In the city of California, a beautiful bright morning. Aiden, stood in front of the mirror fixing his tie. He combed his hair and exited the bedroom of his luxurious, 5-bedroom apartment inside an expensive Estate in Beverly Hills. Wearing an all-blue-black slim tuxedo, he headed for another bedroom in the apartment.
Inside another bedroom of the apartment, a pregnant woman was lying on a bed with wires attached to her body and connected to a monitoring machine. She had on an oxygen mask and a young man in his thirties was attending to the woman.The room was 12 ft by 18 ft (216 square feet). The bed was positioned at the centre of the room, with the wardrobe closed to the wall opposite the foot of the bed and adjacent to the entering door. The room was painted white with glass windows to the right and a table at the centre of the two windows far apart from each other. A white heavy drape was pushed to the sides of the window allowing in some sunlight.The young man, Dr Jerome, a personal doctor and friend of Aiden was moving from the woman's bed to the table and back attending to her. He prepared some medicine and injected it into the pregnant woman's vein. After doing that, he checked the monitor, recorded a few things on a chart and placed it inside the drawer of the table. There was a small tabletop mini-fridge sitting on the table alongside some containers all filled with different types of medications."Now it is time for you to eat something, Ms Ana," Dr Jerome said and opened the fridge brought out some things, prepared the special food and fed it to Ana through the nasogastric tube. "Now that should keep you till afternoon," Dr Jerome said."How is she doing?" came Aiden's voice from behind Dr Jerome."She is doing very well, Mr Scott," Dr Jerome replied happily."And the baby?" Aiden asked."The baby is very healthy," Dr Jerome assured."Are you sure she can have this baby safely?" Aiden asked."Mr Scott, I assured you. Everything is going to be fine. This is an induced coma. Six more months and this is over. As said earlier, I will use a cesarean section to deliver the baby," Dr Jerome assured."Can I see the baby?" Aiden requested and Dr Jerome moved the ultrasound machine closer.Dr Jerome exposed Ana's belly under the watchful gaze of Aiden. He applied a gel and began moving the ultrasound transducer on Ana's belly."Here, that is the baby. That is the hands and legs," Dr Jerome said to Aiden, pointing to the sonogram."What gender?" Aiden asked."Is a boy," Dr Jerome replied and Aiden nodded before exiting the room.Dr Jerome did his last check after packing the ultrasound machine away and also exited the room into the connecting corridor locking the door up. He walked down the corridor, made a turn to the left and continued walking towards the staircase. He descended the staircase into the living room and found Aiden sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in hand."Mr Scott. I am done for today. The nurse will arrive in an hour to attend to her," Dr Jerome said and handed the key over to Aiden who accepted it from him."I will be on my way now," Dr Jerome said."Remember, no one must know about this," Aiden warned and Dr Jerome acknowledged before exiting the apartment.Dr Jerome pressed for the elevator and soon left the apartment and headed for the hospital where he works. He drove out of the Estates gate and made a turn onto the main road. The hospital where he works, was a forty-five minutes drive away from Aiden's apartment.Back in the apartment, Aiden was still in the living room, hoping everything would go well, according to plan. His housekeeper, Angela, walked into the living room and greeted him."Good morning Mr Scott. Your mum called earlier today and asked me to remind you of tonight's programme," the housekeep, Angela said."She said I should let you know it is important you attend," Angela said and Aiden responded with a 'hmm'"I am going out now. The nurse will be in an hour from now. Give this key to her, she knows what to do. If anything, call me or send me a message. If it is urgent call," Aiden instructed and Angela acknowledged accepting the key from his hand.Aiden exited the apartment and once out, his driver, Lewis, greeted him and brought the car around. Lewis sat behind the wheel after opening the door for Aiden to sit in the back seat. Lewis brought the engine to life and drove towards the Estate gate. After exiting the apartment compound, Aiden's phone rang as the car made a turn onto the main road toward Aiden's workplace, the Golden Light Hotel. Aiden answered after checking the caller ID."Hello Daniel, how are you doing?" Aiden said."I am good. How are you?" Daniel said."Good," Aiden replied."Mr Scott, are you coming to work today or you will work from home?" Daniel asked."I am coming to work. What is wrong?" Aiden asked."Nothing happened," Daniel replied."That is how I know something happened. Spit it out, what happened?" Aiden asked."Well, your mum called me a couple of minutes ago inviting me to your family house. She said something about a surprise for you," Daniel replied."Did she say what the surprise is?" Aiden asked."No, but she said it is important I come over too because it is going to be a great day for you. I know you don't like being caught off guard reason I decided to inform you," Daniel said."Thank you, Daniel. I will see you later in the day," Aiden said and ended the call