Cecy took short steps trying to buy as much time as possible but despite that, she finally reached him. Her heart was filled with fear and panic.
"Why...why are you here? How did you know that I would be here?" She asked nervously. That's it her cover had been blown. It was a silly question as Zacky would find out anything that he wanted to but she still asked it.
"Don't worry about it, I'm only here to pick up don't worry," Zacky said with a smile.
"Ooh, I'll go get my bag," she said heaving a sigh of relief. As long as he was not here to kill her or revenge for lying to him she was okay with everything.
She picked up her bag and then walked toward him.
Zacky led her to his car and this time, he was the one driving. She walked around intending to take the back seat but he was fast enough.
"This is where you should be seating," he opened the passenger seat.
"It's not appropriate, I'm fine here," Cecy said softly. But Zacky didn't look like he was going to bulge anytime soon. She had no choice but to take the seat next to him.
"Why are you so scared of me? The other time in the club you were so bold that you..."
"I'm not scared of you," she replied quickly before he could finish his sentence. Zacky couldn't help but release a slight smirk.
"Ooh really?" He teased her.
"Where are we going to?" She asked seeing him take a different route.
"To see my grandmother, she wanted to meet you,"
Cecy could feel her palms and feet sweat. She wasn't ready for it no, she wasn't ready for anything. There was a long awkward silence but only she knew how chaotic her mind was.
"Should we pass by the house first? I'm not decent enough, is it okay if we visit her empty-handed?" She had never seen her grandparents so she didn't know how to act. But what she knew was that she was a good talker, especially with the elderly.
"It's okay, my grandmother won't mind," Zacky said softly. Cecy immediately felt envious. How could Barbara leave such a nice man? She sneaked a glance at him and felt that Barbara had made the wrong decision.
After an hour, Zacky drove into a large mansion. Four times larger than his current house. Cecy was once again amazed. Its structure was old but very exquisite.
"It's been here for many generations," Zacky said seeing her curiously look around. There was a beautiful garden beside the main house which was well taken care of.
"Let's go, everyone is waiting," he alighted from the car.
"Everyone? Who else is here?" She asked nervously.
Cecy alighted from the car and then followed Zacky taking light steps as she uttered a prayer. She wasn't religious but that was all she could do for now.
Cecy felt a lump in her throat as she approached her grandmother-in-law.
"Grandmother, I heard that you refused to eat again? Why are you throwing tantrums," Cecy stared at Zacky kneeling beside her grandmother.
"Hmmph, unfilial grandchild," her grandmother said ignoring her grandson.
"Look who I brought grandma," her grandmother's eyes lit up and then stared in the direction where Zacky was staring at.
"Come here, why are you standing so far away, move aside Zacky," she said smiling brightly. Cecy heaved a sigh of relief and all her worry immediately disappeared. She walked toward her and then kneeled down beside her.
"Grandma, my name is Barbara ," she said softly.
"What a beautiful child,"
"Grandma, you are pretty too, grandma you haven't eaten since morning right?"
"Yes, but how could you tell?"
"Ooh, don't worry I'm a student doctor I'm currently in my first year doing my Ph.D. but I'm quite experienced,"
"How old are you my dear?"
"I'll be turning twenty-three this year,"
Zacky's grandmother couldn't help but smile brightly. Zacky felt slightly relieved he had never seen her grandmother smile so brightly before.
"What a good child," she touched Cecy's cheeks lightly.
"Grandma, you must be hungry why don't I cook for you?"
"Can you cook?" Her eyes lit up.
"Yeah, I've been practicing but I rarely cook at home would you like to taste my food, Grandma?"
"Yes, Yes," she instantly agreed. Zacky stood aside watching Cecy warm up to her grandmother and instantly felt out of place.
"Are you sure?" Zacky asked.
Zacky leaned on the door casually watching Cecy move around swiftly. She had sent away all maids leaving her alone in the kitchen.
He turned to see her grandmother already on the dining table waiting patiently.
After a while, Zacky walked toward her.
"No, it's okay," she replied stirring the soup.
"Anything grandma is allergic to?" She asked after a while.
"You can stop pretending," Zacky cleared his throat and then said.
"What? Pretending? What are you talking about?" She asked feeling a bit shocked by it. Her heartbeat was extremely fast that Zacky could hear.
"You can lie but your heart says it all, I know you are not Barbara I will forgive you if you can cure my grandmother. I will let bygones be bygones but so you know your sister is not an exception. She made a fool out of me,"
Cecy stopped what she was doing and then stared at Zacky.
