CHAPTER 3

What is it, Mother? I can't bear to see you in tears while doing nothing. Please explain to us," Collins pleaded worriedly, as he grabbed her right hand.

"Mum, let us know what the situation is, because tears won't solve the problem," Sarah added, noticing the tears streaming down Mrs. Ruth's cheeks.

Mrs. Ruth nodded and sniffled quietly, seeing their worried faces. She wiped her tears with the cloth Spendy handed her and lamented sadly, 

"The jewelry shop our family depends on financially has burned to the ground. Nothing is left; everything is gone."

"What? Everything burned to dust just like that, with no information about the culprit?" Collins exclaimed, causing Sarah and Spendy's mouths to drop in shock.

"This is strange, Mum, because I might know who did it," Spendy retorted, drawing their curious gazes toward her. Seeing their faces full of anticipation, she explained, 

"I just got fired from my workplace. I called a colleague for an explanation, and she told me Mr. Richard had me fired because I'm related to Collins Stones."

"I think Mr. Richard is behind Mum’s situation because I heard him say he would make our lives miserable when he stormed out of the church hall."

"Mr. Richard knows we can't compete with him because he's filthy rich and powerful, so he's taking advantage of our situation to make life difficult for us. I thought he was a good man, but he's so heartless."

Mrs. Ruth's heart boiled with anger at Spendy’s words. She glanced at Collins and Sarah and retorted fiercely, 

"How could he do such a thing to us? What have we done to him? Is it a crime that his daughter fell in love with my son? I won't tolerate this because he has no idea how much our family has suffered."

"Mum, take it easy. We'll overcome this problem as a family," Collins said, trying to console his mother.

But Mrs. Ruth's eyes welled up with tears instead, and she uttered sadly, 

"No, son. He knows we can't do anything to him because we're poor. It's unfair to treat people this way. I just can't starve again, Son."

Collins' heart sank when he saw tears leaking down his mother's face. He knew she didn't want to relive the hardship they had endured years ago. He approached her along with Spendy, and they embraced her passionately, trying to console her.

Sarah's heart ached, knowing she was the reason behind her father's behavior. She recalled when her father warned her that he would make Collins’ family’s life miserable until they saw her as a burden.

She looked at Mrs. Ruth and pleaded, 

"I apologize on behalf of my father for the damage he has caused. He is good at heart, but he's doing this to make me regret my decisions. I won't turn my back on Collins until my father realizes that he is the perfect man for me."

"I will transfer money to your bank and set up a larger jewelry store so Spendy can work with you. Everything will be back to normal, and no one will starve."

"Will you really do that for us?" Mrs. Ruth asked, a bright smile spreading across her face. Sarah nodded, and Collins and Spendy embraced her warmly.

Sarah took her phone from her bag and opened her banking app to make the transfer, but her face fell after trying several times without success.

Collins noticed her troubled expression and asked, 

"What's wrong, my love?" Sarah looked at him, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back as she uttered, 

"My dad has blocked all my bank accounts, including my ATM cards."

"Your dad is heartless. How could he do that?" Collins muttered, and Mrs. Ruth looked at him and Sarah before retorting, 

"Son, it would be best if you advised your wife to talk to Mr. Richard because he won't stop until he ruins this family as long as she's with us. Our family must survive first."

"Yes, our family must come first," Spendy added, and they angrily stormed out. 

Their words pierced Sarah's heart like daggers, causing the tears she had been holding back to cascade down her cheeks without her even noticing.

She turned to Collins, who was watching her with a worried expression, and retorted sadly, 

"Will Mum and Spendy ever relate well with me? It hurts to hear those words from them."Collins gazed deeply into Sarah's puffy eyes and consoled her, 

"I apologize for their behavior. They will come around and relate well with you eventually."

Sarah faked a smile at his words, then said, "I want to get some rest."

Collins nodded, and they headed to the bedroom. When they entered, Sarah looked around, inhaling the fragrant air as she sat on the king-sized bed decorated with a pink duvet and rose petals spread romantically on it.

Collins sat beside her on the bed, gazing into her eyes. Sarah smirked and blinked seductively at Collins' romantic stare.

Their intense connection made Collins close his eyes and lean in to kiss Sarah's soft pink lips, but he paused when he heard his name being called loudly. "Collins!"

"What now?" Collins muttered.Sarah grinned at him and said, "I'm waiting, honey."

Collins smiled at her words, kissed her forehead, and left the room. A few minutes later, Sarah felt her stomach rumble, and she decided to use the washroom next to Mrs. Ruth's bedroom.

After using the washroom, she overheard her name being mentioned in muffled words from inside Mrs. Ruth's bedroom. 

She stood behind the door and listened closely as Mrs. Ruth said,

"Son, you have to divorce Sarah soon because she's becoming a burden to us. We can't risk our family for her just as she has risked hers."

"Yes, we don't know what Mr. Richard will do next if she stays longer. She must leave tomorrow," Spendy agreed.

Their words felt like a saw cutting through Sarah's heart, but she suppressed the pain and returned to her bedroom with tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm not divorcing Sarah, and if that's why you're pressuring me, then I'm leaving," 

Collins replied almost immediately, leaving them speechless as he stormed out of the room.

When Collins entered the bedroom, he found Sarah sitting on the floor, legs crossed, drenched in tears.

Collins approached her, gazed into her puffy eyes, and asked worriedly, 

"What's wrong now, my love?"Sarah looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, and uttered in sobs, 

"I heard everything your mom said, and it hurts so much. I've sacrificed so much to put a smile on their faces, and they repay me with sorrow. It hurts."

"Please, don't divorce me. I can't bear this pain. Pity me and love me as I love you, and I promise we will overcome this challenge together. Please, don't turn your back on me."

"I won't, Sarah," Collins whispered, noticing the pain in her eyes. 

He hugged her passionately, hiding a devilish smile as he murmured, "I won't, Sarah. I promise.”