Melissa opened her eyes to the sun shining in, she rolled off the side where the sun had set on her bed and groaned.

She was just beginning to enjoy her sleep but unluckily for her, someone just ruined it. She lay on the bed with her eyes open boiling in anger.

She sat up after some minutes with her hair all over her face, frowned, and used her hand to brush them backward.

She was glaring at the maid in front of her, who had annoyed her already without knowing.

"Did you do that on purpose?" Melissa asked.

The maid opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"What do you mean ma'am?" The maid managed to gather some meaningful words together.

"You knew opening the curtain would make the sun enter my eyes, and you went ahead to do so." Melissa asked.

"I am sorry ma'am, I was only following your orders," the maid said in fear.

"My orders," Melissa Mumbled

She stood up from the bed, glaring at the maid.

The maid knew what was coming for her, so she shifted back a little bit.

"Don't you dare move" Melissa mumbled.

She stretched her body and held the hair of the maid.

The maid yelped in pain, and Melissa tightened her grip on the maid's hair.

"I am sorry, I won't do it again" the maid pleaded.

Melissa chuckled and let go of the maid's hair.

She wanted to inflict pain on the maid but she changed her mind trying not to ruin the nails she had done the previous day.

"Yeah, you won't do it again because you are fired" Melissa said and went into the restroom.

The maid knew better not to wait in the room and try to beg. She rushed out of the room in tears, meeting her mate on the way, they knew what happened already and they shook their heads in pity.

"It's a hot morning, everyone should try to avoid madam Melissa and not annoy her" One of the maids said.

That seems to be their everyday slogan. They all went into hiding, knowing Melissa had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, so they had to be careful.

Melissa finished washing her face, packing her hair into a bun, and walking out of the restroom.

She went downstairs with her nightie still on her body.

She was holding her phone, it was always with her, that is her only friend since She had none.

She was chatting with someone who had been disturbing and pleading to date her. She went into the internet to search who the guy was, and she frowned when she saw what he was worth.

"Dumb fool, so much gut," she mumbled as she reached the dining room.

She sat on the chair, still focused on her phone. She put the guy's message on hold and went to her page to post.

Minutes after posting, she started receiving comments, and when she went through them, she grinned in satisfaction.

They were begging her to reply to their messages and consider their request but she was going to ignore them as usual. She closed her phone and put it aside.

She looked at the table to see what she was served, and she frowned.

"Who prepared this?" She asked

The maids shifted back, looking at each other to see who was bold enough to reply to her.

"Are you all deaf?" Melissa asked and faced them.

"No ma'am" they chorused.

"Then answer the question and stop staring at me like a dummy," Melissa half yelled.

"I am the one," one of the maids raised her shaky hand.

"You know I don't like eating this in the morning right," Melissa mumbled.

"It's what was on the food table this morning. Besides, you said you want it every Saturday morning," the maid said.

"Even if I said that, are you dumb enough to know I am not interested in eating it this morning?" Melissa asked.

"I am sorry ma'am," the maid mumbled under her breath.

"Saying sorry annoys me more, if you can't do your job right, then leave" Melissa said and groaned.

She picked her phone and glared at the maids.

"Get me something better than this rubbish if you all don't want to lose your jobs" she yelled and walked out of the dining room.

She stopped just at the entrance of the dining room and looked back.

"You," she said pointing to the lady who had claimed to prepare the food.

"You are fired and also whoever served this," she said and left.

The two ladies sighed and went in to pack their things knowing they dared not defy the order.

The maids scattered around to think of what to cook for the unsatisfied daddy's princess.

The doorbell rang, Lauren, one of the maids, rushed to the door. She opened it and saw a strange face.

"Good morning," Lauren greeted.

"Good morning, this is for your boss" the man said and dropped the parcel in Lauren's hand, and then he left.

Lauren arched her brow while staring at the letter, she checked it all over and shrugged when she saw nothing on the parcel.

She closed the door and proceeded to their boss's room. She knocked on his door, but there was no answer. She tried again like two times before leaving.

She went to the back of the house where he always stayed and she met him there, he was sitting and resting his back while on a call with someone.

