Chapter 58

Priscilla's POV

As I ran and cried for what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the old abandoned houses where my mother and I used to live. Climbing up the big rock, I made my way to the entrance. Once inside, I found five children around ten years old sitting inside their boxes. Their eyes lit up when they saw me.

"Sister Priscilla, you've come back!" they all exclaimed, running towards me. I hugged them all, trying to force a smile, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was so hurt that smiling was the last thing on my mind.

"How are you guys?" I asked, letting go of them. They looked at me as if I was someone new.

"Thank you for sending us money, Sister Priscilla. We thought after you left you would forget about us completely," Tina said, with her beautiful smile. I patted her head.

"I wanted to get you all out of this hellish life by working very hard, but I guess I was not capable, nor am I strong enough," I said, tears threatening to fall out of my eyes as I remembered everything Max had said.

"Why are you so sad, Sister Priscilla? Did something happen to you?" Nikkie asked. I nodded my head, and the tears I was trying to hold back flowed out of my eyes. The five of them hugged me tightly. I burst into tears, thinking that I was going to change my life through hard work make a name for myself, and finally be happy in my life. But who was I kidding? Some people aren't allowed to dream and be happy in this life, and unfortunately, I was one of them.

I wiped my tears. I couldn't be this weak. I couldn't let Max make me sad. He had said what he wanted to say, and that was enough. I had nothing to do with him now. I needed to think of a way forward from here and start my life afresh without Max. I would bury whatever feelings I thought I had for him and forget about him completely. I knew he would never find me, and that was good for me.

"Have you all eaten?" I asked. I walked and sat on the floor with them surrounding me.

"We didn't eat anything at all. We couldn't make money to buy food today," Tina murmured sadly.

"Don't worry at all. Now that I'm back, I will find a job where I can earn some money for us all to survive, okay? I will also buy some yummy food for all of us. What do you all think?" I asked, smiling and trying to hide my sadness. Now that my mother was no more, I could find a proper job, and start working and earning some money, instead of working as a beggar.

"Yippee! You are the best, Sister Priscilla!" they all said happily.

"Sister Priscilla, why is your belly growing? It looks bigger than before?" Jack asked, looking at my stomach and reminding me of the biggest reality I had forgotten. I had run away with Max's babies!

"Don't worry about it, Jack. I gained weight, that's all," I said. "Why don't we just go to sleep? Don't you think so?" I asked. Maybe if I slept, I would think of what to do. I was sure Max would find me and make me pay him 5 million for running away with his babies, but how could I have stayed there when he was insulting me like that?

***

I woke up early in the morning to light a fire so I could boil water for a bath. Unlike Max's luxurious villa, where there was a shower with warm and cold water, here we had to boil water on the fire. I didn't have any proper clothes to change into, which meant I had to wear the same clothes I had worn yesterday. I needed to find a job quickly, any job that would help me earn some money. I was also hungry and pregnant and would have to take care of my kids now that I was back.

Once my bath water was hot enough, I poured it into a bucket before heading to the bathroom. Despite the water being dirty and unclean, I had no other choice but to take a bath. Being pregnant, I couldn't stand the foul odor emanating from this building, which is why I needed to find a job to rent a proper apartment.

After bathing, I put on the same clothes I had been wearing earlier. I had no body lotions or anything to apply on my body or face, so after getting dressed, I made my way out of the half-built house.

****

The sun cast a bright glow over the bustling streets of Camptown, as individuals hurried to their workplaces, either on foot or by car. Amidst the crowd, I found myself feeling lost, uncertain of where I was headed or what employment opportunities awaited me, given my lack of formal education and a CV. Nevertheless, I held onto hope and offered prayers, yearning to find a job that would allow me to leave behind the memories of my past, treating them as mere nightmares. Despite the undeniable attraction I felt towards Max, I resolved to disregard these emotions, convinced that love is nothing more than a fictional concept. This conviction will aid me in my efforts to move on and forget him.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw a small shop. It looked old and a little ancient, but what caught my eye was a post on the wall. Curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to walk in and inquire.

The post read: "A new shoe designer is needed as soon as possible. For more information, go inside and inquire or call the number below."

The workshop looked a bit intimidating, but I needed a job, so I gathered the courage to go inside. As I pushed the door open, I was greeted by a lady in her late 40s who was sitting at the reception.

"Hi, I saw the poster outside and came to inquire about the job description," I said. The lady raised her head and looked at me from behind her glasses.

"Aren't you Priscilla, the girl who won the award for the best fashion designer of the year last month?" she asked.

I nodded my head quickly. "Yes, that's me. I'm looking for a job."

"Your resume! Did you bring it?" she asked.

