FALLING FOR THE BILLIONAIRE WITH ENEMIES

Episode 2

Zara's Pov

“Fa… father… I…”

“Zara's pregnant, dad,” Quincy cut me off, shaking her head. “Zara… how could you? How could you bring such disgrace to the Daniels family?” She asked, looking at me judgmentally.

A scoff threatened to escape my mouth but I swallowed it, no need for that. There was no use giving Quincy attention when I already had father to deal with.

“Zara, you're what?!” He thundered, glaring at me and at that instant, I wished the ground would open and swallow me.

My father, Mark Daniels was known for his cruelty and principles. He was sweet with me at first but also principled. When Quincy came to the picture, he became my disciplinarian.

Always reprimanding me whenever Quincy accuses me of something and sometimes he even hits me. I was scared of him. I was scared of what he could do.

“You dare soil the Daniels’ name?!”

“Oh my world,” mother said, holding her chest and staggering. Quincy ran and caught her before she would fall.

“After all we've done for you, Zara. Bring you to our home and treat you like family. This is how you can repay us?” She asked, staring me dead in the eyes, her eyes displaying disappointment.

It broke me. I didn't want it to be like this. I didn't plan for it to be like this. It was just once… just once and it was all because I was furious.

“Who's responsible?” Father asked, combing his hair with his fingers frustratingly.

I remained quiet. I was short of words.

“Do you even know who's responsible?” Mother asked but I still couldn't speak. She wailed.

“Zara,” Quincy started. She sniffed and continued, “You could have taken your anger out of me, hit me, shout at me. You could have done that rather than going out to have s*x with some stranger.

“You've soiled our family name and now… What would the board members say about father, about us? Did you really have to go through this length to prove a point?”

I looked at her and the urge to scream enveloped me. She was the reason why my life had a drastic turn. She was the reason I was in this mess. It's all her fault!

That evening, my parents’ anniversary, Williams and Quincy came home together, giggling, arms intertwined like some lovebirds. At first I wanted to talk but I decided to ignore it to avoid causing a scene on such a day.

After dinner, they suddenly dropped the bombshell. Quincy was pregnant and they were engaged.

I was dumbfounded, shocked and quiet. I had seen the signs, but I shrugged it off, trusting Williams with all of me but this was how it ended.

My parents were happy, glad to be grandparents even though they knew Quincy had successfully stolen the only last thing I could call mine.

When I made to complain, mother asked that I understand their situation and accept it.

I couldn't hold my sadness, my rage. That was how I went to the nearest club to clear my head but ended up in a stranger's bed.

Today, I'm pregnant for a random stranger.

“Disappointed! I'm totally disappointed in you! To imagine I raised a w***e,” mother spat, bringing me out my memory lane. “You're such a disgrace to us.”

“And Quincy?” I muttered, my head bowed low as guilt and sorrow washed through me.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you also disappointed in Quincy? She's the one who snatched Williams from me, having an affair behind my back and even went ahead to get pregnant for him. But… but what do you do? You gave her a tap on the back.

“Just when I make a tiny mistake, you get disappointed?”

“Enough!” Father's voice echoed, shutting me up. “As from this moment, you seize to be a Daniels. You are on your own now, and you will leave this house tonight the same way you came. With nothing.”

“Wha… what?! Father, you can't…”

“Darling,” mother cut in. “We can't cut her off. We need her for the project with the Millers.”

The Millers Project was a project that every one in the tech line was chasing, aiming to seal and I was spearheading it for Daniels Group.

“Father… please… don't do this… please…” I begged.

“I don't care! I've tolerated this nonsense for far too long and I will not keep an adopted nuisance in my home only to cause havoc with my board members!”

“I… I can handle it, mom,” Quincy's practiced soft voice cut through the brief silence.

My mouth hung open as I stared at her face still displaying a pitiful look.

Waw! Is that how bad she wanted me gone?

“It's settled then. Quincy, you're in charge of the project. Zara, I don't want you gone. You're no child of mine. Get lost.”

