Chapter 124 124.

Chapter 124 124.
Kimberly’s POV 

It just kept getting worse. 

It took a huge grace to get through school today. It was like the whole world was on my back. For some strange reason, he was not in school. And if that was supposed to make me feel better, it did not. I was almost driving myself crazy. 

I didn’t know why I wanted to see him. What would it have done if I had seen him? I’ve not said a single word to him. And I made sure that his number was blocked so I won’t be tempted to actually reach out to him again because of how mad I was. I wanted to ask him a lot of questions. 

But then, I thought if he was in front of me right now, what would I say to him? 

Nothing. 

That was what I came up with. I tried to think back to when it all started to see if I had done something. Or to see where it had all gone wrong. I wanted to know what gave him the reason to feel like he could do that to me and get away with it. I was so mad and hurt, and I felt stupid at the same time. 

I did not really care about the way people thought of me. The video and all of that. If anything, there was a shift in the atmosphere that I was not expecting. It was like suddenly, they weirdly pitied me. 

And that was worse. I needed everyone to keep their places. 

Amelia. 

I don’t even know what to think about her. I won’t lie, I felt it when she suddenly wanted to be friends. I thought she was weird. We did not really click. And in the real sense, I’m thankful that I did not tell her most of my business, thinking that I had a good friend. I ignored her for most of the day even though I could feel the evil eye she was throwing at me, making it seem like I was the cause of her life problems. 

She gave me the creeps too. I just can’t figure it out. 

By the time the day was over, I was thankful that I did not bring my bike. Otherwise, I would have left it in school. I did not really have the strength to work with it right now. And I knew I was going straight home after this. 

Sandy, well, her. She’s been my shadow in a sick way. She thought I would not notice the looks she’s been sneaking at me. There was a genuine concern on her face. One that I would not have imagined would be coming from her. I did not talk to her about anything, though. 

I didn’t talk to anyone. The only person I wanted to talk to was not available, so I shut it up and made it through my day. 

By the time I got home, I regretted it. Because the news that I got was nothing to write home about. It was annoying. And it made me want to throw up. 

“Come again.” Was the only thing that slipped out of my lips. 

I looked at both of my parents, and I tried to understand where they were coming from with this point they made. With what they had just said. Because they had to be playing around. 

“I’m so sorry it had to result in this baby.” My dad said in a wobbly voice. 

“We did it for you.” My mum tried, and I scoffed. 

“I did not ask you to do anything for me.” She gasped in disbelief at my emotionless tone. Maybe. Maybe not. But then, I won’t take their decision sitting down. I turned to my dad. 

“Do you have any reasonable explanation for what you just told me?” I asked, looking at him earnestly and wishing or hoping that he would burst into laughter and say it was all a joke. 

“I… I made some bad business decisions. It was all my fault. I was trying to see if I could pull a large sum. There was this thing a friend introduced me to. They said they could make you live longer. Get you a new heart and it won’t be complicated and…..” 

“Dad!” I cried out. My voice is shaking now. “I never asked to live longer! I just wanted the both of you to have a good life. Not for you to be saddled with a huge debt that would make you want to marry me off to someone I don’t know!” 

They were quiet, and they were looking at me. “I won’t do it,” I said in a low tone, and my resolve must have shown because my mother rushed forward. 

“You can’t do that, Kimberly. We know this was not mainly because of you. But then, it was part of why your father made the decision. He only wants the best for you, and you know it. We both do. You will forgive us. Were your parents and it is only good that you do for us, what we do for you.” I could read the meaning of that. 

I knew the undertone she was using. 

“Leah.” My father called my mother’s name with a hint of warning in it, like he had clocked what she said too. With widened eyes, she looked back at him. 

“We need this.” 

“Not like this.” 

“I’ve never done anything for the both of you before now. And I know it. But you did not have to say it that way, Mum.” My voice came out so low, and it showed my resignation in the whole matter. 

“Kimberly, it’s not so. I’m sorry. Your mother voiced it wrong. You don’t have to do it. I won’t force you okay? I’ll try to find another way…..” 

“You know there is no other way!” My mum shouted. “We’ve exhausted all other options before we thought to do this. Can’t you see?” She turned to face me, sympathy in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, honey. I don’t hate you. I…. I’m sorry. It’s just that we don’t have any options again. If this goes off the table, we’ll lose everything. Every single thing that we’ve worked for. And I still want to be able to look after you.” Tears laced her eyes, and they fell. 

And in that moment, I knew. I just knew I would do it. I knew that there was nothing I would not do for them. I’ve never seen them this vulnerable. 

I’ve always been the bad child, even though I was the only one they had. They gave me a good life and maintained it for so long. And that was the reason why I was still alive till now. 

“I’m so sorry baby.” My father’s voice shook again. My dad was a strong man. And seeing him like this broke me. He had always indulged me and made me feel strong even at my lowest. I loved him best between the two of them, and they knew it. 

My mother was the strongest woman I knew. She held us together. She was like the glue. Rough around the edges, but she still did it. Makes sure everything was in order and strict in her own ways. 

My mind was a whole different mess. A lot of thought at the same time. But still, he still had a way of creeping in. 

I was going to get married to someone else, that is not him. Not like I ever envisioned marrying him because I knew I would not live that long. But I did not think I would marry someone else too. He was always the one in my imagination of love. I had already admitted to myself that I was in love with him, but then, what did I get back in return? Nothing. Just heartbreak and humiliation. 

“If I marry this person, what if I die? What’s the whole point then?” I asked them. 

“If you go through with it, the company will be saved. And I’ll be able to pay for the treatment that you will get. And you’ll get to live a longer life then.” My father said hurriedly, walking towards me in slow motion. 

I sighed in defeat. 

“So, I’m going to be sold off?” I said sarcastically, laughing humorlessly. 

“Don’t say it like that.”

“But that’s what it is,” I said blankly and looked at both of them. “So, who am I marrying? Some old fat?” I asked in a lighter tone, trying to shake it off and not build too much pressure in my chest. 

“No. Someone around your age. You know them, and you go to school together.” That perked my attention then. 

“What?!” I asked in disbelief. It took a while for me to digest the information. 

“Yes. You know this too.” My heart started to race so bad I could hear the thumping.  

“London Ashford. That’s who you’re marrying.” 

And just like that, the world was pulled away from under my feet.