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There was tension in the air; the guests gasped in amazement as they gossiped and murmured.
Sandra planned to introduce Elena to Mr. Richard at the upcoming Oscar business awards so she could partner with Yellow Sky and Carlton Architecture could finally sign a contract with the firm. MR. Richard Austin was the CEO of Yellow Sky the biggest real estate firm in the city of Eldrador. It would be a piece of cake for Elena to win Mr Richard's heart. Her breathtaking beauty drew the attention of countless men, all she had to do was show up. Suddenly, a tall figure in an expensive-looking black suit appeared and walked amid the hassle. He had a puzzled look planted on his face as he entered the building with classy flowers in his hand. “Babe? What's going on?” He asked, raising a brow as he removed his sunglasses. The Petersons were arguing so loudly that they couldn't hear his voice. Even the guests focused on them. The handsome man walked to the front and asked again “ Babe, is everything fine?” In a worried tone. This time around, everyone noticed him, it was Richard Austin. How could anyone mistake him for someone else? Sandra's scornful look changed into a wide grin, quickly. She was so excited to see Mr Richard, everything seemed to be falling into place. She wiggled forward with a bright smile plastered on her face, “We feel so honored to have you here, sir; come with me; come have a seat.” She chuckled. Mr Richard surveyed Sandra from head to toe boastfully and walked away, ignoring her words. Sandra's face reddened and turned into a museum piece, so stagnant. He pulled Elena into a hug and planted a kiss on her cheeks, as he said “Darling, are okay, you look stressed” Everyone stood still, wondering what was happening. Elena glared at Philip nervously, she studied him for a while as if waiting for him to say something. Philip was confused; he was still trying to process everything Sandra did, and now a strange man whom he had never seen before was caressing his wife. He stared at Richard and yelled angrily “ Who the hell do you think you are?” Ripping his hand off Elena's body. Richard began to giggle, and it only aggravated Philip's anger; he was too confident. “I finally get to meet you in person, Elena told me so much about you.” He stretched forth his arm towards Philip for a handshake, “I'm Richard, Elena's boyfriend.” Philip dusted his words; he left Richards's hands hanging in the air as he glared at Elena, studying her demeanor. He didn't want to believe what he just heard. ‘Is this a dream?’ ‘It's a lie! It's impossible.’ he muttered beneath his breath. Sandra, Martha, and Eugene were also shocked. Nobody was expecting this. “What is this stranger saying? I only believe you; I know you can't do such a thing, Elena.” Philip said as his heart skipped multiple beats, troubled by Elena's silence. Elena sighed, “ He is not a stranger, he's the love of my life, my true love.” she uttered, feeling fulfilled yet pitiful. She glanced at Sandra and her family, they were too stunned to speak, their mouths hung open and their eyes stuck out as she spoke, “I never had feelings for you, Philip. The only reason why I agreed to marry you was because of your kindness towards my grandfather.” She uttered boldly. Five Years ago, Philip saved Elena's grandfather, Michael from a speedy train, pushing him away and getting injured in his place. He sustained severe injuries and Micheal felt extremely guilty, even after paying his hospital bills and visiting him till he recovered. Back then, he spent a lot of time with Philip, and since then, his presence has grown on him. Micheal wanted to express his gratitude towards Philip because he adored him; so he desired for his daughter to marry a good man. At the time, Elena's grandmother just died so Elena was willing to do anything to please him, just to make him happy. “I only agreed to marry you because it was Papa's desire. But I already had a boyfriend, and I couldn't afford to lose him, so I begged Richard to stay.” Elena's words shattered him as she spoke; he started to fidget, “How could you cheat on me, Elena? How! How could you betray me?” He said stammering, his voice trembling. “I have been breeding this plan forever, divorcing you after Papa's funeral, but there was no point extending it since my boyfriend came out of the blue.” Elena chided confidently, “Look, you are a good man, but were you actually expecting a woman of my class to end up with a peasant like you?” “We are from two different worlds,” She continued, folding her arms and taking a deep breath as she chuckled. “I have patiently waited for this day for as long as I can remember.” She sighed, “ At last, we no longer have to be together; besides, Papa is gone,” Elena uttered, smiling, as she held Richard's hand, leaning her head on his broad shoulders. “Yes, sweety,” Richard