Mother in her wheel chair, sitting next to an open window inside her room up on the third floor to the right wing of the mansion, holding a yellow hard cover book in a hand on her laps and another hand supporting her lower jaw from one side and reading calmly as it is her hobby, she notices her son In-law's convoy approaching from a distance towards the mansion when the wind blows on the light white cloth curtain from her beautiful aerial view through the window. She moves her hand off the jaw, using it with the other hand to cover the book off her laps and puts the it on the lower table next to her. Slowly she combines efforts to push her wheelchair, drawing it closer to the window to have a more clear view as the in-law's convoy approaches.
Bodyguards jumping out of the Cadillac Escalade from both sides quickly as a routine. Mother is watching, waiting to see her in-law coming out but he doesn't for a full minute. A door opens afterwards and for more fifteen seconds, still no one is coming out. Mother becomes anxiously more curious. "Lala" she wonders on a folded face. It is true Lala is the person she notices standing out of her son In-law's car.
Quickly as Lala walks to the main entrance of the house, Rolls-Royce door closes, Cobra and Python jump in the escort and the convoy departs. Mother has not even set her eyes on the expected in-law Don.
Walking up the stairs in a hurry is Lala with her red hand bag, dressed in a pure white top blouse, full grey skirt and red high hills for shoes, simply a very beautiful young woman.
knocking as she opens mother's bedroom door, "Good afternoon mom," she greets. "What was that all about?" Angry mother in a wheelchair chair asks toughy. Silenced in guilt, Lala senses trouble boiling her way.
"Mom, it's not what you think," she politely answers worriedly. "Do you think am a fool?" questions annoyed mother. "Loosing my back didn't mean I lost my brains too!" She explodes more rudely at her. "He has never allowed anyone to sit in his car" looking straight into Lala's face mother states, "everyone know this." "If am not mistaken, his fiancée Dodo has never at one time sat in his car," she gives a shameful laugh on a fading rude tone.
"Mom" Lala mentions her title in a worried voice, "am sorry for not being careful." Infront of a worried looking mother, Lala kneels an holds on her hand. "I....I... I was waiting for a taxi by the roadside, his car stopped on me and I had no choice, that's is why....." "I won't be this careless again mom," she pleads stuttering in fear on her statements.
Intelligent mother notices poor Lala doesn't know how to lie.
"Stop lying! Lala," calmly mother asks, "listen to me Lala." Mother draws the wheelchair more closer to her and says, "you're naturally a very beautiful young woman, so attractive in every single type of way. It is very hard for a man of any kind to resist your physical powers". Worried about the future, mother compliments her.
"Don is my son. I raised him from the age of 11" she narrates, "he has grown up into a vibrant handsome young man." "He is wealthy, good looking and respected as you can also see," she says. "No woman can risk a chance of having him by her side when it is given," as a grown up mother visualise ahead.
Turning the wheelchair and pushing it towards the window, she looks through far beyond. "His mother died after giving birth to him in the hospital," going back in memories, mother begins to narrate. "His father was the leader of the famous cult from the EastCoast which was known as 'The Sixth Figure'. He was Billionaire who lost his life to intestinal cancer." "On his sick bed" she says, "he asked me and my lovely husband Jemes to take care of his son as our own. Don was only eleven years old by then. He also wished for what he called 'one last important thing', which he really took very serious. He urged us to ensure that his son Don marries our daughter Dodo." Mother says upto now she doesn't know why Don's father badly wished for it.
After giving it a thought, me and my husband agreed on the same decision. Every time we saw Don and Dodo going to school together and playing in compounds, they seemed so much compatible. Besides, Don's father was our childhood dearest friend," narrating these memories, mother gives a sad smiles. "Don became more ruthless than his father as he grew up, especially after inheriting his father's Billion dollar empire at a very young age," mother says, "the road has been tough for him and that is destiny."