"Thank you, I promise," she replied.
"What about grandmother? I already told her my name is Barbara what should we do?"
"I'll take care of that don't worry,"
"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked after a while. Cecy froze in place wondering why he had asked that.
"Ooh, don't take it the wrong way," he tried explaining himself," I mean we can give this marriage a trial if you are okay with that,"
"What I mean is that I want to court you, we rushed our marriage and I know we don't love each other yet but I hope that we could try and give each other a try,"
"I thought you loved Barbara , my sister?"
"No, I wanted to fulfill my grandma's wish and I didn't know who to tell but I'm glad it was you instead,"
Cecy couldn't help but smile. She never expected that this would be the outcome of her being a substitute.
After a while, she set the table and they each took their seats.
"Aunt Lin join us," she said. Aunt Lin was her grandmother's caregiver she was of mixed race.
"It's not appropriate Young Miss,"
"What do you mean? Join us Barbara wants you to join us," Zacky's grandmother said. Cecy and Zacky stared at each other but did not utter a word.
After taking a seat, Cecy began serving them food.
"Grandma, I made this for you it's very nutritious try it,"
It was one of the most heartwarming meals they had ever had. Zacky's grandma ate to her hearts filled.
"Barbara , your cooking is really good why don't you cook for me every day,"
"If that's what grandma wants I can't say no to it,"
"Lin prepare a room for my grandson and my granddaughter-in-law,"
"Grandma, no need we are leaving, I have to go to work tomorrow and Barbara has to go to school,"
"Fine," she replied sadly.
"Don't worry, we will visit you tomorrow, I'll bring Barbara also," hearing that, her eyes lit up immediately.
"Bye grandma be good," Cecy said.
The next morning, as promised Zacky personally drove Cecy to school. After their heart-to-heart talk Cecy decided to give him a chance.
She was in a really good mood and she ended up attending all her classes.
"Cecy, you seem happy today," one of her classmate complimented her.
"I'm okay," she replied nonchalantly.
"By the way, someone is looking for you." She didn't bother asking who as she definitely knew it was Zacky probably picking her up but this time she was wrong.
"Cecy, long time no see, I'm back."
"Cecy, long time no see, I'm back." Cecy instantly froze in place."Aren't you happy to see me?" She said again. She stared at her sister still in shock."Wooah, not the welcome I was looking forward to but let's find a place and talk first," Barbara said."Let's go to the canteen, I could use a cup of coffee," Cecy suggested."Start speaking," Cecy said after they had both taken their seats."Where are your glasses?" She asked slightly puzzled. Barbara never knew her elder sister was as beautiful as she was which made her quite envious. She finally knew it was the hideous glasses that made her sister ugly."I'm using contact lenses now," Cecy replied softly as she sipped her coffee. Barbara felt that Cecy had become someone totally different. How long had she been away? If she wasn't wrong it was only a month. But the Cecy that was right before her wasn't the naive girl that she had left."Speak," Cecy said bluntly as she stared at her watch."You are going somewhere?""Yeah, I ha
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," Zacky spoke politely with a smile totally ignoring Barbara 's presence.Barbara couldn't help but feel abit confused and shocked at Zacky's attitude."Zacky, you are here," Barbara leapt forward excitedly towards Zacky.She had one thing in mind to show Cecy who the boss was. Deep down, Barbara knew Zacky loved her. She moved forward toward him trying to hug him but Zacky drastically moved aside leaving her to fall down in a loud thud."Whaaaaa...." Barbara was totally speechless. She looked up her face filled with embarrassment and with teary eyes."Zacky, I need to tell you something," she said softly after gathering a little bit of courage."Keep it to yourself," Zacky replied harshly before turning to Cecy."Mmh," Cecy replied. She turned to Barbara who was still on the floor pitifully and then uttered a silent goodbye before walking away."Nothing I can't handle,""We'll go see grandma first,""I want to pick a few ingredients for her, grandma
"She is trying to kill herself,""Let's go, I'll drive you,""What about the food? And grandma?""Don't worry about it, Aunt Lin is here she will take care of everything," after saying that, Zacky held her hand and then led her outside."Grandma, something came up we have to leave," before any response, Zacky and Cecy had already stomped out leaving Aunt Lin and the Old Lady dumbfounded."Where are they?" Zacky asked as he drove out of the compound."Just drive, I'll give you the directions,"As Zacky drove, he noticed Cecy's silence and he understood it all.Cecy had always treasured the bond she shared with her twin sister, Barbara . They had grown up inseparable, their lives intertwined in a web of shared secrets and unspoken understanding. However, their unbreakable connection was about to face its greatest challenge.Despite their difference, they were still sisters after all. It would be a lie if Cecy wasn't scared she felt very stressed up."I told you to run away from the marr
"Let me think about it first,""It's okay, whenever you are ready," Ethan had nothing more to say. Every scars and wounds required time to heal and he was happy that he married Cecy instead of Lara."Are you hungry?" he said as he drove."No, I'm fine don't worry,"The whole drive was silent. As soon as they arrived, Cecy went to her room.Ethan watched as she walked up in silence and felt a heartache. He picked up his phone and then called his assistant."President, what can I do for you?""Set up a meeting with Mrs Smith,""But President, you have alot of meetings tomorrow,""Cancel," after saying that he hung up the call,"The next morning, Ethan drove Cecy to the college and after that he walked into a cafe to meet up with Mrs. Smith."Ethan," Mrs Smith said excitedly. She was in high spirits after Ethan's assistant called her and asked to meet up. What she had in mind was that Ethan had changed his mind."It's President for you," Ethan replied with a cold and ruthless face.
