Chapter 1 (The Harsh Truth)

"ouch!" as he held his chin in pains

"Is this the groceries that I told you to buy, oh God! how can someone be so useless and stupid at the same time "Mrs Gena laments just after giving the twenty-one years old boy a hot slap.

"Am sorry ma, i jus..."

"shut the fuck up you piece of shit " as she tries to give him another slap but he was able to dodge it. He immediately ran away

"come back here you bastard!" She shouted as she runs after him.

"Hey punk watch it!" Luiz yells at Nathan as he bumped on him. He was running away from Mrs Gena.

"Catch him, hold him Luiz!" shouted Mrs Gena as she gets down the stairs. Before Nathan could reach for the gate he was caught by Luiz who immediately punched him so hard on his stomach that he felled and writhes in pain.

"Nicely done son" as she softly pats her son's back.

"Where do you think you are running to, drag him inside" she ordered one of the guards.

"You are grounded for a week and from today all the house chores is yours and you meal will only be once and only when I want you to have it" she sounded sternly.

"I am sorry Mom! please.. "

"Oh my God! Did you just call me mom? do I look like your mother? God forbid me having something like you. Your presence alone repulse me, mhmm! you smell like piece of shit" as she spats on the floor.

"Come let's go son and do well to wash your hand off his filthy body" she instructs her son Luiz while showing a repulsive look.

Nathan gently got himself up. He is in deep pain and tears rolled down his checks. Just then a young girl shouted from behind "Nathan! what happened?" as she drew close to him and helped him to get up. "Is it Mom again? I am very sorry" as she helped him to his room. She then helped him massage his wound.

Mrs Gena was looking for her daughter around the house "where could the this girl be"

she soliloquises.

As she pass through the entrance of Nathan's room she heard a voice like that of her daughter emanating from the room.

She then opens Nathan's door and saw her daughter helping Nathan with his wound

"Are you kidding me right now Mabel? what are you doing here with this dimwit?" She asked furiously.

"Mom I'm just helping out nothing more besides it was you guys that did this to him"

she replied with a baby frown face

"Wait Mabel you are talking back at me ha? I can see that you have grown wings. I have told you times without numbers that you should stay away from this infective parasite. Common get up there and leave before I do injure you"

She then switched her gaze to Nathan who was lying on his bed

"and you go and get ready to clean up the house " she sounded before she left.

Mrs Gena is the wife of the late Richard Jones who died of cardiac arrest. Before his death he had two children; Luiz and Mabel in they order of succession. He was a rich business man who made his fortune from wine business. Before his death his wine company was among the country's leading companies.

As rich as he was he was still a very kind, humble and generous man who was loved by the community and country at large.

That can not be said for Mrs Gena Jones, a very bitter, arrogant and classy woman. Mrs Jones was one of those that believe in class and she treats anyone below her standard as tramps and craps.

Luiz is the first and only son of his father but was never anything like him infact he was one of those including his mother that accelerated the death of Richard Jones.

Luiz is a handsome huge looking boy who always appear taller than his age mates. During his high school days he was a well known bully. His recalcitrant and dubious attitude was very enormous. He caused a lot of problems both within and outside his home.

He once stabbed his fellow student and during that time his father was terribly sick so when he he got hold of the information he immediately had a panic attack that cost his life.

Mabel is entirely different from Luiz for she took after her father. his kind, gentle and loving personality were all embedded on her. She is the only one since the death of her father that actually cares for Nathan. She felled in love with Nathan when they were still kids.

Nathan grumbles as he painfully got on his feet, he was tired so he headed to the washing room where he started doing his chores. He really had a long way to go. many chores to do.

Nathan is an orphan who was picked up by Richard during one of his out of town business deals. On that faithful day Mr Richard had a cardiac arrest on his way to buy some meals in a shop stand so he felled down. Still on the floor some street kids spotted him and they immediately rushed to take away his valuables.

As he lay helplessly watching the kids stealing from him a boy immediately came to his rescue.

The boy had the strength of three kids hence he dealt with them and returned the stolen items to Mr Richard. He was very impressed and thankful

"what's your name kid? he asked as he bent down to hear from the eight years old boy

"Nathan" he replied cheerfully

"Nathan you are a good and special boy, where do you live?"

the poor boy then points under a bridge. Mr Richard was confused and he asked

"Where are your parents or guardians? "

Nathan then replied "I have no parents I'm an orphan" this really touched Mr Richard who then took him to his own home to be one of his households.

Nathan was one of the many children that escaped from the orphanage. They were maltreated and not taken care of by the management especially sister Jane who always maltreats and physically abuse them.

Since his escape he has been wandering from one place to the other and have every time refuted any attempt by people to take him back to the orphanage.

Mrs Gena never welcomed the idea of bringing the little boy into his home but swore to make the little kid life miserable. She was able to influence her son to have so much hatred for Nathan.

He was though protected and cared for by Richard until his death.