GEORGE threw away the little stub of cigarette between his fingers and inhaled deeply, then he sank into the plastic chair next to him.
He has just left to make a call to his girlfriend, Orlanda. His friends were all sitted around next to each other.
"Called her?" Marcus asked.
He nodded.
"Yep", he replied shortly.
"So you mean you gonna do what you wanna do?" Marcus asked again and he nodded.
"Sure, sure", he replied.
"Hmm. Then she must be a fool if she does your bidding", Remy, the other guy with them spoke and George laughed.
"Why do you say so?" He asked.
"Huh? Considering the fact that you actually asked her for some bucks just yesterday, now you wanna ask for another today, if she gives then she must be a fool", Remy said.
George said nothing but just laughed, whatever, all he knows was that, he was asking for money from his girlfriend, whether his love for her was real or not, it was none of his concern.
Soon Orlanda arrived, and walked up to them. She heaved a sigh of relief seeing only two of his many friends with him today.
"Hi, good evening", she greeted and waved at them.
The other two guys smiled and waved back. They exchanged greetings and she turned to George.
"Hey George", she called.
George scoffed.
"Is that how to greet someone you call your boyfriend?" He asked.
She smiled, moved closer to him and then bent low to hug him. She frowned, he didn't even hug her back.
She disengaged from the hug and stood straight, George scoffed again, that was the least of her romance, hugs, just hugs.
"I hope you are good?" She asked and he nodded.
"As you can see", he said.
"So, you asked me to meet up", she said, still standing.
"Yeah, babes. Baby, I just need a favour from you, a little favour", he said and she sighed, not again.
"What kind of favour George, spill it", she said.
"I need bucks, a few this time…".
"Ahhhh! George", she interrupted.
"A very few baby, just a little", he persisted.
She sighed again. George, always asking for a favour from her, but never harkens to her own favour, never does them.
"How much do you need?" She asked.
His boyish handsome face broke into a smile and he licked his lips.
"Twenty", he shortly said.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"I do not have that, I gave you my last cards yesterday, only God knows where I'm gonna get this from", she complained.
His smiling face broke into a frown, he was visibly angry.
"Is it because I asked for money from you yesterday, huh? Because I'm just broke this period that you are mocking me", he asked and she went weak instantly.
He has started again. This was what he always does, whenever she complains of not having any.
"I'm not mocking you George, come on", she said.
"If you can't give me then just leave", he said and looked away.
She sighed.
"It hasn't gotten to that yet, okay? Errrr, I only have ten to give, it isn't up to twenty", she said.
"Just ten? Don't you have a little bit more than that?" He asked.
"Alright, twelve", she concluded, and he smiled broadly.
"Good. So when am I getting it?" He asked.
"When you want it", she replied and looked away.
"Tomorrow then".
"Fine, you will get it tomorrow", she said and the other two guys gasped silently.
THANK YOU, DEAR READER!Wow! You made it to the end of this journey with me, and I can't thank you enough. Your time, emotions, and support mean the world to me. Every read, every comment, every like, it all keeps me going.If this story touched you, made you laugh, cry, or feel something deep, please consider supporting me with gems, reviews and or sharing the book with others. It helps me grow and motivates me to keep creating more stories you'll love.Your support isn't just appreciated, it's everything.With love, Baby Nûella
……SEVEN YEARS LATER……THE sky was a sweet blue, scattered with wisps of cotton clouds, the sun not too harsh, just the perfect weather for a baby shower. The Escobar mansion had been transformed into a wonderland of white and gold décor. Soft jazz music floated in the air, the sound of laughter mingling with the gentle clinking of glasses. Round tables adorned with floral centerpieces dotted the manicured lawn, and shimmering white drapes flowed like silk in the soft wind. Every guest looked like they had stepped out of a designer magazine.At the center of it all stood the radiant couple— Oswald and Orlanda Escobar.Orlanda wore a long blush-pink off-shoulder gown, her hair flowing in soft curls around her glowing face. A delicate tiara sat on her head, her baby bump adding an extra charm to her silhouette. She laughed freely, resting one hand on her belly and the other entwined with Oswald's.Oswald, ever the striking figure, wore a custom-tailored white suit with a silk black shirt
THE Escobar mansion shimmered in gold and ivory hues, the grand chandelier raining elegance over the long dining table being set with the finest cutlery and crystal glassware. Fresh flowers lined the center, and the mouthwatering aroma of roasted lamb, buttered vegetables, and delicate pastries floated through the air as uniformed chefs and servers made final adjustments.It was a rare and cherished evening, one the Escobar family hadn’t experienced in years. Not since the days when laughter once danced through these same halls.Lady Frances stood by the grand hallway, clasping her fingers in an unusual flurry of excitement. Her heart was fluttering, not because her beloved son was coming home for dinner, but because she was coming. The girl who had done what no therapy, no medicine, no luxury had ever been able to do— heal her son.“Everything looks perfect,” Frances murmured, adjusting a gold goblet slightly out of place. Then the front doors creaked open and her husband, Lord Dino
THE office floor was alive with chatter that morning, but it wasn’t the usual talk about deadlines or client meetings. It was about Orlanda.She was everywhere, or rather, her story was. The photos from the villa unveiling had already made the rounds online, and the headlines were impossible to miss. Her name was on everyone’s lips.The women gathered in little clusters, their conversations laced with mixed emotions.“Honestly, I’m happy for her,” one young woman said, her voice sincere. “She has been through a lot. She deserves this happiness.”Another scoffed, crossing her arms. “Happy? Please. Some people just have all the luck. I have been here five years and—” she stopped herself but the bitterness in her tone lingered.Near the coffee station, an elderly woman spoke up, her voice firm but tinged with nostalgia. “She deserves all she gets now,” she said. “I knew her mother — Helena Lawn. Not too close, but close enough to know she was a good woman. What happened to her was trag
OSWALD sat at the long mahogany dining table in his parents’ grand home, the warm glow from the chandelier casting golden highlights over polished silverware. Lady Frances was at the head of the table, her eyes sparkling with a rare kind of joy as she poured tea into his cup.“It has been too long since you visited like this,” she said, almost chiding, but her voice was soft with affection. She reached across to pat his hand. “I missed you, my son.”“I have been… busy,” Oswald replied with a small smile, his deep voice calm and measured, but the warmth in his eyes gave him away.Lord Dino, sitting opposite, leaned back in his chair and studied his son. “I see, busy with Orlanda.” His wife chuckled and Oswald scoffed.“Well you and Orlanda now, son. Is that your choice?”Oswald’s gaze didn’t waver. “Yes, Father. She is my choice. My only choice.”Lord Dino gave a slow nod, his stern features relaxing into approval. “So, no longer Queen?”Oswald’s jaw tightened slightly at the name,
THE car rolled smoothly along winding country roads, trees arching overhead like a green cathedral. They had been driving for quite a while now, and Orlanda’s curiosity was nearly eating her alive. Every so often she would glance at Oswald, trying to read his expression, but he only offered that maddening half-smile that said he was enjoying keeping her in suspense.Finally, the road curved into a quiet bend, revealing a set of ornate wrought-iron gates. They were flanked by towering stone pillars, each crowned with lanterns that gleamed in the morning light. As the gates swung open, the car glided forward onto a cobblestone driveway that seemed to stretch forever.And then she saw it.A grand villa stood proudly at the end of the drive, all cream stone and sweeping terraces, its massive windows reflecting the sunlight like liquid gold. Beautiful gardens bloomed on either side, a fountain dancing in the center of a circular courtyard. It wasn’t just a house. It was a palace.Orlanda’s