Chapter 23: CHRISTIANA'S POV

My eyes twitched as soon as I saw the many outfits brought into the room--designer bags, shoes, perfume. I watched in awe as ladies dressed professionally brought them all in with a blank expression on their faces.

Andrew had told me last week that his company was holding a charity event and I needed to look my best because elites would be attending. He comes out of the bathroom with grey sweatpants and a white vest, a towel hanging around his neck.

"They are here already," he spoke, walking closer to me. "Do you like them?" he questioned, pulling me closer.

"Do you really have to get this much? One outfit is okay," I whined.

He sighed. "I heard you, but I don't need an event to get you clothes baby, let me spoil you. You know you are my baby, so I have to get the very best for you. I have to spoil you, you know..." He placed fleeting kisses on my neck to my shoulder.

"It's enough as it is. I told you to stop with all these expensive gifts! I don't need them. What I need is for you to let me out of this house to work."

I brought this topic to him last week and he was so against it. I mean I am a BSC holder, and I need to put my education to use but he said I shouldn't bother about it.

I mean I do not plan ok depending on him to get me everything, I need my own privacy and a job to keep me occupied.

"We are not talking about that right now," he began to walk away as I followed close behind.

"Seriously Andy?" I scoffed. "We need to talk about everything and it's better we know where we stand now!"

"Christiana ... " He trailed off. "Not now ... please!"

"I can't do this anymore; I have a home back in Switzerland. What about my father? Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever thought of what is to become of us?" I looked at him biting my lip, a habit of mine when I needed an answer, but I was not sure I wanted to hear it.

There was a long silence as neither of us said anything. While he rested his arms on the wall of the balcony, I looked at his back.

"We will figure out something," he finally spoke but wasn't looking at me. If he really wanted me, why hasn't he ever brought up the topic about marriage before? Why aren't we engaged yet? 'We will figure out something' but the question was when? I don't even know what to think most times. It feels as if he is not planning our future and is so into his work. I feel left out, since I came here, all I felt was loneliness although not all the time but mostly loneliness.

He slowly turned back to me, walking closer until he stood just a centimeter away from me. He held my hands. "I'm confused, I'm not even sure what is going on. But there is still time for us. I just got the company from my dad and am doing better at making it grow. That's what I want for now."

"What about what I want?" I asked him. "The situation between us since we got here isn't the same back in Switzerland. We understood each other and knew our goals. We supported each other! But it's like since we got here ..." I trailed off, biting my lips. "... It's only about you."

"No, it's not, baby. It's about us and I promise to make things right."

While we spoke, our voices became whispers. We were in a vulnerable state. We both spoke with fear of saying anything that could be bad for us.

I could have been in Switzerland working as an interior designer, but I jeopardized that for him. I left everything thinking we could work things out. I left my father for him, thinking we could build a life here, but it's totally different from what I originally thought.

I never wanted to leave Switzerland, but he had talked to my father and my father had told me if I really loved Andrew, I'd support him and go with him. But here we are, one fight after another, drama daily. It hurts.

"Please say something, it's killing me." His voice came out painfully low as if begging me to understand him.

It hurts to see him this way. I love him so much that I preferred I was hurt than he was. I felt my tears already coming out as I look up at the ceiling, sinking them back in.

I suck on my lips for a while before looking back at him. "Please baby, things will work out well, I can't bear to be without you."

"Fine!"

"Fine?" he questioned as if he didn't understand.

"I said fine. I will wait for you to make it right. But I'm scared Andy. I'm scared because there are things you don't know that I know, and I'm scared that one of us will end up getting hurt." Finally, the tears broke free as they rolled down my cheek.

He wiped them away quickly, his facial expression changed. He looked pained. "Tonight, I will make a change." He rested his forehead against mine.

"I love you and I promise tonight will be the beginning of our new start."

I hope so. But if only he knew, if only.

He wrapped his arms around me pulling me impossibly close.

"It's almost time, why don't you get ready for tonight."

I nodded my head, wrapping my arms around him.

After some time, the makeup artist came in, preparing me for tonight.

Emerald's point of view I have never felt so disgusted before until Christiana the pauper came into our lives. Her aura smelled, everything about her stank. Her presence annoyed me and all I wanted to do was to end her as soon as possible.

The fact that Andrew was head over heels a foolish woman like her annoyed me to death. The fact he defended her and seemed to care about nothing than her was infuriating.

I knew women like her, they were pretenders, they would act all kinds in front of the man they claim to love but within them, they had an evil agenda. I knew she wanted Andrew’s money, she would manipulate him to the point she gets his money and leave him shattered and broken. She has the audacity to slap Vanessa and knowing Vanessa, she wasn't one to back down from a fight but the fact that she threatened her showed she was much more than she proved to be.

I will end her, for I am Emerald Power; I make everyone around me tremble in fear. I've noticed as she is trying to get close to my daughter but before she is able to manipulate Rachael, I will put an end to her life.

I had men follow her because I will have to know her ulterior motives but so far, she has been cautious. I have to kill her earlier or else I would be the one losing.

She threatened me and she threatened Vanessa, she will regret doing that. Vanessa walked up to me looking elegant as usual. With a smirk on her face, I knew everything was in order.

"Rest assured Emerald, that bitch will come to an end today," Vanessa assured me and I smiled.

"We will not let her survive at all. Hope everyone is ready, because I am going to break my son free from that witch!" I spat out.

"I hate her so much! Her presence disgusts me!" Vanessa spat out clenching her fist.

"We will be fine Nessa. Immediately she is out of his life, you have to go in and act like the good woman you are beside Andrew. Stay close to him, console him even though you wouldn't feel his pain then make him yours. After he is yours, in his vulnerable state, we will get the both of you married and he will be yours forever!"

"Yes! I am so happy! I haven't felt this happy in a long time. Christiana Rose Bernardo, stealing a man that isn't yours will make you cry. You shall suffer the repercussion for stealing my man and coming to America. You will regret it all!" Vanessa deadpanned.