One's wedding night is meant to be the most special night for a woman. So Alice had thought. All through the wedding ceremony, Alice had thought herself to be the most special woman in the world. She saw herself as being so blessed to be getting married to a man as Kelvin Sanders, the only heir to his grandmother's multi-billion company. She was only a village girl who stopped her education at secondary school level and God favoured her with such a wonderful family. Throughout the wedding, she would look at her husband, Kelvin Sanders and smile to herself, 'How blessed am I!' she would say in her mind. She prided herself that day as the most envied woman in the world.
Kelvin Sanders was the kind of man every woman would want to have as a husband. He was kind, sweet, handsome and very wealthy. She was grateful that he had chosen her to be his wife.After the grand wedding ceremony which was headlining the news, she was now alone with her husband in her grand bedroom, with tears in her eyes, flowing down her pretty cheeks slowly and one after the other. She could not believe neither could she imagine that the reality would be that far from her imaginations.'What was actually happening?' she asked herself, trying to take in all Kelvin was telling her.'Maybe I'm dreaming' she said once more to herself, but it was not a dream. It was real. It was really happening. Kelvin was actually leaving her alone on that night to be with his girlfriend. She watched him enter his walk-in-closet and came out after some time with his wedding outfit changed to something casual. He grabbed his car keys and walked out of the room without a word to her.Poor Alice! Tears flowed down her eyes freely. She cried deeply. Her life seemed to be ruined to her. She felt that her world had ended. Her husband had just confessed to her that he was not in love with her and that he hated her. He shamelessly boasted about his girlfriend whom he claimed to be madly in love with and had gone to be with her all through the night. How could she not see this? Kelvin gave her no sign before their marriage that he was not interested. As far as Alice was concerned, Kelvin consented to the marriage and willingly married her. Why was this turn of events happening then? Why was he coming up with all those things he had said? What had happened suddenly? Alice was still baffled. If he did not love her as he had said then why would he be so selfish as to marry her? Why was he so inconsiderate to marry her just to secure his inheritance from his grandmother? She cried even more. Now she was all alone. How was she going to live through all that? Her tenure in that house was three years after which Kelvin would divorce her once he would have claimed his inheritance from his grandmother. She saw herself as worthless. She would have left the house and gone back to her parents but she knew very well the traditions of her people and that she would never be welcomed back. It was a taboo for a married woman to leave her husband and go back to her parents after marriage or for her to be divorced. She would be ridiculed, scorned and be treated like garbage if she should return to her village. She was stuck. Should she tell Kelvin's grandmother? She did not know if it would help matters or make things worse.Having ran out of solution, she stood up, still in her wedding reception silver gown and walked out of the room, down to the foyer and finally out of the house. That night, she didn't know where she was going to. Lots of things filled her mind and she walked aimlessly and without a destination. She kept on walking wherever her legs would take her to, not minding if she got lost being that she was new to the city. She did not even care. Getting lost in such a big city was nothing compared to what she was going through at that moment. It would even be better should she get lost.After minutes of walking, close to midnight, Alice found herself on a bridge. The road was empty. She stopped and thought to herself once more. She had just gotten to the solution to her problems. Death. She just needed to end her life and everything would be over, the pain, the disrespect, the insults and everything would die with her. She moved closer to the edge of the bridge and looked down through the railing, the water was deep down and was perfect to swallow her. She made her way, climbing the railing to the other side. She now stood on the slab without holding the railing. She closed her eyes, reliving her life from her childhood till then. Every memory she held dear to her heart. She thought about her mother and father, her sister, and then Kelvin's grandmother who loved her dearly. She thought of the pain they would all feel but she ignored it. She could not see herself living with a man who does not love her and would keep disrespecting her with his girlfriend everytime, a man who was only using her to get his inheritance from his grandmother. She just could not survive it. Death was the only way out for her. She took a deep breath and then jumped into the water. Darkness overwhelmed her and she sank deep down till she could no longer feel anything.