Chapter 1

“Daisy come have your breakfast”my mother called.Daisy is the official nickname mom gave to me which is now my middle name.

“Mom am late for school already”I said rushing down the stairs.

“That’s because you woke up late”

“Mom I need to leave ASAP”

“Buy some food for yourself at school”mom gave me some money.

“Thanks mom”I pecked her cheeks before leaving for school.

That’s my mom,Ellie Johnson,the best mother I could ever ask for.It's been eight years now since she and my dad got separated.

Our family was a happy one,until a woman came and stole the love of my father and the worst part,she already had a child for him.

Some weeks later,my dad filled for a divorce.My mom pleaded with him not to destroy our family but he divorced her anyways.

The once happy family we had got shattered.I was just ten then but I understood perfectly all that had happened.

My name is Claire Daisy Willows but call me Claire.Not one to brag but I’m pretty,smart and I’ve got a lush body.

A body that most guys want,large curvy hips,big round butts and a medium size perky breast but I’m not really into boys.

Mom says boys are distraction and I think she’s right.Get a boyfriend and your grade drops.

I sigh and boarded a bus to school.I’m in Senior year in high school with just few months to graduate.I really can’t wait to get into College.

School was quite stressful today coupled with the fact that my bestie Danielle wasn’t in school.

It gladdened my heart as the final bell was rang.I picked up my books and stuff them in my bag.

“Hey Claire.You look stunning as ever”Levi smiles licking his lips.One of the hottest dude in school and he has been trying to get into my pants for months but I’m not giving him that chance. I guess guys will always be guys.

“Thanks”I smile and walked out on him.He tried calling me back but I ignored him.

On getting home,I met mom giggling and laughing with a man.This is unusual cause she’s supposed to be at work.

“Good afternoon mom”I greeted and turned to the stranger.He was a middle aged man probably in his late 40’s.

“Mom what’s going on here? Who is he?”

“Claire I’m getting married”mom giggled showing me her ring.I really don’t know if I should be happy or sad.I’ve always wanted a fatherly figure but now I feel weird.

“To him?”I asked.

“Yeah you’ve got a problem with that”

“Not really”

“Claire this is Logan.Logan meet my daughter Claire”

“Claire? You’ve got a beautiful name that suits your person.It’s so nice to meet the daughter of the woman I love”he smiled.

“Thanks.Mom I should be in my room”I gave him a weird look before walking out of the sitting room.

“She doesn’t like me”I heard him say.

“Just give her time.This is all too new to her”

I sigh and shut the door off my room.I take off my clothes and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

I put on a white crop top and denim shorts after bathing.

“I’m starving”I mumble rubbing my stomach.I get out of my room and head to kitchen.I saw mom kissing her supposed husband to be,he sights me as I walk into the kitchen.

Something about him seems off but I shrugged it off.What makes mom happy should also make me happy.

I serve myself with a Jerk Turkey Burger with Mango Slaw, deep dish pizza and an orange juice.

I sat at the three seater dinning table set in the kitchen.I said a short prayer and starting eating.The food was delicious,mom’s food is always the best.

“Daisy”I heard mom’s soft voice as she advances into the kitchen.She sits on the chair opposite me.

“Claire what’s wrong? Don’t you want to have a daddy?”she asked.

“I do”I sighed.

“Then why the attitude?”

“Mom it feels weird,I mean I’m used to it just been the both of us now they is gonna be a third party? It’s all too sudden to me”I tell her truthfully.

“I understand how you feel Claire,but trust me Logan is a good man and he will make a good father to you”she says and I nod.

“Anything that will make you happy”

“Thanks Daisy.By the way you’ll soon have a step brother”

“A step brother too?”

“Yes honey you will get to meet him soon.I know you’ve always wanted a complete family and we are gonna have that soon”

“Thanks mom”I smile at her as I continued with my food.

“You really want to know why I named you ‘Daisy’?”I raise my head up to meet her eyes.She never told me why before.

“Why?”

“It’s because you are beautiful Claire.Daisies are always beautiful,remember this Claire no matter the challenges life throws at you.You must not give up but stay strong”she says holding my hands firmly.

“Yes mom”

“Now that’s my Claire.I’ll be in my room”

“Ok mom”I smile as I watched her leave.I finish up my food and cleared the dishes.