Lauren stood in front of him and bowed slightly.

"Arrange the meeting and tell me the time, then I will try to show up," the man said and hung up.

He seemed to be in his late fifties. He was the father of Melissa. He gave her everything she wanted and allowed her to do anything she wanted without questioning her, which made her spoiled and rude.

"What's that?" The man asked.

"I was told the parcel is for you," Lauren said and stretched forth the parcel.

The man arched his brow while staring at the parcel in Lauren's hand.

"Open it" the man said, and Lauren looked at him. It was the first time he would ever allow a maid to open any message meant for him.

She slowly unwrapped the parcel and opened it. It was a letter.

"It's a letter," Lauren mumbled.

Melissa walked in at that moment and went to hug her dad. It was the first time she was smiling that morning.

"Dad" Melissa mumbled and sat beside her father.

"You look annoyed, Did something happen?" Her father asked.

"Those maids won't stop getting on my nerves. It's so annoying dealing with them," Melissa said, and eye Lauren, who was still standing in front of them.

"What are you doing standing there?" Melissa asked

"Read the letter out," Melissa's father said, and Lauren nodded.

"What letter, Dad?" Melissa asked

"It's a marriage proposal letter, " Lauren said.

Melissa frowned and rolled her eyes. She had been getting constant marriage proposals from people all around, but she felt like they were not up to her league, and were not worth her.

She gave Lauren the go-ahead to read, and Lauren read the content of the letter.

Melissa chuckled, trying to hold back her laughter.

"People that have always been asking for my hand in marriage never hold themselves back in saying how rich they are and how they will care for me, I am shocked he didn't mention any of that" Melissa said.

"That's suspicious," she mumbled.

"I know about this, Lisa, he is very rich and famous, you will know him, trust me, he is the one for you," her father said.

"Dad, you know about the proposal?" Melissa asked, frowning.

"Yes, I do," Her father replied.

Melissa took her phone and quickly went to search for the man when her father mentioned his name.

She frowned when she saw how rich he truly was, but something spoiled him. He is crippled.

"What? Dad, how can you do this to me?" Melissa screamed.

"You don't expect me to get married to someone like this," Melissa said.

"Just look at the bright side, darling, the things you will benefit from."

"Dad," Melissa yelled, and her father kept mute for her.

"I am not getting married to a cripple. The proposal is rejected," Melissa said and walked out in anger.

Lauren bit her lips and shook her head. She knew she would never reject such an offer like that.

"Discard the invite" Melissa's father said, and Lauren gasped.

The man looked at her with disdain, and she quickly rushed away.

She went to a corner when no one could see her and she read the letter again and again. She brought out her little phone and searched for the person.

Truly, he was really rich, she gasped at his beauty.

"He is really rich and handsome," Lauren mumbled to herself.

She squeezed the letter in her hand with one thing in her mind.

To take advantage of the proposal.

Lauren, the daughter of Mr McCarthy, he is also Melissa's father.

They both have the same father, that's why Lauren is being treated like trash and as a maid in the house because they believed she was born out of wedlock and she and her mother were not worthy to be in their family.

She knew of all these but didn't bother or try to leave because she knew they were the only ones that could help in paying for her mother's surgery.

Her mother had been on the sick bed, and her condition was getting worse every day, with Lauren not being able to pay the surgery money.

She left the house late in the evening and went to the hospital where her mum was admitted.

Even though she was treated like a maid there, she was allowed to leave the house whenever she wanted

She was told that the doctor had asked of her, and she went straight to his office. She opened the door and greeted the doctor in charge, who quickly offered her a seat.

"I am glad you are here, I was about to tell the nurse in charge of your mother to call you" The doctor said and Lauren's heart skipped a beat while thinking of every worse thing that might have happened.

"Is there a problem?" She asked.

It felt like her heart was in her mouth as she waited patiently, staring at the doctor expecting him to say whatever was going on.

The way the doctor took time before speaking inputted more fear in her as she thought of one drastic thing, but she quickly discarded the thought and focused on the doctor.

"Not really, but there might be a problem if we don't act fast," the doctor finally said.

