Annie sat on the floor without saying anything. She seemed to stare in space. Shawn sat on the couch looking around. He still thought of what to say.
He cleared his throat and finally spoke up, "I'm so sorry for your loss Annie. I hope you accept my condolences."
Annie heaved. Shawn looked her and twisted his mouth. He made her sit on the couch beside him.
"It's okay dear. Don't kill yourself over it, who knows, this might be God's plan."
"She was the only family I had." She sniffed.
Shawn patted her shoulder, "Everything will be fine Annie."
"I had warned Christian, I warned him." She croaked.
Shawn smirked. So shw hated Christian too, this was just too good.
"I'm so sorry."
Annie felt a little dizzy and she rested her head on his shoulder. He gently caressed her hair, smiling to himself. Everything was falling into place!
"You ain't in a good state dear. Let me go get Danielle and tell her to get you ready." He stood up.
Annie lay on the couch, too weak to do anything.
He later came back with Danielle.
"C'mon Annie, let's go inside. You need to change." She tried helping her up.
Annie weakly refused.
"Don't be stubborn now Annie, c'mon go change."
Annie looked at him with unseeing eyes. Who was this guy?
Shawn smiled at her, "C'mon go change now dear." He told her.
Annie stood up as soon as he said that. Danielle led her into the room.
Shawn watched her retreating figure and a smile played on his lips.
"Yeah!" He spread his hands in triumph.
"Christian Powers, Annie is finally gonna be mine. Just wait and watch... In your grave!" He laughed sarcastically.
********
Several days had passed since Christine and Christian's death. Annie always walked about sad and sulky.
She missed her dead daughter so much. She still cried over her and couldn't seem to get over her.
Christine was her bundle of joy. Though it came from the person she hated most, she didn't transfer that frustration and anger on her daughter.
Shawn now became a regular visitor. He always checked up on Annie. Despite herself, she found out that she had began to warm up to him.
He made her feel the way she wanted to feel years ago. He was a such a kind, caring and loving guy.
She couldn't help but admire him. Well he was the second guy she felt this way for, besides Christian.
"So that's how the guy ended up in his mother's-in-law, now his wife, house!" Shawn said and they both laughed hard.
"Oh goodness Shawn, that was very hilarious. I never knew you could tell such jokes." She laughed till her insides hurt.
He smiled, "Anything to make you happy dear. You deserve the best."
Annie smiled, "You're such a nice guy Shawn. Thanks for all your support."
He looked down and smiled and looked at her again.
"I wanna ask you something Annie."
She looked at him with keen eyes, "Go on Shawn, what is it?"
He took in a deep breath, "Well... I just... The thing is... Actually I just wanted to..."
Annie furrowed her brows, "Tell me Shawn."
"The thing is... I wanna go on a date with you... Would you go on a date with me?" He asked a little nervous.
Annie blushed, "Uhm... I don't know..." She rubbed her neck.
"Please Annie. I beg you, please. I wanna really go on a date with you."
"Okay." She smiled.
"Yeah! Thanks Annie. Thank you so much." He hugged her.
"So how about on Saturday night?" He suggested.
Annie battered her lashes, blushing, "Okay. Saturday night then."
"Thank you so much Annie."
Shawn smiled at her. She looked at him and looked away. A blush crawled up her neck and heat.
Shawn held her hands and he gently squeezed her hands.
"I promise to never hurt you Annie. You'll see, I'll tryna be the best thing that has happened to you."
Annie smile disappeared, Christian had said those same words to her yet he left her when she needed him most.
She gently released his hold and stood up.
"Uhm... I gonna come on Saturday night but right now I want be alone. Please."
He also stood up, "Okay. No problem. I'll take my leave now." He smiled and left.
Annie watched him leave. She sat on the couch sad and worried. This new path she was about to follow was definitely gonna be a difficult one.
She didn't wanna get herself entangled in some kinda dirty mess again. She feared Shawn might hurt her the way Christian did.
She held her head, her heart was still uncertain about the future. Christine was no longer with her to comfort her.
She didn't really wanna forget Christine all of a sudden but the pressure coming from Robert to forget all about Christian was overpowering.
She sighed. A tear slid down her face.
"I miss you Christine. I miss you so much." She sniffed and wiped her face.
*******
"He has opened his eyes!"
They all closed in on him.
Christopher slowly looked around. He felt a sharp pain in his head.
"Where am I?" He looked around confused.
Kevin spoke up, "Christian Powers had made you fall out of the warehouse sir."
He looked at him, "Christian did this to me?"
"Yes sir."
He shook his head in pity. He pitied himself.
"He's dead sir." Jayson said.
"What? Christian's dead? How?"
"Yes sir. He died on the same day you were knocked unconscious."
He raised his brow in surprise.
"Oh really?" He was so shocked.
"Yes sir. He died in the bomb blast." Kevin informed him.
Christopher's lips turned up, "Are you for real? Christian dead just like that? Haha!" He laughed but then the pain in his head reminded him that he was on s hospital bed.
"What about Annie? Where is she?"
"We lost track of her sir." Kevin said.
He sighed.
"And Samson? I don't see him her."
"He's also dead sir."
Christopher felt his heart stop.
"Samson dead? What? Who killed him?"
"It was Miss Annie, sir. She had hit his head with something. He lost a lot of blood. We couldn't save him early because we tried saving you." Jayson explained.
Christopher's eyes watered, "Annie killed him." He mumbled.
Christopher's eyes were red now.
"Kevin. Take me out of the city."
Kevin looked at the others and back at him.
"Yes sir."
"I will definitely come back. Those who wronged me shall face my wrath." He swore.
*******
Claudeen sat on the couch staring into space.
Charles walked into the parlor. He saw her and sighed. He walked towards her and sat beside her.
"Claudeen." He held her hands.
She looked at him teary, "Charles, my life has reduced to nothing." Tears kept running down her face non stop.
Charles closed his eyes. He sighed and spoke up.
"Get a hold of yourself Claudeen. There's nothing we can do right now. What has happened, has happened Claudeen."
She rested her head on his shoulder, "Charles, I miss my son." She wept.
He patted her head.
"I miss him too but what can we do now? We can't do anything."
"All these properties, all these massive wealth, who is gonna take over them now? What are we gonna do with all of this?" She cried.
"We transfer them all to his child."
Claudeen whipped her head up.
"What?"