With that, he stormed out of my room. Mother followed him without sparing me a glance, leaving me with Quincy. I was too stunned to even react or say anything. I just stood frozen.

“I…I'm so sorry, sis,” Quincy said, playing with the hem of her dress, looking innocent.

“They're gone now, Quincy. Cut it with the act. Actually, I think you deserve an Oscar.”

She laughed hysterically. “Oh dear Zara. I told you I'd get you out of this house, didn't I? And now, you're out. I won,” she said, gloating as she smiled triumphantly.

“I wish we never cross paths again, loser. And if we do, I'll be sure to crush you again,” she added and walked off.

Just like that, I was on the streets. Father didn't even do as much as leave a car for me. I had no money, nothing but my clothes and a huge lump in my throat.

Despite how I was treated, I still loved them. I still craved to belong… actually belong and be accepted into the family.

I had that hope and believed that they would love me and someday remember their daughter they once dotted on. I had given them my all, my skill, love, affection… my everything.

But here I was with nothing. Just a broken heart and emptiness.

It was 23:00pm and I was walking on the quiet and eerie streets but I could care less really. What was worse than this?

Suddenly, I heard the honking of a car, I turned to look at a speeding car with headlights shining at me and I froze. My mind was blank. I had no idea what to do.

My legs gave up on me and I fell, my head feeling dizzy and my eyes heavy.

That was when I saw him. An angel.

Wait, was I dead?

I blinked my eyes and what I saw scared me, making me think I was indeed dead and already in heaven. The ceiling was white, the walls white but what I found strange was the strong smell of drugs that attacked my nostrils.

“You're awake.” I heard a voice say beside my bedside and I moved my head to see who it was. Behold, it was the angel I saw before I blacked out… or was he human?

“You passed out in front of my car and I had to bring you in…” I zoned out as he kept talking. His voice was silky and pleasing to the ears but it still had a command to it that'll make anyone pause to listen.

He was dressed in a well fitted tuxedo and his black hair was neatly styled. His eyes were blue, ocean blue but somewhat empty… or bored?

“Zara?!” He called, bringing me back from my train of thoughts as I blinked. “Why were you walking in the streets late at night?”

I remained quiet as I stared at his mouth moving. Wait, how did he know my name?

A man on white coat entered the room. His eyes were pleasant as he began to check on me.

“You're doing fine, Zara. You're both doing fine,” he said, looking at my stomach and then I forced a smile. The baby is safe. “You should come to the hospital again for a checkup. You're free to go,” he added, noting that a nurse would bring me vitamins before leaving.

“I guess that'll be all. Here,” he handed me my purse and it clicked, he saw my ID and that was how he knew my name. “I've paid for everything and you can just get dressed and go home.”

Home.

I had no home. I had no money, nothing to my name and I was not sure of how to even begin my life.

“You do have a home, right?” He asked on noticing my sad mood.

“I… I have nowhere to go. I have no…”

“That's okay, you can just call a friend,” he cut in but on seeing I had no reaction to that because quite frankly, I didn't have the time to make friends, he continued, “Oh you can call the company you work for. Someone there should be able to help…”

“I have no job and… no one,” I simply said, bowing my head.

At that instant, I felt alone. I had spent my whole life working for the Daniels, trying to be perfect for my parents and Williams that I neglected myself, I neglected my life and I never had time to create my own circle… my own life.

There was a brief silence and I didn't want to look at the handsome stranger. I didn't want him pitying me or feeling sorry for me. So I simply bowed, hating what I've become.

His phone rang out, breaking through the silence and he picked it, engaging in a conversation with someone at the other end of the call until he blurted, “What?!” I shot my head up, somewhat interested in what was wrong.

“What do you mean she opted out? You know what, just forget it.” He hung up, angry. I was wondering what was wrong when he said, “Wait…” he smiled widely, pointing at me.

I squinted at him, pondering on what was going through his mind. One minute he's angry about the news he got and the next he's smiling like he uncovered a difficult puzzle.

“I have a proposition for you.” His face became serious.

What was he up to?

“Uhn?” I let out, confused.

“Will you be my contract wife?”