As Claudia walked out to the front of the hotel, her face remained a mask of calm composure. Inside, however, a storm of emotions brewed. She felt humiliated and angry at being rebuked so openly by Mrs. Eduardo. Her carefully superiority had been shattered in front of the lowlifes. She stood stiffly by the entrance, her daughter close by her side, and fished her phone out of her bag to call someone as she waited for her driver. "Go through with the Plan B. Plan A just failed" she muttered and ended the call. As she waited, she replayed the scene in her mind, her anger growing with each recollection. How dare they humiliate her in such a manner, reminding her of her past failures? Her marriages had ended badly, true, but she still had strategic moves she could use to secure a future at the peak for her son. The driver arrived, but before getting in, she turned to her daughter with a steely gaze. "Remember this, never let anyone make you feel less than what you are. They may have
Andrea paused at the doorway, her heart sinking as she heard her father's angry voice echoing through the house. "I can't let my daughter marry into that family. Didn't you see how they were? Their father didn't even come, he didn't find us Worthy of his time and you're still trying to convince me to let Andrea marry their son?? You disappoint me!" Her mother responded "You're not being fair. You know why Mr. Eduardo couldn't come—he's ill. Mrs. Eduardo was welcoming and would be a good mother in-law to Andre. It's only Claudia who caused trouble." " Hear yourself Maria. Marriage is a sacred sacrament. I can't let my daughter enter one that would break her later. Only Claudia?" He continued. "Did you hear the things she said? She's a part of that family, and she showed exactly what they think of us. They think we're beneath them!" His voice was loud, echoing with his indignation. Andrea's legs could not move, she knew the argument would not end anytime soon and that her step moth
Andrea Eduardo looked at the white gown she was wearing and a tear dripped down her eyes. Only a few minutes remained before she'd walk down the aisle to the altar so as to be wedded to Niklas Eduardo, the true owner of the surname, Eduardo. Raising the overflowing gown with it's intricately beaded designs as much as she could, she walked over to the window of the dressing room she was in. She stole a stare out of the glasses and saw her mother. She looked out again and saw her, she was smiling and wore clothings that worth millions. Clothing's that even in years to come, she was not sure she would be able to afford buying for her. This was the dream she had planned and promised her family but now , someone else was fulfilling it instead of her. A girl came to the room to inform her that it was the time for her to arrive at the altar. Heaving a sigh, she went . The venue was designed by a perfectionist, she could tell because there was no way a normal person would achieve
The priest, standing under a canopy of flowers, began the ceremony with solemnity as Andrea and Niklas reached and stood opposite, facing each other in front of him. His voice echoed through the hall, reciting the traditional vows. The flower girls and boys performed their roles flawlessly as if they had been trained before hand, adding to the picture-perfect scene that felt hollow to the couple. The priest began,"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Andrea and Niklas in holy matrimony. This is a day of great joy and celebration." The words seemed to hang in the air, unacknowledged by the couple. Andrea’s mind wandered to her past, to her lost love and the dreams she once held, her plans for the future as well as how she sought to become the best known actress. Niklas, on the other hand, was mentally plotting his next move in the business world, his heart hardened by years of ambition and bitterness. "Do you, Niklas Eduardo, take Andrea to be your l
"Make yourself at home Andrea, or should I say, daughter in-law" Mrs Eduardo said and laughed so loudly, making her son look at her , wondering if she had run mad with the way she was laughing because he got married." Of course mother" Andrea said, smiling and bowing to the woman, reciprocating the new name she had to call her." Aigoooooo" she coed loudly, holding her mouth while smiling like a teenage girl blushing at the flirting skills of a younger lover." I've arranged everything you'd need, if you are to need anything else, don't forget to call my attention or that of the maids" she said to her again, noticing her son who was leaving to the room, tired from hearing the cringe he felt from listening to their conversations."And oh my son" she said and brought her lips close to her ears, wanting to whisper something to her."He was born a strong kid, I hope you're strong and ready, I don't know how strong he'd do you down there" she whispered and immediately held her lips again,
Andrea was left standing and watching, waiting to see if there was anyone else coming to give her a piece of their minds and reminding her about her place as a country bumpkin but no one seemed to come, except for the little girl she had seen earlier. " My mother and her mother are always like that to everyone. Don't take it to heart and think it's only you they're mean to" the girl said, making her face expressionless as possible, not wanting to betray that she worried for her. " Ohh, thank you for the heads-up" Andrea muttered and gave the girl a thumbs up with her two hands. " What does that mean? Is that what they do at your province?" She asked, curious and irritated at the same time that she was conversing for long with the new lady of the house. "It means that we're good and that I'm happy you're caring for me and I want us to be friends" Andrea went on the explain to the girl who seemed never to have seen anyone doing a thumbs up before. " I don't want to be your friend.
