Annalise's POV
After cleaning the place, I rushed to the hospital where Derek was taken to. Mother had left me at home after calling Benson, my husband. In the car, I couldn't help but panic. I took Derek to school this morning, and he was fine. How could he have just collapsed?When we reached the hospital, I rushed in before asking the lady behind the desk for directions. She showed me the way to Derek's room.I barged in only to freeze. Looking around, I found mother, Benson, and father in the room. Mother was crying bitterly, I shook my head with my eyes closed,"No," I muttered, my body trembling and soul unwilling to accept the truth before me.I forced myself to move from where I stood by the door to the bed, it couldn't be my son that the doctor was covering with a white cloth. No!"Doc… doctor? What is…. Is going on?" I stuttered."I'm sorry," he replied but I ignored him as I made my way to my boy. My son, my only son."Derek?" I called, taking the cloth off his face,"Ma'am," a nurse called."Derek?" My voice was raspy and hoarse."What's happening?" I asked the Doctor, "Why isn't my boy responding?"They all looked down at the ground, it was like I wasn't speaking to them. Tears continued to drop down my eyes,"Derek!" I screamed this time, shaking him. Derek always responds to me when I call him, why isn't he speaking? He can't be dead. He can't"Doctor, what the hell is going on?!?" I yelled, "He only collapsed in school, right? Why isn't he speaking?""Ma'am, you have to calm down," the doctor said."No, no, no!" I yelled as I tried to wake Derek up, shaking him. My body trembled, cold enveloped me, and my fingers were shaking. I couldn't hear the sound of anything anymore."Derek! Derek!" I cried falling on his small body. I pressed my face to his chest as I cried bitterly. Oh no, this wasn't the plan. This has never been the plan. How can I lose my son?Soon, I felt a hand hold me saying,"Annalise, you have to stop screaming like that" It was Benson my husband who was speaking,I pulled my hand from his grip when I noticed he was trying to separate me from my son. I am going nowhere. He dare not try me. I am not staying away from my son."You have to take her out," the doctor said as he tried to cover Derek's face again with the cloth but I kept taking it off. My boy isn't dead, he can't die"Ma'am Please….""Annalise, get the fuck up and get out of the room now!" Mother yelled. My eyes widened as I remained kneeling on the ground."Out where?" I asked like a mad woman, it is where Derek is that I would be also. So where should I go to?"You are asking me such a question, you swine!?!" She yelled as she marched towards me. I didn't even have any time to move back or apologize, I was too weak to do anything."You bitch, you were the one who killed Derek!" She yelled and my eyes widened,"What?" I choked on my saliva. Was she accusing me of killing my child?I turned to Benson who was also staring back at me. He wasn't saying anything, he wasn't doing anything. He stared blankly at me. No emotions, no pain or grief."You think we will not know that you are the one who killed our son?"Why would I do that? Why will I kill my child? Why will l kill my source of joy and my best friend? Why?"Mother—""The doctor asked you to leave the room. Let's all go out" Benson said, causing me to turn my head to him. He wants me to leave my son?"Benson—""Annalise, go out!" He ordered with a stern voice that made me tremble. I looked at my son who was already covered with a white cloth and burst into tears again. I do not know what to do, I feel lost right now.My eyes were red already, and as I cried some more, I felt someone pull me aggressively from the ground. My eyes shot up to see Mother pulling me by the wrist out of the room"Mother, wait. Wait", I cried but they all pulled me out of the hospital before throwing me to the ground as if I was dirt to them.The pain in my heart knows no bounds as I continue to shed tears. I didn't bother to stand up as I cried,"What a waste. You dare to kill your child. What a shame" Mother clicked her tongue. I was about to respond to her when I heard Benson ask,"Is it true?" The question rang double time in her head when Benson asked it. It was okay hearing it from mother or father but from Benson?"Benson, you think—""It's a question that demands an answer. Is it true what Mother is saying?" He asked again, breaking my heart. He was staring right back at me without a drop of tears in his eyes. I sniffed,"Benson, I would never, never in my life. Derek is my son. I will never kill a stranger let alone my own son""We don't really know what that dark heart of yours is thinking. I will appreciate it if you tell the truth" Mother sneered. She doesn't look like someone who had cried just a while ago."Why then did you come late if you don't have a hand in his death?" Benson asked and I furrowed my brows, really? Wasn't he supposed to let me mourn first?My eyes moved from my husband to his mother who was staring at her son. I was sweating already, my body shaking and on my knees, I said,"Bens—""Shut up!" His mother yelled, "Answer the question!""I said no! I will never kill anyone! You're lying! I did not kill my son!!" I blaze, turning towards my mother-in-law, frustration, anger, and agony working hand in hand as I stared at her.How can someone be so inhumane?!“How dare you talk to my mother like that?!” Benson growled, and spun me around, his large rough palm connecting to my cheek which immediately led to my blackout.Annalise's POV"Annalise! Annalise!" The banging of the door woke me up. It was Benson and I don't see why he needed to bang the door so hard when the door was unlocked.That man slapped me unconscious! They immediately brought me back to consciousness in the same hospital where my son died. I pushed myself from the floor I had slept on last night. They had literally dragged me out of the hospital yesterday because I didn't want to leave my son. I can't still believe that my Derek is gone.I cried till I slept off, right here on the floor. My body arches badly, and I felt numb on my feet but I tried to go and get the door since Benson kept knocking"Benson," I opened, my voice hoarse from extensive crying. His mother was standing behind him, along with the lady whom I had planned to disfigure her face one day because of her vile attitude. I still don't understand what she is always doing here in this house. "Here," Benson passed me a paper, more of a document when I looked at it.I
