“I’m sorry, Father. I’m sorry for my lateness. I’m sorry for not being there for you when you needed me!” Amanda pleaded as hot tears dripped from her eyes.
“Amanda,” Terry called her name and slowly opened his eyes, “You don’t have to be sorry. All that matters right now is that I got to see you before my last breath. And, seeing that you are safe and alive means alot to me. Oh, I can finally be relieved…” As he uttered out his last words to his beloved daughter, Terry reached out to hold Amanda’s hand , but the next second, his hand fell back on the bed weakly, his head tilted, and his eyes shut! Beep! Beep! Beep! The ECG was beeping, declaring Terry’s death! “Father? Father!” Amanda called out, tears rolling down her cheeks. She knew that her grandpa was the only one that ever cared about her well-being! “Ah, come on, stop those fake crocodile tears! Who are you trying to deceive in this room? If you truly cared about your father you would have been here long ago. You didn’t show up when he was sick,but now that he is gone all that matters to you alone is his inheritance” said Patrick the eldest son, Uncle mathew. The younger brother of Mr.Terry had a deep sarcasm in his voice. He had never taken Amanda as his niece, and now that she was the biggest beneficiary of his late brother’s legacy, Mathew hated Amanda even more! “Enough of all this drama. We all need to put our hands together and give father a befitting funeral before having a proper discussion of his will.” said Stella as they all reasonably agreed. “Amanda , now that you’re back, Why don’t you come and live with us in the family house.” -Alison asked as she patted Amanda’s back. Stella’s lips curled in disdain, but she was saying merrily, “That’s right, come and live with us! Let’s all live together as one big family. Also, father made a will on his deathbed. I don’t know if anyone has told you about it yet but he wants you to inherit 61% of his company and shares not only that he also entrusted the company into your hands. I’m hundred percent certain that the illness must have confused his brain. How could he leave such a large fortune to a girl who knows nothing about it? Amanda, you and I know that you’re still young and dumb. Just allow your brother or Uncle Mathew to continue to run the business.” Stella said it as if Amanda was meant to follow her instructions. Deep down, Stella was convinced that Amanda was just as stupid as her mother! By the time Amanda moved back to their house, she would be in Stella’s full control. Amanda was glazed. She said coldly, “I don’t want that to bother me right now. All that I'm concerned about right now is to take care of my father's burial. "Well, of course, dear," Stella said with a sugary-sweet smile. "Take all the time you need to mourn. The business can wait. After all, we wouldn't want you to be burdened with something as complicated as running a multi-million-dollar enterprise." Amanda shot Stella a sharp look, her eyes betraying the storm of emotions within. "This isn't about the business right now. It's about my father. Can we please focus on that?" The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Amanda walked out of the hospital alongside the rest of the family. The weight of grief hung heavy on their shoulders, and the reality of Terry's passing began to sink in. Dickson, who heard about the sad news,rushed down to the hospital to sympathise with them. He had been a silent figure in the background until now. "Where do you reside? My driver will give you a ride!" His voice carried a hoarseness, a reflection of the sombre mood that enveloped them. Amanda, her face expressionless, appreciated the offer but declined gracefully. "Thanks, but I drove here." She shook the car keys in her hand, the gesture indicating her independence. The indifferent look on her face made it look like she was simply being polite to a total stranger. The indifference in her demeanour gave the impression that she was merely being courteous to a stranger. However, Amelia, always quick to interpret situations through her own lens, saw it differently. A sudden concern flashed across her face, and she moved closer to Dickson, linking her arm with his. "Amanda, why don't you move back in with us?" Amelia's voice held a hint of desperation, as if trying to salvage something from the wreckage of grief. "At least, you don't have to be alone, and..." Amanda interrupted her, her tone measured but firm. "Amelia, I appreciate the concern, but I need some time alone. I'll be okay." Her gaze shifted from Amelia to Dickson, acknowledging his presence but keeping her emotions guarded. The Gold Ferrari roared out of the parking lot, leaving the crowd behind. The comment about Amanda's seemingly comfortable life without the family's help hung in the air, adding another layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere. "It seems that my sister has been living a good life these years! She could enjoy such a rich life without any help from the family," Patrick remarked, his tone laced with bitterness. Dickson remained silent, his eyes focused on the road ahead. The comment stung, but he chose not to engage in the verbal sparring. Instead, his thoughts drifted to the complexities of his own life. During the four years of Amanda's absence, Dickson had not married Amelia. The realisation that she was not the one for him had settled in over time. However, he had hesitated to end the relationship, bound by family ties and a promise made a decade ago. In the silence that followed, Dickson's mind replayed the events that had shaped his current situation. Ten years ago, a near-drowning incident had forged a different kind of bond between Dickson and Amelia. She had saved him, and in that moment of vulnerability, he had pledged to love and protect her for the rest of his life. It was a promise that had endured, even as the dynamics between them shifted. As the Ferrari cruised through the city streets, Patrick continued his commentary on Amanda's absence. "I bet she was living it up, probably doesn't even care about the family now that she's got her hands on the inheritance." Dickson sighed, finally breaking his silence. "Patrick, grief affects everyone differently. Amanda has her reasons for the choices she made. We should try to understand rather than judge." Patrick scoffed, dismissing Dickson's words. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one dealing with all this drama." Dickson glanced at him, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "We're all in this together, Patrick. Let's not make it harder on ourselves."Amanda has been everyone’s favourite since she was little. She had that successful lifestyle planned out even though she had zero idea of how everything would all play out. But, looking at her today and how well she has worked morning and night to be different from other women made everything possible.“Take a look at Amanda, see how she’s been surrounded with different men and women of calibre. From the way she dresses to the luxury of perfume she has on her body one will tell that she’s now a boss of her own. Unlike Amelia, You are always pessimistic, foolish and insensitive but you have no idea and that’s why people will always use it against you.” Stella couldn’t stop praising Amanda in front of Amelia.“Sister, what has come over you? Why the sudden appraisal towards Amanda?”- Alison questioned her.“Amanda has become the most talked about daughter of our late father. Some of our relatives even forgets that Amanda is not the only child of our father but NO! They all want Amanda.
Terry’s Funeral came up within the span of eight days. The cloud knew that a great hero has fallen down so there was a heavy downpour. Every member of Terry’s family starting from his grand children down to his children, brothers and sisters all pulled up for his funeral except Amanda. Men of Timber and calibre including his long time friends all came to celebrate his death with the media house and their team of reporters.“Did you hear what Terry did to his wealth before he died?” one of the guest asked her friend whom she brought to the funeral celebration.“I don’t know what he did to his wealth. You know that i was out of the country when he passed on.” her friend gave her a quick response.“Oh! That’s true. Anyways, he willed all his property to his daughter,Amanda and gave only ten percent to his remaining children.”“Are you sure about this? I don’t know why i’m finding it this hard to buy in your story. But, why did he do that? Are you sure the remaining children are his?“H
"Amanda, who gave birth to these beautiful kids? Don't tell me that they are both yours Mandy?" Alison asked her the question without giving her any breathing space."They are my children, Alison." answered Amanda as she held Andrew's hand heading towards the direction where the kids were being seated."This is unbelievable to man's eyes. I can't believe that Amanda has two kids yet she refused to let Grandpa see them before he passed on. Who exactly is this girl?" Alison spoke to Patrick who stood beside her."I can't believe that Andrew stoop so low to accept the friendship proposal with our sister." Patrick gave a response to what Alison said.Everyone gave a constant look to what was happening around them, not to mention Amelia and Stella who thought their plans to take over Amanda's property would come to pass.Andrew is the epitome of a dream man. He is tall, dark, and handsome, with chiselled features and a piercing blue gaze. His athletic build is toned and muscular, without
