Facing reality.

Daniel POV,

Money is all I care about. I was beyond lucky to come across the young lady the other day. I don't even care to know her name.

That fateful day, I was initially worried for the lady's life only to get out of my car and see a woman who looked exactly like the chairwoman of Go foods company.

I have had my eyes on the company a long time as the owner is a widow with not even a single child in sight. Therefore, no heir.

The thought of extending my wings to owning the company has always been a goal that I have nurtured in my heart for a very long time.

Since I am not related to the owners in any way, I only own 1% shares. At last, my shares can grow higher now.

She looks so much like the chairwoman. She has to be her child. Since the chairwoman does not have any children, she would be very happy to find someone who will inherit her position.

This is a business opportunity and I must seize it at all cost. I intend to woo her and make her fall in love with me and then marry her someday.

I went through the lady's profile and was very disappointed. She could not even go to college. What a fool!!! I am going to show mother and child how an opportunist seizes opportunities.

Typing fast, I send a message to my secretary to secure a meeting with Mrs Miller Grace, the chairwoman of Go foods.

Mrs Grace, after the death of her husband, has been the chair lady who has been regulating the operations of Go foods, with 30 branches and one head branch in Los Angeles.

Their food processed products are eaten worldwide.

My secretary was quick to reply, telling me that the chairwoman has no free time to meet but was able to secure a meeting on the third of next month which is very okay by me as the young lady would have healed completely by then.

Marian POV

Peter came into my room last night to remind me of our visit to the person he wanted me to meet. Before I slept that night, I wondered who the person would turn out to be.

I thought maybe he knew any of my parents or if they were still alive. But the thought of meeting my parents left me unhappy. I like the way things were with Zoey and Belinda. I do not want to have a family relative in my life because of the fear of losing them again or they rejecting me.

I tried to force words out of Peter but he would not tell me. He wanted me to see for myself.

As we rode in silence, all I could think of was where exactly we were heading to, Daniel only told me that it's a surprise. I feel like I may not like this surprise.

I look at Daniel sitting by my right, he seems lost in his own thoughts too.

He has been really nice to me. Sometimes, we talk and laugh a lot. He told me a lot about his childhood and I did the same.

He comes from a very rich home with no siblings. His father is a powerful business man but very strict and cold and his mother was not even in the picture. She died after giving birth to him.

I pity the little Peter that grew up in such a condition.

And so far, we have been very good friends.

I wonder if he finds me attractive at all. I wonder why he kept me in his house for so long when he could have sent me to the hospital right when I went into Coma. Does he have feelings for me?

The thought that he may feel something for me, makes me giddy all of a sudden.

As if on cue, he turned to me and spared me a charming smile.

He is a handsome man too. Although I think the guy I met at the library looks more handsome, there's no denial that Peter is attractive.

The car came to a halt right in front of a mighty house. Daniel alighted first and came to the other side to open the door for me.

The house looked like a masterpiece, right from the electronic gates to the neat and tidy pathway. The whole place screamed money. With well trimmed shrubs and flowers decorating the compound.

There is a waterfall right at the middle with water gushing out. At the far end of the garden, there seems to be a narrow path that leads to a maze. The thought of getting lost in there excites me.

Staff dressed in uniforms are seen carrying out their duties, some greeted as they passed.

The interior was even more delicately built. As we walked in, we were directed to a room. Taking in the beautiful scenery, I did not notice the beautiful woman dressed in expensive clothing come in.

She smiled at Peter, but turned pale as soon as our eyes met. She regained her composure at once when she remembered her reason for appearing.

"Good morning, Mr Daniel. Mrs Miller will be with you shortly. While you wait, would you like some refreshments?"

Peter smiled politely and said he was fine. Turning towards me, he asked if I would want some. I smiled as well but politely declined.

The door opened a second time to reveal another woman who looked exactly like me, only that she seemed twenty years older.

Once she saw me, she let out a gasp and lost her balance but recovered quickly. Peter squeezed my hand next to him and nodded in the woman's direction before leaving the room.

I was beyond shocked to see her. To me, this is the kind of nightmare I do not want to ever have. Is she a family relative?

