your elders waiting, how mannerless!" Aliya grumbled.

"Aliya leave her be, it's not like you have been here for long. Take a seat dear" Grandma Devon defended her and she quietly nodded her head as she scanned around the room for an empty seat, but to her greatest dismay, there was none. The only empty seat was space beside Jamal and that was the last person she wanted to seat close to.

Jamal hardly spoke to anyone at home, not to talk of her. He was the first son of the household and he was the future CEO of his father's conglomerate. Ever since she got back home from England, he had spoken just once to her and what he had said was:

"Welcome home"

That was one year ago and since then she and Jamal had never said anything to each other. They hardly even ever saw each other. She had no idea whether he hated her like his mother and sister did, but… even if that was the case, it would not be strange because Jamal didn't seem to like anybody. Not even his own mother and father.

"Go on, take the seat beside Jamal" Grandma Devon urged when she sensed Adele's hesitation. Adele quietly walked over to the couch and lifelessly lowered herself beside Jamal, making sure to leave ample space between them. To say that the man intimidated her was an understatement.

She feared the man!

"Good evening once more" Grandma greeted as she looked at them. "I know this meeting was called on a very short notice, I apologise for that. However, it was urgent that I called this meeting, that is why you all are seating her."

"Will you just go straight to the point?" Aliya asked in a bored tone.

"Will you not talk to my mother like that?" Mr. Dominick intervened, shooting his wife a contemptuous scowl that caused her to shut her mouth and stay quiet.

Grandma dismissed her rude comment and rode on.

"I have called you all today to make a special announcement which involves Jamal and Adele" Grandma explained, looking from Jamal to Adele and she could see the uncertainty on Adele's face. She smiled in satisfaction as she sat upright on her chair.

"And what is that announcement, mum?" Mr. Dominick inquired, causing grandma to smile even wider.

"Adele and Jamal are going to get married!" She announced in a firm tone and the moment her words stroked Adele's eardrums, she choked on her saliva.

Adele coughed hard as she struggled to breath and Jamal patiently rubbed her back to calm her down.

When she was calm again, she looked up at Grandma with a baffled expression plastered on her face.

"What?" She asked afraid and grandma just smiled. At that moment, she was hyperventilating and her heart was beating at an increasingly fast pace. She feared that it would hop out of her chest. She was so startled at the news that her ears began to itch and her body suddenly grew hot. She had on two sweaters and her body temperature elevated so much that she began suffocating in the sweaters.

She hastily took off her sweaters as she began fanning herself with her hands.

Everything seemed so hot and uncomfortable at the moment.

"I object to this marriage arrangement! My son is not going to marry someone he does not love, he is not going to marry an adopted lowlife!" Aliya retorted in anger as she casted a furious glance at Grandma. "Dominick!" She called as she averted her gaze to her husband. "Don't just sit there, tell this woman that plan of hers is not going to work!" She fumed in anger but Mr. Dominick did not move an inch from his spot or utter a single word.

"Aliya, will you stop embarrassing yourself and stay calm?"  Grandma asked in a bored tone.

"Grandma, what is going on? Jamal and I can't get married, we hardly even know each other. I don't love him and I'm sure he doesn't love me too!" Adele objected and that got Jamal's attention.

He looked at Adele who had a terrified look on her face and clenched his fists.

"Jamal, please tell grandma this is impossible" Adele pleaded as she looked at Jamal. She wondered why had not said a word till that moment. She knew in her mind that Jamal did not want to marry her either so she wondered why he had not said a word or walked out like he always did when he disagreed on something.

"Adele, I know this is sudden, but this is my last wish. Please, marry him." Grandma pleaded.

"But grandma, Jamal …"

"This is preposterous! They are practically siblings!" Aliya shouted again.

"Siblings? Aliya you have never treated this child like a daughter, how can you open your mouth and declare such foolishness?"

"But she was raised in this house, she is…"

"Jamal" Grandma cut her off and turned to face Jamal who had his gaze plastered on the floor. "Are you okay with this arrangement?" Grandma asked Jamal and the entire room fell in dead silence as they all turned to look at Jamal who had not uttered a single word the entire time.

He had on an indifferent look and no one could tell if he was happy or disappointed about the arrangement.

"Finally, some peace and quiet." He whispered as he averted his gaze from the floor to them. "If it's grandma's wish that I marry Adele, then I will honour it. Let me know when the wedding date is set." He said as rose from the chair and stood straight tall before all of them. "Since the announcement has been made, I will retire to my bedroom now. I have some work to round off with" Then he majestically walked out of the study room, leaving everyone thunderstruck.

Adele kept looking at the door he just exited with her eyes and mouth wide open.

Never in her life had she imagined that something like this was going to happen to her!