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 you and Colton tie the nuptial knot and we become a conjoined force, we would meet up.” The sound of it filled Amanda's heart with warmth because she was almost offended by the fact that they were not in fact as wealthy as she had always thought. She kept looking around for Colton but he was not at the event yet and his phones were not connecting. “What is keeping Colton?” Daphne asked, looking around for him. “I am not sure and his phones are not connecting.” She was perplexed. In the midst of their confusion, Daphne's troubled gaze fell on the entrance and she was stunned to see Roman walking into the hall with another woman in his arms. “What the hell is Roman doing here?” She asked aloud and Amanda followed the direction of her gaze to where Roman was standing. She was also stunned, wondering how he was able to afford to be at that party. “There definitely has to be some mixup. How is he here?” Daphne raised her shoulders in a shrug. “I hope the fool is not stalking you,” she scoffed. “Or he is going through this entire stress to make me feel like I missed something,” Amanda mocked and the two women laughed out loud. Roman heard the sound of their laughter and his gaze traveled to where they both stood, gazing at him with dense contempt. He simply shook his head and walked away towards the stage. Just then, Jacob Black claimed the stage to give the guests a welcome speech. “I am glad to have you all here, honoring my invitation. Today means a lot to me and my family because my son has finally returned and agreed to take over our company. You all know I am old and frail and not as strong as I used to be.” The frugal undertone in his voice caused the guests to laugh. He had a sense of humor. “Join me as I welcome to the stage, the new CEO of our multi-million dollar company, Roman Black!” The cloud began to cheer and clap audibly for Roman as he detangled from his friend and walked up to the stage, his face bright and his confidence absolute. Amanda and Daphne exchanged shock stricken glances at the sight of him. “Roman?” Amanda was startled. Her lips were ajar and she could barely keep down her shock. Daphne too was overtaken by shock. “That son of a bitch was playing us all the while!” She groaned almost in a whisper, trying not to attract the attention of the guests to them. Roman thanked the guests for honoring his invitation and then stretched out his hands to the lady whom he had been with earlier. “Come on Nova,” she called out to her with a smile and she walked up to him gracefully. Amanda and Daphne were choking on their hatred. “Son of a bitch!” Amanda cursed under her breath. “I would like to specially honor this woman, Nova Walker. She has stood by me in the past two years and she is the reason I am able to stand on my feet again after the horrific accident I had that almost cost me my mobility.” Amanda could feel his heated gaze towards her and she was enraged. She turned to her mother. “Let us get out of here, mother!” Amanda announced with anger and pulled her mother along. Roman saw them walking away and he smiled wryly. He could tell that they were torn apart by the discovery. *** “How could he?” Amanda ranted as they drove home. “For four years? Four years that fool deceived us and reaped from us while hiding his identity?” Daphne was enraged too but she was thinking about other things. “You need to move fast, Amanda. Have you signed those papers?” “No! Something made me feel drawn back after I met with him at that restaurant and I am glad I did not sign it.” “Yes. Do not! You must lay claims to his wealth first because you are still officially his wife.” Amanda was anxious. She could not wait to barge back into his life and take back what she supposedly thought should be hers; His wealth.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
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