I immediately turn to look at him, surprised at how far he's willing to take this. All this, just because I chose the woman that makes me happy.

  I've spent the night in countless women's beds, never truly finding the happiness that I've yearned for. And now that I finally have it within my grasp, they try to take it away from me?

  They're the ones who should be over the moon for me. Their only son has found love and happiness. I let out a sigh of disappointment. So be it.

  "You're willing to disinherit me for choosing to be with Faith?" I ask incredulously.

  My father looks at me coldly, "Without a doubt."

  I can no longer hide my look of disappointment.

  "If that is how you truly feel, then do what you want. I'm not going to leave Faith. She and Ayana are my life," I tell them resolutely.

  "You'll throw everything away for some woman?!" My mother says, the displeasure dripping in every word.

  I nod, "You just made my choice easier, even though it was no contest from the beginning. I'll always choose Faith and Ayana."

  They look at me with disbelief. My parents must be surprised at how I can turn down their fortune.

  "Let me tell you clearly, so you both understand. Faith means more to me than all our riches ever could. You can keep your money. I know what is truly important," I say before leaving the study.

  Just as I enter the living room, I hear a door shut.

  My eyes dart back and forth around the room, looking for Faith and Ayana, but I don't see them.

  "Fuck," I curse.

  They must have left. I feel myself start to panic. Could Faith have heard the conversation we've been having? If she did, then I'm sure she's crushed right now.

  I run a hand through my hair in frustration and worry.

  I need to follow her. I don't want her to think that I somehow agree with my parents. I need her in my life.

  Sixteen

  Faith

  "Sweetie, we need to go," I tell Ayana. She looks at me with a face that holds curiosity.

  "But we haven't had dinner yet," she says with a pout.

  "Don't worry about that, sweetie. We can eat once we get home," I say, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

  Her face scrunches slightly, "Mommy, you don't look so good."

  I try to give her a soft smile, "Mommy is fine, sweetie. We just really need to go."

  She nods hesitantly. She takes my hand, and I lead her outside of the mansion, where I'll be calling a taxi.

  The hateful words that Mrs. St. James said about me still lingers in my mind. My heart breaks at the thought of them. I can't believe how different William's parents are from him. Never had William acted as though he was better than everyone else because of his social standing. He never judged me. But to find out what his parents think about me, it really hurts.

  I have never coveted William for his money. Sure, he helped me get a job at his father's firm, but he assured me that I got the position through my own merit. And I like to think that I've done an excellent job at the firm, given my fast promotion. I never once abused our friendship.

  I let out a bitter chuckle, how can I let myself fall in love with him like a fool. I forgot about the differences in our social background. He needs to be with a woman with the same social standing, and I will not be made out into a woman that pines over him because of his money.

  With those thoughts in mind, I know that I have to quit my job. I don't think I can stand to work there, knowing what William's parents think of me. And seeing William every day and not being able to be with him, I don't think I'm strong enough to handle that.

  I call for a taxi to pick us up. Thankfully, there's one nearby. We get in the cab, and the driver starts to drive us home.

  I try to think of my next move once I quit my job. I can deal with the hurt in my heart, but not here. I think it will be for the best if I move back to Ohio, the same state where my parents live.

  There, I'll be able to heal and forget. I know it's going to be tough, everything being new yet again. However, I have started over before, and I can do it again. I just love William too much to stay.

  Maybe love just isn't in the cards for me. After what happened with Michael, and now this, I think it's safe to say that love doesn't agree with me.

  Ayana's head is on my chest. I stroke her hair lovingly.

  I sigh deeply. For Ayana, I know I can get better. I need to be strong for her. It wouldn't do well if her mother starts to break down in front of her, even though breaking down is precisely what I feel like doing.

  "Mommy, are you sure you're okay?" Ayana says, looking up to meet my face.

  "Mommy is hurt, but don't worry. I'll be fine in a couple of days," I assure her.

  She looks at me, worried, "Who hurt you, mommy? Was it... Uncle William?"

  I shake my head, "No, sweetie. Uncle William didn't do anything wrong. His parents and I just don't agree with each other."

  Her brows furrow at my words, "Oh, well, whatever they said, I'm sure you aren't the one that's wrong, mommy."

  I chuckle at my daughter's words. She's a brilliant child, and she's the greatest blessing of my life.

  I kiss her forehead, "Thank you, sweetie. Don't worry about mommy."

  We eventually reach home. Ayana is already fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her, I carry her back to her room and tuck her in. I give her another loving kiss on her forehead and whisper words of love to her.

  I go inside my own bedroom, feeling my emotions finally burst. I give in to my sobs. I cry for the hurtful words that William's mother had said about me. I cry for the loss of the life that I've built for Ayana and me here. But most of all, I'm crying for the separation that's sure to come for William and me.

  I let myself sob until I'm exhausted. And eventually, sleep takes over.

  The unwelcome rays of the sun greet me mockingly a good morning. I groan in displeasure, my body feeling like it's made of lead. I don't have the desire to stand today, but I know that I must.