"I will do the DNA test," Cecy said nervously. Ethan could feel the hesitation in her voice but he chose to ignore it. Instead, he stretched his hand towards her as an assurance."Don't worry, I'll be here you have me, grandma and Aunt Lin always know that,""Can you drop me off at home so that I can get samples,""Whatever that you want," Ethan felt happy with the decision that Cecy had taken. This step would bring her closer to her freedom.After an hour, Ethan parked in front of the house. Cecy got out first leaving Ethan behind. She walked to the door and then rang the bell. After moving in with Ethan Cecy stopped carrying her own key."What are you..." Before Mrs. Smith could finish yelling she was dumbfounded at the sight behind Cecy .It was none other than Ethan James."President James, you are also here I didn't know that you also came my bad, welcome in don't stand at the door. Cecy go get water," her mood instantly softened and it shocked Cecy ."Cecy , get som
"Hey, its okay I'm here," Ethan said as he parked his car. Despite Cecy saying that she was okay, Ethan knew it bothered her slightly after all she was still human.Cecy turned to him and then smiled slightly."I'll get going then," she opened the car door and then stepped out."I'll pick you up wait for me," he said. He watched as she walked away and then drove after she disappeared."Cecy , are you okay gosh I was so worried," Sandy heaved a sigh of relief when she spotted Cecy .Ever since she became friends with Cecy in kindergarten she knew more than her own parents. Cecy was the kind of person who knew how to hide her pain as she hated bothering others.In kindergarten when others cried for their parents Cecy had already learned how to use the bus or walk to school alone. She was naturally independent more independent than her own sister.Most of the times, Cecy attended her own meetings as her parents were too busy pampering Lara.As she stared at Cecy , Sandy co
"Miss, what did you have to say about your daughter? Miss Lara Smith, was what she said the truth? Miss, please answer us we want to know," one of the female journalists bugged Mrs. Smith with questions.Mrs. Smith had total confidence this was her only way one to back Lara up and also she had finally found a way of humiliating Cecy . She peeped slightly but didn't see Cecy around and knew it was her chance."Enough, I will answer all your questions before that let me introduce myself, my name is Caren Smith the biological mother of Cecy and Lara you all know Lara my daughter a superstar."While saying that, she couldn't help but speak with a lot of pride and happiness that everyone around noticed."I see you love Miss Lara a lot right?" One of the journalists asked unknown to Mrs. Smith that question was a trap.Mrs. Smith wasn't one from a wealthy family so she did not know how cruel and smart the journalists were."Ooh, yes I love her so much," she smiled happily."So what Mis
"Grandma, I missed you have you been behaving well?" Cecy 's mood immediately changed when she walked into the house."Silly girl," the old lady said softly."Grandma, let me check your pulse," after a while she let go of her hand."You seem to be doing well grandma, your insomnia has also been cured,""Yeah, thanks to you, the medicine that you prescribed worked well,""How about I prepare you dinner, what do you think of that?""Sure, but before that, we need to talk," the old lady stared at Cecy despite her cheerful smile she knew something was bothering her. The Old Lady was someone who could see through someone especially someone as open as Cecy ."My dear, you don't have to hold it in you can talk to grandma," hearing that, Cecy immediately understood what she meant."Grandma, what they said is not the whole truth, this is what happened," after narrating the whole incident, she was shocked when the Old Lady chuckled."Silly girl, do you think I'm that weak to believe a str