wondering what surprise awaited him.After a few minutes drive, they arrived at the Golden Light Hotel, but before Aiden could get out of the car after Lewis parked inside the underground garage, his phone rang again. This time it was his sister, Ruth."Hello Sis," Aiden greeted."Hi brother, congratulations in advance. I hope you will put work aside and come for tonight's programme," Ruth said excitedly from the other end of the call."I take it, you are in California," Aiden said."Yes, why will I miss my big brother's special day," Ruth said excitedly."Why do I feel tonight is not the usual Thanksgiving and family gathering," Aiden said walking into the hotel."Welcome Mr Scott," greeted one of the hotel staff and Aiden ignored the greetings still on the call with his sister."I am not telling but you will love it. I promise," Ruth said and the call was disconnected afterwards."Welcome Mr Scott," another staff greeted as Aiden headed for his office on the top floor thinking about tonight's programme and what surprise awaited him.Back in his apartment, the nurse arrived exactly an hour as communicated and Angela let her in after confirming who she was by her ID. Angela gave the key to the nurse and the nurse headed upstairs to the room where Ana was.Upon arriving at the door, she put the key into the keyhole and unlocked the door. She pushed the door open and entered. She walked toward Ana's bed and checked on her. She looked at the readings on the monitor but she felt a movement. The nurse looked at Ana and her eyes were still closed. The nurse walked to the table checking the time on her wrist-watch. She opened the fridge and brought a container out. She picked up a syringe, filled it and headed back to Ana's bed. The nurse pushed the content of the syringe into the cannula but while she was at it, Ana spoke."Where am I?" came Ana's weak voice and the nurse jolted backwards.Ana was not supposed to wake up now so how did this happen?"Who are you and where am I?" Ana asked fully awake and scanning her environment.Ana tried to get up and that was when she noticed her belly which was followed by a small movement which gave her a slight pain."What is going on?" Ana asked almost screaming as she tried to get up.The nurse was trying to get Ana to relax and lie back down but Ana was too shocked to listen. She was confused about her environment and why her belly was looking that big.The nurse quickly went to the table, got some sedatives and returned to Ana's bed. Ana was one after the other removing the wires attached to her hand. She pulled out the cannula and wounded herself in the process. She let out a cry.At the Golden Light Hotel, Aiden was in his office, when his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and it was Dr Jerome."Hello Dr," Aiden said as soon as he answered the call."She is awake," Dr Jerome said"What!" Aiden exclaimed."Hello Dr," Aiden said as soon as he answered the call. "She is awake," Dr Jerome said "What!" Aiden exclaimed. "I am coming back home," Aiden said and disconnected the call. He shut his laptop down and called Lewis. There was a knock on the door and Lewis entered. Aiden handed his laptop and bag to him and they both exited the office. Aiden handed over to his next in command, Julian and exited the hotel with Lewis leading the way. "We are going back home," Aiden said as he sat in the car's back seat. Lewis got behind the wheel and brought the engine to life. He drove out of the hotel compound heading back to the Estate in Beverly Hills. On the way, Aiden tried to call his mother, Mrs Scott, multiple times but she didn't answer. He called his sister Ruth and got the same results. He called his father, Mr Scott and he also didn't answer. "What is happening at home? Why are they all not answering their calls?" Aiden thought and tried his mother's number one more time and this time
"Mum, is everything alright?" Ana asked reading the sadness in her mother's voice. "I wish I could say yes," Mrs Morrison replied."Mum, please tell me what is wrong?" Ana asked sounding concerned."Get some rest. I will speak with Mr Scott and once he gives me the approval I will come over," Mrs Morrison said."Okay, Mum," Ana said, recalling a term in the contract which says her mother cannot see her without permission.The call ended and Ana went to sit on the bed dejected. She wondered when and how she ended up in such a situation. She is pregnant and doesn't even know how far she is. It felt like it was only yesterday, she was celebrating with her mother and sister, getting the scholarship to pursue the course of her dream to become the world's best dietitian. How did she end up in this? "What could be the problem that mum needs so much to handle?" Ana thought, recalling the amount to be paid stated in the contract.The door opened interrupting Ana's thought. A young man entere
"Son, I warned you about this Monica girl, but you never listened. Now look," Mrs Scott said and Aiden remained frozen holding the divorce paper in his hand. "Son, it is obvious she cares more about money than you. Is that the kind of woman you were to share the rest of your life with?" Mrs Scott asked and Aiden looked in her direction."I will be back," Aiden said and walked away despite his parents calling after him."My love, just let him be. He is in shock. With time, I know my son. He will find that girl and try to find out things for himself. He will sign his part, I assure you," Mrs Scott said to her husband. "I hope so. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell how his brain works. I didn't make him the heir for nothing. He must marry Amanda and you have to ensure that happens," Mr Scott said to his wife.Aiden went out the front door and fetched his phone. He dialled Monica's number and brought the phone to his ears. It rang till the end but no one answered. He dialled the number a