*****Suddenly, she felt air passing through her nostrils. She opened her eyes to find herself in a simple yet fancy room. The room was neat and the windows were fully covered with the thick curtains. The sun's rays could barely penetrate in, still she could feel cool because of the air conditioner in the room. She looked at herself and realized that she was still in her gown from her wedding reception the previous night.Alice wondered where she was. The last thing she could remember was jumping into the water and everything going dark and still. Now she was breathing and in a strange place. She stood up from the bed and slowly moved to the window to see. She opened the curtain slightly to look outside and she could see the busy street below her. She then knew she was somewhere in a story building, a high story building. The day was so bright and from the sun's brightness, she could tell that it was almost noon or maybe noon.She heard the room door open and she quickly turned to see who it was. Fear gripped her as she thought that she was kidnapped. A young and handsome man walked in holding a tray of food in his hands. She had not seen him anywhere before and wondered who he was."How are you doing Mrs. Sanders?" he asked her smiling to reveal a set of dimples on both cheeks."How.... do you know me?" she asked, stammering."You are the daughter-in-law of Madame Janet Sanders. You are a celebrity? Your wedding, yesterday, was a worlds affair" He said and placed the contents in his hands on the table in the centre of the room."And who are you?" She asked him."Daniel is my name, Madame" He bowed slightly.Alice felt at ease a little."You saved me?" she asked, "From the river?""Yes, I did. You're lucky I was passing by just as you were diving into the river" he said, still smiling. His goal was to cheer her up but she did not seem to respond positively."I brought you something to eat" He said, pointing at the tray of food."I'm not hungry. I want to go" she said."Well then, I'll drive you home" He said."You don't have to. I can go by myself" She said."I insist. I can't leave you all alone in this state" He said.He did not want to pressure her about her attempt at suicide. The best thing was for him to take her home and let her family handle the rest."I said, you don't have to. Just leave me alone" Alice was getting irritated."Well, I don't think I can" Daniel replied.Alice looked at him. Her sparkling blue eyes were showing anger and pain and Daniel understood it. She was hurt and was angry about something. He found himself wanting to know about it and to be a comfort to her but he refrained himself.A quick flash back of how he had held her in his arms when he had carried her out from the water came to his mind and how he was completely lost in her beauty and innocence.That was not the first time he was seeing her or feeling that way. He had first seen her on the television when her wedding to Kelvin Sanders was announced for the very first time and he had found himself being drawn to her for reasons he could not explain. Yes, she was very pretty and had an aura of innocence around her but she was not the only person with those qualities still, Daniel saw himself being drawn to her. He would always look forward to seeing her on the television everytime and there was a kind of joy and satisfaction he felt on seeing her, especially when she smiled.Now he was with her life, it felt like heaven to him. He stared at her all through the night, lost in dreams and imaginations about both of them. He found himself wishing at some point that she was his and not another's. He could not really explain or understand why he felt those emotions and he honestly was not comfortable with them. He just wanted to get her home and satisfy his heart of ensuring that she was safe and then he would never see her again and eventually forget about her."Why do you care?" She asked him, removing the thoughts from him."Because I'm human" he replied."Humans are selfish. So what's your motive?" She asked him, staring at him sternly.This time, Daniel was not seeing an innocent lady anymore but a fierce and confident woman, one who is not afraid of anyone. This her new appearance triggered his emotions more. He found himself smiling. He could just keep provoking her and enjoy the feeling it gave him."What motive do you think I have?" he asked her, trying to hide his smile."I don't know. Perhaps you want to kidnap me and demand a ransome from my family" Alice said.He chuckled, "If I wanted to do that, I won't be giving you a decent treatment, neither would I offer to drive you home" he said calmly."I don't care. Men are never to be trusted. You may have a devious plan in your head and you want to take the opportunity of me jumping into the water" She said."Wow! How do you manage to come up with this accusation?" He asked, marvelled."Listen mister David..." Alice warned with her index finger."It's Daniel" Daniel immediately corrected.Alice waved off her hands, ignoring his correction. She continued, "You better let me go now or else you'll be in big trouble" she said.Daniel was laughing, "Really ma'am." he laughed hard.Alice wondered what she had said that was funny. Or was it that her face was not showing the degree seriousness as her threat."What is funny? I'm serious" She yelled."Oh yes, ma'am. You are serious" Daniel controlled his laughter."I'm sorry" he added and got himself to stop laughing. Alice watched him. "So let's do this then" he continued, "So that I don't get into serious trouble with you and your powerful family, I won't keep you here anymore. I'll just take you and drop you at your house and you'll never see me again" he looked at her. Her face showed that innocence once again and he smiled slightly.Alice did not say anything. It was better she was away from him for the time being and then think of what to do about her situation."Fine" She managed to say."Good" Daniel said, "Thank you ma'am" he added.Madame Janet, an elderly woman probably in her late seventies sat worried in