CHAPTER 1
"Dirty piece of trash! The disgrace you have given to our family isn't enough for you? How dare you try to drag the dignity of her family in the mud? You not only dropped out of school but you also chose to do drugs? Why?!" Mariam yelled at her daughter furiously.
"Mum! I did not, why do you not trust me? I just told you the truth. I did not take any drugs, also I did not drop out of school! The reporter's and blogger's making fake posts, someone must have paid them to do it." Annabel replied with teary eyes hoping her mother would listen to her.
"Are you saying the pictures are all photoshopped? If these accusations are all a lie then why were you at the club? You have not been in class for days now Annabel, I am so tired of you already!" Mariam said giving a deadly glare at Annabel.
Mariam didn't know what had come on her daughter, ever since three years ago her daughter had changed so much from the person she once knew in the past. "Mom I am serious, these are all a lie I would never do this." Annabel pleaded further wanting to prove herself as not guilty to her mother.
"Shut up you b***h, you are a liar. Mariam your daughter is a disgrace to this family, why would she do this? Everyone is talking about our family in and out the house." An elderly woman cursed walking into the living room with angry steps, she held onto her own daughter and pulled her in.
"What are you doing here Mary? I thought you were in Canada?" Mariam asked surprised to see her sister walking into the house.
"So you could lie to me and not talk about what your daughter has done? Or how the company stocks keeps declining? That's not all, we should also talk about what your useless daughter caused my daughter to do too. I found my daughter in a club, all because of your daughter's influence!"
Mary responded with an unhappy tone, she sent demeaning and hateful glares toward Annabel. Mariam stood surprised by the turn of events, her eyes fell on her daughter and then her niece.
"Sister what do you mean you found your daughter in the club? What's going on here?" Mariam questioned looking puzzled, she knew her daughter was a troublemaker but not her niece. Her niece was a lovely and quiet girl.
"You don't know about this right? Well why don't I tell you how your daughter set my daughter up with boys from college? Your daughter is nothing but a disgrace to this family just like her worthless father!!!" Mary answered stepping in front of her niece.
Annabel moved back trying to move away from her aunt, she was surprised and puzzled too by her aunt's accusations. "What do you mean! Mom don't listen to her, I did nothing. I didn't take Bella anywhere." Annabel defended herself.
"Are you saying I am telling a lie? How dare you call me a liar?" Mary yelled angry about the fact that Annabel was denying the accusations, she raised her hand and before anybody could blink a slap landed straight on Annabel's face.
"Sister!"
"Mother!" Mariam and Bella both yelled simultaneously, Bella ran and stood in front of Annabel to protect her.
"Sister why did you hit her? We can speak calmly, you don't have to hit her, I am sure Annabel didn't take Bella to the club. This has to be a misunderstanding, there is a misunderstanding somewhere." Mariam tried to defend Annabel.
"You are calling me a liar too just like your daughter? Do you think I would accuse Annabel without any evidence? She is my niece too you know." Mary remarked pulling her hand away from her sister's grip. She sent hateful glares towards Annabel.
Annabel felt herself choke on herself, she tried to blink back the tears that formed under her eyes but it fell despite her efforts. "Mom! That's a lie, sister Annabel didn't trap me there with those men."
"Don't be unfair to sister, she would never do anything like that. Although she asked me to meet her there I am sure she didn't try to get me raped." Bella said trying to stop her mother from attacking further while also inciting her anger.
"You hear that Mariam? Your previous daughter called my daughter to the club, do you believe me now? Do you?!" Mary yelled turning to her sister.
Mariam frowned, she turned to her daughter with a disappointed stare. "I know you trust your daughter a lot but she is just the same. Like her father that's how she is! She is a worthless and useless b***h! How could she stoop so low to get her cousin r***d?" Mary demanded angrily.
Mariam have her daughter a disappointed look while Annabel shook her head trying to explain to her mother that it was a lie but from her mother's look, Annabel knew it was impossible getting her mother's trust.
"Aunt, mother. It's okay I forgive cousin even if she tried to get me r***d, please forgive her. Don't be mean to her please, please aunt." Bella muttered with pouty lips and eyes. She stepped away from Annabel and instead stood beside Mariam and held her hand.
"Mom, I didn't. I never called Bella to the club, she is lying. Mom please believe me, please trust me. I did not, I would never." Annabel pleaded getting on her knees, she folded her hand before her mother.
Mary was having none of it, she always wanted to get rid of Annabel. She held on to Annabel and pulled her away from the ground, she dragged her out without second thought.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Mother! Please believe me!" Annabel yelled trying to get her mother's attention but her mother was not listening.
Annabel fell and hit her hand on the ground from the push of her aunty, she raised her head with years in her. "Aunt please, let me speak to mother."
Mary rolled her eyes, "You will not have a conversation with Mariam, from today till eternity you are dead to this family!" Mary remarked with a smirk before slamming the door shut.