Valerie dialed his number again, and again, but it wasn't going through. She wasn't going to blame Justin because it's not his fault. If Patricia didn't tell him, maybe she would have summoned courage to tell him any other time.
“I have to find a way to explain everything to Justin”
She got up from the bed, and headed downstairs. She was on her way out when she stormed into her stepmother, Claudia, and her father.
It has been barely a week since they got the money, and they are already squandering it. She even wondered how her father recovered so fast.
“Where are you going, Valerie?” Claudia gave her a deadly glare. She gulped hard, and turned her face away. “I don't want to go on with this anymore. My life is already ruined, all because of this baby. I want to further my education”.
Tears circulated in her eyes, and her father gasped. “Valerie, how could you say something like that? If you don't give birth to this child, then we'll be doomed. I've taken care of you ever since your mother, and here you are willing to throw all of that away. If you ever think of getting rid of this child, then our family will be in deep trouble” Her Father freaked out.
“Why should I be the only one to do this? Justin just broke up with me” She continued sobbing, but her stepmother wasn't moved.
“And so what if that rascal does? He doesn't deserve you. As far as you give birth to this child, your father and I promise to give you whatever it is that you want. I don't want you to get yourself stressed up, so you're not allowed to leave this house, and as for anything you need, we'll provide it for you right in your room” Claudia pretentiously patted her back.
Valerie bowed her head in sadness, and headed upstairs. Her life was getting messier by the day. Now, she's trapped in her room. It was more like a prison than a house. She was still crying her eyes out when the door creaked open. It was her stepsister, Patricia. Patricia was carrying a tray of food, which she dropped on the table beside her bed.
“Your lunch, sister.” Patricia laughed sarcastically at her. Valerie turned to her with teary eyes.
“I'm not… I'm not hungry” Valerie managed to say. Patricia snorted at her.
“You better eat your food because the child ought to be very healthy. If anything happens to the child, then we'll all be going to jail” Patricia laughed, before walking out of the room. She locked the door as soon as she left.
That was the last time Valerie left her room. She stayed in her room like a prison, and was given everything she wanted.
Months later, Valerie was in labor. She was rushed to the hospital. The cry of a baby was heard all over the ward.
Even though Valerie didn't want the child, the baby was still hers. She needed to look at the child's face.
Valerie struggled up from the hospital bed, and grabbed the nurse's gown. “Nurse, can I please see my baby?” She requested.
“What baby are you talking about? This baby is not your child, you've already been paid in full. You're not allowed to touch the baby” The nurse slapped her hand off.
“Nurse, let me just look at the baby. I just want to see my baby” Valerie cried, but the other nurse overpowered her as they held her down to the bed.
“Take the child out of the ward, now” The doctor instructed the first nurse, as she left with the child.
“I just want to look at my baby, please” Valerie kept struggling before a syringe was injected into her arm. The baby's cry was the last thing she heard before passing out.
After the baby was taken from her, and she woke up, she was yet to set her eyes on her stepmother, Father, and stepsister. Did they abandon her at the hospital?
Two days later, at the Watson's residence, the voices of Claudia and her daughter were heard yelling at Valerie, who just got back from the hospital. Her luggage was packed, and kept at the doorstep. Her Father wasn't in the house at that time.
“Why are my bags packed? Am I finally going to Oxford?” Valerie asked the moment she stepped into the house, and Patricia laughed mockingly.
“You actually think that Mom and I would give you some money so that you can further your education?” Patricia mocked her.
Valerie stared at them with confusion all over her face. Are they really not going to give her some money? “You promised me, mother. You told me you were going to give me some money so that we can further my education with it”.
“You have no place here again, Valerie. No one is going to save you, your father travelled out to get his treatment completed. Take your bags, and leave this house. Don't bother coming back because you have no place here anymore”.
“Mother! How could you do this to me?” Valerie sobbed as she went on her knees, but Claudia wasn't touched by her genuine tears.
“You wretch! Do you think your tears are going to help you? Get out of this house, Valerie. You're not wanted anymore. Don't bother going to Justin because he already left the town. I will take good care of him because I'll be going to Stanford University soon where I'll meet him” Patricia made fun of her, and Valerie glared at her maliciously. She couldn't take it anymore, so Valerie slapped Patricia hard on the face.
“You wench! How dare you hit my daughter? Get out! Leave, you piece of trash” Claudia pushed her out of the door, and threw her bags at her.
Valerie sniffed hard as she picked her bags, and walked out of the Watson's gate in agony.
