SELFLESS DESICION

Rose sat in front of James with her palm on her face and her head bent below as she talked with him. "It's the life of my father we are talking about here. I could risk anything for him." Breathless with anger, James stood up. "So you are going to leave me for him? Is that what you are trying to say?" he asked. "It's not like I have any other choice, James," she said, her voice quivering. James sighed heavily. "I know I don't have enough money, Rose, but in a few months, we can come up with a large sum for his surgery." "We can't take that risk, James. What if my father dies before we can raise the funds? Of what use then will the money be?" she asked. James was beyond reasoning. "Why don't we borrow some loan instead?" he asked. "James, have you forgotten the amount we borrowed from Honesty Corporation Plc last year? We still haven't been able to pay that back," she said. "We're living in debt," she added as despair stirred within her. Rose loved her father, she had to consider his happiness before hers. "There has to be a way, I can't watch you get married to someone else," he said with a stern look. "There's no other way, James. Why can't you just listen to me," she yelled at him helplessly. "Listen to what? That you will belong to another man? How on earth am I to accept that?" he shouted as his fury sprang back to life. Rose was on the brink of tears. She had never been so helpless in her life before. "I truly love you but I can't let my father die, he means the world to me," she said as she broke down in tears. The anger in James instantly melted when he saw her in tears. James went to her side and held her tight between his arms. "Don't worry bby. We'll make sure your dad won't die. I promise you nothing will happen to him, okay?" he said in consolation. "Okay James," she said as she wiped her tears. At this same time, Evelyn Rose's mother was having an unpleasant conversation with Paul Samun at the entrance of MegaCity Hospital. "The marriage will be held tomorrow. Make sure your daughter is prepared," Paul said with an authoritative voice. Evelyn gave him a reassuring look. "Yes, she will be ready. I promise she will cooperate," she said. "Good," Paul said as he was about to leave. Evelyn's voice shivered as she said, "Please can I make another request?" Paul stopped in his tracks but he didn't turn his back. "I don't know your purpose in marrying my daughter, but please take good care of her," Evelyn said. "She is the only child that I have," she added. Paul left without a word after she ended her statement. Rose woke up with a slight pain in her lower abdomen. She sat up as she thought about how the day would be. Rose sighed heavily. "I just want my father to be safe," she said. Rose was about to get up when she felt a sudden rush of discomfort and felt like throwing up. She ran to the toilet as fast as she could with her hand on her stomach. Evelyn, who had walked in to help her prepare, saw her vomiting. "Rose, what's wrong?" she said with a worried look on her face. "Mom, I think I am nervous, I don't want to marry Paul Samun," she said as she tried to catch her breath. "I don't know how he will treat me and I don't even love him Mom! " she added. "I know my daughter, but you have to do so, at least for your dad," Evelyn said, trying to console her daughter. "Or don't you want to see your father again? " Evelyn asked her. "I do Mom, " Rose said as she sniffed back her tears. "Do it for your dad," she said as she took her daughter in a tight embrace. Both mom and daughter were lost in thought as they hugged each other. In a few hours, Rose was dressed in a light blue gown with strappy heels outside the LAX courthouse. "Take my hands," Paul said to her as they both walked in. They sat in front of the High Court as they started the necessary procedures. As soon as they were done, they went outside where they met Evelyn. Rose ran to meet her mother. "My daughter, you have saved your father," Evelyn said as she clutched her daughter. "Yes, Mom," Rose said as she shed tears of joy. "You don't have to get your old belongings, there are already new ones for you in your quarter," Paul cut into their conversation. "Okay, get going Rose, we will talk some other time," Evelyn said. Rose nodded. "OK Mom," she said as she entered the back seat of Paul's car. On getting to Paul's mansion there were servants already waiting for them. "Welcome home, new mistress," they greeted. As she stepped into the building, she was also welcomed by two hostile faces and a friendly one. A peaceful, gorgeous woman approached her slowly at the entrance. "Welcome Rose to your new home," the woman said. She was surprised that the woman knew her name. She wanted to ask but couldn't. The lady looks very wealthy and must have looked into her before she came in. "My name is Winona, but you can call me Winnie. I am the first wife of Paul Samun, "the woman said again. Rose was startled. Paul Samun has a wife already? She asked herself about her thoughts. "Okay Winnie, nice to meet you," she said. "Am Clara, the second wife of Paul Samun," another lady said with a scrutinising gaze on her. However, Rose wasn't bothered by that, instead, she was bothered that Paul Damn had another wife. What was he using them for? Rose's mind was still on that when a little girl about 6 years old ran to Clara. "Mommy, mommy," she called severally until she got to Clara. "Is that the wicked aunty you said was coming today?" The little girl asked loudly, not minding that Rose was there with them. "Keep quiet Lucy," Clara scolded. Another child ran to Clara but this time it was a boy. "He should be slightly older than Lucy," Rose thought. "Aunty, please don't mind Lucy, she talks too much," he said as he grabbed Lucy's hand from Clara. Rose suddenly realised the presence of another good-looking lady from one corner of the room when she spoke. The lady looked pretty shallow. "Micah!" the lady yelled. "Yes Mom," the little boy answered. "Take your cousin with you to the playroom," the lady told him. "Okay Mom," Micah said, as he and Lucy went to their room. There was an awkward silence that lasted for a few minutes.