"Good morning mom"merci said to her mom Valentina on the phone.
"Good morning my daughter,how are you doing"
"I am fine mom,I called to let you know that I am officially in a relationship with a guy named James"she spoke with a deep expectation of encouragement from her mother.
To merci's surprise her mom kept quiet for 4 seconds as her heart raced with tension.
"Do you mean Alexander James who is the son of Kenneth?"she asked the question in panick
"Yes mom,is anything the problem?"merci asked with curiosity to know why
Her mom Valentina swept silently as she thought of telling her the story of the past with the family of Alexander Kenneth.She does not want to tell her what happened between the Alexander family and the Andres family because she does not want to share the pains of hurt,hatred and betrayal with her innocent young daughter.She does not want the pains,hurt and trauma that have denied her and her husband from success, happiness and from focusing on their future to affect her lovely daughter.She does not want her daughter to experience hatred and find it difficult to love people like what happened to her.
"No,there is no problem,just make sure he is a good man"she finally spoke after keeping mute for 4 seconds.
"Alright thank you mom,James is a good man and we have been dating for two years"merci answered her mom.
"Alright,just make sure he is a nice person"her mom replied
Two years of dating. Two years of carrying a man who used to dream. James, her James. Merci had come from little background.Her parents had scraped and sacrificed to send her to university. She had studied hard, walked to lectures barefoot when they couldn't afford transport, sold bread on weekends to buy books. She had inherited her gift and talent in business from her grandfather Andres Andrew who was an icon that built one of the first successful e-commerce companies in the country. But everything changed after Andrew's sudden, suspicious death.
Unknown to Andres Merci who was not born when her grandfather died, her grandfather hadn't died naturally. He had been killed through food poisoning by Kenneth, the very man who once worked under him. Kenneth had bribed the family lawyer Bryant with a sum of 20 million dollars to forge a will that claimed Andrew left all the properties and business to him.The properties were worth over 3.7 billion dollars.These Included estates, houses, restaurants, leisure parks and many other places.Merci's father, Alex who is Andrew's only son never knew the truth.
Kenneth also bribed their family doctor who was named Henry to lie that the DNA of Andrew and Alex does not match.They lied that the test was carried out when Alex was still a baby.Doctor Henry also lied that Andrew ordered him to carry out the test so that when he wants to share his will,Alex will know that he is not Andrew's son.Believing his father had simply changed his mind, Alex walked away from the company broken and betrayed. He never knew it had been stolen.
Merci never knew anything about the story because she was not born then and her father Alex and her mother Valentina never told her.They refused to tell her because they don't want to share their pain of being betrayed, hurt and robbed with their daughter merci.They wanted merci to be free from the pain of betrayal and bitterness they went through for years.
Years later, fate twisted cruelly. James who is Kenneth's only son met Merci during her final year at university. Neither of them knew the truth of their families' bloody history. This is because both of them were not born when it all happened.They fell in love, Hard and fast when they met each other.James had once looked at her like she hung the stars. She was the fire that fueled him, the light that guided him when he was lost.
But Kenneth had recognized Merci the day she first stepped into their home.when James brought merci to his parents house to introduced her to his parents for marriage there was something wrong.
As they walked into the sitting room James said "Dad,this is the girl I want to marry".James held merci in her hand as he takes her to his parents.He was putting on a white T shirt which was showing his muscular chest and a blue jean.His dark short hair and fair skin brightens the environment.
Kenneth who is James father looked at her like a hungry owl,he tried to pretend that everything was okay by forcing a smile on his wrinkled face"Alright".
merci was putting on a blue top and a black skirt.Her fair face and her dark long hair made her look beautiful.She had a slightly plain cheek and blue charming eyes.Her breast and her back curves were well placed with an average size.
Juliet looked at her from her to toe like someone who is trying to scan a thief and pretended that everything was fine with a fake smile.
"You are welcome here,who are your parents and what do they do for a living "she asked the question with her face squeezed like someone who is looking at a rat.
"Mom,why are you looking at her that why,and why are you talking like this,is any thing the problem?"James asked.
Kenneth interrupted the discussion
"What is your name?"Kenneth asked Andres merci.
" My name is Andres merci".Her smile was noticeable but not natural because she felt rejected already by James parents.