said and chuckled. “There is no point wasting your time any longer, Elena never loved you. She felt caged in her marriage but that ends today!” He smiled letting out his full set of teeth annoyingly. Philip stiffened at his words, his lips shrunk and wrinkled into a pout as he said, “What?” He felt his heart jump out of his chest. Richard was startled by everyone's expression, it was entertaining to him. He dipped his hands into his pocket and brought out a folded paper then commanded Philip to take it. Philip was shocked as he collected the paper and scanned through it. He couldn't believe his eyes, it was a divorce contract! Sandra walked towards Elena and applauded her, she was surprised. Who would have predicted that Elena was capable of doing something weighing so much gravity? Who? “Woah sis, I must say, you are a diva!” Sandra said, baffled. “Just when I thought you were being hypnotized by your husband, you blew us all away.” “You mean my ex-husband? He was my husband,” she uttered blatantly as she giggled. Her gaze remained on Philip as she gestured for him to sign the papers, “What's taking you so long? Sign it, Philip!” She commanded. Philip laughed out loud, “Hahaha.” People thought he was going crazy. His face molded into a creepy frown the with a smirk on his face he began to clap his hands loudly, and said, ” Wow, Elena, amazing! Fine, let's get a divorce but I'll have to get a lawyer first. I'm leaving, I have to go check up on Alfred.” He glanced at her one more time before leaving and she was baffled by his audacity and indifference in his tone. ‘Did he just walk away?’ Elena thought to herself. She felt he had agreed too easily and that made her feel powerless and insignificant. But he was willing to divorce her, wasn't that what she wanted? Sandra yelled at the top of her voice, “I bet you can't afford a lawyer. Sign the papers now! Get back here Philip! “Get back here now!!!”0004 Philip refused to look back, he walked out with so much grace. He shut his eyes, feeling rage burning on the inside. The woman he had devoted five years of his life to, was cheating on him, leaving him feeling betrayed. As he exited the building, an elderly lady approached him and asked, “Excuse me, please; where is Michael Peterson's funeral taking place?” She stepped out of the latest Bugatti La Voiture Noire and Philip couldn't help but marvel in awe at such elegance. It was Lady Margaret, Micheal Peterson's late wife's best friend in college. She came to pay her condolences to the bereaved. “The next hall to your left” he replied with respect. “Thank you.” She paused for a moment and then asked, “What's your name child?” The old lady inquired as a tall, muscular bodyguard, fully black-suited with dark shades, stepped out of the car to accompany her. Philip became curious at her sudden display of interest. Why did the old lady want to know his name? “Philip, ma'am, my n
0005: Philip marveled at the words the doctor uttered, his jaw hanging open as the doctor explained to him that Alfred's savior was Lady Margaret, and he was shocked. He wished he could thank her in person but she was no longer there. “But who is she?” He inquired. Philip didn't know her name, but after the doctor reminded him of the woman who came to his office earlier, he could immediately recall. He thanked the doctor happily and left the hospital, feeling better than before. “She's a God-sent,” Philip said excitedly, grinning widely as he walked to the parking lot. The fact that he had to return to that house, the house Elenas’ grandfather gifted them as a wedding gift, sickened him. He had no other option but to return there. Where else could he go? He climbed his scooter and took off. In a matter of minutes and a few seconds, Philip was standing in front of his matrimonial home. All the memories of his home suddenly flooded his mind as they turned void and sour, walking
0006: “Hello.. hello? He-” Right there, Philip gave up as he felt rejected. He tried her number several times but she didn't respond. From the look of things, he was going to have to beg Richard for the money he turned down earlier. It was already getting dark. Where would he go? He rested on a wall and bent down tiredly. He heard the sound of a car approaching the gate and he suspected the owner. If it was possible to dig a pit and bury himself inside right now, he would have done it. The security guard opened the gate and Elena drove out. Upon sighting him she raised a brow and said, “Philip, what are you still doing here?” She mumbled, frowning. “Woah, you are one of a kind though. You have nowhere to go, yet you rejected my man's money?” His expression was cold as he snarled. “I don't need your money!” Philip uttered and Elena snorted a laugh of mockery. Philip was baffled by how his wife's attitude towards him changed so quickly. Did he mean so little to her? “You a
