UNTitled, ENTWINED BY FAITH

ENTWINED 👫

BY FATE

(A Tale of Lies, Love, and Redemption)

CHAPTER 1 💫 2

BY KATHY D.

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(THE BIG NEWS)

Fashion World, the most popular fashion mall in the country, was a hub for celebrities and affluent individuals. A lady with a radiant smile attended to a customer, bowing respectfully to the elderly woman, a renowned artist.

"Please come again, ma'am," she said, exchanging warm smiles with the woman.

"You just know how to get me every time, so why wouldn't I?" The woman said with a smile.

Another attendant watched with a hint of annoyance, puzzled by the customers' preference for the new lady, who had only started working a few months ago. As the lady escorted the woman outside, her anger grew.

"Have a nice day" the lady wave as the woman drove out of the mall.

Upon returning to the mall, an arm wrapped around her neck, and a cool voice said,

"Cutie Lexi." She smiled, recognizing the voice, and turned to face Wayne, the handsome son of the mall's owner.

"Good evening sir" she greeted.

"You're getting prettier," Wayne said with a smile, to which Lexi responded with raised eyebrows,

"Don't even start, aren't you supposed to be in school? Are you skipping class?" She asked. Though three years older, Wayne had told her not to respect him.

"I just wanted to see your face first," he grinned naughtily as Lexi returned to her stand, the other lady glared at her angrily, resentful of the attention Lexi received from the boss's son. Wayne hasn't speak to any of the attendance before, he barely come to the mall too not until he saw Lexi.

"You're so funny," Lexi said, checking her phone for messages, her face lit up with happiness and she almost gasp.

"What?" Wayne asked curiously.

"I got accepted!" she exclaimed, showing him the letter she received from Newton College.

"Wow, congrats! I told you you would," he said with a smile.

"I can't wait to go to college, I really can't," Lexi beamed, almost in tears.

"I can't wait to see you in college too, I have lecture now, so I have to go," Wayne said, leaving Lexi to smile and reread the letter. The other rolls her be eyes.

"We have a very special guest here, Jameson Newton and his girlfriend. I want you to attend to them, no mistakes please," the manager said with a bright smile. The fact that he came himself meant they must be special.

"I will make sure everything goes well," the other lady said and started to walk away.

"Wait...I didn't say you would be attending to them, Lexi will do that," the manager said, turning to Lexi with a nod.

The other lady's face fell, and she let out a fake smile. Her hatred for Lexi was palpable. "Oh okay," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Lexi smiled warmly and approached the couple.

"Welcome to Fashion World, what can I get for you?" she asked, but they didn't respond, too engrossed in their phones.

"Excuse me, sir and ma'am," Lexi said again, this time a bit louder. The lady looked up, and Lexi was taken aback. She quickly composed herself and smiled.

"You're welcome...can I start by showing you some of our latest collections?"

The guy looked up, and their eyes met. Lexi gasped, her heart skipping a beat. He was stunning, with chiseled features, piercing blue eyes, and a strong jawline. His gaze was intense, and Lexi felt like he could see right through her.

"Follow me," she said quickly, trying to break the spell. She led them to the designer section, carefully selecting clothes that would suit the lady's taste. She made sure to put on her best smile and avoid eye contact with Jameson, who seemed to be staring at her persistently.

"Excuse me for a sec," she said gently and stepped away to grab more clothes. When she returned, the lady was holding up a dress.

"How is this dress?" she asked, looking at Jameson for approval.

"Perfect," he muttered, his eyes still fixed on Lexi. She quickly turn back and run to the restroom, she was feeling so strange.

Lexi returned from the bathroom, unaware of the commotion that had erupted in her absence. A crowd had gathered around the manager's desk, their faces filled with accusation and anger.

"What's going on?" Lexi asked, confusion etched on her face.

But before anyone could respond, Victoria, Jameson's girlfriend, stepped forward and slapped Lexi hard across the cheek.

"How dare you!" Victoria spat, her eyes blazing with fury.

Lexi's cheek burned, and she instinctively raised her hand to defend herself.

"What's going on?" she repeated, still trying to make sense of the situation.

"Are you acting ignorant now?" Victoria sneered, slapping Lexi again.

This time, Lexi retaliated, but her hand connected with Jameson's face instead of Victoria's. She gasped in horror, realizing her mistake.

Jameson's eyes narrowed, his voice low and menacing.

"You want to slap my girlfriend after stealing from her?" He asked.

Lexi's eyes widened as she saw her bag in the manager's hand.

"Steal?" she stammered. "I didn't take anything!"

The other attendant spoke up, her voice dripping with malice.

"I saw you putting that bangle in your bag before you went to the bathroom, so don't even lie." She said.

Lexi's protests were met with skepticism. The manager's face was a picture of disappointment.

"I didnt steal anything" she said.

"How did the bangle get into your bag then?" The manager asked.

"I don't know" she stammered and people scoffed, it obvious they did not believe her.

"I can't let it go because it was the first gift I received from my boyfriend and you can never afford it" Victoria said and dial the cops number, and even the cops who arrived seemed convinced of her guilt.

