Chapter 1 – The proposal

It was a winter evening. A young girl was lying on the bed of a dark room. An elderly women entered the room,

"Anna, are you sleeping? Shall I switch on the light?"

"No, I like this way."

"Anna, I came here to discuss something with you,….." she sat on the side of the bed and began to comb Anna's hair with her fingers.

"Your father has found a good person for you. You can marry him and go abroad. You have to forget all these things and start a new life. I can't see you suffering so much."

"Mama please give me some time to recover my pain, I feel I'm lost ….. I have to find myself first. Please mama..." Anna hugs her mother and start crying. Her tears wets Charlotte's shoulders.

"But darling as your father says he is a good man with a good fortune and you can live a better life." Charlotte said with a confident voice but she too doubted it.

"Mama …. Mr.Gregory Brown is not my father, he is just your husband, I don't have any relationship with him, I don't want him to take any decision about my life"

Anna's voice was harsh. She knew her words would hurt her mother so she changed her voice and hugged her more tightly and cried,

"I can't marry anyone. I can't love anyone and I don't trust anyone . Please try to understand me mama. Please…."

"OK sweetie I won't force you, but … just think about that... now let's go , I made your favorite dish."

"I'll come in few minutes mama, I love you!"

"I love you too!" she patted Anna and left the room.

Charlotte has being trying to console her daughter, making her favorite dishes , asking her to go for a walk or meet her friends, but nothing worked . Anna ate a very little for more than three months and she has lost her weight and her face was pale. She lacked nutrients, the pain in her heart and crying made it worse. She refused to meet people or go out. She preferred to be alone in her room. Sherin , her best friend visited her in weekends.

Anna didn't have any appetite, but she couldn't hurt her mother. So Anna went to the bathroom and washed her face which was full of tears.

When she was about to open the door she heard Gregory's and her mother's conversation.

"If she refuses to marry Mr. Frank I will not give her a penny. You know what the other people talk about her. She will not get a proper job. I have raised her and covered all her expenses since she was a toddler. I can't do it anymore" Gregory's voice raised.

"Please Greg don't shout, she will hear you." Charlotte begged him.

"Let her hear me. I'm telling the truth. She slept with Mr.Mount's son, but couldn't keep him, or make him marry her. Do you think that she can find herself a good husband with her past records? No one will ever offer her a decent job," After a few seconds he added sarcastically,

"sometimes she can get a job as a call girl."

"Oh Gregory , stop it will you. She is not a bad girl, she was deceived by Ronan. For god sake please don't insult my daughter." Charlotte begged Gregory. She was angry and hurt at the same time.

"She was deceived? Is she a kid to be deceived by somebody?" he mocked and added "She couldn't satisfy him. That's the reason for sure. No wonder , still you can't satisfy me. Like the mother like the daughter."

Anna turned back, went to her room, locked it and ran towards the bed. She hugged the pillow and cried. She wanted to cry out aloud and scream to the world that she was innocent. But she kept her sobs and cries hidden as she didn't want to hurt her mother, the only person who truly loves and cares her.

If her father was alive she will not be humiliated by others. How can she ever expect such love and protection from her step-father?

Anna knew that her mother had no option left when her father passed away. Anna was only 3 years, they were a middle class family, no property or money was left. But her mother's beauty was the only asset they had. Mr. Gregory brown was her father's manager, who always had his lustful eyes on Charlotte. Charlotte had to take a decision, for the sake of her lovely daughter she married George. Charlotte knew she will be only used as a sex object by him and an ornament to decorate him while attending business parties. She tolerated all his tortures for the sake of her little bud Anna.

Anna was sent to a boarding school. Gregory didn't like it at all, as it is expensive, but Charlotte forced him as she didn't want Anna's education to be disturbed by the awful situation in the house. She suffered a lot , but never allowed her daughter to know her pathetic situation. She wanted Anna to have a great future. But when Anna grew up, and when she was at home for vacations she discovered it.

Anna thought, " The fate is mocking at us mama, 18 years ago it was you, now me….. How can I marry a man whom I haven't seen yet and I think he can't be any better than step father. Who will marry a woman with no fortune and without knowing whether the bride is black or white? I will have to face a worse situation than mama."

She could run away from the house and live a simple life doing some odd jobs. But what about her mother, she will not able to support her. Anna was too tired to think.... Her head was paining a lot, she took some medication …..Soon she was sleeping.

But the discussion in down stairs continued...…

Charlotte knew arguing with Gregory will bring nothing to her or her daughter, but yet she wanted to know about the man. The man whom her lovely innocent daughter will be married to, with or without her will.

" Have you ever met Mr.Frank?"

"Not yet ,but hoping to meet him soon. He is a rich man who has so many business all around the world. His name is on the top of the business world for more than 10 years. How can I deny such a son in law? Ah?" He questioned Charlotte.

"So how old he is ? What about his family and what kind of a person he is?"

"Oh, Charlotte, so many questions….." How dare she ask so many questions from me? He thought but he didn't show his anger, he gently added, "He is not more than 35, I guess..... he has only his father and I have already answered for the third question, He is a good businessman."

"Ah…" She stammered. " I was asking his qualities ,whether he is a good man who will treat my girl well. And he is much older . How could you accept such a proposal, Anna is not a puppet. She deserves someone better. And I don't want her to suffer like me."

The last part hit Gregory, his anger became more violent. "This is not a fairy tale to select the charming and the kind prince for your Cinderella, This is the real life. She will have money to spend like a princess, it is doubtless. And of course he is ready to forgive Anna's biggest mistake too. What else do you want?" He talked angrily. How dare she talk to me like that?

My poor Cinderella….. Charlotte thought about Anna.

Anna was a bright kid and was able to pass all the exams with flying colors. She was deceived by Ron. But she thought he was the best, The biggest mistake was to trust him, my little girl should not have done it. Now she is trapped by the whole world, who will come and save her? I am so helpless as her mother.

" What are you thinking about? I want you to talk to your daughter and make her agree to this marriage as soon as possible, they are waiting for the answer. It was the investor who brought the proposal, Mr. Mark Collins. He will not willing to sign the deal until I give him a good answer. "

"But how did he know about Anna? And why he is interested in her? There are so many good looking girls all around the city."

'That's call luck Charlotte… It's called luck.... Come on now I'm too tired of talking with you, and specially answering to your bold questions. Let's go and do something interesting... I saw the power of your words after a long time I'd like to examine your other capabilities as well" Gregory winked, wearing a mocking smile on his face and went to the bedroom.

Charlotte saw the rage in his eyes, Her heart beat was high and her legs were numb, but she followed him obediently grieving about the fact, "Will Anna face the same fate as me?"

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