Chapter 2

• SANDRA'S POV
• I already knew that both of my uncles, George and Richard would not sacrifice their beloved daughters because it's their ticket to the upper class, especially now that they're dating rich men.
• I watched as Edward Smith silently contemplated. He couldn't let his favourite granddaughters marry Levy Anthony, but he also couldn't let the Smith property be given away to those poor people.
• My words had clearly put him in a difficult situation and I sneered.
• He gazed at me with cold eyes and disdain, as if I was his enemy rather than his grandchild.
• “”So, you want money huh? I will give it to you”. He spat angrily.
• I laughed tonelessly at his words, “I never mentioned that my condition was money, you all just assumed it was”.
• They all silently looked at each other in confusion before staring back at me.
• Edward Smith gazed at me, his expression frigid, if looks could kill, then I would have dropped dead from his gaze. "What are the conditions for you to marry and leave this family for good?"
• I looked at him for a second,my laughter filled with mockery as I said, "Don't worry grandpa, I wasn't planning on staying in this family even more letting my parents stay here,"
• “You should be grateful that we let you all stay here all these years”, Lucy hissed.
• “I can never be grateful that we were treated lower than the dogs on the street”. I shot back at her. The nerve of her to think that they were actually doing us a favor when in fact, we lived like slaves to them.
• “The nerve of you to say that”, Stellah gritted “You are such a despicable ingrate”
• “What the hell do you want? We want you out of here as soon as possible”, Lucy spoke.
• “Yeah, state your damn condition” It was Liam, Stacey's brother who finally spoke.
• "Sandra, calm down, don't rush to make a decision that involves your future, you can't just decide like that. You do not have to get married,” My father interjected and stared at Edward Smith pleadingly.
• “Father please, do not do this to my daughter, I am your son and she is your granddaughter,”. He remarked, trying for the umpteenth time to defend me.
• “A worthless son and a useless granddaughter!” Edward Smith spat and I gritted my teeth at the insult thrown at my father.
• “I am okay father, do not worry about me” I tried to assure my father.
• My father clasped my hands and stared at me.
• “I know that I'm not the best father to you or the best husband to your mother since I've let you suffer for so long, but I can't let you ruin your future like that and will do all in my power to get you back to school. I promise you that dad will make it happen, so don't ruin your life"
• I smiled at my father, grateful that he was at least trying to speak up on my behalf even though I knew that it was useless because no one listens to him in this family.
• My heart went out to my parents as I stared at my father, who was about to cry, and my mother, who was already crying and I made my decision.
• “Being married is not the worst thing that can happen to me anyways, living in this family is the worst thing that can happen to me”. I spoke aloud with as much confidence as I could muster.
• “You are getting married to Levy Anthony, what can be worse than that?” Stacey sneered.
• I took a deep breath, inside of me, I was scared and I definitely did not want to get married to Levy Anthony but I would be dead before I groveled at the feet of this awful family again. They have treated me and my parents like dirt far too long and right now, even if I would get married to the devil himself to get out of this family, I would do it.
• "The difference now is that you are still young and you are marrying someone you don't know, it's not about him being poor, but marriage is built on love, trust, respect, and friendship," my father answered,
• “You are supposed to be convincing her to get married, she owes that to this family after taking care of her for years”, Lucy said.
• “She is even lucky that someone wants to get married to her, being so ugly. She should be grateful and accept the offer at once” Stellah cuts in
• A small smile played on my lips, I knew that Stellah and Stacey have always been jealous of my beauty. When it comes to being beautiful, both Stellah and Stacey hold no weight against me. So Stellah calling me ugly is absolutely hilarious.
• I turned to my grandparents and said,
• "I want you to break the agreement you have with my father that he must work for the Smith company for the rest of his life and give him his share of the Smith fortune. He is done being your slave”. My expression was cold as I stared at them. Yes, we are done being a slave to this ungrateful family.
• My Father's diligence had been what was keeping the company afloat, still, he was paid nothing and meant to work like a slave, always threatening to send him away if he did not work.
• “If you can do that, I am willing to marry; if you can't, just wait for your favourite granddaughters' futures to be ruined and their prospects of marrying into a wealthy family to be ruined, because people will know you don't want to keep your words. You have five minutes to decide since I don't have all day to wait for you."
• My voice was calm as I stated my conditions.
• Edward looked at me as if I had grown two heads.He must be wondering what I was thinking by making such stupid request.
• Well, to him it was stupid request but to me, it wasn't. I will not allow them to leech off my father's hardwork ever again.
