CHAPTER TWO:

"You're quite lucky, your friend has been standing outside all through the night, and anyways

You'll be discharged in the afternoon, and your bills have been cleared, too." The nurse smiled and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Eva sat up immediately after hearing about Jay

She debated whether to ask about how her bills were paid or ask about Jay.

She knew Jay was not buoyant enough to afford to pay for her bills

"Where is he?" She asked, choosing to ask about Jay.

"Your friend? He's just outside the door," The nurse informed.

"Oh, can you send him in ?" Eva asked.

"Sure, "The nurse said and then left.

Eva nodded and patiently waited for

her to leave. When she was sure the nurse had left, she was about to disconnect the cannula from her arm when suddenly the door opened

Hi..jay greeted

"Are you going to keep standing there or come in here," Eva's voice sounded from inside the room.

He gently closed the door as he entered the room and walked over to sit beside her bed.

"Hey," Jay gently held Eva's hand.

"How are you?" Jay asked.

"Well," I guess I am better than before.

“You scared me last night,” he said quietly. “When the call was cut off… I thought I’d lost you.” Thank goodness that we installed that tracking device that's why I was able to trace you here,

“I have been trying to reach through to Cassie and Marcus but none of them is going through, he picks up the phone trying to get through to them again,

“ I couldn't bring myself to tell him about what Cassie and Marcus did to me

“Left with no other choice I had to tell him everything…You know I always knew it that Marcus was up to no good,..his always been against it from the onset, but Cassie I never expected such from her,

“I’m sorry you went through this alone,” He murmured instead.

“But not anymore I would always be by your side, I felt a sudden wave of emotions…”

“All that matters is that you're alright, nothing else. I smiled

“After being discharged, I decided to take a stroll home, to clear my mind on the events of yesterday, I had promised myself that this is no time to be weak.

Standing outside, a beautiful duplex house, no doubt; my stepmother made sure to always renovate it to a new standard every year; she wanted to feel proud whenever she brought their business partners and friends home for dinner and subtly showed off their beautiful home.

I pulled my thoughts together and walked towards the house, which always looked clean and well-kept as always

It seemed like she had visitors because on reaching the door, I could already hear her voice laughing a bit too loudly at what someone said.

My hand trembled at the sound of her laughter—shrill, fake, just like its owner

I would have used the backdoor but she already locked it since she knows I use it to escape her wrath whenever I get back home late

“I quietly pushed the door open and walked inside”.

"Oh my, and who do we have here, Theresa?”

You now allow anyone into your home ?" The lady beside Theresa said in disgust, looking down on me

Theresa, who had been facing away, looked toward the door. The moment her gaze met me, the warmth in her expression drained completely, leaving only pure venom.

I didn't wait there for a second to hear them criticize me. I moved on and climbed the stairs to my room.

"Oh, no, Becca, ignore her, she's just one of the freeloaders we have living here," Theresa said, shrugging.

I stood in front of my mirror looking at my pitiful self

I was about to walk into the bathroom when my door was flung open by no one other than my stepmother.

"You little bitch!" Theresa said maliciously, as she angrily walked towards me.

SLAP!!

Pain shot across Eva’s face as she pressed her hand against her cheek, her head spinning from the sudden blow.

"Look! Look here, you filial child!”

Theresa held me roughly in her hand and forced me to tilt my head down to avoid the surge of tears

"Ah! Please, it hurts, let me go!" I winced in pain

Do you think you are a princess in this house that you choose to go and come back whenever you wish to uh!

You are lucky it's only just a slap you are getting from me, silly girl," Theresa roughly pushed me down to the floor, eyeing me maliciously before walking away.

"Oh, and be down there and make us dinner in five minutes," before your father gets back, Theresa said before banging the door loudly as she left the room.

“ I sat on the floor, crying,

I stood up and wiped my tears; I just needed to work harder and to complete the course I had started, to leave this hell called home

I slowly entered the bathroom and had a quick shower, then dressed myself in a loose-fitted gown,

“I quietly moved to the kitchen

Just years after mum's death, father had to remarry feeling that I needed the love of a mother

All that time, we seemed like a happy family, but she never left any stone unturned to make me feel like I didn't truly belong.

From then on, my life changed for the worse too.

From the kitchen, she could hear her Stepmother welcoming her father

"Oh, honey, you're back! I missed you so much," Eva felt like puking when she heard Theresa’s fake voice from the living room.

Eva quickly served dinner, she had just finished placing the food on the dining table when she heard her father’s excited call out to her

“Oh my little princess, how have you been?

I called you, but I couldn't get through”.

“I just can't let my dad worry because of me”

“Daddy, I'm fine, hope you had a wonderful day at work?!, I made your favourite pasta, so go freshen up and come downstairs.

“Theresa stood to the side, her eyes narrowing as she watched them, simmering with fury”.

“As everyone settled around the table for dinner. Once taken their seats”

"Honey, why don't we throw a welcome party tomorrow for Dave and Linda " Theresa said excitedly.

"That's true, I've missed them

what's it has been? Two years?" Tom asked.

"Yes, you see now, you've made me tear up," Theresa fake sniffed.

Theresa sent a cold glare towards Eva making her stand from her seat,

Eva startled and quickly walked into the kitchen, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Hearing them talking about her step-siblings with such love and affection hurt her so much, she's tried getting over the feeling that she doesn't need a mother's love, but each time it leaves her feeling worthless and inferior.

"Tom, there's something we need to discuss," Theresa said quietly.

"What's that, my love?" Tom asked, worried by the change in Theresa's face.

“We both know that the business is not actually doing quite well and that we can go bankrupt anytime

You know what he said, we don't have much, we need to come up with a solution or a guarantee for him.”

“Why don't we use Eva as a guarantee then at least she can help save us From Shame”

Theresa!!! Tom yelled

How could you come up with such a disgusting thought? Eva might not be your biological daughter, but she's still my flesh and blood, and as long as her father is still alive, I won't allow anything or harm to come her way.