"Lala", mother calls as she rotates her wheelchair to face her again. "Please sit down," kindly she asks. Lala takes a seat on an armless chair next to the lower table where mother placed the yellow book. Mother draws the wheelchair closest to her, picks up her hands holding them loosely with care in her two hands, she takes a deep breath and says, "Don and Dodo are engaged." "very soon they are going to be husband and wife. Getting to this point was not an easy task to accomplish," she explains, "Dodo has already been through a lot." "Right now their relationship doesn't need any distractions. Please don't hurt her," sorrowfully mother begs on a worriedly looking face which leaves Lala uncomfortable.
Inside her minds a lot of pending questions flow. "How did I not see this coming?! Why on earth did heavens give me this kind of challenge?! How comes it is this hard to convince my heart to break up with him?!" Tears drop, "What can I do right now that the worst has already happened? Where do I go to hide away from this shame? Who can I talk to for guidance?" All these questions rapidly flow within her minds and tears drop out of her eyes seated infront of Dodo's mother.
"Am already married to my best friend's fiancée" deep inside her she speaks, "Darn."
Don is the son of the late Billionaire Sir Gordon The Don who died when Don was only ten years of age. On his sick bed, he requested in a vow when his son grows up he must marry Dodo, a daughter of his childhood friends Mr and Mrs James who was six years of age by then. This was due to the family customs and norms which says any boy in the family must marry to a daughter of a man who takes him in as a godfather. Since Mr James was Don's godfather, so had it to happen. When Don's father died, Mr and Mrs James took the responsibility of raising him as their foster child. He grew up together with their daughter Dodo and when he made 18 years, he was officially engaged to Dodo and took in partial ownership of his late father's business empire. The agreement was, after his marriage, he was then ready to take full ownership of the business empire.
In a long run, there came a young female Lala, a homeless who was picked off the cold streets late in the night by Dodo. Since Dodo had no close friends, he became closest friends with Lala who turned up to be her one and only friend in need and in deed. When Mrs James got involved in a very terrible accident that costed her spinel cord, the family needed a person to cater for her and Lala came in the picture. She started working on a payment in her friend's home. This is when everything started to fall apart.
Don, who was now 22 years of age, came to see Lala who he fell in love with at the first sight. He went on to stalk on her through officer Stone who was a superior and a patrol officer at the regional police headquarters. Officer Stone succeeded on his mission, discovering where Lala was staying after her daily duties.
Because Don had sleepless nights thinking about Lala, the girl he madly loved without even knowing her name, he went ahead to disguise as an ordinary gym instructor, rented on a cheap apartment where Lala was staying just to become her neighbor, and also changed his name to Yang to avoid the chaos from family which he knew was to come.
When Lala saw Don for her first time as the new neighbor at the apartment, she got struck in the heart by the charm from a pure skin and the sweet voice of a handsomely looking man. Lala, who was 18 years old, same age with her best friend Dodo, with no hesitation she accepted when Don asked her out. The closer they both got, the deeper the affection for each other that not even death could separate them.
Since Lala and Dodo where always close, she didn't hold back to complement her boyfriend which always left Dodo admiring her friend's relationship for she wasn't receiving the same kind of treatment from her fiancée. Dodo was so much in love with Don, little did she know that Don barely had a single affection towards her. In his heart Dodo was just a sister he never got.
In the month set for Dodo and Don's wedding, Don had hidden plans already. He went on to secretly propose to Lala and flew her to Paris, the capital of France and married her there. But innocent Lala couldn't wait to send wedding pictures to her best friend back home in Phillipines. This resulted into a big blow that led Dodo into a coma after seeing her fiancée Don in the pictures as a gloom. The news about Dodo's condition got into everyone's ears. The honeymoon got interrupted. The married couple had to fly back home for an emergency. Don kept under the shadows for a long time but the time was due for the truth to be revealed. In Dodo's bedroom after the coma, she had to address the truth to her best friend. This was nothing else but painful tears. The same truth landed in Mr James's ears on the day of his wife's birthday. As the three children got into Dodo's room to quarrel about the matter, outside walked close to the door Mr James who wanted to see his daughter too. It was a tragedy. Mr and Mrs James demanded for immediate devorce which Don aggressively refused to accept. He sworn ready to loose everything apart from Lala. Lala was in serious difficulty. Besides Don and her young brother Jack, Lala got hatred from all corners especially Dodo's family, the family that loved her unconditionally. She experienced blame and shame allover her face that she couldn't contain it anymore instead she asked for a devorce too. But the last word Don would want to hear was divorcing Lala.