"Who are you?", I quivered

"My baby survived. My baby...", she said, relieved.

"That does not answer the question. Who are you?"

Even though she had made it clear that she is my mother, I needed to hear that one word from her mouth. I needed her to tell me that she did not neglect me and left me to rejection all these years, with the sickening thought that I had no family relatives on earth. With the thought that I was an orphan whose parents had died and left her to get herself a life on her own.

"Please, my child. Let bygones be bygones. I am sorry for leaving you but that was all I could do to save you. When things had calmed down, I made sure to look for you but it seemed like you vanished, I looked hard for you. Please forgive me. I know it's hard but we can learn to move past-" The woman said before I cut her off.

I could not take it any longer. Why can't she just answer the simple question and stop telling some silly story. "Who the hell are you?". I shrieked like a banshee, losing it all.

"I'm your shameless mother", she replied in a low tone.

I felt so many emotions at the same time. Anger. Sadness. Pain. The need to scream and break everything within my reach. I wanted to hear her say the word and now that she has finally spilled it out, I did not know what to do. What to say to her. What to think of her.

She said she's my mother, even our resemblance says it all. I look so much like her and that reason is enough to convince everyone that she's my mother.

I felt sick to the stomach, I have never had the urge to empty my stomach the way I felt this instant. So I asked, "Where's the bathroom?"

Once in the restroom, I emptied my stomach, crying at some point.

Peter came in, holding my hair as I continued to throw up. Afterwards, he led me to the sink and helped me wash my face and rinse my mouth.

He gathered me in his arms and allowed me to cry my eyes out.

Dear God, I am beginning to get used to having him around, what would I do when he will no longer be by my side.

Peter POV,

I would not lie to myself but I felt bad for Mariam, (I finally know her name). It must be tough for her, thinking that she had no relatives only to realize that her biological mother is still alive and living a very comfortable life.

For the past month that I have been stuck with her, I have come to realize how smart she is.

If Marian had been given the opportunity to go to college, she would have gotten herself a successful career.

"You should have said something before bringing me here", she said angrily.

She's angry at me.

"I'm sorry, I thought you would be delighted", I consoled.

"I want to leave, I am well now, I can return back to work. And I have seen my mother. We should leave", she said

"Things do not work like that, do not let your emotions decide for you. You are going to wipe your tears and have a decent conversation with your mother and then we will leave. Hmm?". I said

"I miss my life, I miss handling trays, I am grateful for everything that you have done for me but I would like to go back to my life". She said in one breath.

Raising her chin to look into her eyes, I spoke with so much concern, "This is your life, you have to face it. Can you at least hear what she has to say? Please?"

"I'm doing this for you", she murmured before walking out.

I found her sitting opposite her mother with her hands in between her thighs, she must feel really awkward.

"I am sorry for leaving you but know that I have always cared for you in every way that I could. And I will forever love you." Mrs Miller said

After a minute or two, Marian spoke, "What of your accomplice, where is he?"

"Sorry?", Mrs Miller seems loss

I wonder who this accomplice is too.

"My father who left as well", Marian words were laced with venom.

"He's dead", Mrs Miller sobbed.

A fat tear rolled down her left eyes as she heard the news. Marian wiped her face furiously to control her emotions.

Looking at me, Mrs Miller questioned, "Did you pack her bags?"

"What?". Both Marian and I said in unison.

"Seeing her makes me feel like it would be the last, I cannot allow you to keep her in your house any longer. She would be safer here", Mrs Miller explained.

"I am not staying here", Marian, seeing her mother after all these years must be messing her up real time as she seemed to be getting angrier by every passing minute.

"It's the only rational decision to take", her mother said.

Taking Marian fingers in mine, I whispered, "Please stay". I am so tired of having her in my house.

"Are you taking sides with her now?", Marian seemed hurt. After sometime, she added, "Then I will leave first, I hate you all"

I watched as she skidded out of the room.

An apple does not truly fall far from its tree. True to the blood flowing in her veins, she's as spoilt as every rich heir I have met. Especially the female ones.