Weeks later,mom got married to the man of her dreams.After then,I experienced what a complete and happy family was.My step dad and brother Owen were really nice to me.I cleared all the doubts I had about him,mom was right after he was a good man and a good father too.

“Yippe finally Claire.We are out of highschool”Danielle giggled.It was my graduation party,its so good to be finally out of college with good grades too.

“I know right.I really can’t wait to get into college”

“I heard they are a lot of cute dudes in college”that’s Danielle for you,boy freak and also crazy but I like her a lot.

“You really never change”

“Life is short dear,so you got to live it to the fullest.You see that dude over there,cute right?”I just stared at her dumbfounded knowing where she was headed.

“I really can’t wait to be pounded on his bed tonight”she said faking moans.

“Seriously? Danielle!”I did the sign of the cross.

“Holy mary.See you later”she giggled away.I look at her as she flaunted herself over the guy.

I smiled when I sighted my family.

“Mom”I hugged her. “I thought you said you weren’t coming”

“Ofcourse I’ll come.I’m proud of you Claire”mom said to me.

“To celebrate this,how about a family dinner to the best resturant in town”my step dad.

“If its food.I’m so in for it”Owen said smiling.

“You and food”I giggled drawing his ears.

“Ouch.Claire stop it”he pouted and I giggle.I like Owen a lot,and I’m so happy to have him as my brother.He’s actually in college but he goes to school from home.

“Ellie are you okay?”Logan asked when mom staggered abit holding her head.

“Mom what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know… I just have this headache and my eyes…”she suddenly fainted but dad caught her from falling.

“Ellie! Ellie !”

“Mom mom”everyone was now fixed at us but I didn’t care.I needed my mom to be alright,she’s my world.

Sitting outside the ward mom was taken to,I cried my eyes out.Owen tried consoling me while dad was pacing around confused as we awaited the doctor.

“Doctor what’s wrong with my mother?”I rushed at him as he came out of the ward.

“How is my wife?”

“Not good.She suffered from hemorrhagic stroke and will need to undergo a brain surgery urgently to stop the cerebral bleeding or we may loose her”

“Doctor go ahead with the surgery as long as she’s alright”

“I’m afraid chances of her survival are slim”

“So you mean my mom may not survive even after the surgery?”

“I’m afraid so”he said sadly.

“I want to see my mom”

“You can see her.A nurse will bring the necessary surgery papers for you to sign.Surgery will commence in ten minutes”

I rushed into the room and my heart bled when I saw mom.She was on a ventilator machine and two nurses were busy adjusting her drip and taking records of her heartbeat.

“Mom”I cried holding her hands and she opened her eyes slightly.

“Don’t cry for me Daisy.I want you to strong.Don’t ever let your problems bring you down and don’t let people see your tears”her voice was muffled because of the oxygen mask.

“Mom I can’t live without you”

“Of course you can.Claire I don’t think I can make it”

“Don’t say a thing like that Ellie.You can’t just leave us like that.We need you”dad yelled abit in tears.

“Logan you are a good man and I wish we had more time together.Please take care of Claire for me”

“Owen be a good boy ok?”mom said to Owen who was in tears.

“You are gonna make it mom,you are not gonna die”she smiled faintly.

“Mr Logan please sign these papers”the nurse said dad and signed the papers.

I watched my mom being wheeled into the theatre room but she never came out alive.I felt like my whole world crumbled and I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

After the burial,my biological dad refused custody of me since my mom was no more.My step dad and brother treated me like family and let me stay with them.

I thought I could be happy as Logan and Owen continued being nice to me but course of my life changed in one night.

The night I will never forget,the night when my pride and dignity was ripped off my by a man I trusted,a man I called my father.

My eyes part open when I felt hands on my breast.Turning to my side,I was shocked to see my step father on the bed with me.Worst part,he was just on his boxers.

“Dad what are you doing?”I asked smacking his hands off my breast but he held my hands and got on top of me.I tried to struggle with him but he pinned both my hands above my head.

“I want you Claire”he kissed my neck roughly.

“Dad please don’t do this”I cried in tears.

“Claire darling just be a good girl for daddy”

“Daddy please”I tried fighting him off but I received a resounding slap.

“Daddy!”I cried as he ripped off all my clothings.His hands fondled with breast as I cried even more.

“Please”I cried but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.I tried struggling with him but he was always stronger.

“This is going to be fun”he groaned.