On night at the apartment, Lala and her young brother Jack get kidnapped by two well combated gunmen. They get blindfolded, driven from home upto the private jet which flies away with them. Another serious tragedy was expected. Don invested a lot of money on investigations to find Lala's way abouts which even led to the arrest of a cab driver Mr Jiang whose responsibility was to take Jack to school every morning and also take Lala to and from the mansion for duties. The disappearing of Lala left Don careless about his life. He turned into a total drunkard. He found himself sleeping on the streets as a bagger. His beard grew so thick and hair too long to the extent un imaginable. This is the kind of life Don lived for two years with hope that maybe one day Lala will show up and give a clear explanation why she had to break up with him in such a heartless state. Dodo's life was also miserable day in day out that she decided to move to America and take charge of her father's hotel in Beverly Hills.
An unexpected happened in America. Lala appeared at the hotel. Dodo couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Lala addressed as a boss in a very expensive outfit and the following morning picked up in a presidential convoy, a person she knew very well as a poor best friend who disappeared two years back.
When the news landed into Don's ears, he got back on his feet like he's coming out of rehab. Without thinking twice, he flew to America where he was recieved by his school OG and friend Cynthia.
Puffing on a big sigger during an auction in the auditorium, "well...!" Don speaks. "just because you failed to do your job professionally," lowly he speaks dumping ash into the ashtray.
"Sorry boss, there was a small mistake". Cobra responds respectfully. "Ssshh... shut up!" He roars and says to both of them; "The solution is simple, Do your job right". Taking a pistol out of Cobra's pocket, Don fires two bullets into the naked male body hanging upside down on chains.
Big Sigger on his mouth, he hands back the handgun to Cobra. Python passes him a white handkerchief to whips his hands as they follow him out of the warehouse into his car in a Broad day light.
"Get the job done is my motto. Life teaches the best lessons and this is how life groomed me." He expresses his anger poring a whisky into a glass sitting in the rear of his car. "She MUST die!" He speaks to himself shaking with rage, poring the whole potion of whisky which is in a glass into his mouth all at once.
A week earlier:
One unidentified person dressed in leather from head to toe with his face covered in a mask parks a saloon outside the mansion fence on the dark side near the front gate.
Sooner than later at 8:30pm, read from the same strange person's watch, Dodo returns home in a Mercedes AMG GLS 63 executive. She passes without noticing the saloon car on the side.
She stops infront of the gate, takes her arm out through the car window on the driver's side to reach the security system on the fence to access the gate.
Suddenly after entering the codes, she get smacked by a strong force from outside making her fall unconscious. The car door opens and she is switched to the passenger's side by strange hands fully covered in black gloves. On the mansion drive way, the Mercedes runs upto the compound. Dodo wakes up after gaining her conscious, this time on the driver's side holding on her forehead expressing deep pain. The clock on the dashboard reads 10pm.
Seeming not to know anything about what has happened to herself, she picks her handbag and walks out dizzily like a typical drunkard upto inside her room. She throws her body backwards onto the bed with her shoes on. After several uncomfortable turns on her bed for a few minutes, she gets up and walks out. "Mom", she calls heading to where she expects her. Looking inside the reading room, mom is not here. She enters the kitchen, picks a mineral water from the fridge, opens and sips as she moves out. She walks through the sitting room upstairs to mom's bedroom. Mom is not in her bedroom either. She now becomes serious on searching. "Mom...!" She calls more louder, inspecting more areas in the house. She goes back to her room, opens her handbag to pick her phone. The phone is not in the bag.
Worried Dodo rushes down stairs back to the car to find out about her phone because she needs to reach her Mom.
Luckily, her phone is in the storage space in between the driver and passenger seats. Wasting no time, she dials mom's contact on her 13 pro max IPhone. Calling 'Love for Mom' displays, phone going through until 'End call' appears without being answered. Worries raise showing on Dodo's face and in her movements. She decides to meet the servants in their quarters on the other side of the house. "Mom never goes out at night" she speaks to herself in silence. As she walks past a flower garden near the main house, she Identifies blood flowing from a certain direction. Quickly she follows. "Mom!" She calls again with a suspicious glance. At the adge of the house around the corner, her eyes land on Mom resting in a blood pool.
