The rich also cry

Prologue

Grandpa Gregory and grandma Rosaline had gathered in the living room.

It was their fiftieth wedding anniversary and the guest had long gone home.

Their children and grandchildren with their spouses were all waiting to present them with the gifts they had specially gotten for them to celebrate their anniversary.

Caleb had joined them in the living room as they waited to present their gifts. He had only been married to Anna for a month so he had not gotten any gift and was not even aware that they would be celebrating their anniversary.

David the oldest child of the family and his wife spared no one especially if you were not from their social class. "What gift are you going to give dad and mum?' David laughed

"You can't even afford a decent meal talk more of getting someone a gift." Ella his wife joined her husband and they both roared in laughter.

Their daughter Kim grimaced, she had never supported their attitude towards others.

They both were a perfect fit, mannerless and snobbish, both believe they were the IT couple and made fun of people not minding how hurtful their words were.

Caleb had started to say something when their grandma chided him.

"You may be married to Anna but to us, you have the status of a servant, so don't feel you are our son-in-law or act like one. I am just tolerating you."

Caleb just stared short of words he had never felt so embarrassed in his entire life.

"Grandma, please be nice.' Anna pleaded.

"Do yourself a favor and get rid of him as soon as possible, whatever you were thinking, why marry such a man, he is beneath us and you know that. Anna, why are you walking in your father's footsteps? Anyway, what is there to expect from you when your father disobeyed me and married your mum." Grandma Rosaline said irritated.

Caleb started walking away; nothing he did was ever pleasing to this family.

"Caleb, wait," Anna called but he didn't stop, staying longer might make him say or do what he would regret later.

It was just a matter of time and he would be rid of this family for good.

When fools fall in love

"Your father would never approve of us Selena."

"Why do you say that, father has never denied me anything. I'm daddy's little girl." Selena smiled. She has always been mesmerized by Chris, to her, he was the most handsome and lovable man in the world.

"Just meet him once, for my sake." Her Dovey eyes sparkled with love.

Still skeptical "okay, for your sake."

"No Chris, for our sake." she rested her head on his slim shoulders. Chris wasn't muscular but his lanky frame was more than Selena could ask for she wouldn't have him any other way.

Their meeting each other was fated, as Selena would always say. He wasn't popular in school but rather he was a nerd that minded his business. Selena, on the other hand, was popular not by choice but because of her rich father Mr. Harry Delacroix, he was a shrewd businessman and he owned the biggest bank in New York, and had huge investments in agriculture, oil, and gas, and latest technology. His mind churned with business ideas and after his divorce, he had refused to remarry but only dated and grew his holdings.

Chris had been taken aback when Selena offered him a ride home in her Mercedes. She had stumbled upon him during her drive home after their school lost a game to the opposing team. She was so nice to him after then and never looked down on him even when they both came from different backgrounds.

Their friendship blossomed from being just casual friends to best of friends.

"Both of you should just make out already." their mutual friend Nathan geared them up.

Laughing Chris shoved him on the shoulders "stop you are embarrassing Selena. He gave her a quick glance and continued with his work.

Selena blushed, she didn't know that Nathan had observed she had a soft spot for Chris but only hoped no one else had. "I have to keep my emotions in check" She admonished herself

"I want a beer," Nathan growled. His attention span was so minimal.

"You know you can't have Beer," Selena said her eyes glued to the laptop in front of her.

"Why?"

"Nathan we have to finish up before the library closes for the day, so stop being a nuisance."

"You're such a killjoy, Chris. Loosen up, man."

Shaking his head, Chris continued with his assignment and thankfully Nathan focused on his work too.

******************

Nathan avoided Selena after Nathan's observation, he tried as much as possible not to be alone with her. He knew they were misfits in fact she was above his league as far as he was concerned. Selena was not happy about his

recent behavior towards her, she decided to ignore him but couldn't, making up he mind she approached him.

"Why are you avoiding Chris, did I offend you," Selena asked her face devoid of a smile.

Chris adjusted his backpack "No why would you think that."

"Do I smell?"

"What, where are you going with all these silly questions." his lanky frame hovered over her.

"You have been avoiding me and I need to know why."

"No, I've not."

He started walking away and Selena followed behind him, when she got tired of being ignored by him she walked away. For close to a month they ignored each other and Nathan decided to take matters into his hands. "I won't allow these love birds to continue like this.

