LOVING THE REJECTED BILLIONAIRE

Four hours later!

Four hours later!

My mom walks to my room. She must be thinking I am deep asleep that’s why she is almost tiptoeing. If only she knew I have built like a hundred castles in the air since I laid on this bed because I haven’t even blinked!

I sit down, acknowledging her presence.

She is still mad, but at least now she can spare me a glance and a faint smile.

“Do you feel any better?” She asks, still standing.

I nod my head, lying, because nothing feels better at all. I don’t know if leaving was a good idea, because now I have absolutely no idea what is going on back in Andy’s house.

Has he already found out that I left? How is he? And Angel? My poor girl! I hope she forgives me for this.

I can’t help but worry, especially with the picture of that witch back there. She must be swimming on cloud nine now thinking that she has won.

May the devil lick her ass!

I know my Andy will come for me!

“Despite being away from me for months, you are still my daughter. I know you so well. You can’t lie to me.””I’m sorry, mother. I know this isn’t what you would have expected from your daughter. I mean, me falling in love with a complicated man like Andy. But tell me, mother, do we get to tell our hearts who to fall in love with?””You falling in love with him isn’t the problem, Tania. The problem is that you didn’t care to find out who he really was. If he was really divorced. You just trusted him so blindly, and look at where that has lent you, huh?””I love him, mother. Despite all this, despite his complications, I love him so much.””Someone is here to see you. Come downstairs.” She walks out without commenting on my love for Andy. Will they ever understand me on this?

He is here? Andy came already? I kick the duvet aside, and walk out.

With a racing heart, I walk downstairs, but I can’t help the disappointment I feel when I don’t see his face in our dining area.

So, he sent her? Instead of him coming to talk to me, he sent someone? I can’t believe it!

First of all, I feel like slapping this ambassador of his across her face.

And why is she wearing this look, huh? Is guilt consuming her?

Ooh, seems like I was right all along, huh!

“Tania, my friend!” She hugs, a hug that I don’t reciprocate. She notices my disinterest, and pulls away from me, bowing down. “I’m sorry.”Sorry? Sorry! Will her apologies take away all this pain that is tearing me into pieces? Will her sorry undo all the harm that has already been done? Will her stupid sorry solve a damn? Sorry, my ass!

“So, you knew?” I ask softly, preventing the anger I feel towards her from busting out. She has the guts to nod her head. The guilt and shame can’t even allow her to look me straight in the face. “But you hid it from me! You chose to keep me in the dark all this while! Why?”My parents and siblings are watching the show in confusion. Nobody seems to understand what is happening, and I feel bad that they have to find out this way. But this snake of a friend has to explain this backstabbing betrayal. I can’t believe she can do this to me. Why?

“I know you must be thinking so I’ll of me, my friend, and…””Friend? Give me a break, please! A friend doesn’t betray you, especially not like this!””Believe it or not, Tania, I did it for you and Adrian. Adrian deserves to be happy after what that woman did to him. That bitch had no right whatsoever to return? She has no right, Tania! You are the right one for him, not that woman who…””She isn’t just any woman, Rita!” I shout, shocking everyone.

“I know! And it’s precisely for that same reason that I decided to hide the truth from you. I know how much you respect bonds and ties, I knew you will not allow yourself to love Adrian if you knew who he was married to. I wanted you two to be happy without any obstacles.””Rita, you brought me from here and bundled me into my cousin’s home. You watched me slowly fall in love with my cousin’s husband. I even confided in you before everything blew out of proportion, but what did you do? You watched me drown in this mess and did nothing! I asked you a thousand times where his wife was, who she was, what if she returns. I can’t believe you were that courageous to lie to my face like that. You watched me prepare for my wedding. You witnessed how afraid I was when I was shopping for my gown, but even then, you chose to lie to me. I felt something was odd that day and I told you, but like always, you comforted me with your lies. I didn’t deserve any of this. I would have understood it if it was another woman, Rita, but my very own cousin? Do you know how dirty I feel?””I.. I am sorry to cut you short my dear,” my father interrupts, “but, what are you two talking about?””Adrian’s wife, the father, is none other but.. ma.. Ma.. ria. Maria Rodgers!””Maria?” The four mouths shout in unison.

Who wouldn’t be surprised? The coincidence is just mind-boggling! Or so I thought, but now I know it wasn’t just a coincidence. My good friend here wanted me in this situation.

My family drop to their seats, one by one. No one is saying a word to the other. All the four pairs of their eyes were on me, still in bewilderment.

“Adrian loves you, Tania. He is losing his mind back there. Please come back.” Rita begs.

“Did he know? Was he aware that Maria and I are related?”I’m sorry Andy, but there are so many miseries in this that I don’t know what to believe anymore. I need to confirm.

I cross my fingers, in the hope that her response will not in any way contradict Andy. I hope it’s true that he knew nothing.

“No.”

I breathe out a sigh.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“How come?”

“We hid it from him too. I thought it was best if none of you knew.””Now you see where your smart brain has gotten us to, Rita. Just leave. I need to be with my family.””No, Tania, please! You need to see Adrian. He is worried sick! He turned into a wild beast since he learnt of your disappearance. He wants you back.””Tell him that, time, is all that I need. I am with my family, not in a den of lions. He has no reason to worry.””You don’t get it! He ordered me not to go back without you, Tania. Please, I’m begging you!””Tell him that I am not an object to be pushed anyhow. I need time to think. Just go now.””If that’s what you want. But I must warn you, Tania, he will not be himself until you come back to him. I’m afraid of facing him, but I know I can’t force you to come with me. Take care!”She turns to leave, but I remember about Angel.

“Rita?” She stops, turning to me, “how is Angel?””She was still asleep when I left, but I am sure she will not give Adrian any peace until she sees you. You know how much the poor kid loves you, Tania. Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind?””No. Take care on your way back!”

She nods her head, and walks out to her car outside.

“I’m sorry, Tania! But you are letting Maria walk all over again!” Mina says before I can even sit down.

I ignore her and sit down.

I don’t need anybody to remind me how much I have lost to that witch! Especially not someone who knows nothing about love.

“I agree with your sister. I didn’t raise a coward for a daughter!”What?

“Mother?”

She can’t be talking like this! I thought she didn’t approve of this relationship from the beginning? No, I’m sure! Shouldn’t she be madder at me right now?

“Just how much more do you have to lose to that Maria? Are you that weak? Do you even love this Adrian as much as you say?””Mother, you know I do!”

“Then fight for your love! Defend what is yours!””But mother? She is his wife! She is my cousin!””Ooh, come on, sis! Do you think Maria would be caring right now if she was the one in your place? Did she even think twice before snatching Damian from you? Sorry, but you are being too sentimental over nothing! Show that bitch how strong Tania Lawson is!” Mira speaks.

What changed here? Do they like Andy for me that much, or do they just want me to get back at Maria?

“You know dear, in this life, you give people exactly what they deserve. They are all right. You have let that woman walk over you since you were kids. She may be his first wife, but she left. Does he love her? Does he want her back? From Rita’s explanation, Andy is just a victim like you are. Are you going to throw away your happiness like that to a person like Maria?”Even father!

But aren’t they all right?

“Listen, Tania. When you love someone, you fight for them, and protect them from anything and anyone. You went against us just to prove how much you loved Adrian. Why is that you can’t go against Maria? You told me a while ago that you can not choose who to love. I tell you what, true love comes once. If you let Maria win this war, you will be miserable for the rest of your life. Is that what you want for yourself? Because I don’t want that for any of my children.”Ooh, mother!

I don’t want that for myself either!