Chapter Two

Amanda stood up from where she sat and went upstairs, she knocked on the door of her mother, " Yes, open the door" Mandy answered lazily from inside. Amanda opened the door and walked inside. Amanda knelt before her mother and pleaded " mum, I am really sorry for whatever I might have done to you. Please, tell me where I went wrong so that I will apologize. Mum, do you really have to force me to marry Louis? I... I do not love him and I am sure father knows nothing about this."

Mandy laughed wickedly and said " Did I hear you say you do not love him?  What do you know about love? There is nothing like love. The word love is used by fools to confuse themselves. Money is the real thing and not love. Amanda darling, Louis is a nice man and he will really take care of you. Your father will return next week Friday and do not forget to tell him that you have found the man you love and has agreed to marry him.  Do not forget that I will kill you if you refuse to marry Louis or if your father gets to know the truth and also do not forget that your father is not always at home." With tears in Amanda's eyes she said " Mother,  I know what love is and I know it truly exists.  You really want me to marry him.? Fine, I will marry him." Amanda went further to ask Mandy  " Are you really my  mother? Why do you hate me so much? Why do you love only Tricia? Amanda stood up when she found out that her mother was not answering any of her questions. She ran outside and began lamenting "Do I really deserve this ill treatment? Why does mother hate me so much? I have done everything within my power to make her love me but all to no avail. I have even gone to the extent of agreeing to marry Louis after she threatened to kill me if I refused. Do I have to hurt myself to please her?" Amanda stood up and said "No... No,  I don't have to please her all the time. My happiness is my utmost priority and I can't trade it for anything.  I am a strong young lady, I will not let anyone bully me. I do not have to be threatened all the time by my mother. I have to fight this battle. Yes,  I have to. I will never marry Louis or any other man that I do not love. I will surely marry for love. It is better I remain single all the days of my life than to marry someone that I do not love.  Father, I am sorry for not telling you what mother has been doing to your lovely daughter but I am promising myself this day that no one can intimate me. I have to go and see my best friend Mirabel immediately."

Amanda stood up and went inside. She had a quick bath. She wore a blue gown and a simple makeup and left.

"Amanda, follow your heart. Do not make a decision you will regret later. Why don't you tell your father all the things your mother has been doing to you. Amanda, you are such a beautiful young lady and you know how people detest Louis because of his arrogance. Do you want to be a slave to him? Remember in everything you do, consider your happiness first. Dear Amanda, you know you are like a sister to me and I will not watch you make a mistake by marrying that nonentity called Louis. I think I have to tell your Dad everything since you are scared of your mother" Mirabel concluded.