the living room. She had not seen her daughter-in-law since morning and was scared about what may have happened to her. She was not familiar with the city and so she was vulnerable wherever she could be. Madame Janet had sent her grandson, Kelvin to go and look for her and had also alerted the police who were on the search. She prayed in her heart that Alice was safe wherever she was and that she would come back soon.Just as she glanced at the fancy wall clock in the large living room, the door opened and Alice walked in slowly, with her head lowered. She closed the door behind her and continued her way slowly to the stairs. Daniel had dropped her outside the gate and drove off after seeing that she had entered the house, through the gate."Alice" madam Janet called, standing up. She was happy and relieved to see that Alice was back.Alice stopped and raised her head to face Madame Janet. She had not noticed
Alice decided to enjoy her time in the mansion as the wealthy daughter-in-law of madame Janet. It was going to be for three years and so she would make the most out of it. Madame Janet had already included her in receiving monthly allowance along side Kelvin. She had even given Alice her very first allowance for that month the day before her wedding. It was a huge sum of money that had shocked Alice. She was still in the dilemma of what to spend the money on. Her parents were not as wealthy as her in-laws and she had never seen such an amount of money before. She just sent her parents a little amount from it and kept the rest safe in her bank account, which, Madame Janet had opened for her immediately after her engagement to Kelvin.Alice watched how Kelvin spent his own allowance in just the three days she had been there as well as the few times they spent together before their wedding. He would buy recklessly, anything that he wanted. And recently she saw how be lavished a handful o
Kelvin was furious and at lost for what next to do. Alice's smartness seemed to be just too much for him. He sat with Anita in an open air restaurant and had not said a word since. Anita was equally shocked that Alice was that intelligent to see through their manipulations. Clearly, she was not like the typical villager they had thought her to be."I'm still wondering, baby, how that local girl was able to see through that fake contract that was intelligently drafted" Anita said."I feel she has someone who is backing her up and telling her what to do" Kelvin said."But who?" Anita asked. "She's new here and could not have met anyone" she said.Kelvin sighed and ran his hand through his silky hair. "I hate her" He said with disgust. His face was seriously frowned."I hate the fact that I'm stuck in this mess, married to an ordinary village girl because of my inheritance. Why would my grandmother do this to me?" He asked and threw his back on the chair's back rest."Hey, baby, calm dow
Alice got up early that morning and prepared to meet with her lawyer concerning the papers Kelvin was to sign. She took excuse from Grandma Janet and told her that she wanted to go to the church to pray and she would skip breakfast. It pleased grandma Janet that Alice loved God, being a religious woman and she was okay with it.Kelvin woke up and could not find Alice in the room and even at the dinning for breakfast. "Where is Alice?" Kevin asked his grandmother as they had breakfast."She went to the church" Grandma Janet said with a smile. "That girl is just too lovely and to think that she loves the Lord too" Kelvin sighed in his mind and continued with his food. At least he was spared the horrors of seeing her face that morning and he wished it would become a norm for Alice."Why didn't you go with her?" Grandma Janet asked him."I have things to do.....at the office" Kelvin replied."That is no excuse, son" Grandma Janet said, shaking her head."Next time, Grandma. I'll go with
Alice was all set for the party that evening. She was a bit nervous but toughened herself to mingle with the high and mighty. The party took place in the large event hall of the Sander's company and every affluent personality attended. Alice looked unexpectedly beautiful and grandma Janet applauded her, while Kelvin chose to disagree with his eyes to the fact that the local girl was looking like a beautiful, educated woman. Alice was beside grandma Janet and Kelvin as she was being introduced to every one present. Alice was struggling to keep up with her company, and to follow up with the light banter from each person they met. The high heels on her feet were killing and she was not comfortable with the too many jewelries she had on her. She was a simple girl born in and brought up with a simple lifestyle. She thought to herself, that it would take forever or even never to get adjusted to the high life of the Sanders. While Alice and her company were still making their rounds, she
"You know Anita?" Daniel asked, surprised. "Yes, though not in person" Alice replied. "I should have known they would try to make me look bad before grandma" she added. "They?" Daniel asked. It became obvious to him that Anita was not the only one with a desire to harm Alice and that Alice was already aware. "Yes, they." Alice replied and stood up. "Thank you Daniel, for everything" she said and left without Daniel stopping her. ***** They got home that evening and Alice faced Kelvin as soon as grandma Janet bade them good night and left for her room. They were still at the foyer. "So, you and your girlfriend laced my drink with alcohol to make me disgrace grandma and make her cut me off from the family?" Alice attacked. "You're lucky you got saved" Kelvin replied her in what was almost a whisper. "You really want me to tell Grandma the whole truth, right?" Alice said and a flash of fear swept through Kelvin's heart. "You won't dare!" he stepped closer to her, "I've