0007: Philip asked, with confusion boldly embedded on his face.”My parents ?”He wondered how the divorce issue he had just shared with her was related to his parents. He started to feel like he was giving too much information to a stranger. The question is was she a stranger? Clarissa remained quiet, making herself invisible because she felt they were having a serious conversation. But Lady Margaret didn't mind; she was like family after all. Clarissa's mother used to be Lady Margaret's caretaker for years, but now that her mother has passed, she decided to stick around and help out despite the number of maids in the huge mansion. She was fond of her, and Lady Margaret adored her. She watched Clarissa grow into the woman she has become today and supported her and her mother endlessly. Lady Margaret asked, “Are they alive?” “No, madam. I'm an orphan” Philip answered her. “Oh, I see.” She became quiet, letting out a faint smile, “But you should have known them ?” Philip expla
0008: Lady Margaret moved around the house nervously as a heavy realm of silence enveloped the William's villa. Clarissa's eyes sprouted, shooting a troubled look. "Grandma please drink your green tea. You need to calm down" Everyone was eagerly awaiting the doctor's arrival. Lady Margaret could not take her gaze off the foyer, staring at the doorway as if her life depended on it. Philips was glued to the couch, his eyes fixed on Lady Margaret, his palms damp with sweat, and his heart beating out of his chest nonstop. He felt a glimmer of hope while he waited patiently for the doctor, glancing at the wall clock from time to time. If he were truly Lady Margaret's grandson, he was going to make Elena pay for her actions! “I'll make sure they all regret what they have done, they shall cower at my feet!” He muttered quietly to himself. Doctor Gray, Lady Margaret's family physician, arrived promptly. Without delay, a DNA test was carried out right away and sent to the lab for resul
0009: After Philips' cold request, he lowered his head respectfully and waited for her response. A bodyguard in a dark suit approached her, lowered himself, and guarded his words as he whispered into their ear. Suddenly, she stood up and picked up her handbag swiftly. She had to leave quickly for an important meeting. Though She was old, she remained very active and agile. Lady Margaret uttered with urgency evident in her voice, “Let's do this when I get back. We will talk about this when I am back.” He nodded and smiled faintly in agreement. Then he and Clarissa watched her walk to the doorway, leaving them both alone. The air grew awkwardly silently as they stared into each other's eyes like strangers. Clarissa wished he was able to remember her but he couldn't. She observed he wasn't much of a talker, but she stayed quiet and waited for him to say something, anything! She was doing all the talking earlier and it made her feel like she was doing too much. Philip just stoo
0010"Ah – Grandma!” Clarissa yelled as she sat next to Lady Margaret in the dining area with her hands guarding her unstable and trembling shoulders. Philip heard Lady Margaret's breathing loudly and he became tensed. “Please get her some water. Clarrisa said nervously, with visible fright in her humid gaze, “We have to take her to the hospital.”“C'mon, breathe, just breathe,” She said, her fingers slipping through her thinning gray hair.Looking up at Philip who was still standing erect as if he had suddenly lost his ears. Angrily, Clarissa gasped and screamed at him compellingly, “Make it snappy!” A sense of guilt flushed down his face, he began to regret snapping back at his grandmother in such a tone and manner. But how else could he have handled it?He rushed to the kitchen to get Lady Margaret a glass of water and came out in no time with a tray in his hands.Lady Margaret became unconscious after she heard Philip's response. He wondered if she was just being overly dramatic
0011:Lady Margaret was happy to hear Philip finally say those words, and she quickly agreed to get treated.*******“Please I need you to try your best to save her!” He said domineeringly.“Mr. Philip, it's a terminal condition; the chances of her surviving are very low…” He spat furiously.Abruptly, He hammered his fist on the table with his eyes popped out causing Clarissa to freeze and her face to flush in red, then he said, “Don't you fu**ing tell me that!” Philip growled anxiously, She must not die!! I don't know how you plan on doing that, but you must make it happen.” The doctor cowered in his seat and nodded in fright, agreeing with him, “Ye – yes sir. I.. we will try everything we can.” He said, fidgeting.Philip left the doctor's office, his chest protruding out, with Clarrissa walking behind him. He feared losing Lady Margaret and he was amazed by how much it bothered him.They got into Lady Margaret's car. He tightened his fists on the steering and paused for a while bef