Sylvia greeted Natasha with a swift slap as soon as she joined her at the office "Did you see the media? Did you see pictures of Raymond and Rosa flying around? Why was it not you? The forty million was all for nothing? You are so incapable!".
Natasha sighed deeply. "We are already winning, Mrs Smith! That was why I kept calm!".
"Winning? What on earth do you mean?".
"I researched about Rosaline Anderson and I just discovered that she was my classmate in primary school! I saw her childhood pictures and I recognized her!"
"So how does that help us?".
"Her biological mother is a prostitute. I already informed journalists to spread the news. It will also affect her father. Everyone would know that Andrew Anderson had slept with a prostitute during his time as special adviser".
"Why did you tell them about her father? Juliana is my good friend".
"I never liked her. Despite the fact that she was isolated by everyone in school, she always looked so confident. She was always smiling and never even cried about anything".
"... probably she is good at hiding her emotions ".
Natasha nodded. "This will be a big blow to Rosa. Especially when she will have to loose Raymond forever".
"Immediately Raymond hears this, come to the house to comfort him. Make sure you make him see you again instead of the illegitimate prostitute's daughter ".
***********************
Juliana and Rosa washed vegetables together in the kitchen.
"Raymond was Victor's classmate in school. They were so close. Adulthood made them detach from each other. Victor told me that Raymond was the one that always dragged him to the school fellowship". Juliana shared the gist and they burst into laughter. "I was surprised when I saw my baby returning home that same evening with a bright smile. Joshua is replaced immediately".
Rosa sighed fearfully. "Raymond doesn't know about my secret yet. He will just react like Joshua ".
Juliana smiles softly at her. "Men who are intentional about virtuous women are usually scared of her scars but they only want the advantages. Rosa, the right man for you will even love you more for your scars".
Tears filled Rosa's eyes. "The lord gave me a promise. He said he will give me the right person at the right time".
Juliana nodded thoughtfully. "The lord never breaks his promises ".
Melvin rushed into the kitchen breathlessly. "Have you checked the media?"
Rosa and Juliana exchanged glances and rushed to check his phone.
'Girlfriend of popular actor and singer is a prostitute's daughter! SEE FULL STORY'
Juliana fumed. "How could Joshua do this to us?".
"No, the story is so detailed. It was a confession from a person that knew Rosa personally. Her school, house address, mother's real name and even the bar she had frequented her prostitution service". Melvin attested.
Rosa squatted and sobbed heartily. "My life is ruined already!".
Melvin nudged Juliana. "Let's all go to the United Kingdom until the news has calmed!".
"This news is going to affect Father's reputation". Rosa cried out.
Juliana hugged Rosa. "We are going to fight this together, Rosa. I told you that we are family! We fight together ".
The security guard rushed in. "Someone with the name, Raymond Smith is here to see you. Can I allow him in?".
They exchanged glances.
Rosa stood up and shrugged. "I will just bear with the tackling and come back home. No worries, mum".
"Do I need to come with you? You have just barely recovered from Joshua's trauma".
She wiped the tears off her mother's face with her hands. "Mother, i am a virtuous woman. A virtuous woman is always mentally prepared for anything. I will be back ".
She hurriedly exited the compound to find Raymond's car still stationed outside the gate.
Without uttering a word, she joined him inside, and he seamlessly merged onto the road.
The car came to a halt at the estate gate, and a prolonged silence enveloped them.
He gazed at her, tears welling up, and asked, "Was that why Joshua left you?"
She simply nodded in response.
"That was the secret that makes you feel ashamed of yourself?".
Tears filled her eyes. "Just go straight to the point, Raymond. I am already tired at the moment ".
"Straight to the point? Okay, I will! Rosaline Anderson, the point is that, I want to marry you".
She gasped and looked up at him.
Her heart was pounding so fast.
Was he playing a prank?
Tears filled his eyes. "You suffered so much, Rosa and I didn't even know that! I want to ease that thing you call a burden. I want to take every of it. I don't want you to suffer anymore, Rosa, I want to be your husband, I want to take care of you. Everything!".