Annalise's POVIt's been two weeks since I was driven out of my husband's house. Benson without mercy had thrown my things out like he planned it years ago even before Derek died. They didn't let me mourn my son, and neither did they allow me to attend his burial nor to say my final farewell. I was forced to go back to my mom and grandma. They had cried with me and also made sure I didn't drown myself in sorrow. The pain I felt in my heart was so strong that I felt sick; for days I was bedridden. Feeling a lot better today, I decided to visit my son. It was something I wanted to do days ago but I was prohibited from leaving the house till I got well. Making sure no one I knew was around, I made my way to the graveside. On the stone was written Derek Benson Walford, my heart tightened as till now, I still couldn't understand how he died. A once jovial child went to school and never returned. "Derek, what happened?" I choked as I tried to ask. I knew he wouldn't respond but I just w
Annalise's POV"Why can't you both just believe me that I treated a man who was sick?" I asked with a frown."Let's agree you treated a man who was sick all by yourself. Why didn't we see anyone when we came in?" Mother asked as she tried not to chuckle. I pouted, I did treat someone. I somehow slept off staring at the handsome man who was lying next to me. I don't know if I slept off but the next time I woke up, it was Grandma's call. When I asked about the man, they kept asking who I was talking about. When I woke up, I couldn't find the handsome man beside me any longer. He was gone, and his wheelchair was gone too. "He left before I woke up," I responded. "But you also said he was crippled, right? How is it that he saw himself out without any help from you? I didn't help him nor did you?" Grandma asked Mother who shook her head also, she was laughing. They don't believe me. I've been trying to convince them since last night but they don't believe me. I had even shown them th
Annalise's POV“I refuse,” we all heard the cold voice from behind me and I veered around to see Mother’s sharp eyes staring at the man said to be my father.Mother hardly gets angry, she is a carefree woman and hardly has issues with anyone, if she is refusing the man, then it is mainly for a good reason. But this man before us happens to be powerful and wealthy. Could she be able to fight if the men decide to really reply to her?I turned to look at the man whose eyes were no longer holding warmth. The temperature had suddenly dropped in the room making me gulp. Without being told that the man was wealthy, one would be able to guess because of how he carried himself. He waved his hand at the man who stood a few steps behind him and the man left, rooting out his phone from his pocket.The room was quiet until I heard the door closed. The man asked,“What right do you have to refuse?” his words were empty, without emotions like one more wrong word from mother could cost her a lot. I d
Annalise's POV. Immediately the door clicked shut, mother dropped on my tiny bed and facepalmed herself, a loud sigh escaping her mouth. I creased my brow as I observed her for the fewest seconds before I gently moved sluggishly towards her and took my seat. "Mother, you need to calm down." I mused, my hand on her shoulder.I was in a total state of stupefaction and disarray, I was supposed to be the angry one here. I have the right to question and get incensed at her because she knew who my father was and didn't bother to tell me, however, I know that getting angry would only worsen the whole situation. I needed to keep calm and reason with my mother, she was looking disturbed. Extremely disturbed and that's very unlike my mother. Mother is the calmest soul I've ever met, what could trouble her so much? I heard her sniff and I felt some sort of apprehension in me, "Mother, deep breath, just calm down, worrying so much won't solve this problem, I don't even know what is going on,
Annalise's POVHere I am, seated in a luxurious car heading to a place I do not know. Looking out the window, I could tell that my life had made a great turn because it would never be the same again. Not when my father is a world-known doctor who is a multi-billionaire. When I agreed to follow him, I did that because I wanted to get to know him. See why mother isn't so happy with the arrangements. They had treated me like a princess the minute I stepped out of the house with my bag. One of the men of black had immediately come to take my bag from me. Another one helped me with the door These treatments were foreign to me especially after getting married to Benson. Others would think as Mrs Benson I was enjoying the luxury of a rich husband but they were so wrong because I was worse than a church rat. They treated me like dirt, and my mother-in-law didn't want to see me at all. She insulted me in the presence of my so-called husband and he did nothing about it. Although I hated the
Annalise's POV. "What are we doing here?" The question left my parted mouth as my eyes scanned the seemingly endless villa in front of me. Is this heaven? "Welcome to our little home, darling." Father's voice rang in my head and my jaw dropped.Home? Little?Seriously, what's this wealthy people's definition of a little?Turning towards him, I asked, "Is this your home, for real?" He smiled and extended his hand towards me. With a deep breath, I placed my hand on him and he began to lead the way towards the house. My eyes were darting from one place to the other and I can't help but wish to stay a little longer and ravish this moment. This is too captivating, I've only seen such buildings on television, and now... My father owns one, one that's way better than any I've ever seen. Suddenly, my step slowed when I noticed some people lined up in two rows; they were both men and women and they were finely dressed. "Don't be nervous, mom must have arranged this little welcome for yo
Annalise's POV."Yes Naana, like what the fuck is going on? I had left the hospital thinking that you have an important announcement to make and you... Gosh! C'mon, this is just insane!" Another yelled and I subconsciously took some steps backward, I just wanna run home as fast as my legs could carry me right now.Seeing all these reminds me of my ex-husband's home, the way I was treated there was the same way I'm being downgraded here. It seems like everyone is out to get me in this world. "Will you all shut up!" Grandma snapped and I flinched due to the gravity of her command.Grandmas are sweet... Yeah but why does this one sound like those action grannies in Chinese movies?"I'm so sorry, mothers-in-law, the kids are just lost. You know how the workload at the hospital is tight, they're all just wondering why you would call them home urgently." A young woman expressed calmly and my eyes squinted, I don't know but I felt like she was faking her apologies."Whatever..." Grandma mut