Chapter 2

Alex knocked at the big black gate, the gatekeeper came from his abode, opened the gate for him, and the gatekeeper tried to sympathise with him. Alex nodded his head as he mosey towards the door, he grabbed the doorknob and squeezed it open. 

The entire Williams family were all seated and waiting for his return, he looked at them as they all sat on the couch in various positions. 

A familiar voice spoke out “What did you say I did.” Mrs. Charlotte asked with a serious expression.

Alex halted his steps as he looked at her, Mrs. Charlotte's face was boiling in anger and her wrinkles had become more visible. 

Mrs. Charlotte mosey towards him, “Did I ask you to do anything for me? Even if I did, you should have come back early to take her to school” She yelled.

“Mom, I I… ….” Alex was about to say something when a hand landed on his face, Mrs. Charlotte unleashed a thunderbolt slap on his face. It was so heavy that he staggered uncontrollably. 

“I didn't ask you to do anything for me, why did you lie against me, you went out without telling anyone. And now you came back telling everyone I sent you on an errand.” Mrs. Charlotte said, crying.

Mrs. Charlotte walked up to her daughter Claire, with tears in her eyes, “Claire, don't mind him. I didn't send him on any errand. He went outside to see those useless friends from the orphanage.” She said using the handkerchief to wipe the tears in her eyes.

Alex was shocked, he looked at her in disbelief and his heart became heavy in pain. He couldn't believe that Mrs. Charlotte would lie. He was not expecting an old lady like Mrs. Charlotte to lie against him. He wished he had refused to go on the errand for her and this would have not happened, and his daughter wouldn't be lying helplessly in the hospital.  

Mrs. Charlotte had lied against him, he didn't go to see any friends from the orphanage, it's been long since he saw most of his friends from the orphanage. Alex grew up in the orphanage, he ran away when he was seventeen and had to work at a restaurant to earn money. 

It was when he was working there he met Claire Williams, they both became friends and had to get married four years ago.

Since he had nowhere to stay he moved into Claire's family house and became their errand boy and lived in Son-in-law. Mrs. Charlotte despised him so much, that she had wanted her daughter to get married to a rich and successful man. Someone from a wealthy and powerful family, who would help raise their status high in the society and not a low life like Alex.

Mrs. Charlotte continued cursing him but he walked up to her to plead, “Mom, I'm sorry but Naomi needs our help, she is lying in the hospital and the doctor said we need to make a deposit so they can commence with her surgery. Can you please lend me the money I promised I would pay back.”

“After lying with my name you want me to help you, you this pauper don't you have shame” She said.

Claire turned towards her mom and said. “Mom, Naomi is your granddaughter. Please help us, we will pay back." She fell on her knees begging her mom to help her save the life of her daughter.

Mrs. Charlotte stared at her son Benjamin and her husband Jacob, Mrs. Charlotte has been the chairperson in the house, she is the manager of Gourmet Garden Restaurant, and her husband Jacob had little say in the family he also worked at the same restaurant with her, Mr. Jacob works as his wife's assistant manager.

She took a deep breath and she curled a small smile on her lips “You want me to help you? Claire, I have told you that he is just a problem to you, he can't save the life of his daughter. He is poor.” She said.

Claire and Alex stared at each other before shifting their gaze to Mrs. Charlotte. 

“How much are we talking about here,” she asked.

“Mom, it's a hundred thousand dollars and we can make a half deposit for the doctor to commence surgery immediately,” Claire muttered.

“Hundred what? She yelled.

She cleared her throat, before she mouthed, “Okay, I have an offer for you Claire. You will have to divorce this pauper and get married to Henry Walker.” 

The room was filled with silence, Alex and Claire stared at each other once again. Alex clenched his fist in disappointment and disgust.

Claire has been sick and tired of the marriage. She was not getting enough respect from her family members and her colleagues at work. She had regretted getting married to Alex. She had fallen in love with a hard-working Alex but since they got married Alex had nothing to show for it. She never thought about divorcing Alex for any reason, not even now but the thought of saving her daughter's life might change everything.

Claire was shocked by her Mom's request, and she yelled in disappointment “Mom, I can't do it. Alex is my husband and the father of my daughter.”

Alex's heart was relieved after hearing Claire's statement, he thought Claire would accept and divorce him.

Alex pleaded with the rest of the Williams family to help him beg Mrs. Charlotte but none of them agreed to help him. They were all scared of Mrs. Charlotte. Claire walked to their room because she couldn't bear it anymore.

Alex followed her and she saw her sitting on the bed crying, she gave him a cold glance when he walked inside. 

“Claire, I'm sorry it was all my fault. But I promise Naomi will not die. I will look for the money and she will be treated.” he said.

Claire knows It will be difficult for them to raise the money and also it will be hard for Alex when he finds out the truth about Naomi.

Claire works at Luxe Living Interior, she is the HR manager of the company. Claire has been having a secret affair with her boss, Henry Walker. 

She gives most of her salary to her mother to keep for her and getting it now will be difficult. And even if she should get it, it wouldn't be enough to pay for her daughter's operation.

Claire looked at Alex as he mosey out of the room with his phone in his ear. She took her bag, pulled out her phone and tried to call Henry.

Alex had tried to call some of his old friends from the orphanage to see if they would help him. He had called two of his friends but It was not reachable. He rushed out of the house to see his friend George Danns

who works as the HR manager of Davis Hotel.