"So mum and dad, were right?" Aiden thought, sitting on the bed. Aiden could not sleep and decided to distract himself with some work. He turned on his laptop and started working reading about the other businesses of the family. The following week, he would have to visit all the business branches to understand how things run over there and what he can bring on board. In Ana's room, the nurse was done for the day and was in her room sleeping but Ana could not sleep. She was wondering what was happening at home. Why would her mother sign such a contract and not even mention it to her? If she had not woken up, she would have carried a child and delivered it without knowing. Ana tossed and turned in bed thinking about it. She got down from the bed and decided to walk around a little to clear her head. She walked to the door and realized it was locked. She recalled another term in the contract, she could not go out of her room without permission. She went back to the bed and sat down. In
"Don't worry, Mum. Your health is what matters most to me. Don't worry. I will do my best to help raise the money for your treatment," Ana said and continued to hug Mrs Morrison as they both shared tears. Ana and her mother spent time together before Haga took Ana back to Aiden's apartment. Upon arrival, Ana was sent back to her room and Haga stayed with her."Is there anything you would like to eat?" Haga asked."I am okay with whatever you will give me," Ana replied feeling downcast. The nurse was worried. She had thought that if Ana sees her mother, emotionally she will be okay but now she looks worse than before. Haga exited the room and returned with a bowl of potato soup with fish. Ana frowned the moment Haga opened the covered food and the flavour went into Ana's nostrils."What, you don't want?" Haga asked seeing the look on Ana's face.Ana shook her head in a no and Haga sighed "Look, Mr Scott will not be happy if he hears you are starving yourself. It is past noon and you
"I will also not be a slave to love again," Monica whispered as she wiped her tears away getting ready for her next shoot."It is over. My beautiful love story is over," she thought touching her lips. "Ready for your makeover," came the makeup artist and Monica inhaled deeply before nodding. Aiden on the other hand, left the set back to the airport. He paid for the next available flight not ready to spend even a minute in Toronto. While he waited for his flight, memories of himself and Monica ran through his mind. Monica on the other hand was no different, she was unable to focus and take her pictures. The shoots were all coming out terrible. "Ms Hapkins is everything alright?" the director asked. "No, please. Can I take a break?" Monica asked. "Sure, let's call it a day. We continue tomorrow," the director said and Monica moved away from the set. Back in California, Aiden's apartment, Angela opened the door for Dr Jerome. He greeted her and went upstairs. He entered Ana's room
"Well, he is not back from work yet. So I waiting to find out who is in that room," Ruth said."Okay, Mum. You are right," Ruth replied still holding the phone to her ears sitting in the living room with her legs crossed. The call ended and Ruth called Angela to the living room."Now tell me, who is that in that room?" Ruth asked."Ma'am, I am telling the truth. I don't know," Angela replied."Are you as useless as you look?" Ruth asked angrily and Angela was silent. "How long have you been working for my brother?" she asked."Three years," Angela replied."Good, get ready for retirement," Ruth said and stood up."Ma'am, I swear to you. I don't know anything. Sir, asked me never to go up to the side of the room. Only one person goes up there but that is just to clean. I only work here, please," Angela said on her knees."Now we are getting somewhere. Who cleans that room? Get me the person," Ruth said and sat back down.Angele left the room immediately and returned with another maide
"Hello, Mum," Aiden said as soon as he answered. "Aiden, who is that woman in your apartment?" Mrs Scott questioned and Aiden frowned. "You will have to be specific, Mum," Aiden said. "I understand you are keeping a woman in your apartment," Mrs Scott said. "I have a lot of women in my apartment. So what are you talking about?" Aiden asked. "Don't play smart with me, Aiden. You know what I am talking about," Mrs Scott said. "Mum, to be honest, I don't. I will appreciate it if you will be more clear and I can give you an answer," Aiden replied. "Ruth just left your apartment and she said there is a pregnant woman in your apartment," Mrs Scott said. "I like the fact that you said it is my apartment. And again, I have a lot of females in my apartment. I don't have a restraint on their sexual relationship," Aiden replied not ready to tell Mrs Scott about Ana. "So one of your servants got pregnant?" Mrs Scott asked. "How am I to know? I don't suppose you think I sleep with my se