Alice was engrossed in her book when she heard a knock on the door. She stood up and walked to the door. She opened and saw Daniel. He wore a welcoming smile but Alice teeth-kissed and closed the door against him. Daniel quickly pushed the door open and came in behind her. "That's no way to welcome a friend" Daniel said Alice did not reply. She went back to her bed and continued with her book. "The welcome party has started" Daniel informed. Alice still said nothing. Daniel walked to the bed and snatched the book from her hand. "Hey! Give it back!" Alice stood up and tried to get the book back from him. Daniel dogged and took his hand which held the book behind him. "Get dressed. let's go to the party" Daniel instructed "You're not the boss of me" Alice eyes flashed defiance "Give me my book and get out of my room" she commanded "Not until you get dressed and come with me to the party." Daniel insisted "I'm not going to any party. I just want to read my book a
On the dance floor, Kelvin's eyes caught Alice, beautiful and charming, and in the arms of another man, dancing. He was disturbed. He never expected to see Alice in the party, but there she was, enjoying every bit of it. He was not sure how he felt. Was he angry? Was he jealous? He didn't know. Perhaps he was not expecting a girl of her status to be captivating men. He found himself being concerned and staring at her, though he tried very hard to ignore it. Daniel, who was dancing with Victoria, saw Alice on the dance floor with Lucas and his heart was filled with warmth. She danced effortlessly and graciously that one would think she was a pro. Alice occasionally smiled at Lucas words and Daniel's breath would cease. Gosh! she was very beautiful and very attractive to him. How was he going to survive six weeks with her on that ship without being tempted to at least give her a kiss? he wondered. Kelvin was equally confused at himself and his internal reactions to Alice on th
The dining hall of the Sanders mansion was as grand as ever, bathed in the soft, golden glow of the chandeliers that hung like glittering constellations above. The long, polished table was set with an extravagant feast—crystal glasses filled with wine, silver platters laden with delicacies, and fine china that gleamed under the light. Yet, despite the opulence, the atmosphere was unusually light, almost cheerful. For the first time since returning from the cruise, Alice felt a semblance of ease. Conversations flowed effortlessly, drifting from business matters to travel anecdotes, and even lighthearted childhood memories as Grandma Janet indulged in her favorite pastime: storytelling. Kelvin sat beside Alice, his presence a constant reminder of the life she was still tethered to. He was as composed as ever, his sharp features softened slightly by the warm light. But Alice noticed the way his eyes flickered toward her occasionally, as if he were studying her. He pretended to focus on
Alice's heart had finally made its choice. It was Daniel, not Kelvin, who had captured her affection. For years, she had clung to the faint hope that Kelvin might change, that he might one day treat her with the respect and love she deserved as his wife. But time and time again, he had proven himself to be a man of little integrity—selfish, cold, and utterly unworthy of her devotion. The realization had settled deep within her, like a stone sinking to the bottom of the ocean. She could no longer deny the truth: Kelvin was not the man she had once believed him to be. He was, in fact, the worst kind of person—someone who took without giving, who demanded loyalty but offered none in return.Her decision was final. She would no longer waste her days yearning for Kelvin’s love, a love that had never truly existed. Instead, her heart had turned toward Daniel, a man who had shown her kindness, warmth, and a love that felt genuine and unselfish. Daniel’s presence in her life had been a beacon
The ship docked yet again. The sun blazed overhead as Alice, Daniel, Kimberly, and a handful of other passengers from the ship wandered through the bustling streets of the coastal town. The port was alive with energy—street vendors hawked their wares, the air thick with the scent of sizzling food, and the chatter of locals and tourists mingled into a lively symphony. For a moment, Alice allowed herself to forget the tensions aboard the ship, the tangled emotions surrounding Kelvin and Daniel, and simply breathed in the freedom of the foreign town. But then, she made a mistake. She had paused at a small shop, captivated by a display of handmade jewelry. Kimberly was deep in negotiation with a vendor, and Daniel had wandered off to inspect something across the street. Not wanting to disturb them, Alice decided to explore on her own. She ventured down a narrow alley, drawn by the charm of the old architecture and the quiet respite from the market’s chaos. But as she turned a corner, he
