THE BILLIONAIRE BABY MAMA

TWIST OF FATE.

In a large living room, a teenager with a dark curly hair sits opposite his parents, in an armchair. He seems busy pressing his phone.

"So, Noah, how's school going?" His father, Mr Johnson asked, breaking the silence. His voice was neutral with a hint of concern.

Noah shrugged, his eyes glued to his phone. " It's going well." I guess."

His mother, Mrs Johnson, frowned. She spoke up before her husband could say anything. "Noah, what do you mean it's going well. You need to take your studies more seriously. Your grades are falling and you're relaxed doing nothing."

He rolled his eyes with less concern. "I don't need my grades for anything, mom. I'm doing alright."

Mr Johnson expression turned stern."we're worried, son. We're concerned. You are such a bright kid and you have so much potential. All of a sudden, you just decide to start feeling less concerned about school and you expect us to just sit down and do nothing about it?"

"You don't have to do anything about it, dad. I seriously don't need the lectures right now. I just want to be free. Okay?"

His mother's voice rose. " That's not how to speak to your parents. That is certainly not how I raised you. You need to buckle down and focus on your studies. That's all we're asking for."

Noah's voice twisted in frustration. " You both don't understand. School is boring. I don't like boring things."

The argument escalated, with both sides throwing words at themselves. Noah's parents grew increasingly frustrated while Noah became more and more defiant. The tension in the room built. The air thickening with unspoken words.....

Then Mr Johnson shouted. "You're going to regret this attitude...You're throwing away your future..."

The teenager face reddened, his eyes flashing with anger. "I don't care!" he shouted back, leaping to his feet. "You don't understand me. You both never listen to me."

The room fell silent, the only sound that could be heard is the heavy breathing of the three of them. Mrs Johnson's face was pale, her eyes wet with tears. On the other hand, her husband's face was red, his jaw clenched in anger.

Noah turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the house.

***

As Noah walked out into the cool evening air, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He didn't want to deal with his parents' nagging anymore. He just wanted to be free. He pulled out his phone and texted his friends, arranging to meet up at the park. As he walked, he felt his anger and frustration reduce replaced by a sense of excitement and anticipation.

The park was crowded with teenagers, the sound of laughter and music filling the air. Noah spotted his friends, Alex and Jake, lounging on a bench. He grinned, walking towards them.

"Hey, guys," he shook their hands and sat down beside them. "What's up?"

Alex, a dark, tall, slim kid, replied "Nothing much, Noah. Just hanging out. What's new with you?" "Just got out of a fight with my parents. They're on my neck about my grades again."

His other friend, Jake, a quiet kid, shook his head sympathetically. "Yeah, parents can be tough. But hey, let's not think about that now. Let's just have some fun."

The three friends spent the rest of the evening laughing and joking, their worries and cares forgotten in the joy of the moment. As the night wore on, Noah had totally forgotten about his anger and frustration.

The house was quiet when Noah arrived home, the lights dimmed and the rooms were quiet. He crept upstairs, not wanting to disturb anyone. He changed into his pyjamas and slept.

***

The next morning, Noah stormed out of the house without informing his parents. He hadn't slept much. His mind was filled with thoughts of the argument he had with his parents the night before. He couldn't face them now, not after the way things had ended.

He made his way to Alex's, his friend's house. He rang the doorbell and Alex answered the door. Immediately Alex saw him, he stared at him with a look of concern.

"Hey, man, what's going on?" Alex asked, stepping aside to let Noah in.

Noah shrugged, flopping down onto the couch. "I couldn't face them this morning, man. I just had to leave before they woke up."

Alex nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I understand what that is. You'll work it out eventually. I'm sure."

"Thank you, bro."

The two friends chatted for a while, discussing everything from games to their plans for the summer. They were still in the middle of their discussion when Noah's phone began to ring. He glanced at the screen and it was an unknown caller. He refused to pick but then the caller kept on calling....

"Hello." he said, answering the call

"Hello. "Am I speaking with Noah?" The voice was trembling. "I have some bad news."

Noah's heart began to pound in his chest. "Yes you are. What is it? What is going on?"

"It's your parents, Noah. There's been an accident. They're... they're gone."

"You need to come over to the hospital right now."

The room seemed to spin around Noah, the words echoing in his mind like a cruel joke. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of him.

"Alex, I... I have to go," he stammered, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Who was it? What's happening?? Why are you crying???"

"It's my parents. They've been involved in an accident....they're gone."

***

Noah sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall as tears rolled down his face. He couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had been living within him since the accident. His parents were gone and he was left alone to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.

"Why did you have to leave me?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "Why did you have to die?"

He felt a wave of anger wash over him, directed at the universe, at fate, at anything that would take his parents away from him. He thought about all the things he'd never get to do with them, all the conversations they'd never have. Noah's mind replayed memories of his parents, of laughter and tears, of fights and makeup. He remembered the way his mom used to make him laugh, the way his dad used to tell him stories. He recalled the way they'd supported him, encouraged him, and loved him unconditionally.

As the memories flooded his mind, Noah's grief intensified. He wished he could turn back time. Wished he could apologize to his parents, wished he could tell them how much he loved them. Wished they would come back to him. He promised to be more serious with his books. He promised to take life seriously. Noah's body shook with sobs as he buried his face in his pillow. He was lost and alone. Fate was cruel to him. A day before, he had a family and now, he's an orphan.