"Mom Mom! Mom!" calling her mother loud in tears, she kneels down and turns her to lie on the back side. She then puts her mother's head on her laps in continuous screams, "Mom! Mom!.....".
"She fell from the window" The police officer introduced as 'officer Stone' the leading investigator confirms to fellow officers on site. "Third flow but the paramedic has confirmed she's still alive" The officer supplements.
Don appears soon after receiving a phone call from his fiancée Dodo.
Two patrols on the compound, two officers on the main house entrance and two officers inside the house including officer Stone. All seen as he walks in. He gets his fiancée shaking involuntarily with fear and cold on a sofa and the two officers trying to tell her words of comfort. Trembling as he starts to speak, They both hug in sorrow. "What exacly happened to mother?!" He asks. "I don't really know". She responds crying in his chest. "But she has been rushed to the hospital" she adds all depressed by the incident.
"Can I talk to you sir?" Officer Stone requests to talk to Don after a few minutes of comforting with fiancée. They both get a one on one chat on the side. After a long talk, he returns to his fiancée. "Officer Stone will be taking care of your security and the house". He says as they both walk outside of the house. "You mean even in this situation you're leaving me?!" She wonders with implication this is not the first time he leaves her when he's needed the more. "I promise to be with you very early in the morning" He answers. "You dont have to worry. Two officers are going to stay around for you". He assures. "I can't stay here. I need to see mother. She needs us Don" She sounds so disappointed. "Stone", Don calls. "Make sure all is under control". He orders. "It's my duty Sir," Stone replies. "See you tomorrow morning" He pecks her on the forehead, gets into his car and leaves. "Where do you want to go Madam" Officer Stone on duty as ordered. Just take me to where my mom has been taken please". She responds sadly.
Stone opens the rear door of the Patrol, he asks her to get in. He too gets infront with his work partner and drives off.
"Doctor! please hold on". Dodo quickly stands up running after the doctor coming out of the emergency room. "It's been two hours doctor, please!" She speaks unsettled in worry. "I have been praying since I got here sister Dodo. My heart tells me mother is going to survive" Lala speaks with words of encouragement to her friend. "Please doctor raise our hope with good news." Lala begs on her friend's behalf.
"She is receiving blood. You know she lost a lot in the accident. Continues being calm" doctor's words to both of them as he walks on. "Let's go back and sit Sister Dodo, please!" Lala escorts her friend back to their waiting position.
"Excuse me! Excuse me ladies" doctor tries to wake them up as he taps on Lala. She slowly opens her eyes raising up from sleep. Quickly she sits up after seeing doctor infront of them. "Sister please wake up doctor is here". She hold her up. Dodo extremely looking tired she asks the doctor: "Is my mother dead?!" Wondering with a sleepy face. "No!" replies the doctor. We have managed to do our best but her spinel cord is functionally isolated from the brains.
"What do you mean doctor". Lala asks in confusion trying to understand better. "When she wakes up from coma, she is not going to walk any more". Doctor directly confirms to them. Dodo breaks down in tears again.
"My dad will be coming back from the states next week. Am worried about him. How is he going to find mom in such a state!". Dodo cries. "Most important thing right now is mom to wake up. You have to relax sister you are very tired". Lala continues to comfort and taking care of her.
"The police men are sleeping over there. Do you mind if I wake them up to take you back home?" She asks. "Yes! I don't feel like going back to the mansion. Am really scared" Dodo says depleted in strength.
"You said your fiancée will be here very early this morning, it is already 7:00am". Lala ask with concern. "I think I need to wait for him". She anticipates "No! I'm sorry but I think we need to go to my place. You need to refresh and get enough sleep for the good of your health sister". Lala suggests. From the look of things, Dodo is very weak and tired.
