Annalise's POV
It's been two weeks since I was driven out of my husband's house. Benson without mercy had thrown my things out like he planned it years ago even before Derek died. They didn't let me mourn my son, and neither did they allow me to attend his burial nor to say my final farewell.I was forced to go back to my mom and grandma. They had cried with me and also made sure I didn't drown myself in sorrow. The pain I felt in my heart was so strong that I felt sick; for days I was bedridden.Feeling a lot better today, I decided to visit my son. It was something I wanted to do days ago but I was prohibited from leaving the house till I got well.Making sure no one I knew was around, I made my way to the graveside. On the stone was written Derek Benson Walford, my heart tightened as till now, I still couldn't understand how he died. A once jovial child went to school and never returned."Derek, what happened?" I choked as I tried to ask. I knew he wouldn't respond but I just wanted to know. I fell on my knees as I wept beside his grave.He didn't deserve to die. He is my boy, my sweet and playful boy.I didn't know how long I knelt there staring at the stone where his name was written. I recalled all that we did together. He is such a sweet four-year-old. Always happy and I knew he would grow up to be a wonderful man but he was taken from me early.It was when I heard a groan behind me that I snapped my eyes from the stone to look behind me. I gasped when I saw a crippled man fall off his wheelchair. I rushed over,"Sir, are you alright?" I asked but there was no response. My heart began to beat faster."Sir? Sir?" I shook him but he wasn't responding. I checked his pulse, he was alive. I struggled to place him in the wheelchair since there was no one around. He was quite very heavy. I wondered what had happened to him but I was sure that mother and grandmother would be able to help him.I had to use the back gate since I came through the back gate. No one had to know that I had come to see my son, most especially the Walford family.We got home in a cab, the man was still unconscious. I called for my mother and grandmother but no one answered me. With the help of the cab driver, I was able to take the man inside.Who was he? I didn't know. I just don't want to be blamed for someone's death again. Even though I knew nothing about it. My eyes sting with tears when I recall how my mother-in-law had accused me of killing my son.I swallowed, blinking the tears away before roaming around the kitchen searching for an already-made herb made by Grandma. I found none,"Don't die on me," I murmured to the man. If Grandma had been around, she would have healed the man with her special herbs by now."What do I do?" I began to pace around. Although grandma had taught me a few things, I don't know if it would help."There's no harm in trying, Annalise," I whispered to myself.Hurrying out of the house, I went towards Grandma's small farm and began to pick some herbs. I'd smell and then taste them. I don't know what that means but Grandma does it a lot. I grabbed more than a handful before rushing back into the houseGetting the pot, I filled it with water before throwing all the herbs inside one of the pots one after the other. As I did that, I stirred. I hope this helps.When I was done, I served some in a cup and made my way to the man whose temperature had elevated"Here, drink. You'll be fine" I whispered as I gave him a drink. After making him drink the whole cup, I took the leaf and rubbed it on his forehead before moving to his legs. I rubbed some there too."You can wake up now," I said but he still didn't move."Hey, wake up, mister," but nothing.I almost slapped myself when it dawned on me that there was great harm in trying this one. What if he doesn't wake up? What if what I gave to him was poison?Fear gripped me as I began to panic. Should I go in search of Grandma? Oh no!"Hey! Mister!" I yelled as I hit his chest. "Wake up!"And he sneezed. Not once but twice. A wide smile formed on my lips, he was alive."Mister?" I called but he only went back to sleep. My face twitched but slowly I began to smile. His temperature had gone down. There, I was happy. My very first patient that I healed without grandma's help. I can't wait for Grandma to get back so I can tell her. She would be so proud.I decided to stay with him for a while before I went to take my bath. My body inches because of the sand I had knelt on for hours back at the cemetery.I continued to stare at the man as I lay beside him, it was then I realized how handsome he looked. His dark hair was messy, his eyes closed but his eyelashes were long. His eyebrows were much darker too. My eyes moved to his sharp pointed nose, then his lips, thin and soft.Soft?Was it soft? I wondered and found my fingers already close to his lips, ready to touch them. I clutched my fingers not wanting to go there but what harm can be done? He was sleeping, right?Without any more thought, my finger reached for his lips. And I guessed right, they were soft.Annalise's POV"Why can't you both just believe me that I treated a man who was sick?" I asked with a frown."Let's agree you treated a man who was sick all by yourself. Why didn't we see anyone when we came in?" Mother asked as she tried not to chuckle. I pouted, I did treat someone. I somehow slept off staring at the handsome man who was lying next to me. I don't know if I slept off but the next time I woke up, it was Grandma's call. When I asked about the man, they kept asking who I was talking about. When I woke up, I couldn't find the handsome man beside me any longer. He was gone, and his wheelchair was gone too. "He left before I woke up," I responded. "But you also said he was crippled, right? How is it that he saw himself out without any help from you? I didn't help him nor did you?" Grandma asked Mother who shook her head also, she was laughing. They don't believe me. I've been trying to convince them since last night but they don't believe me. I had even shown them th
