Chapter 1: Please Don't Go

“Vanessa Hills, will you marry me?”

My heart raced as I stared at the man before me on one knee and a ring stretched out.

Carl.

Carl had been the love of my life and I had waited so long for this day to come.

But at this moment, the constant reminder of his mother rang in my ears.

“You will never be good enough for my son.”

Carl was the only man I loved, the only man I wanted to be with but right now, I wasn't sure if getting married to him was good for me.

Considering the type of mother he had, I knew I'd be spending my whole life trying to impress her.

The emotional stress that came with trying to please her these past few months had broken me.

Ever since Carl introduced me to his mother,I felt our relationship strain with every day that passed by. And this wasn't because Carl started cheating or he didn't love me enough to make our relationship work.

If nothing, Carl was literally ready to lick the floor I stepped on. This was his peak of adoration towards me.

Yet our relationship was growing weak because of his mother.

Apparently, Carl loved his mother the same way he loved me if not more. He obeyed his mother's orders to the latter, be it right or wrong and this mentally stressed me.

Unlike before when we used to have Friday night outs, Carl now made excuses to avoid them. Whenever we needed time alone, Carl's mother always had a way of ruining it.

“He is my son before your boyfriend, and he will do whatever I asked him to do” she had said the other day I tried to complain.

Seeing that it was turning into an unhealthy competition, I decided to please her—in hopes that she'd come to like me.

But she resented me even more.

And why?

I wasn't the kind of girl she wanted her son to marry but her son was in love with me.

I couldn't wrap my head around it, what else was she looking for in a woman that I didn't have?

Beauty? Check.

Loyalty? Check.

Submission? Check.

Hard Work? Oh…

Well, not that I wasn't hardworking. I mean, I literally started working at the family's company to prove how diligent I was at work.

But lately…I had been zoning out a little too much and it affected my productivity which wasn't completely my fault. I was emotionally stressed and I hadn't talked to my man all week.

None of the projects I handled at the company seemed to please Carl's mother. At this point, the hatred was something that was almost impossible to change.

“You're not just incompetent, you're slow too! I wonder what my son sees in you!” She hurled at me occasionally in front of other workers.

My breath stiffened as the embarrassing memory stirred continuously in my mind. I tried to stop thinking about it but I couldn't.

What more did she want from me? None of the other workers could handle the heavy workload I handled yet I never complained.

Hell, I wasn't even paid a dime for the job. I worked for free yet I was treated like a beggar.

The last incident that just happened before I came over to the restaurant was the final strike.

I was seated in my office, running my fingers and eyes on the keyboard and laptop in front of me as I continued my work.

A small smile appeared on my lips when I realized I was almost done with the project Carl's mother initially rejected. This time, I did it exactly how she asked and I felt really confident about it.

While being engrossed in my work, I felt a silhouette cast above me but I assumed the lights went out.

Wait. The lights never go out at the office.

I lifted my head to meet Carl's mother's piercing gaze with a smile….

A smile!!!!

I could swear that I had never seen this woman smirk talk more of a smile. I was beyond shocked, utterly speechless.

“Um-uh-hi…Madam Green.” I quickly rose up as I greeted her.

“So I hear that it's your dating anniversary tonight,” She examined the diamond ring and jewelry on her hand as she spoke.

I nodded in the positive as I wasn't sure where this conversation was headed and being this clueless sent shivers down my spine.

Carl must have told her, probably because he wanted to leave early from work. But why was she interested?

“Great. Now look at me!” She hollered, her voice reverberating through the room, startling me.

The moment my eyes met hers, she pointed an index finger to my face and the next few words that came out of her mouth made my heart pound heavily in my chest.

I shook my head, staring at Carl now. My breath became hotter as the tears flowed down, Carl's brows pulled away from each other in anticipation for my answer but I stood there, frozen.

“Vanessa Hill, will you give me the opportunity to make you mine?” Carl asked again, this time his voice was loud enough to attract the attention of other customers at the restaurant.

“Say yes, say yes!” The customers cheered but my words failed me.

Not like I didn't know what I wanted to say but the words were too heavy to let out. I wasn't ready to let go but Carl's mother would only frustrate me even more if I agreed to this.

My throat tightened as more tears flowed down. I would give anything to be Carl's wife.

But right now, remembering the new threat from his mother before I left the office, I don't think accepting his proposal was the right thing to do.

With closed eyes and clenched fists, I parted my lips.

“I'm sorry, I can't.” And with that, I rushed out of the restaurant before Carl could stop me.

Carl ran after me but I hastened my steps even more.

“Vanessa! Why are you leaving me?

“Please wait!”

“Please don't go!”