THE BATTLE OF LOVE AND DESTINY

Kate is the only daughter of a real estate billionaire Alexander Rogers. He resides in Shanghai's elite Xintiandi district in China and owns luxurious houses scattered throughout the country and beyond. He is into real estate. His wife, Linda, died in childbirth at the time of giving birth to Kate. Hence, Kate did not grow up knowing her biological mother. Linda was so caring, loving, and full of hope. She married Alexander at a tender age and was committed to the marriage. Her hope of giving birth to three children was cut short after she successfully delivered Kate, but as fate would have it, what seemed like a joy that lightens the heart suddenly turned into sorrow when the Doctor informed the family members that she couldn't make it despite every effort put in place to support her. Unfortunately, she didn't follow Alexander back home. The day was a red-letter day for the family, especially Alexander, who was seen weeping profusely and was unable to be consoled. He suffered the loss of her wife and was in deep mourning. As days went by, he summoned courage and gathered himself together. The naming ceremony was conducted amidst mixed feelings. While some people believed that the death of Linda had paved the way for the advent of Kate, others believed that it was a monumental and irredeemable loss to the entire family, and to Alexander especially. Some were consoling Alexander to take solace in God since all was not totally lost. Different condolences and sympathy words were uttered. Alex loved Linda so much and could not afford to lose her. That was what he had expected least to happen as he had no premonition that a lady she married and invested so heavily in could die in childbirth despite her enrolment in the best hospital in China and the best specialist doctors to attend to her. The Doctor called him to the office that fateful day after noticing his uneasiness. "Are you his husband?" the Doctor asked. "Yes. I'm Alexander, Linda's husband," Alex replied. At that time, Alexander was shivering as he had noticed something unusual. The Doctor noticed his mood and asked him to calm down. "Hope all is well, Doctor? Where is my wife? Can I see her? Has she delivered? Is there.........." He broke down and became so nervous to the extent of not knowing to say again. The Doctor kept looking at him because he had seen his nervousness and wanted him to display it to the point where he would look up to him for a response. "Alex, I want you to calm down so that I can respond to your queries,” the Doctor said. “OK." Alex replied. The doctor, in a subtle voice, explained to Alex that throughout his twenty-two years of medical practice, he had never seen a situation like what happened that day. "What is the situation?" Alex hurriedly but fearfully replied. "An operation was successfully carried out by a team of medical experts. We were three: a surgeon, an obstetrician, and a gynecologist." He bowed his head on his table and tried to control his emotions in his presence. Alex immediately sensed danger and began to shed tears even when the news had not been broken. After a while, the Doctor summoned courage and continued, "The baby and her mother were in a stable condition and were under intensive care until we heard a strange noise from the mother. She screamed so loudly and was eventually gasping for breath that it attracted our attention. In a twinkle of an eye, we were right there with her and quickly administered medical aid. However, as fate would have it, she didn't make it." At that moment, Alex began to cry uncontrollably and refused to be consoled. The family's friends that accompanied him, Engr and Mrs. Babson were called into the Doctor's office to console him. They later drove home with baby Kate. The naming ceremony was held on a low key. That day, Alex made a memorable statement which brought mixed feelings to the guests and family members and also became the talk of that time. He said, "In honor of my late wife Linda, whom I love and entrust my life to, I promise that I will not marry again till I see her on the other side. I will dedicate my life and everything within my power to train and sustain the legacy of the only child she left behind. Her agony of her death is real, and her labor of love shall never be in vain in my life. This oath I make in the presence of everyone today." As Alexander watched baby Kate sleeping peacefully in her cradle, a faint smile was noticed across his tear-stained face. “You’ll be my only reason to live,” he whispered, but deep inside him, an unsettling thought pierced his heart. He quietly asked himself, “What if my love, born out of loss of Linda, someday became the very thing that destroyed Kate?” The ceremony ended amidst tears and joy, and Kate was entrusted into the hands of her grandmother (Alex's mother), who was brought into the house to look after her till she grew into adulthood. Although she was born into wealth with a silver spoon, her father was rarely at home due to business obligations and commitments. Her grandmother played a key role in her life, as most of the virtues expected of a good child with proper upbringing were imparted into her via her grandmother. Kate was a spoiled child. Her father would go out of his way to ensure her comfort. For instance, Alexander's mansion hosts a lot of servants who are employed as drivers, security guards, cooks, and gardeners. These servants often treat her like a queen and will never deny her requests for whatever reason. Alexander's mansion features an exclusive area that is dedicated to Kate as her playing ground. Also, the mansion features a mini mall and a pet zoo. Kate hardly plays outside the house since she has everything she wants in her home. Every year, Alex will organize a big birthday celebration in honor of Kate. She has received extravagant gifts at various occasions from her father's business associates and friends, and also grew up among the children of who's who in the society. On several occasions, she usually accompanies her dad on vacation and business trips to several cities and choice places across the continent. Kate's desire was usually fulfilled even before she made a request! Alex poured all his affection into her to make up for the loss of her mother, Linda. She attended the best school in the country and was pampered by her teachers, who often gave her preferential treatment being a billionaire's heiress. Kate continued this way until she finished her secondary education and was eventually offered admission into Jiangnan Central University to study Business Administration.