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 week.” Roman felt anger surge forth from his chest. He could not control the rush of rage that rose from within him. “How could someone do this to me and disappear just like that?” The nurses bent their heads in pity for him. “Why can't I feel my legs? It just feels like I don't have legs anymore but I can see them.” The nurses exchanged glances again and wanted to push the question aside. “Look, Mr. Roman Black, you will be just fine. You just have to let it all slide. Just get well first. Your health is your priority.” Roman did not fall for that. He could sense that there was something deeply wrong with him and they were keeping the information away from him. “What aren't you telling me?” He fired them with more rage, his fists clenched even with the canular fixed to it. “You may never walk again,” one of the nurses reeled out, shifting her gaze from his sullen stare. The words she spoke caused Roman to growl out in frustration. His face turned red as he groaned loudly. “Mr Roman, please calm down. Your life is more important now,” the nurse tried to calm him but Roman wasn't listening. His heart was torn apart. He could not fathom how anyone would do that to him and get away with it. Meanwhile, Amanda Campbell, the culprit who had put Roman in that state was living her life as though nothing had happened. Unknown to her, pictures and video recordings were taken by a few passers-by, the day of the accident and they were about to be released on the papers. Especially since there was no news of her taking care of the victim or any statement released by her family. Chris Campbell, Amanda's father, was in his office and he got a call from the News Daily company director. “Good morning Mr Campbell; News Daily on the line.” Chris was worried as to what they wanted from him all of a sudden. “How can I help you?” Chris asked with anxiety clearly spelt out in his voice. “I am aware that you are a good man, Mr. Campbell. You are one of the few wealthy fellows who give back to the community hence, I would not bear to sit back and watch your family image tarnished in this form because I feel you could take hold of this.” Chris was confused. He was wondering what the news director had to say about his family that would make him call. “Can you go on with it?” He asked politely, “I am a bit too anxious about what you have got to say.” “Well, a video got to my company and was sold to us by some well meaning individual. This video contains clips of your daughter, Amanda, running someone over a few days ago and disappearing. More like a hit and run case. Are you aware of this?” Chris Campbell was dumbstruck. The phone almost slipped out of his hands. “What?” He managed to ask, fury breeding in him. “I had no idea that such a thing happened. My Lord! Is that evidence clear enough to show that it is truly my daughter?” “Absolutely sir. However, we have the entire clip and paid off the seller handsomely. I will send it to your personal mail right away. Please, I knew you must have had no idea.” “Do you have an idea how I can figure something out where this victim is?” Chris asked, his voice shaking through the phone. “We did our investigations, he is at Royal Hospital and your daughter has not shown up after she dumped him there.” Chris could not control his rage. He thanked the director and asked for the company account details to wire some money to them as gratitude. Then he called in his secretary. “Tell my drivers we are leaving right now!” He ordered and began to pack up his things. All he wanted to do was to get to his daughter and drag her by her hair to the hospital. “Such a cruel girl!” He groaned, still shocked that she behaved in such a manner. Once Chris got to Amanda's workplace, he sent his driver to get her. As she walked towards him, he was surprised to see how full of life and happy she seemed. There was no atom of regret on her face. “Hey Dad,” she smiled, getting in the car and kissing his cheeks. “Are we finally having that outing?” She asked with excitement in her voice. Chris pushed her away and faced her with his furious gaze, trying to recollect his thoughts. “Are you okay, Dad?” Amanda asked, shocked by his expression and the way he had pushed her away. “You are a cruel lady!” Chris raged, “is this how I brought you up?” Amanda was startled. She could sense where this was headed but she still tried to feign surprise. “What are you talking about Dad?” She asked, swallowing the lump of saliva that gathered in her throat. “How could you hit and run someone over, dump him in the hospital and disappear without informing me?” Amanda's face turned blue with fear and she put her face down in shame, avoiding her father's angry face.“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
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 gla