I must help them find their way into each other's arms. And I have the perfect

Plan." Giggling he smacked his lips in his usual comic manner. Nathan unfortunately believed he was a genius and a perfect matchmaker.

Nathan managed to get them together and a relationship bloomed. Chris however was still intimidated by Selena's status and couldn't bring himself to cuddle or be intimate with his new girlfriend. Selena took matters into her hands and with patience and great love Chris started to see Selena for who she really was, a young girl who was fell in love with him.

LOVING YOU

"Promise to always love me, Chris, no matter what." Selena cupped the face of the only man that made her heart beat faster. They had been dating for two years now. Although Selena's father did not approve of them dating because he hates Chris, still Selena, would not give in to her father.

She snuck out to meet Chris whenever she could escape from home. Their meeting point was Chris's mother's almost rundown one-bedroom apartment. They weren't poor but they had to plan each dollar they spent. His mother treated her like a family member and this pleased Selena a lot, she hated being put on a high pedestal because of her family wealth.

The young couple was inseparable, except for her father everyone else loved their union. Mr. Harry Delacriox fought dirty, he tried to arrest Chris on different occasions but failed, neighbours vouched for Chris, defended him against Selena's fathers' bullying, encouraged his unique love for Selena.

Everyone believed they would end up getting married and fill their home with children, love, and warmth.

Then tragedy struck, Chris's mother became unwell and they thought it was just the flu, nothing serious.

Then diagnosis came in.

"My kidneys have failed and I must undergo dialysis."

Chris looked dumbstruck by what he just heard. "When is the first treatment starting."

"I must come on Thursday morning." walking towards her fridge she took a bottle of water and gulped down.

"But?" Chris asked

Laughing, his mum came to him and playfully ruffled his dreads. "I won't be going"

"Why? You are unbelievable, mother."

"You need the money more for your college. I have enjoyed and already in my prime, I can't snatch your future away from you."

Chris kicked his baseball hard and sent it flying, crashing the glassware on the table. "Would your dying make my future any better." he stomped out of the house in anger.

"What do I do Lord, help me. I feel so alone." hugging herself she wept."

******************

A few hours later

******************

"Mum, wake up. You will catch a cold." Chris shook his mum slowly

Disoriented, she looked at her son, "I must have slept off while cleaning." Chris knew this wasn't true because the glasses he broke in anger were still scattered on the floor and from the way his mum was curled up on the ground, he knew she had been crying. But he didn't say anything but helped her to the yellow faded couch in the living room.

Looking at her son with eyes filled with sorrow she held his hands and kissed them lightly. "Please forgive me."

Understanding flooded Chris's features even at twenty he had seen things beyond his age, life hadn't been fair to him and he had had his fair share of bad luck. But he vowed that this time around he would win against fate no matter what he had to give up.

"We will get through this together mum." hugging his mum he wondered what the future held for them and what bitter pills he would have to swallow.

His phone rang breaking him from the reverie he was in "I can't come to the cafe, my mother is unwell. He listened to the voice on the other end for a while before cutting off the call.

"Who was on the call with you." his mum asked weakly

"Selena, she is coming over."

"That girl is a keeper, I hope both of you get all the happiness you deserve."

Chris remained silent. If he had learned anything from the past, it was how unpredictable life was.

**************

By the time Selena arrived at Chris's mother's home, his mother was already in bed and it was getting dark.

"I was expecting you, earlier. I was worried something might have happened to you." Chris held her glad she was here finally. He needed someone to talk to, someone that wouldn't judge him.

Kissing him on the lips, Selena dropped the groceries she bought on her way, on the kitchen counter before replying.

"I stopped at the mall to get some groceries. How is your mum doing." Selena said, glancing over the room.

"She has gone to bed, she was too tired and couldn't wait for you to get here."

"I'm sorry, I should have got here earlier."

"It's not your fault, stop apologizing and come over here."

His tone of voice was so sultry, that Selena blushed. She obeyed him and went straight into his arms. They both fitted perfectly.

"I love you Selena" He bent over and kissed her passionately, they had decided to stay celibate till they were sure. But the intensity of his kiss marveled Selena. She broke the kiss and looked him straight in the eyes, the passion that burned in his eyes sent electric waves around her body.