Secret Affair

Crushed

Veronica was a sophisticated woman who loved living off others, she especially loved the good things in life. She is a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. If, on the rare occasions, that things didn't go her way, she always found ways to make the situation work just the way she wanted. Veronica was selfish and self-centered, she never stopped to think that her actions might hurt others. When she met Adams Joe for the first time, she knew she had to have him at any cost. She employed all the tricks she had learned over the years to the effect. He was a widower and fairly successful, just the kind of man she wanted in her life and there was nothing that would get in her way. When she found out he had a daughter, even though she hated having kids, to her, children were annoying and an inconvenient accessory that no one should be bothered with. This was the reason she had tubal sterilization done when she was just twenty-two, to avoid ever having to bear one or even accidentally falling pregnant. Because Adam had a little girl, Veronica naturally assumed the girl would get between her and her new-found love interest, she was going to do everything to get the man away from his child, and when it seemed it wouldn't work she had to succumb and learn to fake her love towards children. She wanted Adam to like her enough to marry her, because she wanted to be the one to inherit his estate. Adam had made it clear that he wasn't keen on remarriage and would only do so if the woman was willing to treat his little girl like her own, so of course, Veronica rose to the task, pretending to show so much care for his daughter that it was convincing enough and almost looked like she was indeed the biological mother to the girl. Adams couldn't ask for more from a woman. He had the perfect family, or so he thought. Over the years, Veronica has become proficient in masking her true intentions when it comes to Adams Joe, and his kid. This was why she was able to fool him into marrying her, but things were quite as simple.

Veronica had planned just being married for a few years and then divorcing the man after ensuring to get so much out of her unsuspecting latest conquest. All she did was show fake affection towards his daughter, and she was welcomed with open arms. No one saw through her facade, not Adam or his smart daughter. Adam was smart enough to leave most of his wealth to his daughter and although Veronica tried to change his mind several times, always finding it convenient to insinuate that something might happen to her dear husband and casually suggesting that she was more appropriate to hold on to everything in such situations, but Adam did not bulge and thus, Veronica found herself staying married to the same guy longer than she intended, soon she began to cheat when Adam goes out of town, she was bold enough to bring her lovers into Adam's house with only Sofia as the witness.

TRIGGER WARNING; MAY DEPICT SOME FORM OF ABUSE

Sofia is just like any little girl that craves attention. Her father tried to be there for her when it mattered, but it was never enough. His job was so demanding that he soon began to pay less attention to his daughter's life. He was always busy going on business trips. He knew he had to eventually get someone to permanently manage his home and when he met Veronica, although he was suspicious of her motive at first, he fell in love with her soon enough and got rid of all his doubts, especially as he noticed she was good with kids, and he wanted what was best for his sweet daughter. Sofia thought once she got a mother, her life would be complete, and she could live like all those with loving mothers, and at first it seemed so, but things were never the way she imagined after her father got married. She was more miserable than she was before she met Veronica. Sofia was a very bright and inquisitive girl while growing up. She only wanted a few things and never bothered anyone, she did things only to please the people around her. Veronica, being who she was, thought since her father refused to scratch her name off his will like she had pushed all those years, she would have to make good use of the girl later in life. Sofia loved having a mother and always believed whatever her stepmother did was out of love for her. She never argued, never refused, she thought if she did, her stepmother would leave her like her mother had done. She was obedient to a fault. Veronica, on her part, only treated the girl well in the presence of her father, but was strict once they were left alone. On different occasions when her dad was out of town, the little girl had fallen sick, but Veronica never bothered to take her to the hospital for treatment. She was hoping the girl would just die, and she would live freely like she had always wanted. But, by a stroke of luck, the girl managed to survive both times and even lied that she was being properly cared for when her father asked. Veronica tells the girl she is too unattractive and shouldn't be allowed to talk when others are. Veronica knew she would be unable to control the girl forever and continually crushed the little girl's spirit, blamed her for every little thing and always threatening to leave if she didn't behave. She reiterated that she was only doing her a favor by accepting to be her stepmother and, as such, in Sofia's eyes, Veronica could do no wrong. She always believed everything she was told, and although she didn't realize it, she gradually lost confidence in herself and became Veronica's well-tamed puppet. Only listening to everything her grandmother said, even if it didn't seem right to Sofia, she never questioned it. The once brilliant kid slowly becomes docile and timid, accepting everything thrown her way, no matter the absurdity of it. She took it all without as much as a mumble. When Adam noticed this change, Veronica told him his daughter was going through puberty. After that, he never questioned it further. Only a mother would understand their daughters. Sofia never complained. Year after year, Sofia became completely complaisant, Veronica was proud of her handwork. Everything was going well until Adam unexpectedly lost his job after a bad deal. Veronica was beside herself. She never respected a day would come that her man wouldn't be able to afford her expensive lifestyle. She was only with him because he had a good job and spoiled her with gifts. She was just glad that the girl would do anything she asked. She plotted to have him locked away for being negligent, but Adam died before she could execute her plan. Knowing his daughter was the sole inheritor of his wealth, she made herself available to the point of becoming her legal guardian. With this, she could eventually take over everything from the girl without breaking a sweat. Veronica decided that she was done with the marriage a long time ago. Adam had no reason to doubt his wife until he suddenly developed an illness when she started to show her true self, no longer the caring, loving wife and mother, she no longer cared if he caught her with another man. Adam realized too late that she was never the kind of mother he wanted for his daughter, but there was nothing he could do about it. He regretted not paying close attention to his now-grown daughter, who would do anything to satisfy her greedy stepmother.