As Lexi was dragged away, she caught a glimpse of Victoria and the attendant exchanging a triumphant smile. It was clear that they had set her up. Victoria and Jameson follow the cops too.

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Mrs. Newton stormed into the police office, her face a picture of anger and concern. She rushed to her son's side, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of the mark on his face.

"She did this to you after stealing from you?" she asked, her voice trembling with rage.

Jameson rolled his eyes, trying to downplay the situation. "It's nothing, Mom. Really."He said.

But Mrs. Newton was having none of it. She ignored Victoria and turned to the cops.

"Where is she?" she demanded.

The cops led her to the cell where Lexi was being held. She storm into the cell her anger palpable, Mrs. Newton's hand was raised, ready to strike, but she froze when she saw Lexi's face.

"Are you Pamela's daughter, I mean Pamela Thompson?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.

Lexi looked up, confused. "How do you know my mom's name?"She asked.

Mrs. Newton's face softened, and she smiled.

"You look just like her. It's been over ten years since I last saw you, but you've grown into a beautiful young woman." She said.

Lexi was stunned. "I don't think I've ever seen you before."She said in confusion.

Mrs. Newton chuckled. "That's understandable. Even my Jameson forgets sometimes. I've been asking your dad about you, and he said you were out of the country. I guess you're back now." She said.

Lexi's mind was reeling. What was going on? Why was Mrs. Newton acting like she knew her mom?

Mrs. Newton dragged Lexi out of the cell room, leaving Victoria behind. Victoria storm out of the station in anger.

"Drop all the charges against her," she told the cops.

As they left the police station, Mrs. Newton turned to Lexi.

"Tell your father we're coming tomorrow." She said.

Lexi watched as Mrs. Newton drove away, feeling like she was in a dream. She couldn't understand why her dad had lied about her not being in the country or why Mrs. Newton knew her mom.

She went home, feeling like an outsider in her own family. Her parents were eating dinner, laughing and chatting like everything was normal. Lexi ate in the kitchen, feeling like a ghost.

After dinner, Lexi trudged back upstairs, feeling like an invisible ghost in her own home. None of her family members even acknowledged her presence, let alone asked about her day or how she was feeling. She entered her bedroom, shut the door behind her, and lay down on the bed, feeling the weight of her emotions bearing down on her.

As she stared up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but replay the events of the day in her mind. The humiliation at the mall, the shock of Mrs. Newton's revelation, and the eerie feeling that her family was hiding something from her. Tears began to escape her eyes, and she quickly grabbed a pillow to muffle her sobs.

She got out of bed and walked over to her wardrobe, opening it to reveal a hidden compartment. Inside, she kept a precious photo of herself and her mom, taken when she was just five years old. The woman in the picture was beaming with joy, her arms wrapped tightly around Lexi's tiny frame. Lexi's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at the photo, remembering the happy times they shared before her mom's passing.

"If only you knew, Mom," Lexi whispered, her voice cracking with grief. "If only you knew how much I miss you every single day." She said, her mum passed away few months after taking this particular picture, she had lunch cancer.

She hugged the picture tightly to her chest, feeling a deep ache in her heart. Fifteen years had passed since her mom's death, but the pain still lingered, a constant reminder of what she had lost.

As she stood there, lost in thought, Lexi couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change forever.

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THE NEXT MORNING

The Thompson family was gathered in their cozy movie room, laughing and chatting as they watched a film together. Lexi, however, was noticeably absent. She wasn't even allowed to join them, a fact that didn't seem to bother anyone except the maids, who could hear the giggling and chatter from the kitchen.

Just as the movie was getting to the good part, the alarm sounded, signaling that someone was at the door.Their first daughter got up to answer it, expecting it to be a delivery or perhaps a neighbor. But to her surprise, it was the Newtons, standing on their porch with awkward smiles on their faces.

"Jameson!" She called, her voice laced with nervousness. "

Victoria, what are you doing here?" Jameson asked.

Jameson looked just as surprised, his eyes darting to Victoria, who seemed hesitant to enter.

"I...I...I," she stammered, before Mrs. Thompson's sharp voice cut her off.

"Why don't you let our guests in, Victoria?" Mrs. Thompson said, her tone a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

Victoria stepped aside, allowing the Newtons to enter. Mrs. Newton swept into the room, her eyes scanning the space before landing on the Thompsons. Mr. Newton followed close behind, his expression neutral.

The two families exchanged awkward greetings, with Jameson and Victoria barely acknowledging each other. Lexi's absence was palpable, and the tension in the room was thick.

"I didn't know you guys were coming," Mr. Thompson said, attempting to break the ice.

"I told Lexi we were visiting today," Mrs. Newton replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Didn't she tell you anything?"

Mr. Thompson's expression turned surprised. "You met with Lexi?"

Mrs. Newton nodded. "Of course, she looks really beautiful. Where is she, anyway?"

As if on cue, footsteps echoed from upstairs, and Lexi appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a baggy pant and oversized shirt, her face hidden behind a face cap. The room fell silent as everyone stared at her, their expressions ranging from shock to confusion.