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she stared at him. "Raymond, why do you care so much about me?".
He sighed deeply. "When I saw the news, it was that moment that I realized what I felt about you. I could feel your pain. Everything. Like it was mine. I wanted to take it all away that moment. It was that moment that I realized that I loved this woman. I love you, Rosaline Anderson. Will you grant me the privilege to spend the rest of my life with you?". He brought out a box of ring from the dashboard.
He brought out the ring.
This man that loved her so much for what she didn't understand...how could she reject him?
This man that always wiped her tears with his handkerchief.
This man that the whole world wanted but he chose her.
"I will marry you, Raymond. I will be your wife".
He hugged her excitedly. "Thank you so much, Rosa. Thank you so much ".
"Thank you Raymond for trusting me to be your wife ".
****************************************
Brimming with excitement, Raymond drove back home, anticipating his upcoming role as Rosa's husband.
Overflowing with joy, he couldn't resist the urge to dance!
Upon entering the house, he was taken aback to find his mother, sister, and a visitor, Natasha, engaged in lively conversation over dinner.
Natasha hurriedly approached Raymond with a concerned look and asked, "How are you doing, sir?"
Clearing his throat, he looked up at everyone. "For your information everyone, I just proposed to the love of my life".
He displayed images of Rosa's ringed finger on his phone screen, eliciting a gasp from Sylvia.
"Don't tell me that is Rosa," she exclaimed.
"Yes, Mum. I love that woman so much. The Lord has granted my request," he affirmed.
Sophia, filled with excitement, applauded. "I am a big fan of Rosa's designs. Her story trended on popular blogs after she groomed Rosa's design for five years."
Natasha, addressing the conversation, smiled gently at Sophia and remarked, "What about her decency? Her mother is a prostitute. Her financial status is cool, but her background..."
"...at least she doesn't pretend to be someone else". Raymond said sternly. "Natasha, I know about your plans with my mother. I did my research and found out that you are a bitch in the real life pretending to be a virtuous woman". He smiled sheepishly.
Sylvia and Natasha exchanged glances.
He glared at his mother. "I forgive you for trying to destroy my life. You don't need a daughter in law that you can control, you need a daughter in law that will treat your son right. That should be every mother's dream".
"I won't allow her into this home!". Sylvia grit her teeth.
"I was the one that told Raymond everything ". Sophia told Sylvia with a wry smile. "Mother, the day you asked me to withdraw those money, pretending that I was the one using the money, I did my own investigations and found out who you had been giving the money to. You always told Raymond that I was the one collecting those money but you were secretly giving it to Natasha. I couldn't allow my brother make a mistake despite how much we all know he treasures the decision of a life partner".
Sylvia slapped her. "I will never forgive you for this!".
"I already told father everything. He is returning to Nigeria today".
"Today?". Sylvia gasped.
"Mother, until you properly apologize, don't talk to me for now". He headed straight to his room.
Sylvia screamed frustratedly.
Natasha left the house.
Sophia sobbed. "You know why I have always been detached from you and prefer my dad a thousand times? You are a stranger to me. You don't care about me".
"You don't care about your brother too! You want him to marry a prostitute!".
"...last I heard, Victor's mother adopted her. Rosa has gone through so much already. She deserves all the love in the world ".
"What exactly is your personal reason for liking her?".
"Rosa was my senior in school. She was my role model. Rosa was always walking with the poor. Her father was rich but I watched her trek with poor students. She was generous with them and had no form of pride. Everyone liked Rosa. She was intelligent, hardworking and humble. Unlike me, she never believed that she was better than anyone. She had self confidence but she never looked down on anyone. She saved a lot of money to build Rosa Designs. A lot of men on campus wanted to date her but Rosa had a goal! To build her design. Why will you even hate someone like that because she was unfortunate to be a daughter of a prostitute? She has a new family now. For the sake of your friendship with aunty Juliana, can't you just let it go?".
For the first time, Sophia made sense to her.
Was she really just over reacting?