Chapter 2: Nicole's fate

"Where am I?" Nicole finally regain consciousness.

" My dear Nikki, do you think that pretending to collapse  will change my mind into marrying you to Tristan?"

"Dad... I'm not pretending. I..." She find it hard to explain her fear about the man she is marrying. The anger in her father's face is so evident.

"With what you have done,  you put yourself in a very compromising situation."

"W... What do you mean Dad."

"The guests concluded that you are pregnant the reason why you collapsed. It takes more than coercive methods to marry you off with Tristan." Her father said displeased.

"What have you done Dad?"

"I traded your inheritance to marry you into the  Hewitt family."

"Dad!"

"It would seem useless if your reputation is tarnished. By the end of two years if you stay married you will be able to regain your inheritance, when you reach twenty years old."

"Dad why do you have to marry me of to that hideous man?"

"I don't understand, why you don't want to marry Tristan. But my decision is final. You are going to marry today. By hook or by crook."

The guest on the church had thinned she observed. Probably some left before the ceremony began it all the while better for her she thought.

With their exchange  of vows without meaning it, Nicole Hayes become  Nicole Hewitt. She  was afforded the privilege of being a member of the Hewitt the richest family in Santa Elena  but her situation never change it even became worst. 

Tristan never allowed her to venture outside of the home. She even lost her time to talk to her friend, Ginger. She is home schooled, with no connection to the outside world.But besides her difficulty with the life handed to her. Nicole accepted everything . Except when she heard the conversation between  her husband and his lover.

" I don't understand why you have to marry that insolent girl? " 

"Sam, it's only for a time, two years the most. Until grandpa realizes that. His decisions are nonsense, he can never tear us apart." He replied.

"Or  until that girl realize that she can never win your love." Samantha added. Nicole heard them talking. She went to Tristan's  room to ask his permission to employ Ginger as her companion. 

She was shock to realize that his girlfriend is in his room while she as his wife never allowed to wander near his room. 

While Tristan and Samantha continued their conversation not knowing someone heard them."What happens to us? Two years is a long time away..." Samantha teary eyed appealed to him.

"Don't worry Sam I'll make sure it would not be that long." He assured.

"You are getting rid of her?" There is a happy tone on her words. Nicole did not hear his response as she hurriedly but quietly left  the place.

In her room Nicole realizes that she had to be strong  not to allow the situation get the better out of her. She must try to be ready when the time will come when she had to leave this prison-like existence.

The next day she approaches Tristan during breakfast to air her request. But before she had the chance to speak Tristan told her.

"You might as well go home to your father." To her surprised Tristan allowed her to return to her home.

"Why?" Was all she said, but her mind is wandering if this is one way he thinks to get rid of her?

"You will know when you get there." Was all he said.

So Nicole went back to her home only to be shocked of what situation she had left behind when she left and live in her husband's mansion.

"What is going on here?" Nicole reacted when she opened her  father's room , she was shocked to see various medical equipment attached to her father who lay in bed in his room asleep.

"Nikki what are you doing here ?" Ginger baffles how her friend are able to return. 

"I was send home by my husband. Why am I not welcome to come back to my own home?"

"No, it's not that Nikki. Of course this is your home. But..."

"What seems to be the problem? Why is Dad strapped in those machine.Is he seriously  sick why!" She begin to have teary  eyes.

 "Come here let's allow your father a restful moment his body needs it." Ginger led her out of the room.

"Why?" Her innocent face beg for answers.

"Since you already saw I guess I have to tell you. Your father is a very sick man. He had a few months to live."

"What but he was fine on my wedding day that was the last we saw each other."

"He had been sick a long time ago. He neglected his health since your mother had been gone."

"That was a long time ago, why didn't you tell me?" She wondered, if she wasn't send home by her husband she might not have known her father is dying.

"He made me vowed into secrecy, he doesn't want you to worry, the reason why he forced you to marry  Tristan Hewitt, he believes that  that man would take care of you. His grandfather likes you to be his grandson wife."

"But that man has a girlfriend, and he doesn't care about me." She thought.

" But since you are here, you might as well spend his last days together. How long will you stay?" Ginger ignore her outbursts instead stir the conversation to another topic.

"I don't know Ginger, I don't know." Nicole said in desperation.

"Did something happened? Did you fight?" Ginger probe even more.

"No Ginger we didn't fight, but I guess he won't  let me return soon."

"Well I guess you you can take care of your father . But please whatever happened between you and your husband, I hope you won't give your father something to worry about."

"I understand , how long...?"

"Two months or more."Ginger said seriously.

"That short time and he didn't want to tell me? When is he going let me know? When he is about to die?" Nicole sob in desperation and dissapointment.

"Hush... Hush he doesn't want you to worry." Ginger allowed her ward to let out her hurtful feelings.

Later that day, Joshua woke up and find Nicole beside his bed. " Dad why? "

"What are you doing here, Nikki?"

"Dad I just want to be with you, to take care of you,  please don't send me away." She beg.

"No I'm glad you're here  I made a mistake in marrying you off this early. I hope you can forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive Dad."

"Tell you what? I'm going to make it right for you." He said weakly.

"What are you trying to say Dad?"

"Just you wait Nikki my precious daughter"

End of the flashback.