"Ah, it's just as you said, darling," Mr. Newton remarked, his eyes fixed on Lexi. "She looks a lot like her late mother."

Lexi finally looked up, her eyes meeting Jameson's for a brief moment before she quickly bowed her head in respect.

"Looks like you're going somewhere," Mrs. Newton observed, her gaze flicking to the bag slung over Lexi's shoulder.

Lexi hesitated, her eyes darting to Jameson, who was still glaring at her. She looked away quickly, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"You can't go anywhere," Mr. Thompson said sternly. "We have guests."

Lexi nodded meekly and turned to head back upstairs, her eyes meeting Jameson's one last time before she disappeared from view.

"Can the kids exscuse us for a while?" Mr Newton asked, Jameson and Victoria left immediately.

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"Can you explain what's going on to me?" Jameson asked Victoria as soon as they entered her room. He looked confused and concerned, his eyes searching for answers.

Victoria sighed and flopped down on her bed, motioning for Jameson to join her.

"It's exactly what you're thinking, Jameson. Lexi is my stepsister." She said.

Jameson's eyes widened in shock.

"What? Why did you humiliate her yesterday then?" He asked, he couldn't they are related.

Victoria looked down, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We don't really have a great relationship, and I'm too ashamed to tell you that my stepsister is a huge thief. She always commit a lot of crime She's embarrassed our family a lot." Victoria said.

Jameson's expression softened, and he pulled Victoria into a hug.

"I'm so sorry about that. I had no idea." He said.

Victoria leaned into the hug, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

"I know, me neither. I'm just so ashamed of her."She added with a smile.

After a few minutes of silence, Victoria pulled back and looked at Jameson.

"So, what are you doing here?" She asked.

Jameson shrugged. "I'm confused too. My parents didn't tell me anything. I just know that we're supposed to be visiting her family today which turn out to be yours too." He said.

Victoria nodded. "We'll find out soon enough, I guess."

Jameson nodded and sat down on Victoria's bed, looking around the room curiously. "So, what's the plan for today?"

Victoria shrugged. "I don't know. I think we're just supposed to hang out and get to know each other better." She said.

Jameson nodded, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, in that case, let's make the most of it. What do you say we sneak out and explore the house?"

Victoria's eyes widened in surprise, but then a grin spread across her face. "You're on."

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"So, are you going to tell me the reason you decided to hide the fact that Lexi is back?" Mrs. Newton asked Mr. Thompson.

Mrs. Thompson shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "She just came back..."

"I'm not talking to you," Mrs. Newton cut her off, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Darling," Mr. Newton cautioned his wife, placing a gentle hand on her arm.

"What?" Mrs. Newton scoffed, her gaze never leaving Mrs. Thompson's face. "This matter doesn't concern her."

Mrs. Thompson folded her fists under the table, her smile tightening.

"It's okay, she just returned a few weeks ago," Mr. Thompson said, attempting to placate Mrs. Newton.

"Her daughter," Mrs. Newton pointed to Mrs. Thompson, her voice dripping with venom. "Did you know she is dating my son?"

Mr. Thompson hesitated before responding. "I found out about a month ago."

Mrs. Newton's eyes widened in disbelief. "And you decided to do nothing about it? If I hadn't come here today, I wouldn't have known my son is dating your illegitimate daughter. What about Lexi, then?"She asked.

"She is not illegitimate"Mrs. Thompson opened her mouth to speak, but Mrs. Newton ignored her.

"About their dating, I was just thinking maybe it's for the best. She could marry your son instead. Not like the lawyer knows who Lexi is. We could lie that Victoria is Lexi, and we will both get our share then." Mr. Thompson's words hung in the air like a challenge.

"Why didn't you want the real Lexi to marry our son?" Mr. Newton asked, his voice measured.

Mr. Thompson shrugged. "Just to make things easier. Victoria and Jameson love each other already, and they're the same age. Lexi is three years younger, and I hear she steals now..."

Mrs. Newton's face turned red with rage. "I can't believe you are saying this about your daughter, Thompson. What's wrong? What has she done to you?"

"I just want what's best."Mr. Thompson muttered under his breath.

"Their engagement was made by our father twenty years ago, the moment Lexi was born and Jameson was just three," Mr. Newton explained, his voice heavy with conviction.

"I can't break the promise we made to our fathers. Remember, they have properties that were to be given to them after their marriage."He added.

Mrs. Newton nodded in agreement, her eyes misty. "I also made a promise to Pamela, Lexi's mother, on her deathbed that our kids would end up together."

The room fell silent, the weight of their words hanging in the air like a challenge.

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The room fell silent as everyone waited for Lexi to arrive. When she finally walked in, they all turned to her, their faces somber. Lexi's heart raced as she took her seat, sensing that something was off.

"We called you all here because we have some important things to discuss," Mr. Thompson began, his voice grave.

The kids exchanged curious glances, their eyes darting to their parents.

"Jameson, you are going to marry Lexi," Mr. Newton announced, dropping the bombshell.

The room erupted into shocked gasps and disbelieving stares. Jameson's eyes widened in horror, while Lexi's face turn red....

TBC ❤️❤️