"Hello Mr Jiang, I am at 'XingXing hospital' can you please pick me up". Lala on phone. "Who is Jiang" Dodo asks. "My cab driver" She speaks in reply. After a few minutes,
"We're finally home sweet sister. You just need to hold on a little". Lala tells Dodo as she collects her apartment key from the wallet.
" Where is my fiancée?!" Don asks immediately on arrives at the hospital at 10:00am with his bodyguards on sides. "And where is Stone?" All questions going to officer Stone's partner. "He went to get us some breakfast at the restaurant across". the partner replies. Immediately after his partner's answer officer Stone appears from the entrance holding two packs of donuts and disposable coffee cups. "Good morning sir!" officer Stone greets. "Where is my fiancée" Don asks rudely. "We woke up when she was gone sir. I think she's home Sir". He answers with maximum obedience and respect to Don. "What do you mean home! Are you insane?!" He angrily backs at him like a little man. "I told you she must not leave your sight. find her, NOW!" He shouts him down hoarsely, poking a finger hard on his chest. "Okay sir" Officer Stone can not hide his embarrassment. Don walks out the hospital door into his car and escorted by his bodyguards as usual and leaves.
"Stay here just in case, you call me". Officer Stone instructing his partner as he goes for a hunt.
Two months later:
"Hi Mom, today is the day we are taking you back home. Dad promised he's not going back to America even after your full recovery". Dodo excitedly tells her mother, sitting on the side of her sick bed. "My wife is very important to me. She needs me more than ever. I have to take good care of her now". Mr James, well known to be Dodo's biological father supplements, smiling on her daughters words. Mother laughs. "How are you feeling mother" Lala inquires with a lovely smile towards Mom.
"I am healthier than all of you right now". Mother's answer increases a smile on everyone's face in the room.
"We are truly blessed to have you again Mom, we love you so much" Dodo puts a look of contentment on her mother's face.
Dodo says; "We need to find the best person to take good care of you mom apart from father and I". "I think am hiring James bond on this one" Dad says provoking a laughter.
"Seriously mother needs a 24 hours care taker" Lala puts a note. "And the one well trusted" she adds. "Lala is very right" Dad agrees. "A Wheel chair moves faster than legs. I will run next time". Mom jokes about her own situation. "That's ridiculous sweetheart". Dad responds.
"Lala" Dodo calls for Lala's attention. "I was thinking, how about you take this job. You're the person right now I can truly trust with my mother's welfare. And we're sister now. You won't do it for free either. We will be paying you well". Dodo talks to Lala politely requesting. "Come-on sister, you've already done more than enough for me. You don't have to pay me to do something for you. I will gladly do anything for you to appreciate your kindness". Lala speaks very willing. "Thanks a lot Lala but I insist. You are not doing this for free". Dodo sticks on point in reply. "True we have to pay you my daughter. This is going to cost your time and effort". Dad talks in support of his daughter's argument.
"Wow!.." She skips a bit taking a deep breathe. "Anyways, who am I to say no! I'm one against two strong voices" Lala finally accept the pay cheque. "Thank you very much Lala". With a lot of excitement, Dodo expresses her gratitude.
Mom in a worry voice says; "Am not seeing my son Don, Is he well?!" She asks. "He's not in the country mom. He will be returning next week" Dodo replies. "You know your son very well and besides, he's a big man now he doesn't listen to anyone any more". Dad talks him down.
"Okay Mom, Dad and sister Dodo, I have to be on my way to my young brother's school like I informed you earlier before it gets late. Let's meet tomorrow". Lala says bye bye for now. "Alright Lala, I will send you directions to the house". Dodo very much thankful moves close to Lala. "We will be glad to see you on duty at twelve noon". Dad speaks happily. Both Dodo and Lala hug warmly and she leaves all of them smiling.
"Yes sir she's been discharged. Yes sir. Okay sir. As you wish sir". Officer Stone standing behind his office desk talking to someone on phone. He walks out to meet his partner after the phone call. "Hey officer we have work to do" They both enter into their patrol and drive away.
