River City Hospital.
"I assure you Mr. Cole, Madam just needs a little time to recover, if she sticks to diet, her legs will be back in no time." The doctor gulped nervously standing before one of the wealthiest and ruthless men in the city.
"I'll take your word on it." Charles Cole muttered, his gray eyes darkened.
Being a top businessman in the city for over 10 years now, Charles had his way of terrifying people, his aura exuding danger and elegance all at once.
His long legs found their way to his wife, Ariana's hospital ward where the nurses were helping her into the wheelchair.
The young lady in her twenties looked rather thin and sickly but anyone could tell how beautiful she was from far away, her petite body was frail and pale, her red lush lips chapped from dehydration.
Ariana glanced at Charles' form at the doorway and quickly looked away, his brows knitted together in confusion, what was really wrong with this woman? She had refused to talk to him since that night.
The nurses helped Ariana into the car and Charles took off, the ride home was silent with Allison's heart reminiscing the warmth of her lost child and Charles wondering what was wrong with the scandalous woman.
She used to cling to him like gum on a shoe and now she didn't look at him. Her actions negatively affected his heart but he waved it off as guilt.
The luxurious car slowed down approaching a tall mansion, the pillars stood tall and beautiful and the design was made with a lot of care. It was like a fairytale castle, with multiple expensive cars in the driveway, the maids ran out to welcome their madam.
Dalia, Ariana's maid, stepped forward helping her madam into the wheelchair and pushing her into the exquisite living room.
The two women seated in the room quickly turned their gaze away from the television to Ariana. The woman on the right crossed her legs scrutinizing the frail woman.
Diana Cole, Charles's mother, was a woman in her late forties but her skin looked as radiant as ever, her aura and dress sense emitting power and wealth.
Sarah June, the other woman is an elite socialite also known as Charles's High school sweetheart or mistress, Sarah was a busty woman with curves in all the right places, her body drew most men's attention immediately she walked into her room, her seductive ways pulling the attention of the rest.
Sarah's lips quickly turned down into a pout upon Charles's arrival into the room, Sarah got on her feet and moved closer to Ariana looking at her with sympathy.
Anyone glimpsing at the scene would've thought she was just an innocent woman trying to console her best friend but on the inner surface, Ariana knew Sarah was a bitter viper waiting patiently to strike.
"Ariana I heard about what happened to you and I just came to help out." She flashed one of her award winning smiles.
Ariana raised an eyebrow throwing the woman a dirty look as she turned to her maid.
"Dalia, take me to my room." She had resolved that talking to Sarah was just a waste of time after years of being under the woman's shadow.
"Little girl, you're so ungrateful even in your crippled state you dare talk to the Cole's future daughter-in-law in such a way?" Diana Cole yelling pointing her finger at Ariana.
It wasn't a hidden fact that Diana preferred Sarah to Ariana, Everyone in the social circle knew and equally treated Ariana like a stain of mud in their circle.
Diana needed a woman who she could control and bend to her will and Sarah was perfect for the role, she knew she cared about power more than she cared about her son but no man needed a weak woman which Ariana was.
"I see you're now as much of a mute as you are cripple." Diana scowled at Ariana's hard headedness before the miscarriage Ariana would beg and kiss the floor she walked on in an attempt to get in her good grace but now this woman was now a hard bone in the neck refusing to bow "Get her out of my sight maid."
Diana clapped and Dalia pushed Ariana's wheelchair away but not before sending a dirty look Diana's way, she couldn't understand how Ariana could still bear with this family, she would've slapped Charles's stupid mother and murdered Sarah a long time ago.
"Charles I came to see Ariana and also wish you well. I know it must have been hard on you but Ariana didn't have to be so rude. I know she hates me but.." Sarah's eyes watered, making Diana reach out her hand to rub her back.
"Sarah would make such a good wife better than that cripple, even after all that witch has put her through, she still pities her, such an angel." Diana cooed.
"Sarah, thank you for coming. Ariana is just in a bad mood so she's kind of fuzzy." Charles coughed out finally, hardly gazing at Sarah, although it struck both mother and mistress odd that Charles was defending Ariana but they didn't mention it.
"Charles, we need to talk about important matters."
"It's high time that cripple gives Sarah her rightful role, she has waited for so long already, since she lost her child and your heir you can divorce her now, the old man will understand."
"Mother we shouldn't talk about this now, the loss must still weigh hard on Charles's heart especially knowing his wife will never be a mother again unlike me." Sarah emphasized on the last part to pass across the point, that she was a more suitable wife than Ariana.
She was discretely poking at the topic of a child, every man in the social circle had wives and got into arranged marriages all for the same purpose, an heir.
"Sarah is right, mother. Let's talk about this some other time. Now isn't right."
"Hishh!! Bless your heart Sarah but Charles won't do anything unless I drag him to." Diana repeated noticing Charles was pushing away the important topic.
"I said we'll talk about it some other time Mother." Charles icy voice reverberated through the room, giving his stern and last answer.
Diana flinched back at the harshness in his voice, angered that the witch made her son talk to her in such a way, she knew better than to linger around the topic after the subtle warning.
Diana and Sarah took it as their cue to leave after some time, it was now dinner time and Charles approached the dining table.
The maids standing at the left and right were an eyesore to Charles but he couldn't complain, usually, Ariana prepared his meals and served him.
His eyebrows furrowed once again in annoyance seeing the empty spot at his right hand. "Where is your Madam?"
"Ma- dam- She is in her room."The maid he turned to stammered, it was quite unusual for Charles to ask or even care about Ariana.
"Has she eaten?" He asked
"Sir."
"You know what? Don't bother, trash the meal." Charles stood up from the table cursing Ariana for his troubled heart.
He trailed off to his study but made a turn to the master bedroom expecting to find Ariana but it was void of her belongings, the infinity dresser filled with her makeup kits and the side of the closet which contained her clothes now empty although the room still wafted of her faint fragrance
He seethed silently, veering around in the direction of the guest room, his hands stretched out to the doorknob but he changed his mind immediately, he couldn't give the shameless woman the wrong idea.
On the other side of the door, Ariana sat on the bed with Dalia straightening her silky blonde hair. Her petite body wrapped in a black nightgown, she had a cold expression on her face gazing into the night.
"Your father misses you, Ariana." Dalia mumbled under her breath, careful not to make Ariana upset, the young lady hated the mention of her parents ever since they refused to support her marriage.
"Did you tell him?" Ariana asked in a hoarse voice.
Diana paused understanding the meaning behind the question "I'm sorry he would've found out anyway."
Her eyes watered up, her whole being shaking slightly "What did he say?"
"They want you back home Ariana." Dalia sat beside her on the bed hugging her trembling body and patting her hair.
"I failed my baby."Ariana muttered, the tears she had been holding were now falling, and the tiny pearls streamed down to wet her chapped lips.