Both Mrs Clara, her husband, the twins and even Monica screamed in shock.
What did they just hear??...
Get married again??
The shock was just too much. "Mom..." Monica screamed as she faced her Mom with a surprised and doubtful look.
"Monica don't worry...I've made this decision after careful consideration...you do indeed need a father" she said.
"Though I can't make up for the years you've missed a real fathers love...I'll make sure your future remains bright and that you will receive all the love you deserve" she continued.
"But Mom...uncle Claire has been a great father figure to me since I was young...I don't need another father other than him and I definitely don't want to move out" Monica struggled to stay calm when she thought of her Mom remarrying and the possibility of she living this wonderful home.
"Thats why Monica...a father figure...he can never be your real father and no matter how much he tries he can never fill in that space in your life" Martha rebuked in a sorrowful voice.
"Monica listen to me...Claire has been a good father not only to his children but you also. He took us in as his family and always treated you as his real daughter. Do you think you will be able to live here forever??"
"You must understand that although we take this place as our home...we can never experience the real joy of having a complete and loving family all to ourselves "
"I've made my decision and I'm not going to change it. You deserve to live like other children and I'm not taking any objection from you" Martha said before she ran into her room. She locked the door and ran to the balcony before breaking down in tears.
"I've been too selfish...I sacrificed my daughter's happiness just because I couldn't bear to break the walls around my heart. Just because I couldn't bring myself to love I decided to deprive my daughter of a father"
"No...not anymore... its not too late...my daughter deserves to be happy". Martha cried to herself for who knew how long before taking her bath and slept with various thoughts running through her head.
Monica on the other hand entered her room lost with complex emotions. Just for her...her mother has suffered so much. She never had a peaceful youth nor a blissful marriage. Just because she was born a girl...just because she was a girl her mother lost everything...she lost her parents, her good for nothing husband and her family.
Monica has seen her Mom in a miserable state when she was younger. That time she saw her Mom in the garden late into the night crying while looking at a picture which she assumed now to be her grandparents.
Monica felt bad. She even had the thought that if she had been born a boy, would her mother live a happy married life??
The next day, Monica woke up really late and quickly took her bath before she rushed downstairs. She totally forgot to set her alarm and woke up 20 minutes after 8.
She arrived downstairs to see Aunt Clara and her husband having breakfast at the dinning. "Morning Aunt Clara...morning Uncle Claire" Monica greeted both of them with a kiss to the cheek like she usually does.
"Morning dear...come lets have breakfast I don't think you will be going to school so just stay at home to rest okay..." Mrs Clara said to Monica in a loving tone as she served Monica's breakfast.
"Okay Aunt Clara...Where's Mom?" Monica asked in a worried tone.
"Dont worry dear she has an important meeting to attend to so she rushed out. Dont worry she's okay..." Mrs Clara said.
Mrs Clara admires the mother and daughter duo alot. You could imagine how Martha who was broken yesterday woke up early with a bright smile on her face as if nothing happened while Monica on the other hand was brimming with vigor even though she overslept due to tiredness.
They clearly were stronger than you could imagine.
At the office...
Martha who rushed over when she received a call that the representatives from Lucious came a day ahead of schedule was in her office tidying the documents required for the meeting.
Knock knock
"Come in" she replied still engrossed in what she was doing. "Martha...they are here...I mean Lucious representatives are waiting for you in the conference room" her secretary said after she entered.
"I'll be right there..." she replied as she finally stood up a few minutes later and elegantly walked out with her usual expressionless and beautiful face.
They arrived at the conference room few minutes later together with a few subordinates including Drake. There was a total of 5 people from Lucious;3 men and 2 women.
Martha felt a sense of familiarity at the middle-aged man who hung his head low when she entered.
"Hello...I'm Martha, head of the finance department. If there's nothing to say I'll officially begin our presentation " Martha spoke aloud after gathering her thought.
Just when she was about to continue, she heard this familiar voice which sent shiver down her spine.
"We meet again...Martha"