"Surprise!" Mom greeted with applause and cheers immediately the main entrance door opens. "Welcome home and happy birthday to you mother" All servants at the mansion gather to welcome her in combined voices, singing a birthday song to her. Dodo and dad pop a very big champagne bottle. All in celebration of mother's return. Mom filled with tears of joy in a wheel chair gives special thanks to God for giving her a second chance to complete the uncompleted duties and everyone who has gathered to make her comeback look special. "I truly appreciate you all from the bottom of my heart" she speaks these words aloud with enviable blis. Trolly carrying a cake slides infront of her, her daughter and husband prepared on the side with serving plates and a cake knife and servants prepared to pop more balloons. The celebration continues.
"We have managed to get mother home safely today. She was so happy to recieve a warm welcome from all the workers at once. Oh! how I wish you're here too. She misses you so much". Dodo inside her room talking to her fiancée Don on a mobile phone. "But know that I miss you more my love". Romantically she affirms her feelings. "I will be in the country tomorrow morning" He replies. "Oh OK! this is good news then. I thought it was next week just like you told me before leaving". She smiles behind the phone for the good news. "It took shorter than I expected". He says. "Are you saying you're going to attend the feast with us?! It is scheduled tomorrow evening" Curiously she asks. "Of course I will. You just have to prepare my favorite". He confirms. "Alright, am going to inform mom right now. I know she's going to be very happy to here the good news". Dodo facial expression and voice filled with excitement. "See you then, I'm really surprised". she whispers to herself offline with a smile.
She stands up, quickly out of her bedroom to take the good news to her mother. immediately she gets the door for herself to enter into mother's bedroom. "Mom I have good news for you". she speaks. Mom sitting in her wheel chair close to the book chest, looking troubled. "What's wrong mom?!" She asks wondering. "Something I didn't tell you about that night my daughter" Mom talks in depression. "Am all ears mom you can tell me now". She requests her mom to speak her out of worry. "You see this pen am holding", mom speaking. "Yes mom what is it?!" Worried Dodo questions. "I was taking some notes the day I fell from the window". Mom tries to dig into painful memories. "Yes!" Dodo responds with maximum curiosity. "I scratched his right hand twice and his right side of the neck trying to resist. But he was so strong". Mother talks in sorrow.
"Mom! You need to get over this. You have to move on" Dodo pleads to her mother. "Am trying my daughter". Mom replies. "Try harder mom" She requests. "I wish I could but it's not as easy as you think" Mother's tears drip. "We're here for you Mom you don't need to cry. Beside, "Don will be here tomorrow to feast with us". "Really!". "Yes mom exactly what I came to communicate. Just free your mind and be thankfully" Dodo tries to motivate her mother. Holding her fingers "You've given me the reason to smile the whole night". "Lol mom! am glad. You need to understand we love you". She brings mother at ease with relieving words. "Tomorrow is your birthday and a day for our family to re-unite. It is really important. We need to embrace it". Dodo sweet talks her mother. "Okay, let me take you to bed so you can relax your mind. Got you some new novels as well Lala will be here tomorrow to read for you". "Forget about the thief and everything that has failed. What you have managed to achieve is very Important. Let's rejoice for that". Dodo brings back her mother's smile with these encouraging words.
"We are all gathered here as a family accompanied by long time friends and well wishers to celebrate love". Dodo giving a brilliant speech infront of visitors gathering in the mansion gardens.
"First and foremost our beautiful parents mother and father respectfully have always been a very strong pillar to our growing up and wellbeing of the whole family. We want to take this opportunity to appreciate them when they are still alive. Thank you Mom and Dad for being great parents to us". Dodo stands in for all giving a loving and kind speech of appreciation.
"Secondly, happy birthday mom on behalf of the whole family". She congratulates her. "We won't stop saying! 'WE LOVE YOU' ". Everyone raises their voice to the highest on saying; 'We Love You'.
It will be impolite for not recognizing some of our family friends who have managed to make it here with us. Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce our dear law keepers. Officer Stone and his partner. A very big hand clap comes from the audience as they both come infront.
"Can it possibly be!....Officer Stone!.... the person who threw mother down from the window!" Dodo's face looking stuck in confusions, thinking after noticing two fresh scars on officer Stone's hand while sharing a handshake.
(THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR READING)
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