  I push away the covers of my bed. I mechanically prepare Ayana for school, just going through the motions.

  I drop her off at school. Before she gets out of the car, she hugs me tight.

  "Don't be sad anymore, mommy," Ayana whispers. I hug her back, my tears threatening to spill at any moment.

  She pulls away, "I love you, mommy."

  I kiss her cheek, "I love you too."

  I watch her disappear inside her school, then I left. I drive myself to work, my mind already made up about quitting my job. I am a woman on a mission. I walk to Mr. St. James's office and go inside.

  He looks up from his papers, shocked.

  He frowns at my presence, "What are you doing here?"

  Without a moment's hesitation, I click play on my cell phone. The CEO looks at me like I'm crazy as the room is filled with the song, 'Take This Job and Shove It' by Johnny Paycheck.

  As soon as that line plays, I turn my back on him, glad to see that I've made my point.

  I quit Jackass!

  I walk away without saying a word.

  I head for my own office to get my things, not wanting to stay in this place any longer.

  I sigh heavily. I've finally quit. I take one last look at William's office right across from mine.

  Goodbye, William.

  Seventeen

  William

  "God!" I shout as I run out of the door of this fucking mansion that I thought was my home. There's this rage inside me that keeps on boiling, and it's threatening to explode.

  I follow after Faith, and she's no longer around. The potted plant beside me receives my anger. I kick it to release my anger.

  "William!" My angry father followed after me. My mother is here too, she watches as I suffer. Damn, I feel so miserable. It's like someone tore my heart out when I didn't find her. Her perfume lingers in the air, and it adds to the pain in my heart.

  I'm scared that this might be the last time to smell this perfume of hers. My back's sweating, and my heart's racing. This place is suffocating me!

  "William, what do you think you're doing?! We're not done yet!" My mother shouts and points at me. "You better listen to me, young man!"

  "No!" I snap. Everything in my heart and mind snaps. I feel so fucking miserable, and here is my mother, telling me what to do. They're my parents, but they don't hold my life in their hands! If it's up to them, I'll be marrying some boring, rich woman.

  "You dare shout at your mother?! Is this how we raised you? So, you're doing this to us now? Do you think you now have a strong backbone?! Without us, you wouldn't be here where you are!"

  My father shouts at me, his spittle spraying all over the place. I step away, I don't want his saliva on me.

  Really? I can’t believe he thinks this way about me. A good-for-nothing son? What am I working for, then? I might not have my own company, but still, I reach where I am today because of my hard work!

  "Dad, I work hard, and where I am today… it isn't all because of you. You have given me education and have assisted me, but what I have now is due to my efforts," I admit that he has taken care of me, and he has provided me with a high-class education.

  But is this enough for him to ridicule me? I never thought that my parents will act this way. For the first time, I'm witnessing their true colors.

  I'm ashamed to admit this, but they're really crazy people with no respect for others!

  "Shut up! Just because of a woman, you dare to speak this way? What did she give you, huh?" my mom shouts again. She's like a shrew in my eyes. Damn it!

  They're really testing my patience to the limit. If they're not my parents, I would have cursed them.

  "That woman you're talking about is going to be my wife! She's the one for me!" I declare. No one can stop me, not them or anyone at that. Faith's the one for me.

  "So, you better learn to accept and respect her as a person!"

  "That woman's a gold-digger!" my mom shouts. My father starts to take deep breaths because of anger. My vision darkens when I hear my mother's speech.

  "Gold-digger? Then what are we?" I ask them. "Grandfather built this company from the ground, and then, he married a rich woman as his second wife. We weren't always millionaires!"

  They don't have the right to judge Faith. Faith has always been honest and has never taken advantage of me. If she wants money, she should have asked me a long time ago, and I'll gladly give it to her.

  "You!" My father points to me. His face is red because of anger. It seems he wants to say more, but instead, he chose to shut his mouth. My mom assists him in standing.

  "This is really not good, William! How can you say such words?" my mom asks.

  "Respect is earned, mom," is my only reply to her. "We all know, mom, that the history of this company isn't all flowers, mom. We also had ups and downs like everybody else."

  "That woman comes from a poor family!" mom insists again. I close my eyes, trying to calm down.

  "Mom, the world is round, and it's still spinning," I tell her stonily. Everything changes.

  I don't want to talk to them anymore. If we talk more, we might just have a bigger fight, and I might end up saying things that they don't want to hear.

  They're still my parents.

  "William," my mom sighs. I guess she believes that what she's doing is right. "I'm still your mother, so please listen to me. I don't want you to get hook on a woman who's going to hurt you!"

  "I won't, mom. Faith is one of the most beautiful and kindest women I've ever known," I reply to her. "She has been my friend for years, and I know what I feel for her is true."

  "This-" I cut her off.

  "Also, dad and you are in no position to tell me what to do. You don't have the power to dictate my life. What I'll do to mine is my own business," I add this statement. My mother's a smart woman, so I know she'll understand.

  My father's looking at me disappointedly.

