MY ORPHAN BRIDE

HE LIED TO ME

ALICE

For any woman in this world, less is never more when it comes to dress. But my case is different. I dressed up in a cotton dress that I had saved to wear for an upcoming excursion. A yellow maxi dress with white lilies painted all over it. I must say that I found a good one this time even though it was on sale. Less is more as long as I can save some money.

The MD must still be in awe because I could see him watching me with his eyes wide open.

Once we were outside my apartment premises, it was my turn to look at him in awe. There were four black beauties shining under the street lights waiting for our arrival - I mean his arrival. Needless to say, there were more men wearing black, for his safety. He's the Managing Director after all!

'To the mansion.' He ordered and the driver started the engine at his command.

‘Wait, aren't you taking me to the hospital first?' "Mr. MD?" I tried to approach him because he ignored me flatly the first time I questioned him. He was quick to embarrass me in front of the driver once again with his silence. 'What a brat?' Thereafter I understood that the one thing Mr. MD expected of me was to zip my mouth. And so I did exactly what he needed from me for the rest of the ride.

......

"Wow! This mansion is so beautiful!" I couldn't help but say the words that just slipped out of my mouth. It was the first time that I had seen such a big house with my own eyes. I was just carried away and I went with the flow, forgetting that the MD was right there to make me feel less. I literally heard him scoff. He even rolled his eyes at me. I just felt as if he had shouldered the responsibility of making me feel out of place even in that huge residence. What less could I expect from an elite like him?

The walls of the living room were decorated with many photo frames capturing various memories in those glass cages. I was left unattended in the living room and having nothing else to do, I started analysing the people in the photo frames. There were several photos but what caught my eyes was one with the MD and an old man. He must be the person I was meeting that day, the possible sponsor of my education and the MD's grandfather. The grandfather had such a childlike smile plastered on his face when his grandson was holding a cricket bat in one hand and his hand in the other. Readying my mind for the worst, I followed a maid to the grandfather's room. Once inside, I couldn't help but fluster in rage.

'Why did you have to lie to me?' I wanted to ask the MD but couldn't. Even though I had to chew iron nails, I didn't forget to throw daggers from my eyes. He smirked arrogantly, furthering my anger.

The process of me staring at him and him staring back at me would have continued if the old man had not snapped me out of that staring competition.

"Alice! You are finally here." 'I am so happy to see you after so many years. Come here. Sit beside me.' The grandfather patted the nearest sofa on display. My feet started moving towards him even though my heart refused to do so. He had that strong paternal pull that I had missed throughout my life. I hesitatingly sat at where he had pointed earlier. I didn’t know what to say and just smiled, looking at those brown inquisitive eyes behind the gold-rimmed spectacles of the old man.

He took a long and deep breath as if he needed to fill his lungs to the brim before he could speak a word to me.

"I can finally die in peace now. You are finally here. I just hope your parents will forgive me." 'I hope Savannah will forgive me.'

"Savannah?" I repeated after the grandfather. I heard that name for the first time but it rang an alarm in my head.

"Who is Savannah? Do I know this Savannah?" My head hurt just because of the mention of that name. I began to think about Savannah even though it hurt.

I was a mess in just a while. I began sweating profusely thinking about a possible connection I shared with this Savannah. My head hurt and so did my heart. In fact, my heart was burning, tearing me into pieces with each passing second.

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