Chapter One

Regina Lawson stood at the entrance of the police station, confused and full of despair. She has been betrayed by everyone that should matter to her, all except one of course, Michael.

Regina’s father, Mr Edward Lawson died in a fatal car accident a very long time ago, she was about 10 years of age and the only child of her parents. It was a very disturbing era at the time of her father’s death, because apparently, Edward’s kindred had bullied Nelly and mocked her for not having a male child to inherit his properties, and insisted that all of his wealth should be shared among all of his people. The mattered was resolved in court and Nelly, a resilient and strong mother was given full custody of her husband’s properties.

Now, Edward Lawson before his death, was known all over the country, as one of the most successful business mogul, having over a thousand business establishment scattered across the continent. He is one of those whose success, projects and achievements is envied by all. He earned several government and international recognitions, awards of influence and dominance. His reputation and presence was one that glowed with glory and confidence, and has his name on the lip of every Nigerian. Sad to say about his death, but nothing can be done to bring the dead back to life. Life went on, but unfortunately, Nelly remarried, it’s a good thing, yes, but that marriage didn’t go down well for Regina. Raymond Asher, Regina’s step Dad wanted his marriage to be one where another man’s child doesn’t exist, and so, Nelly out of love had to take Regina away to her older sister, who is not so happily married with four young children.

Aunty Maria at her end wasn’t nice, she would bruise off Regina from her feet at every slight mistake, “you spoilt child! You can’t even make yourself useful, or do you still think you live in roses? When your father was alive, I barely know you, or even received a single dime from your parents. Now I am very important”.

Aunty Maria’s hatred for Regina wasn’t far-fetched, her younger sister Nelly was married to one of the wealthiest man in Nigeria but yet, her family drowns in poverty. She wakes up every morning with her husband hustling and struggling to make ends meet, so her children can eat or have moderate clothes on their bodies. There was no family support, especially from her beloved sister. Eventually, Aunty Maria came around, her hatred grew to love over the years that most times, she counts Regina to be among her own children and as the first child.

Regina grew to be a very young beautiful woman, and this story begins from the beginning of her first year in the University, as an Economics student.

                *****

March 17^th, 2019, Regina sat quietly at the school library, the first semester exams for 100 level students are around the corner, and barely a week. This time, the room was filled with students, each preparing for the semester exams. It wasn’t usually like this, she thought, and that’s true, most student were trying to cover up for wasted time, eagerly studying to meet up, while every few were revising. It’s a common thing for most students, preparations usually starts when exams are near, and they read to pass, that’s a huge difference from those whose aim are to understand and graduate with outstanding results. Michael was sitting at a corner with some of friends, they seemed like a study group, or not, because they caused a lot of distractions. Some piece of papers would fly from their angle to Regina (not intentionally though), and then you would hear giggling and laughter among this peers.

Regina stood with rage and walked toward this group, she banged the table with a huge text book that caught the attention of these people, “I understand that most of us do not understand the meaning of studying, and actually, I don’t give a fuck. But just a reminder, this is a library that is meant for reading, and we all have exams around the corner. So it’s either you do well for yourselves and study, or you take these noise out to your hostels and write rubbish to your lecturers”.

“Okay fresher, well, not every person in this room has an upcoming exam,” a girl amongst them replied. Regina was taken aback slightly, so they were obviously not new students.

“But still… it doesn’t justify your wrong, we are here to read, not to make fun” she replied.

“Oh please…! Go to your hostel or you go to your sit quietly,” another girl replied.

Since nothing can be done to persuade this rude group, she walked away and sat at different position, giving them miles of privacy. She sat far off and eyed them, four boys and two girls, and with disdain look in her eyes she wished she could punish them personally.

Afterwards, the room seemed to be quiet, you could only hear murmurs coming from serious minded students. The bullies are gone, that is the obvious reason for the peace and tranquillity she enjoys. After some time, she decided to quit for the day, she stood up with her study materials in hand and walked over the book shelf, and returned whatever she collected. She was about stepping out when she noticed a misplaced wallet on the empty table of the bullies, ‘this must belong to one of them’ she thought, but nonetheless, she took it.