• He narrowed his eyes on me as if trying to place his hands on what changed about me. Years ago when I first got here, I would not dare stand up to him and always do as I was told. But not anymore because I finally realized that they are not worth it.
• He must not want to admit that if he actually let my father go, the company would collapse, especially now that his grandsons were losers who just wanted to enjoy being with women in bars all day. But he also couldn't imagine his favorite granddaughters getting married to a useless man like Levy Anthony,
• and more importantly, they were now associated with big shots like the Jackson family and Ezza Entertainment, one of the best entertainment companies in City A after Dramatic Entertainment.
• I have put him in a very tight corner and I love the feeling of having the upper hand.
• "Dad let him go and we'll see what he'll do when he no longer has the money we give him; he'll come back and beg because no company will let him work for them." George said.
• “We all know that he cannot survive without us”, Richard added.
• Stellah and Stacey, afraid that my grandfather might want to change his mind, quickly said.
• "Grandpa, you can't make us marry that man, you know we are already in a relationship and it would be in our family's interest to get married soon".
• Edward Smith sighed and agreed to my request because he couldn't bear the thought of his favourite granddaughters having their futures ruined or the Smith family's properties being handed over to someone else.
• “That is a very wise decision that you have taken grandpa”. I snickered and he glared at me with so much hate in his eyes. But who cares about his hate? It was the best decision for him and he should better pray that his other sons will sit up and handle the business better.
• I smiled coldly at him. He must be thinking that was killing two birds with one stone and he can get two things for his ego: Getting rid of me, whom he sees as a useless granddaughter and also remaining with his company, and maintaining his connections with the Jackson family and Eza entertainment company.
• It must be perfect for him but not for long. I vowed. I will make sure they pay for how we were treated while living with them.
• My cousins said “Sandra now that grandpa has accepted your conditions don’t go back on your words”
• "Well cousins, unlike you, I am a woman of my words. However, we need an agreement done between the lawyers, you can call your lawyer to come with the contract agreement you had with my dad be terminated, then I will also call my lawyer to come to make a new contract. How is that? Grandpa," I said with a smile as if what I had just said wasn't at all insulting.
• I saw Edward Smith gritted his teeth and he looked at me with a killing look. Once again, if looks could kill, then I would have been long dead but right now, it gladdens my heart seeing him in such a mood.
• Knowing my grandfather, I knew that he did not have the intention of terminating any contract, he must be thinking that I would just take his word for it then after I married, my father would still work for him and there is nothing that I can do then. He must be a fool to believe that I would just take his word for it. He gritted his teeth as he stared at me.
• “I have given you my word, what is the need of involving our lawyer?” He asked hoping to change my mind but I stared at him calmly.
• “Your words mean nothing to me grandpa, I never knew you to be an honest person”.
• Edward's face reddened with consternation.
• “How dare you talk to your grandpa like that, show some respect”, Lucy chided in indignation.
• But I merely stared at her coolly, “Respect is earned grandmother, I am showing you all the same respect you have shown my parents all those years”.
• “All of a sudden, you started feeling high and mighty because you are getting married to that good for nothing”, Stellah cuts in but I simply waved her off.
• “If no lawyer is involved in termination of the contracts, I will not get married”. I stated firmly.
• Edward clenched his teeth, “You…” he started, pointing his fingers at me, then sighed, his face seriously resigned. He turned to his eldest son and asked him to call the family lawyer.
• While we were waiting for the lawyer, a knock sounded on the door and Richard opened the door. All eyes shifted to the visitor, wondering who he was.
• “Hello, I am William, I am Levy Anthony's assistant and I am sent here by Anthony to bring his bride over”.
• There was tense silence as all eyes fell on me.
• I raised my chin in defiance.
• “I am not getting married until my condition is met”, I reasserted firmly and glanced at Stellah and Stacey before adding.
• “Stellah or Stacey might as well accept the invitation”.
• Stellah glared at me, “You are definitely doing too much”
• I snorted, “Am I?”
• Just then,a man in his fifties stepped in with a bag full of documents, bearing the air of arrogance. He stared down his nose at everyone as if everyone was beneath him.
• Edward Smith rose up to show respect, greeted him, and introduced him to the Smith family but did not bother to introduce me and my father but who cares? I just want to sign the contract and get out of this repulsive family as soon as possible.
• Edward did not waste time before going straight to the subject, saying, "Well, we'd like to make some changes in an agreement I made with my son."