  "I'm going," I didn't listen to their words and just left. Wasting more time here isn't productive. I need to talk to Faith. She needs me right now.

  I get in my car and drives away from the mansion. My eyes glance at the rearview mirror, and my mom and dad are still there. I feel like they're sending me off. Damn.

  I sigh, trying to calm down so that I can think about my next steps. I open my phone and dial Faith's number. Her phone keeps ringing, but she didn't even answer.

  After a few more rings, Faith's phone shuts down, and I can no longer connect.

  "What the hell?" I ask, fuck, did Faith turn off her cellphone as I was calling? Shit! I need to do something. I need a fucking, foolproof plan.

  I need to find Faith and tell her I love her. Marrying her is my dream, and I won't stop until she says yes. I'll marry her, no matter what.

  For sure.

  Eighteen

  Faith

  To say that I'm miserable is an understatement. God, it hurts so much.

  I bite my lips as I try to stifle my tears as I pack my things. What's painful isn't leaving this company, but because it seems like William and I have no future.

  His father told me a lot of things, and I understand what he means about William. I don't want to hold him back or deprived him of his inheritance. William's a fantastic guy, and he deserves the best.

  William deserves the best that this world has to offer. We aren't just meant to be. Also, his mother has really done damaged to me. Being judge like that… it's painful; they didn't even give me a chance.

  "Damn," I put my picture frame inside my box. This office holds so many memories, although not everything's good, but… it still a big part of my life. I look around, and I'm starting to miss it.

  I sigh, feeling weak and numb. Too much has happened, and this event shook me up. The job that I love is gone. To top it all, the man I love… we have no chance together.

  "Such a mess," I say to myself as I pack hurriedly. People are looking; I don't want them to feast their eyes and mouths at me. I don't want to see them chitchatting.

  Then, out of the blue, a familiar silhouette appears. A man comes running inside my office, and I just realized who the person is. William's here.

  It's really William! My hands tremble as I look at his face. Gosh, what is he doing here? I gaze intently at William, and he looks very haggard.

  What happened to him?

  William pants hard as he leans on the door. There are eye bags under his eyes, and he looks pale too.

  "Water?" I offer to him. I don't know what he'll do, but I don't want him to hurt himself. All I know is that I love him.

  "Please, don't leave me!" William blurts out. I'm so surprised when I hear his words. Come again? Leaving him?

  "Oh, that. I'm only resigning, but not leaving forever," I tell William as I try to act unaffected. I try to finish my task, but William captures my waist.

  "Please," William says to me. "I want to say I'm sorry for what my mother did! I talked to her, and she won't be able to interfere any time soon."

  "Really?" I ask William. If this is true, then… I'm going to be happy. I also don't want anyone interfering in our relationship.

  "Yes, she won't. My father won't bother us, too. I really want you with me, Faith! I really need you in my life, Faith! If you leave me now... I don't know what I'll do," William says, solemnly.

  I want to take him back because I love the man, but when I think that William will lose his inheritance because of me… I can't be selfish, can I? It's his right.

  I really want to be selfish… because it will be tough for me if William's out of my life. He has been integrated into my life and is a permanent fixture in it.

  Without William, what will I do?

  "William, what about your inheritance?" I ask him in a timid voice. I'm scared, what if he chooses it?

  "Inheritance? Who cares about my inheritance? They can shove it up to their asses," William angrily splatters. My eyes widen as I look at him, then, I frown. Seriously, he doesn't care?

  "You look like you don't believe me?" William sighs. "As of now, they have already disowned me. I'm sure because we had a fight last night. I've been calling you, but you were not answering! The entire night I spend taking care of things."

  I examine William's face again, and he looks like he hasn't slept. My heart skips a beat. There are huge eye bags under his eyes. He looks like he's ready to fall down at any time.

  "You haven't slept?" I ask him, worried.

  "Yes, and I can't sleep without you in my arms anymore," William says emotionally, then, he swipes his hair frustratingly. "Regardless of what my family says, you're the one for me, Faith and nobody else."

  "How can you be so sure?" I ask William in a soft voice. God, I'm almost bursting with my love for him. It takes everything of me to not jump on William.

  "I'm sure because my heart says so," William grabs my hand and places it over his heart. "Listen carefully, it says your name."

  "My name?" I don't know… but this is so romantic, and he owns my heart too.

  "Yes! No matter what my family says, you're my woman! You're mine, and we're getting married. I'm marrying you, Faith, despite everything that might come our way," William announces for the world to her.

  God, people are crowding outside my office. William embraces me when I stay silent. It takes me a minute to process everything because my happiness ib blocking my rational thoughts.

  To hell with rational thinking! I hug William back. Cheering from the other people ensues, but I don't care anymore.

  Then, I remember something. I escape from his embrace.

  "William, I don't want you to lose your inheritance!" I repeat this sentence again. "I don't want you to lose what's yours! I don't want to hold you or hurt you."

  "Being without you is already hurting me, don't you know that? And what about my inheritance? I already told you, they can shove it up to their asses. Money and status aren't all that important to me."

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7