“Ma’am you can’t just drag her out and tell us to our face that there’s no interview when you haven’t given us an answer yet.” the head of the reporters said.“Please, Ma’am just say something to us, even though it’s a line we are open to as long as it comes from you.”one of the reporters spoke to StellaShe clears her throat and sips her wine before saying, “ As for Amelia’s wedding i believe things are going as planned. I can’t speak for her, but from the arrangements I've seen so far the wedding will be held any time soon, Thank you.”“Ma’am, is it true that Amanda will take over your father’s company and also be the one supervising it while you and your siblings are only entitled to ten percent of it?” another reporter asked her the question.“I….I… don’t you all want to know the truth about my father’s will. Well, I can’t watch my father’s company go down the drain just because it’s being headed by someone who is still learning how to walk.”“Are you trying to tell us that Amanda
“Are you okay? I hope your aggressive brother didn’t hurt you at all.”Dickson asked as he followed her to the washroom to wash off her hands stained with blood.“I’m fine, Dickson. You didn’t have to follow me down to this place. Please, Kindly use the exit door and wait for me till I'm done cleaning up.” Amanda responded.“I never knew you possessed this power in you. I thought you were being feminine but seeing the way you treated your brother today made me realise that I haven't studied you well.”Amanda's mood suddenly changed as she turned around to face Dickson. She didn’t want to be over reactive so she rinsed her hands,dried it up with water before leaving the washroom.As she was about leaving the washroom, Dickson threw her off her feet by asking.“Who is the father of your kids, Amanda? How did you get to meet Andrew? Why are you acting so fast? Are you trying to pin those kids to Andrew?”Although Dickson and Amanda are both divorced, Dickson can’t stand the sight of seein
“You dare not pull that stunt on me. Even if you try playing the tape, who do you think the crowd will believe? Is it you whom everyone has tasted your pussy or me that everyone believes to be the cool headed man.”Dickson turned around to clean his runny nose, only to see Amanda with a pen knife closer to his neck like a furious wolf waiting to devour his prey.“Why do you love making my life uncomfortable? Why are you so wicked and mean? What exactly do you want from me?Dickson was dumbfounded as he saw the ire in her. He only straightened up his legs and adjusted his tie to the normal position.Since the past five years he had known Amanda never did he for once imagine that a day like this would come. The calm and submissive Amanda is the one threatening his life like this.But, now she is the one threatening his life with a knife, which he less expected.“Get off me, Amanda! Don’t make me fight you back.”Amanda gave him a deaf ear as she rolled her arms and gave him a heavy blow
“Are you all surprised? I headed and directed C and M Technologies, in charge of the Marketing team. Take a look at the proof of my statement. I know most of you are surprised. Did I just say most of you? I meant all of you. I know you all watched the last month's business reports news and you saw that C and M revenue skyrocketed ,right? I single handedly made that happen.”Everyone was shocked to hear all that Amanda has accomplished.C and M Technologies is every man’s dream company. They pay their workers and staff very well plus every year they all go for an all expense paid trip.For Amanda to be the head and supervise that company made her the youngest supervisor in the world. Who would have thought that the woman once bullied by Dickson would stand out among the crowd?“Hold on for a second. Don’t tell me you are the famous Amanda that my kids do talk about and wish to be like you?“- Aunty Hannah spoke.Amanda smiled confidently and replied, “Yes ma'am, that’s me.”Speechless,
“Amanda, What did you just say? Are you throwing me out of my father’s business?”Amanda looked at Patrick calmly. “Please, don’t take it as if I’m kicking you out or throwing you out of my father’s company. I feel like you are not capable of running it anymore. Patrick, try to grow out of your comfort zone and stop being stagnant!”“I believe you all can see how the company went to point zero when Patrick headed it. Why? He lacked professionalism. He went ahead to employ all his family members forgetting that this is business and not a charity organisation. They all came to feed on us. They don’t even contribute to the growth of the company. If I don't lay them off this company will never grow.”“Wow! Wow! Interesting! I can see how obligated you are.! How in God’s name did Dad raise such a Liability like you Amanda! If only he could wake up from the dead and see all his efforts being wasted. How are you even my sister?” Stella pounded the desk in annoyance , wishing that it was Aman