Laura's hands trembled slightly as she slid her phone onto the table after ending the call with her father. The conversation had begun with unusual warmth, something she rarely expressed toward him, but it had ended with bitterness that left her chest burning.
"Hello, Dad, how are you?" she had asked, her tone soft, her words carefully chosen.
The question had caught Dr. Jude off guard. For a man who prided himself on control, for a father who had long grown accustomed to Laura's resistance, the sudden gentleness had sounded unusual. He composed himself quickly, clearing his throat before responding with practiced calm.
"I am pretty good," he said. Then, almost out of habit, he asked, "Are you?"
"Yes," Laura answered. She paused, gathering her courage. "I just called to check on you. I am at a friend's place, but I will be coming home soon. I would love to talk things out with you."
Her words hung in the air like a fragile offering.
Dr. Jude's lips curled into a knowing smile. He could not resist addressing what he already knew. "Laura, you cannot be wiser than your ancestors. You went to visit my friend Harrison so that he could try to convince me. How do you think it is possible for me not to hear of such a thing? Or even possible for him to do that? We both know the truth. We know and want what is best for you. Harrison is a party to this matter, and you have to go with what I tell you to do."
Laura's fingers clenched around the phone as his voice struck her like iron. She waited until he stopped before replying, her tone firm but controlled. "Oh, I did go to him, and I think that is the reason I want to see you."
Jude exhaled softly, his tone shifting. "Ok, darling." He smiled as he said it, though his smile was not born of warmth but of confidence that he had outmaneuvered her.
What Laura did not realize at first was that Jude was not alone during this exchange. He had made the conversation in the company of his wealthy associates. The moment he ended the call, they all laughed loudly, mocking the idea of Laura's resistance.
But Laura had heard them. She had been paying close attention. The voices of his friends had echoed through the receiver before he hung up, and she knew exactly what that laughter meant.
Her eyes burned with anger. She quickly ended the call herself and whispered bitterly into the silence of her room. "Excuse me, Dad, do I not deserve privacy too? Why would you bring your money minded friends into our conversation? I think it is time I handle this."
Without hesitation, she forwarded Felix's email to Jude, a silent declaration of her intent. When the message was gone, she threw the phone onto the bed, her heart racing with a mix of anger and defiance.
Even her mother, who was supposed to protect her, had shown no understanding of privacy. Laura muttered harshly to herself. "Even Mom does not know what privacy means. Losers!" Her voice cracked under the weight of her disappointment.
She sat heavily on the edge of her bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as if trying to create an image of her next move. She pictured the scene of their intended deceit. She envisioned herself and Felix standing together, convincing the world, and most importantly, convincing their parents.
Her lips curled into a defiant smile. "I will get Charles to his knees. He thinks I have no plan. He has no idea." Her voice trembled with both fury and confidence.
Just then, the door creaked open and Bridgette stepped into the room. She looked at her friend with mild concern.
"Laura, you have been inside for too long. Won't you come out and see the grandeur of the streets? The day is beautiful," Bridgette suggested gently.
Laura shook her head. "My mind is far from that which you have said. I am contemplating what Felix told me. He came up with a plan, and I am thinking about the result."
Bridgette's curiosity sharpened. She stepped closer and folded her arms. "That sounds serious. What is the idea, Laura? I am your friend. You have no reason to keep it from me." Her voice carried a soft plea.
Laura hesitated, then finally told her everything. She narrated Felix's proposal to stage a relationship and to present themselves as partners before their families.
Bridgette listened intently, her eyes widening with every detail. When Laura finished, Bridgette leaned forward, her voice dropping into a teasing tone. "And what if I tell you that Felix would be a perfect man for you? Because, honestly, how can you both be so connected?"
Laura rolled her eyes immediately. "That is exactly why I kept it from you. I knew you would say this. Our connection is not built on romance, Bridgette. We are simply trying to figure out our freedom. That is all." She smirked playfully and added, "Bridgette, love girl! Learn."
Her joke broke the tension, and Bridgette laughed, shaking her head. She understood Laura's resistance but could not deny what she saw.
"It is a good idea," Bridgette admitted, her tone softening. "But you still have to be cautious so that you do not mistakenly fall for Felix." She ended her words with another playful chuckle, and both of them laughed together until the heaviness of the moment lifted slightly.
Not long after, Bridgette left for work, leaving Laura alone once again. The silence of the room returned, pressing heavily against her chest. She lay back for a while, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind restless.
Finally, she reached for her phone again. Her nerves were taut, but her decision was clear. She dialed Charles.
The call connected, and before he could even greet her, she unleashed her fury.
"Hey, loser, listen carefully. I do not want to have you anywhere close to me again. I have my own life to live. Go and figure out who your missing rib is, because it is definitely not me."
Charles froze at the insult, his hand tightening on his phone. His voice, when it came, was soft but desperate. "Laura, you are the first love of my life. I love you, and I want you to be the mother of my children. Is that not a good thing? I have everything you would ever need in this life."
Laura's eyes narrowed, her patience snapping like dry twigs. "Oh, shut it. I am not interested in your wealth. Do you not realize I already have everything I need? My father is a billionaire. Why would I need anything from you? Do you honestly think your aid has any use?"
Her voice was sharp with mockery. She did not wait for his reply. She hung up the call.
Charles sat stunned, his pride collapsing under the weight of her words. He tried to call her back, but every attempt was blocked. He moved to his laptop to send her an email, only to find that she had already blocked his address as well.
His frustration boiled over. He sat in his office, surrounded by luxury, but feeling nothing but misery. His beautiful leather seat offered no comfort. His face twisted in pain as he realized just how deeply she despised him. He felt denigrated, stripped of the respect he believed he deserved.
In a fit of desperation, he rose from his seat and decided to confront the matter head on. He went straight to Dr. Jude's residence, determined to speak with the man who had promised him Laura's hand.
What Charles did not know was that Laura herself had made up her mind to visit her father at that same time.
And so, as fate would have it, both of them arrived together, their paths colliding at the gates of Dr. Jude's mansion.
The moment Charles saw her, he rushed forward. His face was drawn with desperation, his voice breaking.
"Laura, there you are. Let us talk." He reached out to her as though grasping for the last straw of his sinking pride.