Immediately there was a silent panick in the hearts of Kenneth and his wife Juliet. As they both looked at each other.Their heart beat increased,their was panick inside of them but they tried to control themselves to pretend as if nothing was happening.
Kenneth forced a smile on his face as he asked "sorry what is the name of your father?"
"His name is Andres Alex"she replied with confidence.
The mind of both Kenneth and Juliet raced heavily.Their faces were looking worried with confusion but they tried to force smile on their face.Trouble was already coming to the family.
"What is wrong dad,is anything the problem"James could read the worries that are hidden In their faces.
"We need to talk in private" Kenneth replied.
Immediately james parents left the sitting room.
"James tell me what is the problem,is anything wrong,why are your parents looking somehow worried"
"I don't know darling,I will find out"
James went to meet his parents in the room where they were waiting for him.As he entered the room he saw confusion,anger and deep sadness on the face of Kenneth while his mother Juliet was almost in tears.
"James I don't want you to have anything to do with that girl again.She does not belong here.How can you be this stupid,after telling you that Sharon is the girl you will marry because her father have some workers from china who is helping our company to grow.James,sharon is a woman of high class.She is intelligent,sexy, beautiful and she has everything you can find in a woman". Kenneth's hands were shaking because of fear and panick as he was speaking.
"But merci is the woman I loved,she have been with me when I was blind and I was about to go for an eye surgery,she has been my motivator and my backbone.I can't leave merci just because she is from a poor home and because of your agreement with Sharon's father.i know I once loved Sharon but the feelings are no more there".
"Shut up your mouth,how dare you challenge your father,so after telling you that you will marry Sharon who still went ahead and brought another woman to this house"Juliet's eyes was full of anger
His father's brow furrowed.His face became more filled with sadness and anger."Listen to me you fool,you know nothing about love.If you love yourself and the family then you dismiss that girl now and forever or I will disown you and deny you of all the family inheritances"His voice like a thick thunder.
kenneth and Juliet lied to James and their other children that they want James to marry Sharon because Bryant is the one that actually sponsored the growth of the company for 15 years when the company was still growing.kenneth and Juliet also lied that Bryant was also responsible for bringing foreigners who invested in the company in it's early years of growth.Now they are trying to do him a favour by allowing his daughter Sharon to marry James their first son.But the children never knew that they were all lies.The truth was that Andrew was killed by Kenneth and his lawyer was bribed with 20 million dollars to lie that Andrew willed everything to Kenneth.
"Dad I am going to marry merci,you can do anything you want,merci is the love of my life".James replied.
"James my son,me and your father knows what is best you.Just dismiss her so that can go.Sharon is the best person for you"Juliet spoke as she tries to convince him.Her voice sounded soft and with a pampering nature.
"Mom I have made up my mind already"James face was full of determination and convinction of marrying merci.
When James left the room he went to the sitting room to meet merci with a very worried face.And she said
"What was the problem?".
"Nothing,it's just a family issue"James tried to pretend as if nothing happened.
"Family issue?,James when did you start lieing to me?,I know you way back from college so if you are lieing I will know.Now tell me the truth ".She looked at him directly into his eyes.
"I promise to tell you,but not now.It has nothing to do with our love,trust me".Deep down in his mind he knows his parents does not want him to marry merci.
Merci looked deep into his eyes and said to James"baby,I know that your family does not want to accept me from what I noticed.You don't need to hide anything from me.But I want you to know that I do not only love you,I cherish you.Your weakness is my strength and your flaws are part of the reason why I love you.Together we can both make a decision to get married even without the choice of your parents".
James looked at her as his body became cold and he felt so loved despite his weakness"I love you too,I am so sorry for trying to hide what my parents feel about you.I was afraid you will leave me if you get to know that my parents don't want you ".
They both left the house as James drove her to his own house.
James parents knew that the main reason why they don't want him to marry merci is because she is the granddaughter of the man Kenneth betrayed, the daughter of the man he robbed. They both spent decades burying the past. Now it was back in his living room looking at them and almost ready to marry their only son James.They could not tell James the real truth because James will be ashamed of their evil secret act.He will fight them for it because he loves merci.
When james wanted to marry merci,James parents tried to convince him to change his mind but james went ahead to marry merci even when his parents threatened not to attend the wedding.After the wedding,James and merci began to live with each other as married couples.