"No, I don't have it with me, but trust me, I'm a very good fashion designer. I can design anything - clothes, shoes, and bags too. I'm very good at my job, and I'm a hard worker," I explained to her, hoping to convince her.

"I know that already. Come back for an interview tomorrow at 7 am sharp. If you are late just know that I will not hire you at all." The lady said, I quickly nodded my head.

"Thank you, Ma'am, I won't be late!" I said trying to contain my happiness, I just can't believe my luck today, I really didn't expect this at all.

"Don't forget to bring your Identity card for the contract. You can go!" The lady said, my eyes widened when I remembered that I had left my ID card at Max's villa, how was I going to get it? I'm sure he must be looking for me now!!

"Any problem?" The woman asked, I forced a smile.

"I will take my leave," I said, exiting the workshop. I needed to figure out how to retrieve my belongings from Max's house without him noticing. I couldn't risk seeing him or having him blackmail me into staying. I bit my lower lip anxiously, contemplating my options. I couldn't trust Nicolas or Mark, as they were both close to Max. However, I could rely on Liz to help me. I knew she wouldn't divulge anything to Max. Luckily, I had her number memorized from before I started working there, just in case of an emergency.

I quickly re-entered the workshops, and the lady looked at me quizzically as I approached her again.

"I am really sorry to disturb you, ma'am. Can you please lend me your phone? I need to make an important phone call, but I don't have a cell phone." I asked the lady behind the small desk, hoping she would grant me the favor.

"You can use this office phone." She pointed towards a black phone on her desk, and I smiled at her before moving to the phone. After dialing Liz's number, it was answered in just a few seconds.

"Liz, it's me, Priscilla. Please don't shout my name if you're with Max," I said, hoping she would understand the urgency.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay? Where are you? Why did you leave without telling me? Do you know how worried I am? I spent the whole night looking for you. Am I not your sister anymore?" Liz asked, sobbing between her words.

"I am sorry, Liz. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone. I've already bothered you all enough. Can you please do me one last favor? I promise I will be out of your lives forever," I said, trying to hold back my tears. I couldn't forget what Max had said to me the day before.

"Priscilla, why are you punishing me because of Max? He is the one who has hurt you, not me. Please come back for me, please Priscilla, I'm begging you," Liz pleaded with me. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I had no choice.

"Your brother has hurt me a lot, Liz, and I can't forgive him, nor do I want anything to do with him. I'm trying to protect myself and my heart from getting hurt or broken, and walking away from pain before it increases is the best choice. Please can you bring my ID card without Max noticing? I need to find a job and I can't do that without it. Please do this for me, but don't tell Max about it, please," I begged, feeling my eyes burning with tears.

"I love you so much that I can't even betray your trust. I will help you out, but under one condition," Liz said over the phone.

"What is it?" I asked, wiping my tears with my other hand.

"I want to see where you are living and make sure that you are fine. Please, I just want to confirm that you are doing well. If I don't see you or where you are living, I might die of worry," Liz said. I swallowed hard, feeling my chest tightening.

"Okay, wait for me at Lick and Bite restaurant. I will be there in an hour or two," I said.

"Sure, I'll be there as soon as possible," Liz said.

"Liz, I called you because I trust you. Please don't break my trust," I said. "I don't want to see Max at all. He would hurt me again and again, and I really don't want that."

"Trust me, Priscilla. You made the right decision by calling me. I will never break your trust," Liz said softly. "I will be waiting for you, okay?"

"Thank you. You are the best," I said.

I hung up the phone and placed it back on the table. "Thank you, ma'am," I said to the shop owner, and she smiled sweetly at me.

"You are welcome. Now go home and rest. Your baby must be tired now," she said, and I smiled at her before walking out of the shop.

I realized that Lick and Bite restaurant was a short distance away, and I estimated it would take me about thirty minutes to get there. I planned to arrive after Liz, so I could see if she was alone or with someone else. If she was with someone else, then I wouldn't meet her at all. Although I trusted her, I still had some doubts in my mind.

After walking nonstop, I finally arrived at the restaurant. I noticed Liz's car parked just a few steps away, and it seemed like she was alone. A sigh of relief escaped me as I walked towards her.

"Liz," I called out as I approached her. She ran to me and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm so relieved to see you. I was so worried about you," Liz said, letting go of me and scanning me from head to toe.

"You look pale. Did you cry the whole night?" Liz asked. I forced a smile.

"I'm fine, Liz. Don't worry about me. We should go now before anyone sees us," I said. I didn't want anyone to see me, I knew Max's men must be looking for me from everywhere.

"Of course. Get in the car," Liz said, heading to the other side of the car. I got inside, and Liz drove off while I gave her the directions.