Inside the house, Patricia watched Valerie drag her luggage out of the Watson's residence. Her lips curled to a smile. I've finally gotten rid of that pest, and now no one can ever stop me from being the only favorite daughter of my father.…Six years later, Valerie walked into her apartment at Northridge, where she had been living after her stepmother threw her out of the house. It was a small, but comfortable apartment. In her hand was a dismissal letter. She just lost her job. This was the third job she got this year, and she just lost it again. Why are men always lusting for my body?Her employers were always after her body, and each time she refused to succumb to their wishes, she got dismissed.Unlocking her door, she walked into the disarrayed room, and sat heavily on the couch.“Is my life always going to be this unfortunate?” She picked up the calendar, and stared at it. This was exactly six years since her family threw her out of the house she knew as home. She thought of
“Oh, sorry” Valerie forced a smile. Deep down, she was shocked and furious as well. “That little brat…”“Audrey, your teacher is here” A deep, but attractive voice came from the sitting room, and Valerie turned swiftly. Her jaw dropped in awe as soon as she set her eyes on him. It was the President, Ethan Davison, she had seen him a few times on the television, but he looked more handsome in real life.“I thought today was going to be a free day? Why do I need a home-teacher?” Audrey, the little girl, pouted her mouth.Valerie stared at the smart girl with a smile. Why does she feel so familiar with the little girl when she hasn't met her before? She couldn't even believe that the girl could be so outspoken.“Audrey, stop! You have to behave, young lady” Her Father cautioned her, and she exhaled deeply, and bowed her head.Valerie turned to the elderly woman, whose name tag showed her name was “Vero”.“Ma'am… Vero! Isn't the little girl so adorable? She speaks fluently too?” Valerie s
Valerie stared at the long list that was handed to her with her jaw dropped. “Is this really for that little girl? These are the lists of things she does in a week?”“You must be careful with her. She's allergic to seafood” Old Lady Vero snapped me out of my thoughts with her words.“She's allergic to seafood? I'm allergic to that too, so we won't be having any issues” She gulped. Why does she feel attached to the little girl? They even had the same allergy, and the same favorite food.“Good. You're expected to be here tomorrow, and don't be late” The old lady handed some documents to her.“Thank you” Valerie mumbled as she grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the mansion. Just the little time she spent at the mansion, she felt rather fresh.A cab dropped her in front of the apartment she shared with her friends, and she walked into the house.“Hey! You're back” Susan raised her eyes from the cellphone she was operating. Probably, she could dictate whether Valerie got the job or not by
Valerie was on her way out of the club, and trying hard not to shed a tear for her sister and her boyfriend.“Valerie… wait!” She heard Patricia's voice again, and paused. If she didn't, then it will seem to Patricia like she's so much affected.“What more do you want, Patricia?” Valerie forced a smile at her, but deep down she was breaking down. Her friends couldn't help but glare at Patricia.“What are you up to, Patricia? Why do you have to call her back?” Justin whispered into her ears, grabbing her arm. “That hurts. Let go of my arm” With that, Justin released her arm, and she smiled dryly at him. “Sister, you know you're the only sister that I have. And you are the only sibling I have as well, so it will be very insensitive of me if I don't tell you this” Patricia walked closer to Valerie.“I'm surprised, Patricia. You've never for once, considered me a sister, and I really wonder what you have to tell me” Valerie shook her head, still showing a fake smile on her face. Her eyes
The next day, which was Valerie's first day at work. She got up very early in the morning… She wouldn't be late on her first day.Walking downstairs, she met Susan, who was serving breakfast at the dinning. “What's with your outfit? You should change into something more fashionable”.Valerie sighed tiredly, and scratched her head. “Really? This isn't good?”Susan glared at her, scoffed and replied, “Of course not. You should know where you'll be working now, young lady”. “Anyway, I'll be getting my working uniforms today. There'll be no need for the 'old-fashioned' dresses” Valerie rolled her eyes, and walked back into her room. Then she thought of the little girl, Audrey. Her lips curved into a smile, she didn't want the little girl to tell her she looks old-fashioned too.A few minutes later, she was already in a cab heading to the Davison's estate. In no time, she got to the mansion.“Good morning” She greeted the brutal looking security guard, and he nodded his head before showi
“What?”Valerie's shaky voice gasped, and the little girl raised her brow. Valerie couldn't believe her ears.“What the heck? That's her rules? What makes her think I want her daddy, anyway?“Why do you sound so surprised, Miss old-fashioned?”“Why… Why would you think that I'd want your daddy?” Valerie arched her eyebrows at her.“That's what all the nannies who came to take care of me did. They have always wanted my daddy” Audrey pouted her mouth, dropping her drawing book on the bed.Valerie exhaled deeply, and her eyes caught with the picture hung on the wall, close to her bed. It was a picture of Audrey and her handsome daddy. “He's really handsome”.“What are you looking at, Miss old-fashioned? Don't tell me you're already falling for my daddy, you just came a few minutes ago. I can't believe you! That's my number one rule from now on” The little girl shrieked, and Valerie flinched.Probably, she's her daddy's bodyguard. How funny! Valerie had vowed not to get involved in anythi
Valerie held her breath as she bowed her head, so she wouldn't make eye contact with President Ethan, who was glaring at her like he was going to tear her into pieces.All she could perceive was the perfume President Ethan was wearing. It was quite unique. “What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I thinking of such a thing when I'm in trouble?”.President Ethan stood in front of her for a few more minutes before turning to little Audrey, who was in tears, staring at him sadly.Audrey sniffed, and burst into tears again. Then said to her Father, “Daddy, trust me. It was Miss Old-fashion's fault. It was I was the one who told her I wanted rice cakes”.“You're not allowed to go near the kitchen, Audrey. Why did you disobey daddy?” He stared calmly at Audrey.“I'm sorry, Daddy. Please don't terminate the nanny's job”. President Ethan stared at her for a while, and exhaled deeply, “Let good, baby”. Both of them held hands and walked out of the kitchen.Valerie exhaled deeply in relief. For
Confused and shocked, President Ethan stared at his little daughter. He couldn't believe his ears. “What conversations was she having with the new nanny who brought about me falling in love with her?”“She promised me, daddy. I trust her, she's not going to flirt with you just like the other nannies who had come to work in the villa” Audrey smiled, and President Ethan forced a smile at her.“But Audrey, you shouldn't talk about things like this. Only adults are allowed to speak of falling in love. You're just a child” Her Father patted her hair. Audrey grabbed his hands, and stared into his eyes, then said, “Daddy, I'm wounded and hurt. Do I still need to get tutored by that boring teacher, Vicky?”.“Audrey?” He narrowed his eyes on her.Audrey bowed her head in guilt with her mouth pouted. “Sorry, daddy”“Good girl! About that, there'll be no need for it. I'll tell your teacher that you can't go to class today” President Ethan heaved a sigh, and Audrey grinned from ear to ear.“Than