It was finally the weekend, and today marked two whole months of Daniel and I being together. I was so excited that I jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs.
"Good morning, Aunt Grace!" I said cheerfully.
But she ignored me.
That silence stung. Aunt Grace had been upset with me ever since I started dating Daniel. She insisted there was something off about him, that I was too young for romance. But I didn't feel that way. I loved Daniel. I couldn't just let him go.
Still, her attitude hurt. It was the first time I had ever disobeyed her, and it felt like I had lost a part of her trust. But I pushed the thought away and focused on what mattered today—my surprise for Daniel.
"What should I prepare for him?" I murmured to myself.
"Prepare for who?"
I froze. Aunt Grace's voice came from right behind me. Fear gripped me, and without answering, I bolted out of the room, running until I reached the garden. My heart pounded as I quickly pulled out my phone.
I dialed the number of a surprise vendor I had found online and booked a $1000 package for Daniel. The excitement bubbling inside me made me scream with joy.
A few hours later, I was dressed and ready. Today was going to be special. I didn't even know Daniel's house, so I had secretly hired someone to tail him until I got the address. Finally, I was about to surprise him!
When I stepped outside, one of the security men informed me that Mr. James wasn't around.
"What? Where could he have gone?" I muttered angrily, panic rising in my chest.
The vendor was already calling me to pick up the package, so I had no choice but to book a cab. Ten minutes later, I arrived, collected the beautifully wrapped package, and smiled from ear to ear. The vendor's shop was just a stone's throw from Daniel's house, so I decided to head straight there.
When I reached Daniel's gate, I lifted my hand to knock, but froze at the sound of familiar voices.
"Kendra is so dumb. She irritates me so much, always bossing me around. I honestly can't wait for us to milk her dry," Daniel's voice sneered.
My entire body went cold.
"Don't worry, Dad," Daniel continued. Dad? My heart sank. "You'll stop working for her soon enough. You won't have to drive that spoiled princess around anymore. I'm planning to ask her for a million dollars, and I'm sure she'll give it to me. She's already given me so much in the past two months. She'll do anything for me. Besides, she isn't loved at home."
Laughter filled the air.
Then another voice—Mr. James's voice—joined in. "Daniel, make sure you get a video of her naked tonight. With that, we can blackmail her for even more money."
My world shattered.
I stumbled backward, tears blurring my vision. At that moment, the front door opened, but I was already gone, running as fast as I could.
I reached a bus stop and collapsed onto a bench, sobbing.
"Aunt Grace was right," I cried. "None of this makes sense anymore. Mr. James is Daniel's father? Was all this… planned? Including the way we met?"
The weight of betrayal crushed me. I truly loved Daniel. But now? Could I leave him? Could I ever accept this cruel fate?
"GOD!!!" I screamed into the empty street, my voice breaking.
I walked aimlessly, not caring where my feet carried me. The distance home was long, but I didn't notice. Pain numbed me. The skies opened, and rain poured down, mixing with my tears. I welcomed it. At least the rain could wash away what my heart could not.
When I finally reached home, the guards stared at me as though I were a ghost. They had never seen me so broken.
"Aunt Grace!" one of them called urgently.
She rushed out, her face pale with worry. "Kendy, dear, what happened? Why do you look like this? And where's Mr. James? Why are you alone?"
"Aunt Grace…" I whispered weakly before darkness swallowed me.
"KENDRA!!! Someone call the doctor!" Aunt Grace screamed as I collapsed into her arms.