"Your mum's condition is getting worse, and we need money for her surgery," the doctor said.

"We need to do it as soon as we can. otherwise, it might be too late," the doctor said, and Lauren bit her lips.

She knew she had nowhere to go and get the money or even borrow it.

She smiled and assured the doctor that she will work on it.

"You should do that quickly, please, so we can perform the surgery on her before it goes out of hand. Once it does, then surgery won't be able to solve the problem."

Lauren left his place and went to her mother's ward.

Her heart broke when she saw her mother, she looked lifeless. Lauren sighed and entered the ward, she sat beside her mother and helped rub her two hands so they could become warm.

A few minutes into that, she slept off, she was really tired, she barely had time to rest in the house as she was always working.

She woke up late the next day. She gasped when she checked the time and saw she had slept till the afternoon of the next day.

She stood up and rushed out of the hospital, and then she took a cab that drove her back home.

Inside the cab, several thoughts clouded her mind, and she thought of asking her father if he would give her the money. She knew he might rebuke her, but she thought of trying her best.

The cab dropped her, and she entered the house. She took a deep breath and walked in.

She gasped when she saw that it was the whole family that was there. She bit her lips and clenched her fist.

Fear and sweat covered her body. She had hoped to see him in private, to talk to him, and beg him if he could have a change of mind and help her.

She knew him being in the midst of the family having a meal with them would make it harder for her to ask him for what she wanted from him.

She stepped forward, and they all turned their attention to her when they saw her.

Melissa frowned when she saw her, she had always hated Lauren and never for once had she acted nice towards her.

She always felt like the lady might come one day and snatch her father away from her. And so she always made sure to inflict pain on Lauren at any chance she got.

Melissa had been looking for Lauren around the house before the meal so she could give her plenty of work, but when she didn't see her, she had to give someone else to do the work.

"What are you doing here staring at us like that?" One of the family asked.

"I am sorry for disturbing your meal, I just want to speak with father," Lauren said, mumbling the last word under her breath.

"Father?" Melissa asked and chuckled.

"You have no father here witch" Melissa half yelled.

She hated that Lauren had called him father, and she hated how that had sounded in her mouth.

She always imagined Lauren getting her father, and then she gets treated just like she treats Lauren, and those thoughts made her hate Lauren the most.

Mr McCarthy placed his hand on Melissa's shoulder and urged Lauren to speak.

"Mother is dying, she needs surgery quickly and I need money to pay, I don't have any and I don't have anyone to run to, please help me" Lauren cried out.

She went on her knees and clasped her two hands together. Melissa scoffed and rolled her eyes, seeing Lauren's behaviour. As a pathetic and attention seeker.

"How dare you come here to disturb us during our meals asking for money for your stupid mother's Surgery, she can die for all we care" one of the family members said and Melissa chuckled in satisfaction, she always loved the way they scolded Lauren every time.

"But I need the money. If I don't pay quickly for Mother's surgery, she might die" Lauren said.

"Who cares if she does? She can die for all we care" They said and scoffed.

"Leave here now," one of the family members yelled.

"So much guts to come here and ask my father for money, you look so pathetic" Melissa said, and laughed.

"I should make a video of this" She brought out her phone, but before she could start recording, Lauren rushed out of the place.

She was sobbing as she ran out of the house and boarded a cab back to the hospital. She went to her mother's ward and hugged her.

"Why? Why do they hate me so much?" Lauren Sobbed.

"They have too much money and helping me won't cost them anything, but they won't do it" Lauren mumbled.

"They always treat us like trash and will never consider us as part of the family. They just hate us," Lauren said.

"I can't wait for you to be well, mum, so I can leave that house"

She raised her head and stared at her mum whose eyes were closed.

Lauren sighed and held her mother's hand.

"I don't even have half the money we were asked to bring," Lauren said.

She started rubbing her mother's hand again. She always did that every time she went there, believing it made her mum warm, and she also loved doing it.

She sighed and rested her head on the bed, thinking of what to do.

ALEX'S OFFICE

Alex sat on his wheelchair focused on his work, his face cold as usual, his sea blue eyeball moving along with the laptop as he operated on it.