Annalise's POV“I refuse,” we all heard the cold voice from behind me and I veered around to see Mother’s sharp eyes staring at the man said to be my father.Mother hardly gets angry, she is a carefree woman and hardly has issues with anyone, if she is refusing the man, then it is mainly for a good reason. But this man before us happens to be powerful and wealthy. Could she be able to fight if the men decide to really reply to her?I turned to look at the man whose eyes were no longer holding warmth. The temperature had suddenly dropped in the room making me gulp. Without being told that the man was wealthy, one would be able to guess because of how he carried himself. He waved his hand at the man who stood a few steps behind him and the man left, rooting out his phone from his pocket.The room was quiet until I heard the door closed. The man asked,“What right do you have to refuse?” his words were empty, without emotions like one more wrong word from mother could cost her a lot. I d
Annalise's POV. Immediately the door clicked shut, mother dropped on my tiny bed and facepalmed herself, a loud sigh escaping her mouth. I creased my brow as I observed her for the fewest seconds before I gently moved sluggishly towards her and took my seat. "Mother, you need to calm down." I mused, my hand on her shoulder.I was in a total state of stupefaction and disarray, I was supposed to be the angry one here. I have the right to question and get incensed at her because she knew who my father was and didn't bother to tell me, however, I know that getting angry would only worsen the whole situation. I needed to keep calm and reason with my mother, she was looking disturbed. Extremely disturbed and that's very unlike my mother. Mother is the calmest soul I've ever met, what could trouble her so much? I heard her sniff and I felt some sort of apprehension in me, "Mother, deep breath, just calm down, worrying so much won't solve this problem, I don't even know what is going on,
Annalise's POVHere I am, seated in a luxurious car heading to a place I do not know. Looking out the window, I could tell that my life had made a great turn because it would never be the same again. Not when my father is a world-known doctor who is a multi-billionaire. When I agreed to follow him, I did that because I wanted to get to know him. See why mother isn't so happy with the arrangements. They had treated me like a princess the minute I stepped out of the house with my bag. One of the men of black had immediately come to take my bag from me. Another one helped me with the door These treatments were foreign to me especially after getting married to Benson. Others would think as Mrs Benson I was enjoying the luxury of a rich husband but they were so wrong because I was worse than a church rat. They treated me like dirt, and my mother-in-law didn't want to see me at all. She insulted me in the presence of my so-called husband and he did nothing about it. Although I hated the
Annalise's POV. "What are we doing here?" The question left my parted mouth as my eyes scanned the seemingly endless villa in front of me. Is this heaven? "Welcome to our little home, darling." Father's voice rang in my head and my jaw dropped.Home? Little?Seriously, what's this wealthy people's definition of a little?Turning towards him, I asked, "Is this your home, for real?" He smiled and extended his hand towards me. With a deep breath, I placed my hand on him and he began to lead the way towards the house. My eyes were darting from one place to the other and I can't help but wish to stay a little longer and ravish this moment. This is too captivating, I've only seen such buildings on television, and now... My father owns one, one that's way better than any I've ever seen. Suddenly, my step slowed when I noticed some people lined up in two rows; they were both men and women and they were finely dressed. "Don't be nervous, mom must have arranged this little welcome for yo
Annalise's POV."Yes Naana, like what the fuck is going on? I had left the hospital thinking that you have an important announcement to make and you... Gosh! C'mon, this is just insane!" Another yelled and I subconsciously took some steps backward, I just wanna run home as fast as my legs could carry me right now.Seeing all these reminds me of my ex-husband's home, the way I was treated there was the same way I'm being downgraded here. It seems like everyone is out to get me in this world. "Will you all shut up!" Grandma snapped and I flinched due to the gravity of her command.Grandmas are sweet... Yeah but why does this one sound like those action grannies in Chinese movies?"I'm so sorry, mothers-in-law, the kids are just lost. You know how the workload at the hospital is tight, they're all just wondering why you would call them home urgently." A young woman expressed calmly and my eyes squinted, I don't know but I felt like she was faking her apologies."Whatever..." Grandma mut
Although the house, no, the mansion was so big that I was sure that twenty people could live in there, no one would notice because of how spacious and large it was. Yet, I was suffocating like I was in a closed place. Can I really remain here? Can I live with them?I stood in the middle of the room one of the maids took me to, I kept staring at the large place, it was so big, bigger than I and Benson's room. This was my father's house, so it was my house as well, but was it really my house? From what happened back there downstairs, I could tell that they weren't interested in wanting to know me or have anything to do with me. Was that why Mother didn't want me to come with Father in the first place?"Ma'am, would you need anything else?" The voice of the maid pulled me out of my reverie. I blinked and smiled at her, "No, that would be all. Thank you very much," She made a small bow before leaving the room, I watched her keenly as she walked away. I didn't even know why I was star
The sound of the door woke me up, I heard a call from outside, "Hello ma'am, it's morning. You need to wake up," I yawned before struggling to get up from the bed. This bed is just so soft and comfy, I don't want to wake up or get up, I just want to be here all day! "I'm up, I'm up," I said as I yawned.I had slept all through, even when the maids came to call me for dinner, I had refused to get up. I don't know if it was because of the long trip to the house or if it was because of how soft the bed was but I slept off and didn't go down for dinner last night"Ma'am, you're late for your ball," the maid's words made me jump from the bed. My eyes scanned the room for the wall clock and when I saw the time, I almost cried. It was 9 am! Why did I sleep till this time?!? I rushed towards the door and opened the door for the now impatient maid, "I'm really sorry," I apologized to the maid who instead bowed her head, apologizing as well. We ended up apologizing to each other. "I'll go