Chapter 8 The forceful advice

CHAPTER EIGHT

Mum,if you want to keep saying this thing, I'll get out of your sight now,she said out of frustration

Can't you see the benefit in getting betrothed to one of Oliver's sons? Don't you get it? I would have died if not for their sake. Where does your father want to get that amount of money to buy those expensive drugs? Grace said

But mum.... Charlotte was about talking but Grace interrupted her

Hey, don't you try to convince me here. Harry and Charles are good men,get betrothed to either of them and get us out of poverty. Grace said as she stood up to leave her presence

Mum! Charlotte shouted as she bowed her head

I really want to get out of this wretchedness too but I do not want to be a victim of bullying. What if he doesn't like me and is just pretending to like me just because of my body and beauty? What if this is just to lure me and enslave the whole family? I don't want to continue... Charlotte raised her head up trying to hinder the tears in her eyes from rolling down her cheeks.

She stayed silent for a moment before finally speaking a word out again,she finally broke down in tears

Mum,I wish to be rich and comfortable too but I don't want to be sold away like this, Charlotte said as she wept

My daughter, listen to me, this isn't a trade, it's just a condition attached to help. Oliver is a very good man and wouldn't want to tarnish his good reputation and allow his sons act foolishly. Grace encouraged

Mum but Charles has been doing a lot of messes in the City and his father is yet to caution him. What do I have to make him caution his son from bullying me just like others in the City? Charlotte said cleaning her nose with the back of her hand

Mum, Charles raped the daughter of Adams Taylor, one of the biggest figure in the City and nothing was done, is it me from the Smith family that would make laws to be implemented? Charlotte added

Look mum,I wish to be honored and get respect too from people but I can't afford to lose myself and sell myself to someone so I can get the life I want, Charlotte said as she said down beside Grace

Charlotte, you are just a small child who doesn't know many things. Listen to me Charlotte, Harry has long been known for his humility and calmness within the city.

He is the only child of Oliver that I can confide in to give you the life you wish to live, Grace said patting Charlotte

No mum,I disagree. Men can be deceitful and kind at the same time. Have I lived with Harry before?

Do I know his attitude? No,I don't, Charlotte said

Hahaha, look at you thinking like a kid. You just met him today and he already fell in love with you and he already got something for you as a present.

Did Charles do that?.Charles met you four or three days ago before Harry and he's just coming to you today without even anything to convince you. Who do you think would treat you right? Harry or Charles? Grace asked

Mum, I'm not a kid and I'm the one in these shoes not you,mum. I accept Charles met me before Harry did and as a matter of fact Charles gave a very bad impression of himself when we met but the Charles I'm seeing now and the Charles I knew then are very much different from each other.

The Charles that just left is very caring and loving. Mum,if I would listen to you,I would take Charles. I'm afraid of Harry,snakes are gentle but venomous too at the same time, Charlotte said as she sounded so childish while talking about Charles.

Listen Charlotte,I understand what you are saying but understand me too. Harry has done nothing but good and it's known to the whole of the City. The latter attitude shouldn't be your priority now,face the present and consider what I'm saying, Grace said as she held Charlotte's hand while rubbing it softly.

Mum, I've heard you, I'll think about it, Charlotte concluded.

Charlotte was still reminiscing about the loving attitude Charles just showed when she thought he is a complete beast not worth being friends with, not even to the extent of falling in love with.

She suddenly remembered she has never seen her mum in a situation she just saw her just some hours ago since she was born.

Mum,what happened to you?,I haven't witnessed you battle with something like this for the whole of my lifetime,what happened?, Charlotte asked out of curiosity.

Do we have to talk about this, Charlotte? Grace said, remembering how she fought with the disease when she was still a child traumatized her.

Her mum gave birth to her in a city very far from St Albans and was known for working as a load carrier. In her workplace,after she gave birth to Grace,she would take her to her workplace but the loads of heavy chemicals they move there are very dangerous for her health.

There was protection for the workers but out of her carelessness,she couldn't look after Grace to protect her from inhaling the heavy chemicals.

She eventually inhaled it and as a result she had brain damage which in turn led to her being epileptic.

Charlotte,I got this right from my childhood days when my mum took me along to her workplace and that was where the tragedy began. We couldn't treat it as we had no money to cater for it. Grace stopped while speaking,she looked up to the ceiling trying to hold her tears.

She couldn't help but stop speaking because it denied her of many chances she would have taken which would have changed her life for good.

Mum, it'll be fine. I'm sorry I asked about it,I didn't know it's a sad story, Charlotte sympathized as she patted her mum with tears rolling down her eyes

Knock! Knock!!