The glowing lights that filled Campbell's residence shone through the incoming dusk with so much glory, causing the building to stand out.
It was July the 8th; a day they specially dedicated to celebrate their family history and origin and this had become a historical event for the Campbells that they did annually. It is often characterized by beautiful decorations, lighting and tasty meals. It was almost as large as a ball only that they hosted it right in their home. Countless guests would troop in to take in the affluence the family willingly exposed and they would interact with the upper class individuals, flexing their wealth in every way they knew how to. Today was just like every other day and the dinner party had come to an end and the Campbells had just bid the last set of guests goodnight, before shutting the world out. The matriarch of the family, Daphne walked across the living area where the party had happened and cast a loathsome gaze at Roman who was busy wiping the glass cups that were used by the guests. “I want to believe that those glass cups will be handled perfectly because if I see any cracks, I would add some cracks to your empty skull.” Her face showed how vicious her heart was towards him as she rolled her eyes and walked past him, inspecting the rest of the dishes. Roman simply nodded and focused on his task as though his life depended on it. He clearly did not want to get into any sort of trouble with Daphne. “Everyone, gather here. I have got an announcement to make,” Amanda yelped with undeniable excitement, spelt out in her voice. “What could this be? Are you finally moving out of my house?” Daphne teased with a dampened smile. “Mother…” Amanda whined, “why do you want me out so badly?” “I was joking. Okay, let it out, what is this announcement? My ears are itching to hear what you have to say.” Amanda cleared her throat in preparation to divulge the news she had for her family while Roman wiped the glass with dedication, wondering what it was she wanted to say. “Guys, I am pregnant!” She spilled the tea with excitement and Roman's hands began to shake till the glass cup slipped out of them and crashed to the floor. “You're what?” Daphne and Jemma; Amanda's sister, chorused in unison. “You cannot mean what you just said!” Daphne yelled. “How can you allow yourself to get pregnant for that weak, godforsaken fellow?” Jemma asked with a dumbstruck face and a glance at Roman who was still filled with awe at the rude awakening news he had just heard. How could she be pregnant? His mind raced with several thoughts. “We have never had sex since we tied the knot. How then did this occur?” As though she had read him through his thoughts, Amanda replied sharply with a vigorous shaking of her head accompanied by a heartfelt, “May God forbid such an incredulous situation. How would you ladies even think so low of me?” She let out a sigh of disgust and rolled her eyes at Roman who shifted his gaze from her daunting gaze. “I have never let that half man lay his filthy hands on me. Why should I?” She mocked him before turning to her mother and sister who were now visibly excited. She flipped her hair proudly and her eyes danced with excitement, “I am having a child with Colton Paterson, the wealthiest and most wanted Bachelor in Los Altos hills, California!” “Oh my God!” Jemma exclaimed, “this is something to be proud of, sister. You finally made us proud!” “I must say that I am heavily impressed by your choice. How did you two even meet?” Daphne asked, her face lit with excitement. “Don't bother about the details mummy, just know that your daughter is getting hitched with the man of her dreams, not that waste of a man seated in that wheelchair!” Roman felt his heart tearing apart as he listened to his wife, Amanda and her family speak so many ill and vulgar things about him. He was filled with confusion and wondered what he had to do, whether to wheel himself out of their presence or to sit there like a statue while they hurled insults at him. “Just look at him seated there, so helpless and unable to do anything for himself. Such a weak man,” Daphne grunted and cursed him. “So, you are definitely going to get rid of this fool in no distant time, isn't it” Jemima seemed the most excited about her sister's pregnancy for Colton. “I mean, what is the point of keeping him here? He is of no use.” “I think tonight, we should just celebrate and be happy for me. Can we talk less about him?” Daphne pulled Amanda into a warm hug and planted kisses all over face with a robust smile sprawled across her face. “You have made me a proud grandma,” she yelped and Amanda laughed, Jemima joined in. The Campbells were having the time of their lives. Roman could not take in more of the hurtful scene so, he wheeled his chair out of the living area and gradually back to the small room they had assigned to him, a year ago. His heart fluttered and pain swept through him. He could not hold back the tears that found their way down through his cheeks, he was a broken man. All his mind could do was battle with the thoughts of how he ended up within the four walls of the Campbell's mansion. <<<>>> FOUR YEARS AGO The work week came to an end and Roman was excited to round up his duties at work. “Are you gonna hang out with us today?” his colleague Mark asked and Roman shook his head. “I have other engagements,” he replied and picked up his bag. “The lady from the charity event?” Mark teased and Roman laughed. “It is absolutely none of your damn business Mark. Stay in your Lane and see you on Monday.” With that, he strutted out of the office and bid Mark goodnight. He had barely walked out of the gate and walked down a mile when he saw a car driving towards him with an intense speed. It seemed as though the driver had lost hold of the wheels. Roman tried to get off the road, but the car also veered off the road towards his distraction and bang! A total blackout followed.Roman woke up with a banging in his head and a stiffness around his legs. He could feel a sharp pain in his spine and groaned loudly, wondering what sort of pain that was.“Where am I?” He said but his voice was a mere whisper because he could barely speak out loudly.The banging was severe and the pain increased. Roman tried to adjust himself and ended up worsening it. This time, his screams rang through the halls of the hospital and the nurses came rushing in to his aid. “It's okay, sir. Just calm down, you're going to be alright.”The nurses tried to help him lie correctly but he could not stop staring at them with confusion.“Where am I?” He asked, his anxiety ripping off his heart, “what happened to me? Why do I feel so much pain and I cannot feel my legs.”He panicked and his body was soaked in perspiration.The nurses exchanged glances before telling him his fate.“You were in an accident, run over by some lady. She dumped you here and disappeared. We have not seen her for a w
