Chapter 5 5

Why mum, why?" Leticia cried while barging into her mother's study. "Why does it have to be you of all people? Why would you bring another lady into this house to take Nathan away from me?"

"Take Nathan from you? What do you mean by take Nathan from you?" Madam Whitson pretended not to have noticed what took place last night during dinner.

Leticia was not fooled by her mother's pretense of ignorance. Her mum, she thought to herself, was the most observant human being she had ever met. Her quiet demeanor gave her time to never miss a thing. She was equally very intelligent and calculating. However, Leticia was going to open up more. She wasn't there to play games.

"Clara or whatever you call her mum. Juliet's so-called daughter. Are you sure she's actually Juliet's daughter? She looks nothing like her. Hope Juliet does not have a hand in this."

"A hand in what Leticia? Juliet has nothing to do with what happened last night." Madam Whitson finally opened up.

"But how can you be so sure? Why do you trust Juliet so much?" Leticia almost broke down in tears. Juliet was the only bridge between her and her mum. She hated her with all her heart. She knew there were secrets between Juliet and her mum, and she had not been able to get her mum to reveal them to her. This frustration made Leticia hate Juliet.

"I'm waiting, mum."

"Waiting for what, Leticia?"

"I'm waiting for you to tell me why you trust Juliet so much."

"She may have brought Clara here to steal Nathan from me. Did you see the way he was drooling over her during dinner yesterday?"

"Well, I'm sure she is not thinking of such a thing. I've known Juliet for almost twenty-three years now. Even before I got married to your father."

"That's not enough reason to trust her the way you do, mum. And speaking about father, that girl has already warmed her way into daddy's heart. Imagine asking a maid's daughter to join us for dinner."

Madam Whitson hated to see her daughter so broken and helpless. She loved her more than words could say. She would do everything in this world to see her happy but who could guide a man's heart. During dinner yesterday she watched events unfold. She knew she had to act fast and had asked Clara to leave in the best way she could. She knew Nathan was already falling for Clara. He did nothing to mask his feelings. Who could blame him? Clara was beautiful. There was also a softness about her that Leticia lacked.

"....so mum I need an explanation to this. I want you to send Clara away. She does not belong here."

Madam Whitson had missed out on some of what her daughter Leticia had been saying. She had to handle this tactfully. For maybe what seemed liked the first time she was going to refuse her daughter's wish.

"Clara is not going anywhere, Leticia. Clara is here with us for good."

"What good mum? What good?" She repeated the question like her happiness depended on the answer.

"Clara..." Madam Whitson paused, then searching her daughter's face, she went on. "Clara is here to help you, Leticia. I've already discussed it with her mother, Juliet. She could be a possible donor for a replacement for your bad kidney."

"What?" "A mother agreed to that? I've told you mum, Juliet has something up her sleeve. She agreed to that to see if Clara could entice Nathan and take him away from me. From us, mum. Do you know how long it took for Nathan to finally propose to me? Do you know how much we will lose financially if we end up losing Nathan? He's the most eligible bachelor in town. A handsome billionaire and we got him almost on a platter of gold. Please mum. Let us not lose him to that gold digger, Juliet."

Leticia searched her mother's eyes. It was certain she was not relenting this time. She had always gotten her way with her mum in the past.

"How long is this going to take, mum?"

Her mum was silent.

"Mum!" Leticia almost screamed.

Madam Whitson looked at Leticia. She searched for an answer. Her daughter reminded her of many years back. Though the tantrums had reduced, Leticia still demanded till now that she get her way always. She was a determined child, and she loved that about her daughter, but sometimes she went overboard in trying to get what she wanted.

"Mum, how long is the testing going to take? And what if she's the perfect fit? Hope she'll be leaving once the operation is over. I can't bear to see her here for long. I'll like her to go for the testing as soon as possible. If she's not a perfect fit, she'll have to leave immediately." Leticia stormed towards the door of the study and banged the door loudly behind her.

Just then Juliet walked in.

"How did it go?" Juliet asked.

"I explained to her why Clara was here," Madam Whitson replied.

"And..." Juliet prodded.

"She's still not happy about it. She thinks Clara might steal Nathan away from her." Madam Whitson said. Careful to leave out the part Juliet's name was mentioned. She could not bring herself to tell Juliet that her daughter thought she was the master planner and a gold digger. She had watched the two of them grow apart these past few years, and it hurt her. Her daughter and her most trusted staff. Juliet was not just a staff. She was her confidant and friend.

"Was that all that was discussed?" Juliet asked.

"Yes." Madam Whitson responded. She got up from her seat behind her beautifully arranged desk and walked to the window. Her thoughts drifted many years back.

Juliet watched her walk to the window. She was still a very attractive woman. Her slender figure could still pass her for a very young lady in her twenties. She had her hair held up in a bun. She looked so graceful in her designer outfit. Still so elegant. Juliet was still admiring her, when Madam Whitson asked her in what seemed like a whisper.

"How do I explain to Leticia or anyone for that matter what I'm about to do for my daughter's happiness?"