Chapter 10: Sharon and Clarisse

One of the maids looked around mindfully before entering the Lamborghini car, slamming the door carefully, she bowed after sitting beside the woman reeking of wealth and authority, sitting next to her in a privilege she might never get in her lifetime again.

" Good afternoon, Ma'am",

" Good afternoon, how's it?",

" They've changed the woman your son is getting married to",

" What?! What do you mean by that?",

" Apparently, their biological daughter turned down the proposal of marrying your son, ma'am".

Sharon scoffed and laughed, " I'm damn sure it's because of the rumors, no offense, that makes it perfect, I was never in support anyways, thanks for your hard work",

" But",

" But?",

" Yes ma'am, he's still going to marry from their family",

" What do you mean?",

" I told you they've changed the daughter he's marrying",

" Oh yeah, I forgot you said that which other daughter do they have?",

" Mr. Ferdinand's brother's daughter, he's her new father since her parents died",

" From the information I gathered, she got married a month ago",

" She's divorced, Ma'am",

" What?! Ha", Sharon gasped and burst into laughter, "What a joke, this is so ridiculous", her laughter turned to that of anger, " I'm going to see for myself", she said and turned to the maid, " thanks for the job, your pay has been sent",

" Thank you so much ma'am", she thanked her and left while Sharon ordered the driver to take her to Ferdinand's house.

***************

The sound of laughter could be heard from the room, the two men seemed to be enjoying their conversation and chatting away,

" That's great! Excelling in business is for geniuses I must say",

" I feel flattered I must say", Charles said and they both burst into another round of laughter,

" But I'm being honest, it's just a fact", Ferdinand added,

" Joining families wouldn't be a bad idea after all, I'm sure your families must be full of intellectual people".

Ferdinand laughed, " I know right, I'm so glad it's finally happening, and I'm sure we'll reach great places together",

" Same, cheers to prosperity and abundant wealth",

" Including good health and long life", they cheer to that and drink up,

" Hmm, this tastes good", Charles nodded as he dropped the glass cup,

" How's my son-in-law doing?",

" Christian is doing great, away on a business trip",

" When will he be back?",

" I don't know, no one can predict that boy's movement but worry not, he's not going to miss the wedding ", he said and Ferdinand chuckled,

" Since you said that, I'm not worrying anymore then". They giggled, " your daughter in law is also doing great, she's so excited and eager to marry your son",

" Really? Even if they've not met?",

" Uhh! Sure, she stares at his pictures every time",

" Where did she get them?",

" Online of course",

" I didn't know there are many of Chris's pictures online",

" Ha ha ha, you're funny", he said and sipped his wine.

" Anyways, I'll anticipate my wife's reply",

" Ain't you the husband? The head of the family?",

" Of course I am! But you know, our mothers love us so much, and they know mostly what's best for their children, and my wife is a very modest and intelligent woman, she knows exactly what's best for her son so I'm going to let her decide whether your daughter is good enough for him. I always trust the woman's judgment",

" And how is she planning on doing that?".

Charles chuckled, " she's probably on her way to your house, if not there already",

" What?!",

" Hm", he nodded nonchalantly and sipped his wine,

" Umm...I .I. want to ease myself", he found an excuse to use so he would reach out to his wife.

" Sure", Charles replied smiling, he knew exactly what he was trying to do.

" Okay, don't enjoy this all alone, just give me some minutes", he said and went to the restroom, dialing Patricia's number immediately,

" Hello",

" Hi, honey",

" Where are you?",

" Doing some shopping",

" What?! Why the heck are you not at home",

" I told you I'm attending the women's club party so I need some new wears",

" The heck! Charles's wife is on her way to the house",

" Which house?",

" Moron! Our house!", He yelled inaudibly,

" What?!",

" Fly to that house now and change that girl's dress, we can't let them see her like that",

" Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!", She panicked and quickly hung up, told the attendant to pack the clothes for her quickly, and rushed out after paying.

**************

Sharon sat down in the sitting room scanning the whole place and she could admit the place was not looking bad. She was allowed in after one of the maids called Patricia who permitted them to let her in. She sat on the couch when a maid came forward with a glass cup of juice and served her.

" Where's my daughter-in-law?",

" Ma?",

" The lady my son is getting married to?",

" Umm..", she looked around cluelessly, there's only one person who is getting married in the house so she guessed she might be the one, " I'll get her for you".

A few minutes later, Clarisse walked to the sitting room and approached her, she bowed her head slightly, greeting her, and looked up to see the woman frowning deeply.

" Who are you?".

An insignificant being. She wanted to say but she kept her gaze down and said," Clarisse",

" The lady my son is marrying?",

" I..yes ma'am", she said staring at her feet.

Sharon's frown deepened, " you're not their real daughter, are you?",

" Yes. Ma'am".

Sharon scoffed, she looked at her from head to toe and was so displeased with what she was looking at, she got so angry and made to leave but her heels were on her gown, and on standing up, it tore the fabric.

She gasped, "My dress!", She cried. She pulled it up but that only tore it more, ", she screamed startling the maids.

" Calm down Ma'am",

" Don't tell me to calm down", she yelled, " I love this dress so much and now it's ruined",

" I might..be able to fix it for you".

She eyed her doubtfully.

" That's if you'll permit me", her calm and cool voice sent this shiver to her that made her feel even angrier.

" You better not ruin it", she hesitated but her love for the dress left her with no choice. But Clarisse knew she wouldn't dare ruin it, she was familiar with fabrics and when she felt the texture, she would bet the dress was worth millions of dollars, and indeed the dress was specifically made for Sharon as her birthday gift from her grandfather and it cost 2.5 million dollars.

A few minutes later, after waiting anxiously and nervously, Sharon saw her come back with the dress, shorter and it looked different. She wanted to scream at what she did to the dress but after she put it on, she was stunned.

" Woah!", Including the maids, Sharon gasped, "This is beautiful",

" I'm glad you like it",

" Are you kidding? I love it", she grinned accessing the dress that looked so beautiful on her, it was shorter, reaching her knee but some adjustments were made to the dress, " never knew you were a fashion designer".

Clarisse smiled in response but then Sharon saw her thumb finger, it looked swollen. She grabbed it and saw the injuries of the needle, both old and new.

" It wasn't a machine you used?",

" No ma'am".

Sharon was even more stunned, surprised that a very talented fashion designer like her had been using her hands, but that didn't cover her anger, in fact, it only made her blood boil more.

She rolled her eyes and dropped the hand angrily, Clarisse was nervous, afraid she had done something wrong, and was panicking.

" This family is so fucked up!", She cursed and looked at her, " Thank you".

" You're welcome, Ma'am".

Sharon took her purse and made to leave but stopped when she got to the doorway and turned back at her,

" And why are you not calling me mum already?",

" Huh?".