“Speak now!” Chris yelled at her raising her head with his finger, “did you inform your mother or anyone about this?” Amanda shook her head and tears gathered in her eyes. She hated to see her father reacting that way. “I was scared, Dad. But I took him to the hospital immediately…” “And dumped him there only to disappear? Is that in my character?” Amanda shook her head. “I am so sorry Dad. I really am. I was worried that something bad could have happened to him and it would be linked to me.” She was sobbing now and shaking vigorously. “Look how foolish you are. Well, for your information, someone caught it all on camera and your face is all over the clip. Amanda, do you know how much your foolishness has cost me today?” Amanda's eyes widened with shock. She thought the streets were lonely that day but she had no idea that she was caught on camera. “How were you driving when you did not see a human being walking across from you?” Chris asked, groaning so loudly. “I was hear
Chris's gaze went from his daughter to the doctors. He could not speak and he had no words for her at that moment. It seemed like they were villains.He thanked the doctors and promised to be there for Roman, regardless but he was too weak to say more.“Whatever you need for his health, experts, doctors, physiotherapy, I will be willing to pay for it.”The doctors nodded and promised to reach out to him if the need arose.Chris dragged his daughter and they left the hospital. Amanda could not say anything to him and he was silent till they got home.Days went by without him saying a word to her still and it was beginning to get her worried. So, she spoke with her mother, Daphne who promised to talk to her father but the conversation did not go as planned.“Chris, I feel you are being too hard on her. She feels sorry already and I think at this point, we all have to move on.”She was calm but stern.Chris lifted his head to her and shook it in disgust.“I think you are the reason we ha
Sirens wailed tirelessly outside the Campbells' residence. The ambulance and the police, doing all they could to save the patriarch, Chris Campbell.The family was torn apart by the untimely death of their father who reportedly slept and never woke up.It was like a mystery and medical reports showed that he died of a heart attack.Daphne was sad that her husband was dead but a part of her seemed relieved by the fact that Roman would not get a penny from his wealth as she had feared.From them, Roman began to experience the viciousness embedded in the Campbells.“Now, father is dead. I bet you, you will regret ever accepting this marriage proposal,” Amanda threatened him over breakfast one morning.“As a matter of fact, you should start getting ready for a divorce because my sister will not keep up with your ill luck. She has given her beautiful youthful years to you,” Jemma added , gloating over his misfortune.Daphne smiled at her daughter's cruel words. She appeared satisfied with
“Where do you think you are wheeling your unfortunate self to?” She asked with a demeaning laughter, “the day is still young, Roman. You are a man! Your mates are in their offices making money but here you are feeding off our sweat.”Roman wheeled his chair back.“Is there something you would need me to do for you, Mrs Campbell?” His voice was gentle.Daphne smiled wryly, like she was about to make him do the impossible.She dropped her purse to the floor and with a glint of mischief in her eyes she ordered; “pick it up!” Roman looked at her with confusion, expecting she should understand how difficult that would be for him.“Please…my back hurts,” he pleaded, “I cannot bend that low to get your purse.”“But you can pour a plate of my food away?”Roman could see the venom in her eyes that was threatening to blow up.He simply set his mind to it and stretched out to get the purse.He felt his bones cracking as he did it but he had no choice.Daphne gazed at him with disdain.“Here Mrs
The guests were murmuring about his clumsiness while the Campbells were furious, especially Amanda.She walked towards him with aggression and pulled him up from the ground.“Why are you embarrassing me in his form?” She snapped at him.“It was not me. Jemma pushed me down the stairs,” Roman replied sharply, holding himself still in the wheelchair.Jemma raced down the stairs, acting as though she was a victim.“That's a lie!” She sneered at him, “he is lying! He was forcing me out of the way and fell off instead.”Amanda turned to Roman whose lips were agape and slapped him across his face in front of the guests.“You scoundrel! How dare you? I have swallowed your shit for so long and I am done!”The guests murmured about the scene. Everyone was shocked at how badly Amanda treated Roman but no one dared to say a word.Daphne saw that the situation was about to escalate and she rushed to their side, pulling Roman's wheelchair away.“Get yourself to your room and stay locked in!”Roman
“Isn't that a joke?” Amanda's eyes were filled with excitement and yet she had contempt.“Roman wants a divorce? How? What gave him the mind to ask for that?”“I have no idea and I do not think I care, mom. What I want the most is to sign those papers and get on with my life.”“Hmm, this does not seem like Roman.”Daphne seemed concerned and worried.“What do you mean, mother?”“Amanda, you and I have known Roman for at least four years, do you think he would survive without this family?”Amanda became thoughtful. She had to think about it.“But mummy, I have wanted this divorce from the day I even agreed to this marriage. Maybe this is my opportunity.”“I agree, Amanda. However, you need to speak with him and hear it from his own lips.”Amanda grudgingly accepted and then, she pulled out her phone to send Roman a text.I want to see you.***Roman was seated at the dining table, having dinner with his father and a few of his relatives when that message popped on his phone.His face f
The Campbells received the invitation from the JB corporation; as they were planning to announce the new CEO of the company.Amanda was excited to be at the party and could not wait to show up there.The JBs were known to be the wealthiest family in California and the Campbells always wanted to be a part of that wealth.“Is Colton coming along too?” Daphne asked, as they stepped out in grand style to their expensive cars that were waiting for them outside.“Of course mother. He is a big name now, why not?”Daphne smiled proudly.“I will be so glad when everyone sees you two together. This is your first public appearance together.”Amanda smiled heartily as they got into the car.Once they got to the party, they were overtaken by the expensive air that emanated from the hall. The guests were all rich and most elite members of the society.“I wonder why we hardly invite these people to our events,” Amanda whispered.“We are big names but we aren't in their League, Amanda. Maybe, after y