"What are you wearing?" Niklas demanded from her as she came out of the dressing room, walking into the grand room that served as both the parlour and the bedroom.She looked at the pink night wear she wore and stared at him, finding out that he was wearing the exact same designs, but in the blue colour."Mother!!!" He said beneath his breath and walked up where she was."Who gave it to you?" He asked and she immediately told him where she had found it in.He began walking towards the dressing room and she followed, fearing that she might have annoyed him in a way a submissive wife was not to.He opened his wardrobe and screamed in horror, half of his clothes had been replaced.He turned and opened hers and screamed his mother's name again, as he saw that the clothes that were in her wardrobe were all the female designs for the new clothes and suits that were in his wardrobe.Even his night wear had been changed and he had worn it thinking it was his cleaner that had replaced his old
Niklas was skeptical and at the same time apprehensive of her and her goals and why she had been in his room on the day of the one night stand. Perhaps she was worse than most arranged brides who entered the marriage with the sole aim of reaping the man dry. He wasn't going to give her such opportunity if she were one of them. Tossing up and down his bed which made noises that disturbed the equally tensed Andrea's ears, he couldn't help it and she couldn't help being lost in thoughts. Afraid of what might happen during the night or after the night or if someone was going to come at her in the night, threatening to kill her. "Andre" she heard and wondered if she were dreaming because that was a short form of her name only her father called her by. "Andre" Niklas called again, repeating the name he had heard her father call her once, which had sounded like a melody to his ears. She stood up and looked at him, surprised he was calling her that. He stood tall right in front of her a
The events of the other night replayed in Niklas' head like a movie being repeated.No, be hadn't planned to attend the ball, that was why he had sent the man whom he was told was her ex instead.He had no intentions of attending and he had no intentions of making Andrea's attend it either.The man had been paid to come to the function and play the recording and act like the mastermind behind it.He was to hack into the events computer system and was to do this through that way and when he'd get investigated, he would admit he did it because he was hurt that he had bee abandoned.Mr Lee had called him countlessly but he was not in the mood to answer any of his calls, but when his call came for the twentieth time, be was unable to ignore it and had to answer, which was how he got to know about how the man he had employed to carry out a very simple task had gone ahead to change the details of the script he had asked him to play by.It wasn't just a humiliation on Andrea's side, it was a
There was something hidden in the glare Mrs Eduardo had shot Niklas with. It wasn't just a normal glare and neither was it meaningless as well.It had to mean something, something mostly about her being disappointed in him and something he had done, what he had done what she was still trying to comprehend.She greeted her and turned to leave for her room. Holding the pains she felt from the heel in her feet still in.She wanted to pull the shoes off but thought against it. It was just a few minutes left before it would be over and she'd be in her room.Mrs Eduardo smiled at her as she informed her that she would going upstairs and Andrea plastered a fake smile on her face as well, even though her heart was bleeding with numerous questions she wanted to ask her.Maybe she left at the heat of the moment. Maybe she had gone after John had began badmouthing her. She wouldn't want to be present to witness her beloved daughter in-law being embarrassed that way in public because surely, the
The glass of water Dante held fell to his feet and broke."Is she going to allow him fool her this way? There's also something sinister with the glances he's exchanging with the man who did that, why is he beginning to act all saintly" he screamed at no one in particular as he watched clips of what happened at the EMC ball on his television.He hadn't want to concern himself with anything concerning EMC Conglomerates. It was none of his business. They did shady dealings for their business and he didn't want to get caught or get mixed up in it through one thing nor the other.But seeing the first headline on his phone about Andrea, the manipulative wife of the the CEO of EMC Conglomerates, he couldn't let his hate for EMC stop him from knowing what the news was about, and especially because it pertained to the woman he had a crush on. Seeing how things had unfolded and how he had begun in his revelation of what he had seen as the epic unmasking of the century, Dante could tell that i
She couldn't take her eyes off him.He sat on the next step in front of the entrance while she sat on the first.She had finished drying the wetness ok her body caused by the wine she got poured with a handkerchief he had given to her.It was seemingly the first time he was being this nice to her. And with the way he had defended her, she couldn't keep the recurring thoughts of it out of her mind. "Thank you" she managed to mutter as she stood up from where she was and handed him his handkerchief which he had lent her. He took it from her, but avoided his eyes from meeting hers.There was something with them earlier when she had given him thar close up look from her teary eyes.They called onto him for protection and warmth, and he had to train himself to ignore them."The driver will be here soon with the car, we just have to wait for a few minutes more" " How about mother?" Her voice came again, breaking as she called her name out. She had wondered where she was as well. She had