He never got distracted when working, his mind was always on work when he was in his office. He always made sure he dropped anything that would divide his mind when he was at work but there was something hovering in his mind that won't leave no matter how he tried to get rid of those thoughts.

He was also worried about why he hadn't gotten any reply from the McCarthy family. His mind wasn't in what he was doing, so he dropped it and wheeled to the window.

He could see the outside company from there, so he watched people walk around and also do different things.

As much as he hated to admit it, he was really worried, he had the feeling that his proposal could get rejected.

He called Dan, and the guy rushed to his office.

"You called for me," Dan said.

"I haven't gotten a reply from the proposal I ask you to drop. What's happening?" Alex asked.

"I also haven't seen a reply from them, sir," Dan said.

Alex frowned while staring outside. His mind was far away, but it felt like he was watching everyone.

"What should I do, sir?" Dan asked.

"Just wait till when they send a reply, regardless, the wedding date is still on, and the wedding will go on" Alex said.

"But, what if it is rejected?" Dan asked, and Alex glared at him with his usual cold gaze.

"I am sorry, sir, I just wanted to know what to do if the proposal is rejected." Dan rushed his words and rushed out of Alex's office.

Alex sighed, knowing that thought crossed his mind, but he discarded it, knowing he could never be rejected.

Lauren cleaned her tears and checked the time. She saw it was leading to the afternoon, and she knew the family would have gone to take care of their own businesses.

So she left the hospital and boarded a cab back home with the intention of meeting Mrs McCarthy. Since she wasn't in the family meeting, she thought she could talk to her to see if she would help her.

The cab stopped in front of the house, and Lauren ran inside. She stumbled on the maids.

It looked like she was the one they had been waiting for. They stood at the kitchen door waiting and glaring at her.

It seemed like they had planned what they would do to her.

"Do you think you are some special kid all because you are an illegitimate child of McCarthy?" One of them asked.

"What are you talking about? Lauren asked.

"You refused to do your appointed work. Instead, you chose to run around skipping work." Another maid said.

"I was busy, and I always do my work, I never ask you to do them for me," Lauren said and passed them by. They frowned and scoffed.

Lauren had seen that it might be Melissa that had asked them to gang up against her, so she decided to cool down about it.

Knowing if she tried to argue with them, they would take it up on her.

"She is going to get it one day," they said and left.

Lauren started doing her chores, and it seemed like they were more than usual that day. She knew instantly that it was Melissa's handwork. She didn't see any other maid come to help her which meant Melissa had instructed them not to do that.

By the time she finished them, she had become a little tired. She was also heartbroken and couldn't stop thinking about her mum.

She headed straight to Melissa's mother's room. She knocked on the door and walked in when she was asked to do so.

She entered and saw the woman sitting on a cushion in the room and sipping her drink while she was focused on something.

She raised her head when she saw who had walked in, she frowned.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"I came to ask you for something ma'am" Lauren mumbled.

"What?" The lady asked

"Well, I came to ask for your help. My mum is really sick and needs money for surgery. Please help me" Lauren said.

"Why should I help you? Did I send your mother to the hospital?" The lady asked rudely.

"No ma'am" Lauren said and bit her lips.

"Good, so why should I care if she is sick? Besides, I don't have any money to give" Mrs McCarthy said.

"The doctor said if we don't get money quickly, she will die," Lauren said.

"Well, she can die for all I care, " Mrs McCarthy mumbled without giving Lauren attention.

The door opened, and Melissa walked in, looked at Lauren, and frowned.

"What is this nitwit doing here?" She asked.

"Begging for some alms," Melissa's mother said and smiled at her daughter.

"Has she done what she is supposed to do?" Melissa asked.

"Yes, I have," Lauren mumbled, and Melissa scoffed.

She had wanted Lauren to work till night, but it seemed the girl was fast in doing her chores.

Melissa sat beside her mum and hugged her, then smiled broadly, Lauren was a little bit shocked. She hadn't seen Melissa let out a genuine smile.

"Ohh, my beautiful daughter, I can't believe that cripple thinks he can get you," Melissa's mother said, and Melissa chuckled.

