CHAPTER TWO

SOLEDAE POV

I wasn't always an orphan in fact I had two loving parents who adored me and treated me more like a princess. My birth mother would braid my blonde hair just like a doll.

She bought me beautiful dresses and she always sang me to sleep. She had the most beautiful voice my father and I loved to watch her play the piano and sing. But life took a drastic step when she had fallen incredibly sick.

My father had taken her to the hospital. The reports were very bad. She was diagnosed with leukemia a few months later and she passed away.

I didn't want her to go and leave me alone. I was shattered and life was not the same without her. The house went silent because her beautiful angelic voice was no more.

I became a lonely child. I would refuse to eat anything and lock myself in the room. Because I terribly missed her so much the light of my eyes was gone and I was left in darkness.

Father was always there for me,but it wasn't enough one piece of the puzzle was still missing in our lives. It was sad and incomplete without her.

Whenever I missed her I always sang her favourite song.

When my father noticed my loneliness he decided to find another mother for me.

"Am sorry about the death of your wife Russell" Lucinda murmurs placing her hand on my father's shoulder while nodding.

I never really liked Lucinda ever since the funeral she kept coming to my house bringing us home cooked meals and pretending to be sorry for us.

When I turned six years old he married Lucinda I didn't like because she always squeezed my chubby cheeks painfully and called me little Cinderella because of my golden blonde hair.

She had also lost her husband a few years ago just like father had lost mother. To my surprise father had liked Lucinda a lot and he decided to marry her.

Once they got married I was introduced to my new step sisters.

"Soledae dear these are your new sisters Maxima and Mila they will now live with us" father said quietly.

They were my new step sisters. Maxima always bullied me and called me nasty names. Mila would always come to my rescue and we also got along very well we were more like best friends.

Maxima would always break Mila's toys if she played with me.

"Am breaking your favourite doll if you play with her" Maxima threatened.

Before I could defend Mila Maxima pushed me and I fell into a mud puddle staining the dress that mother had brought me.

Maxima burst out laughing while Mila helped me to my feet. I hated Maxima because of the way she treated me.

Lucinda's love soon turned to hatred when my father died. I was only twelve years old by then.

She often acted mean towards me and called me an orphan girl. I wish my father hadn't died. At least I wouldn't have been suffering in my own house.

She became bitter towards me,because my father had left them the farm in Denver and I inherited all the property including the money and his company.

When the lawyer had read us my fathers will Lucinda couldn't believe it she was very angry.

I was too young to understand how things legally worked, but I overheard the lawyer talking to Lucinda in the other room.

"Mrs young according to the will that your husband left Soledae will officially claim the property her father left her when she turns eighteen years old. But for now it will be left in care."

Lucinda beamed with happiness and collected the papers from the lawyer.

"Does that mean I'll be handling the money as well?" She asked curiously and the lawyer nodded positively.

"Yes Mrs Young, but Soledae should be well taken care of otherwise the court will take drastic action" he warned.

That day when the lawyer left and went back to the city things were never the same and that's when my suffering began. I wish he had taken me with him,but I was stuck here.

Lucinda barely spent money on my school fees instead she traveled to the city and came back home with the latest cars,clothes,phones,computers, China,shoes and designer handbags like Chloe. She always went to the casinos and the money kept on reducing each passing day and I never got a penny.

It was pure torture all I could was just cry.

I would stay home with Mila and we would both study together until dark.

When I turned fifteen years old I became aware of the harsh reality. Lucinda was just a cruel person and she was deceiving everyone around her. I would never get a single dime from her. I would be the slave girl and rot here for the rest of my life.

God have mercy on me.

Lucinda was misusing my fathers hard earned money for her selfish benefits. I'd chose to stay silent and let her waste the money,because when I legally turned eighteen years old she would remain penniless and I be the one laughing I've cried enough and I won't take anymore torture from her or Maxima.

The lawyer secretly kept informing me about the transactions that were going on and all the withdrawn money from my Fathers account.

But nothing lasts forever in this world, wealth included, it would all remain behind.

And I told him that it was okay if they could spend the money.

Nothing lasts in the entire world, not even luxury or power.

I always spent my time cleaning the house so my so-called mother would host parties that were loud. I cleaned the house on Lucinda's orders and she wanted it spotless.

I wore rags that I managed to sew from the table cloths and old clothes that my mother had left behind. They treated me like a stranger among other people. They addressed me as a servant or waitress.

Lucinda and Maxima brought the latest fashion trends and I would be given second hand clothes from Lucinda's snobbish friends.

"Oh Lucinda, my servant is very fancy and I personally buy her the latest clothes. I don't want her to embarrass me in front of my guests," says Miranda.

"So what do you suggest I do? Lucinda asked curiously sipping her bubbly red wine.

" Lucinda you are so naive buy her at least some decent clothes and I also brought her a few nice dresses" she beams proudly.

Lucinda's eyes lit up.

"Miranda I can take care of my servant" she replies crudely.

"Hey don't get offended but people are talking about you" she says smirking and Lucinda frowns.

"What rumor's?" Lucinda asks fearfully.

Miranda grins placing her wine glass on the fancy table.

"People are saying that your servant is actually your stepdaughter is that true?" Miranda asks knowing the answer to her question.

Miranda and Lucinda were friends with benefits but they were different people Miranda had a heart of giving while Lucinda was selfish.

"No she's not my daughter" Lucinda mumbles coldly.