As the sounds of his intermittent claps echoed in the hall, Niklas felt a mixture of emotions churning within him. His heart ached seeing Andrea standing there, drenched in humiliation, her teary eyes scanning the room for any sign of refuge. This wasn’t what he wanted, not really. Yes, he had orchestrated this scandal to divert attention from his own public disgrace, but seeing her like this, so broken and lost, made him feel an overwhelming sense of regret.The sight of Andrea standing there, holding her cheek where she had been slapped, was more than he could bear. He had never intended for it to go this far. The plan was supposed to be a mere distraction, a temporary measure to shift the public’s gaze away from his own failings.He had enlisted John's help because he had felt like he would be the best person to crush her ego without her suspecting his involvement, but seeing how he took it personal and as an avenue to bully her, as well as the lady that had come with him, he cou
"I'll be your mother Andrea. Your papa told me what happened with your mom. I promise I won't be like her.i stay by your side, along side your brother" she said and turned to make way for her son to come forward and greet her.Andrea only managed to move her head and looked in his direction, before she looked away from them.He was young. Her father had married a single mother, like himself.But it was so soon, he didn't even give her the chance to mourn her mother who had abandoned her. Who had left her regardless of how much tears she shed as she begged her not to leave her with the car that came to pick her that rainy night.But her mom did not pay need, she didn't look back. She didn't even tell the driver to pause the car even for a minute so she'd get back and hug her daughter who was crying in the rain for her.Instead, she threw a few wads of currency notes at her, the notes which were destroyed in the rain that night.It hadn't passed a month she left and her father was takin
"Then I don't know how it happened. She suddenly became distant to me. She began to give me the cold treatment, not answering her calls, not replying my chats. She was never free for me again. I thought perhaps it was because she had graduated from art school and was looking for a job but I just found out the reason. I never knew she got married to Niklas Eduardo. I never knew she's his new bride. I'm confused. Did she use me and leave me when she found someone better? When she was suffering and everyone avoided her, I was there for her but the second she found a richer man, she left me for him. I'm curious if that's how all women behave and that is why I am asking Andrea for an answer, with you all as my witnesses"Andrea stood puzzled still. She could not understand what he was trying to do nor why he was trying to do so.For what reasons. Why was he lying against her in the presence of all the people. Even the paparazzi that had begun to take photos of her secretly.Was she going t
"Andrea?" She heard him call her name.The tone of his voice came awkwardly so familiar to her. What was he doing there and why today of all days.Why did he have to show his face to her, why did he end up being the first person she was bumping into.If she were allowed to choose between him and her arrogant husband, she'd chose Niklas over him. Atleast his face didn't hurt while being looked at."I heard you married the CEO of EMC Conglomerates. How did you do it? I'm curious, can you share some tips? " He began pestering her despite her body language indicating to him that she didn't want to speak to him nor answer any of his questions." Why are you being shy? We were dating before. Sharing such an information won't hurt would it? Or you have a secret you don't want to tell? Did you have a one night stand with him or perhaps have a secret baby for him no one knows about? Because I honestly can't believe what a man of Niklas Eduardo's standing would see in you to decide to make you
Mrs Eduardo said that she would look pretty in the dress and like she had said, she really did.Andrea could not help but marvel at herself and how fitting the gown was on her body.The world of the rich, they made sure everything they wore was fitting. If she had been in her former home and where she came from, she would have made do with any dress she could find for a company dinner party.Why was she getting over herself, it's not as if she'd get invited anyways. She had never gotten invited to any.She watched herself in the front window of the car as she waited for her mother-in-law to be out of the home so they could leave.She had promised to come with her. She was going to the party with her daughter in-law, like she had always wanted, like she had always hoped for.Andrea on her own part was happy she would not be going alone.She was Niklas' wife, but he had told her nothing about the party.She had heard about it from his mother and she was the one that had invited her beca