Chapter 7 - THE DAUGHTER WHO LOST EVERYTHINGTwo weeks after leaving her father's mansion, Rita sat in a small university office listening to news she had dreaded.
The bursar looked sympathetic.
"I'm sorry, Miss Benedict. Your tuition payment arrangement has been canceled."
Rita lowered her eyes.
"Canceled?"
"Yes. Your father contacted the university's financial office. He has withdrawn his sponsorship."
Rita took a deep breath.
"I understand."
"Are you able to arrange another payment?"
She thought about Felicia.
Her mother had been living off savings and working to reestablish a small interior design business she abandoned years earlier.
They were already struggling with rent, transportation, and ordinary expenses.
Rita couldn't bear to add another burden.
"Could I apply for an installment plan?"
The bursar nodded.
"There may be options, but you'll need to submit financial information."
"Thank you."
Outside the office, Rita sat beneath a tree.
Students passed her carrying books and laughing.
A few weeks earlier, she had been one of them.
Her biggest concerns had been assignments, examinations, and whether her father would allow her to travel after graduation.
Now she was worried about food and tuition.
She opened her phone.
There were several messages from Chief Benedict.
Come home and apologize.
Maryjane is upset because of your disrespect.
You have until Friday to return.
Rita read the messages.
Then she deleted them.
She wasn't ready to speak to him.
A few minutes later, she called her mother.
Felicia answered cheerfully.
"Rita, how was school?"
Rita hesitated.
"Mommy, Daddy stopped paying my tuition."
Felicia became quiet.
Then she said, "Come home, sweetheart. We'll discuss it."
When Rita arrived, she found her mother sitting at the dining table with fabric samples, notebooks, and a borrowed laptop.
Felicia had been contacting former clients.
Before marrying Chief Benedict, she had been a talented interior decorator.
But her husband disliked the idea of his wife working.
He believed it made him appear incapable of providing for his family.
Over time, Felicia had allowed her ambition to disappear.
Now she was trying to find it again.
Rita sat beside her.
"I'm sorry, Mommy."
Felicia looked up.
"For what?"
"Everything. If I had stayed, Daddy might still be paying my fees."
Felicia closed the laptop.
"Rita, listen carefully."
Her daughter looked at her.
"Your education matters. But your dignity matters too."
Tears filled Rita's eyes.
"I don't want to become a burden."
Felicia took her hands.
"You are my daughter, not a burden. We'll apply for assistance, and I'll take whatever honest work I can find. You can look for a part-time job if your classes allow it."
Rita nodded.
Felicia smiled gently.
"And you know something?"
"What?"
"I think it's time your mother remembered how to earn her own money."
For the first time that day, Rita laughed.
They spent the afternoon making plans.
Rita would apply for a scholarship and inquire about a work-study position.
Felicia would meet a former client who needed help renovating several rental apartments.
Their future remained uncertain.
But there was something strangely peaceful about making decisions without fearing Chief Benedict's anger.
Meanwhile, at his mansion, Chief Benedict sat at the breakfast table watching Maryjane complain about a maid.
"The soup is too salty!"
The maid apologized.
Maryjane pushed the bowl aside.
"I cannot eat this. Do you want something to happen to my baby?"
Chief Benedict immediately shouted at the maid.
"Take it away!"
Maryjane smiled with satisfaction.
Then she placed a hand on her stomach.
"Darling, I've been thinking about the nursery."
"What about it?"
"I want imported furniture. Everything must be the best for our son."
Chief Benedict smiled.
"Of course. My heir deserves nothing less."
Maryjane leaned against him.
"And we need to discuss his future."
Chief Benedict laughed.
"He's not even born yet."
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't prepare."
She placed a folder on the table.
Chief Benedict opened it.
Inside were papers prepared by a private legal consultant.
"What is this?"
"Some suggestions for establishing a family trust."
He raised an eyebrow.
Maryjane smiled sweetly.
"I want our baby protected."
Chief Benedict studied the pages.
Then he noticed a clause concerning the inheritance of company shares.
"Why would you want these transferred before the child is born?"
Maryjane's smile tightened.
"Because anything could happen."
Chief Benedict looked at her.
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Rita and Felicia."
He frowned.
"What about them?"
"They hate me. They hate this baby. If anything happens to you, they'll try to take everything."
Chief Benedict sat back.
Maryjane watched his face carefully.
She had learned something about Benedict during their months together.
His greatest weakness wasn't love.
It was his obsession with having a male heir.
If she spoke about their unborn son, he became generous.
If she mentioned the possibility of losing him, he became frightened.
And frightened men sometimes made foolish decisions.
But Benedict wasn't entirely careless.
He closed the folder.
"I'll have my own lawyer examine this."
Maryjane nodded.
"Of course, darling."
He left for the office.
The moment he was gone, her smile vanished.
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
A man answered.
"Maryjane?"
She whispered, "We have a problem."
"What happened?"
"Benedict wants his lawyer to review the documents."
"Then stop him."
"I can't control everything!"
The man became impatient.
"Maryjane, you promised this would work."
She looked toward the door.
"I know."
"Have you told him the truth about the baby?"
Maryjane closed her eyes.
"No."
May you like
The man lowered his voice.
"Then you'd better pray he doesn't discover it before the birth."
Related Stories
