"Are you drunk young lady?!" Mrs Wale asked Ayo "Shouldn't you be happy ma? that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for yunno" Ayo said then hiccuped. "Why did you drink?! who gave it to you?" Mrs Wale asked in anger. "And you, why did you let her drink?! is this what you teach my daughter?!!" Mrs Wale scolded Chisom and Joy "No aun--" "Safe it! I don't want to hear your excuses!" she yelled at them. "No mom! don't yell at my friends!!" Ayo scolded her mom. Mrs Wale held her by her hand and took her to a quieter place where no guest or media personnel was. "What is wrong with you? why are you so hell bent on disgracing me Ayomide?!" Mrs Wale asked "Me? disgrace you? hahaha, you're embarrassing yourself and enough for the entire family! This..." Ayo pointed around "... this isn't for me, it's for you!" "Stop saying that" Mrs Wale said gripping Ayo's arms and squeezing them, "I did all these for you and you are so ungrateful to even say thank you!" Mrs Wale scolded Ayo laughed mockingly "Thank you?! for what exactly? throwing a party I don't even like, making it a Barbie themed party when I don't like pink, inviting YOUR friends to MY party or saying you made me the woman I am today when you didn't EVEN FUCKING RAISE ME?!" Ayo poured out her heart, she was furious.
CHAPTER 1: HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE ONE
"Ayo! Ayo wake up or you'll be late for school again!" Nanny Ti yells from downstairs and the alarm clock in Ayomide's room is so tired of ringing.
"Ughh!" Ayo groans and with sleepy eyes, she reached for the alarm clock and swinged it to the wall, just then Nanny Ti entered Ayo's room and saw the scene of the damaged alarm clock.
Nanny Titilayo is a middle aged woman of 57 years old. She has been working as a nanny for the Wales for more than 30 years, from taking care of Ayo's mother, Simi, when she was a teen, to caring for Ayomide from birth.
"You have to learn to stop breaking things, child"
"I didn't mean to break it, Nanny"
"So you said about the last two you broke, this is the third alarm clock you broke in just a week" Nanny Ti replied pointing at the broken clock.
"What's the big deal when it can always be replaced, besides Mom and Dad wouldn't go broke if they replaced it"
"But that doesn't mean you can go around damaging things because your parents could always replace them"
"Ughh, Nanny leave me alone!" Ayo covered herself from head to toe trying hard to get rid of her nanny and maybe sleep a little longer.
Nanny Ti called for a maid to clean up the broken clock. After it was taken care of, she closes the door and approached Ayo who is already irritated by her, she looked at the bed which looked like no one is there because of the lavender blanket Ayo covered herself with.
"Child, it's 7:52 already, you don't want to be late for school, right?"
"Oh, I do" Ayo replied from under the duvet
"You don't mean that, now get up and get ready, when you're done come downstairs for breakfast, okay?"
"mhmm" Ayo moans in reply.
"And happy birthday little star"
Ayo appeared from under the blanket and smiled at her Nanny, and with excitement in her voice, "You remembered!?"
"Of course child, why would I forget your birthday?"
Ayo smiled this time with her teeth and hugged her nanny
"Thank you, Nanny"
Nanny Ti patted her back and smiled in response.
"Now, hurry up and get ready, I prepared a gift for you!"
"Oh Nanny, you shouldn't have"
"Nonsense! I'm glad I did" Nanny Ti waved her hands in the air.
"I'm glad you did too"
"That's my baby girl!"
"Oh, c'mon! I'm not a baby anymore.
I just turned sixteen so I'm basically an adult, a full-grown woman" Ayo replied with all manner of certainty.
They both laughed at Ayo's joke.
"Okay, hurry up now, it's already..." Nanny Ti peeped at her pocket watch which was a gift from Ayomide, "...past 8am! my goodness!"
"Okay okay, fine!" Ayo dashed out from the bed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Nanny Ti smiled to herself, she stood up and left Ayo's room.
***
Ayo's room was simple and moderate, for a teen her age one would think her room would be decorated with bright pink colors, posters of her favorite music band or her celebrity crush, but come to think of it, she was never a girlie girl neither was she a romp.
Her room was deep purple with a little touch of forest green from her wallpaper. Her bed was small with just the right amount of space for only her or maybe one more and on it laid her lavender bedsheet and blanket.
Ayo quickly, brushed her teeth, showered, wore her school uniform and went downstairs for breakfast.
The maids, cook, gardener, gatekeeper and butler were all on standby to sing the happy birthday song for her and they were lead by Nanny Ti who was holding a newly baked cake, it was a two layers cake of lavender color which was Ayo's favorite color and it had the figure 16 at the top.
"Suprise!!!", they all chorused as Ayo came down the stairs all clad in her school uniform and a beautiful bright smile plastered on her face.
"Wha... what is this!?" Ayo exclaimed.
"All these for me? woah... this is crazzyyy". she couldn't believe her eyes neither could she hide her excitement.
The four sitters dining table was occupied with various dishes, from jollof rice, egg sandwich, fresh fish pepper soup, fried plantain, to puff puff and samosas and many more.
"Of course child, who else's birthday is today? it's all yours, now come come", Nanny Ti gestured for her to come down the stairs and they all started singing...
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday happy birthday, happy birthday to you!"
"HIP HIP HIP, HURRAY!"
The workers sang and all clapped for her as she was all smiles and thanking them for their kind gesture and she walked towards Nanny Ti.
"Happy birthday Miss Ayo", the head maid wished her, followed suit by others,
"Happy birthday Miss Ayo, you're looking lovely today".
"Oh, that's so nice of you guys, thank you so so much", Ayo appreciated.
"May you age gracefully Miss Ayo and live a very wonderful life", The Butler who is in his late 60s wished her a happy birthday. He has served the Wales for more than 35 years and he watched Ayo grow to a mature and responsible teenager and one could tell that he's proud of her.
"Thank you Sir Ade, it's really nice to hear such words from you" Ayo smiled and responded with a grateful heart. She looked around trying to spot her parents but couldn't she them, Nanny Ti noticed that she was looking for her parents, she quickly beckoned on her...
"Now hurry up and blow the candle or you'll surely be late for school!" Nanny Ti ordered, Ayo smiled, she closed her eyes for 3 seconds and blew the candles and they all clapped for her. Nanny Ti sets the cake down on the dining table and hugged Ayo while praying briefly for her.
Ayo looked around and asked, "Where is mom and dad?", the they all went silent.
The workers stared at her not knowing what to say, She turned to Nanny Ti and asked for the whereabouts of her parents that supposed to be present on the morning of her birthday.
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On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.