"Mum, that guy has lots of guts. I should get married to a cripple" Melissa said and laughed after imagining how it would look like getting married to Alex.

She had gone to her mother to talk about it the day before since she wasn't there when the proposal was brought. It really made her mother laugh as she found it funny that Alex would think Melissa was going to marry him.

"That guy really needs to know his place. He believes that because he is rich, he can do anything he wants? Being crippled makes him no different from a poor man, yeah, he is handsome but what is the essence of a rich handsome man that can not be used to brag" Melissa said.

"I can't imagine you two walking to the aisle together. The stupid low-life fools would definitely mock us, saying you left them for someone like that," Mrs McCarthy said.

Mother and daughter gossiped, ignoring Lauren that was standing there staring at them.

"I am never choosing any of them, Alex or those fools," Melissa said.

"Trust me, I am planning something great for you, and I am sure you will like it" Mrs McCarthy said and winked at Melissa.

"Mum, just forget about that cripple, I am never going to get married to someone like him," Melissa said.

"I know my daughter, you will never settle for less," Mrs McCarthy said and smiled.

"Mum, I came here to get money, I and my friends are hanging out, and we need some cool cash, " Melissa said.

"How much will you be needing?" Mrs McCarthy asked.

Melissa told her the amount and Lauren gasped, the money was more than what she needed for her mother's treatment.

Mrs McCarthy brought her a card and gave it to her daughter, and then she stroked her hair.

"Use it as you like love. If that is not enough, you can text or call me" She said, and Melissa grinned.

"Trust you, mum, you know how it goes," Melissa said. She stood up, and eyed Lauren, who was still standing there.

"Your mum can die for all we care bitch" Melissa said, she brushed past Lauren and walked out.

"You said you didn't have any money, but you gave her more than what I needed" Lauren mumbled.

"What if I did? I said I don't have any money to give you" Mrs McCarthy said.

Lauren looked at the woman whose focus was back to her phone. She clenched her fist in anger. She knew they were really proud and cruel, but she didn't expect it would be up to that.

Lauren walked out of the room with one thought in her mind.

She brought out the proposal letter and opened it. She went through it again and thought of doing the first thing that came to her mind.

She squeezed the paper in her hand, and she walked out of the house like a crazy woman.

***

Alex sat on his wheelchair in his room, staring at nothing. A maid knocked in and walked in with caution. She put his meal on the table and bowed and then walked out.

He had asked them to bring the meal to his room since he wasn't interested in eating in the dining room.

He looked at the meal, not interested in it. His mind was occupied. He thought of asking Dan to call and ask for updates, but he decided against it.

He wasn't ready to accept rejection even though one part of his mind was telling him she might not accept to marry him and the other part was rest assured that he was going to get married.

It was just two days to when he chose to get married and he hadn't gotten a reply and that was what baffled him the most. But he hoped they were going to reply him soon.

He pushed his wheelchair to his bed and carefully crawled to the bed.

***

Jake walked into his father's office, and his face was not looking good at all. He sat on the chair opposite his father and sighed.

The old man looked up and furrowed his brow when he saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong, young man?" Mr Magnus asked

"What if Melissa accepts Alex's proposal?" Jake asked.

"She won't, you know the lady, she doesn't settle for people like Alex," Mr Magnus said, and Jake chuckled.

"I know, right, but he still thinks she is going to accept," Jake said.

"Let him keep dreaming," the man mumbled.

"Dad, does this mean if Alex can't get her, I can get her?" Jake asked, and Mr Magnus shrugged.

"Do you want her?" Mr Magnus asked.

"Yes dad, I mean it's not like I love her but I want to show Alex that he can't get her and I can always get anything I want besides she is too proud, I want to cut down her wings," Jake said.

"Then You can have her, " Mr Magnus said, and Jake smiled.

"Thanks, dad," Jake mumbled.

"There will be a meeting at the company tomorrow. You should go there," Mr Magnus said.

"Why?" Jake asked.

"To taunt Alex and see if he is up to anything." Mr Magnus said and Jake nodded.

Since that was what he loved doing the most, annoying his cousin.