The ship was lively that evening, guests scattered across different entertainment spots, enjoying the luxury the cruise had to offer. Alice, however, had no interest in the grand dinners or the glamorous social events. After spending most of the day forcing smiles beside Kelvin for Grandma Janet, and her mind centered on Daniel and his feelings for her - she subtly excused herself from their company. Soon, she found herself in the dimly lit corridor leading to the deck—a place where she could be alone. Or so she thought. Just as she reached for the railing to steady herself, a voice stopped her. "Why do we always end up being alone?" Alice froze. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The familiar depth of Daniel’s voice sent an immediate shiver down her spine. Taking a slow breath, she composed herself before facing him. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, his sharp gaze never leaving her. The ship's soft lighting illuminated his face, casting shadows that m
The next morning, Alice made her way to one of the ship’s finest restaurants, her emotions still raw from the previous night. Dressed in an elegant yet simple blue dress, she tried to compose herself as she stepped inside, already spotting Grandma Janet seated at a prime spot by the window, where the sea stretched endlessly in the background. Kelvin was already there, seated beside his grandmother, his posture relaxed, but Alice could tell that he was on edge. Across from him sat Daniel, looking effortlessly handsome in a crisp white shirt with the top button undone. His eyes briefly met Alice’s as she entered, but he looked away just as quickly. Standing behind Grandma Janet was Simi, her ever-efficient personal assistant. Simi was a tall, slender woman in her forties with a composed demeanor, always dressed impeccably in professional yet stylish outfits. She was rarely seen without her tablet, always ready to take notes or handle whatever task was required of her. "Alice, my d
Alice sat by the poolside, her thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of emotions. The kiss with Kelvin had left her restless, confused, and questioning everything she thought she knew about him—and herself. She felt a surge of romantic emotions flowing through her. He was her husband and it was right before men and heaven that she would weave fantasies about him. She thought to herself, maybe Kelvin was sincere about making the three years of their marriage worth it. Maybe he was being sorry for deceiving her into the marriage and making her to suffer. She remembered how he had apologized to her by the pool, showing regret and remorse.The only thing she prayed earnestly in her heart was for love to bloom in his heart for her, so strong that he would never want to divorce her after getting his inheritance. And she would be able to forget Daniel and his love. “A penny for your thoughts?” she heard and glanced up to see Daniel standing beside her, his usual easy smile in place. His presen
A heavy silence hung between them as Alice stared at the bouquet in front of her. Alice inhaled slowly, then exhaled, forcing herself to remain composed. She could feel Kelvin’s eyes on her, silently pleading, silently challenging. Then, with a measured calm, she reached for the bouquet. She didn’t hold it close or smell the flowers, but the mere act of picking them up was enough of an answer. “Alright,” she said, her voice even, betraying nothing. “Let’s have breakfast.” Kelvin, however, looked relieved. Without another word, he pulled out her chair as she stood, an uncharacteristically chivalrous move that did not go unnoticed. As they sat, the waiter immediately brought over another tray of breakfast for Kelvin, as if he had already placed the order in anticipation of her agreement. Alice arched a brow at him, but he only smirked. “You were that sure I’d say yes?” she asked. Kelvin leaned back in his chair, his smirk turning into something softer. “No. But I wanted to b
Dim lighting, soft music, and a half-empty bottle of wine and a glass of wine in each person's hand set the mood as Alice, Daniel, and Kimberly settled onto the couch. Alice had made up her mind to have fun and forget about Kelvin or the rules of her being married, after all her husband was not worth it. Kimberly spoke, "We're starting with the game, Never have I ever...." "Nice" Daniel smiled. Kimberly turned to Alice, "You do know how to play, right?" "Of course, I do" Alice smiled "Perfect" Kimberly leaned forward with a mischievous grin. “Alright, let’s get this game started. I’ll go first.” She picked up her glass, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Never have I ever… kissed someone and regretted it.” Alice’s fingers tensed around her glass. The memory of that night on the deck with Daniel resurfaced. The way she had allowed herself to be drawn in, the warmth of his body so close, the whisper of his lips against hers before she had pulled away—before reality had come cras
Lucas settled down with Alice by the pool, he joined her in drinking coffee and just chatting casually and laughing. ".....I can't believe you would do a thing like that" Lucas said, chuckling. "I had to" Alice replied, "the man would have gone straight to my father and I would have been severely punished" "Then you would have known better than to steal someone's fruit" Lucas admonished jokingly. "Oh come on. It wasn't stealing. He was just being stingy. Everyone in my village were liberal people, he was the only different one. And in my defense, I was starving" Alice replied. "Were you always this mischievous back home?" he asked her. "I wasn't. That was just one time" Alice said, "I am a very sweet soul" she smiled at him. He was stunned by her beauty for a brief moment, "You are indeed sweet" he said admiringly. Alice trailed off, "Perhaps too sweet for people to take advantage off" her expression saddened. Lucas noticed, "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked,