Chapter 1

JULIA POV

Baby girl, wake up. Don't you wanna attend the school party?" I asked my beautiful daughter, Ciara.

"Good morning mommy"

"Hey, hope you slept well?"

"Yes I did" she replied.

"Dont you wanna attend the school party?" "Yes I do" she replied.

"Then, you've gotta take your bathe and brush your teeth".

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

I'm a single mom. I was raped when I was a teenager and I gave birth to twins, but one died and it was a painfu experiencel. Although, their father was a rapist, I still loved them and kept the pregnancy. For that reason i hate men and don't want anything to do with them.

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

We arrived at the school and we were pretty early, so we sat at the front row. The event started and it was fun.

I was delighted when my daughter was called upon to present a song. She didn't even tell me she was going to sing on stage which was unlike her, she prolly wanted it to be a surprise.

She had a very beautiful voice and the audience were thrilled. She was given a standing ovation when the song ended. She ran down the stage towards me and I hugged her tightly.

"You've got a beautiful voice"

"thank you mommy" she replied.

"Did I sing well?" She asked

"yes of course" I replied and she giggled.

When the party was over, I took her to a restaurant because I wanted her to be happy and indeed she was. We ordered a meal and she kept talking while eating.

Just then, she stopped eating and faced a direction carrying a long face. Worried, I turned and saw a girl with both parents and I sighed.

"Mommy, who is my father?"

O God Not Again. I said to myself.

"You told me that you'll tell me when I was of age. I am old enough now and need to know. In school, my classmates calls me a bastard and they sometimes tell me that you are a whore."She said sobbing.

I sighed and carried her on my laps.

"Don't mind them, you're not a bastard, ok?"

"I'm no longer a baby" she rebuked, "don't treat me like one".

"But you're just five" I said trying to switch topic.

She came down from my lap "I hate you mommy. You don't want me to see my dad, right?" She asked and ran away, tears streaming down her face.

"Ciara" I called weakly as I ran to meet her.

"Don't touch me mommy, don't"

. "Ciara, I'm so sorry, forgive your mom, ok?"

"I will if you tell me about my dad. Other kids talk about their father, but I am the odd one out" she said and I tried as much as possible to prevent the tears from spilling outta my eyes. I sat on a chair and beckoned on her to come and she did, sitting on my laps as I told her what happened. She is a little girl but she acts like an adult. I then summarised what happened to her.

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

"My father owned one of the biggest multimillionaire companies in town. He got involved in some bad stuffs which he didn't tell us, but I later got to know. Bad people came to our house asking for something and since it wasn't available, my parents and siblings were killed.

Before they came, my dad gave me something to keep safe. It contained everything about his company. He told to run away and I did, but I was caught and raped". I concluded.

"Why were you raped? They just wanted the document, right?"

"Yeah they did. They threatened to rape me unless I gave them the document, but I didn't budge".

"Then why are they after me too?" She asked.

I was about to reply when a guy sat on one of the empty chairs.

"Hey, beauty. I've been watching you and I really like you. I wanna know more about you".

I was really mad at him. Who does he think I am?

"Do you know you are an ass? You are very stupid. Get the heck out of here before I do something stupid"

His face turned red but he tried to cover it up.

"I'm sorry" He said and left.

"Mom, why do you hate men?" Ciara asked to my amazement.

"Men, they are heartless, cruel and mean".

"Not all of them are"

"What do you know?" I rebuffed.

"I'm sorry mom" she apologised.

"Don't worry, darling you've been forgiven". I replied.

Shawn POV

I and my younger brother, Steve attended the school party. I was forced, so I didn't pay any attention to what was done. I had my reasons for not wanting to accompany him.

My fans had always been wondering why I had not released any album for over a year now. If any of them see me, I will surely be questioned and it will go viral, for that reason, I put on sunglasses and face cap.

Despite my effort, my presence was noticed and I was called upon to sit on the high table. They did ask questions, but I ignored them all.

Just then, something caught my attention. A little girl who was not more than six was singing on stage. She had an angelic voice and I was thrilled. I decided that I would meet her at the end of the event.

After the event, I looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be found. Steve was pestering me that he wanted to go home, so I told my driver to take him home and return as soon as possible. My instincts told me to go to the nearest restaurant and I did. I looked round the premises but I did not see them. I was about giving up when I saw the young lad with a beautiful damsel.

She had long, thick and dark hair with long eye lashes. She was drop dead gorgeous. I couldn't tell the colour of her eyes from my vantage position.

I was really attracted to her. I've never dated any woman before since my girlfriend betrayed me few years ago.

Just then, my friend, Jack came towards me.

"Hey Shawn, what's up?"

"I'm good'. I replied without sparing him a glance, my eyes were still on the beautiful damsel. Jack looked at the direction were I was facing and hissed.

"what's wrong? Why did you hiss?" I asked.

"That lady is a hard nut to crack. I tried wooing her but she turned me down and even insulted me".

"Maybe she could sense that you were a playboy. Does she know who you are?" I asked.

"Who doesn't know me?" He asked.

"I think I like her". I said and he chuckled.

"Don't even go close to her 'cause she will insult you as well as kick you in the ass, I've already warned you as a friend". He said and left.

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

I and Jack had been friends since grade one prolly 'cause he was as naughty as I was. Jack is a play boy, all he wanted was sex, no commitment. Although I had sex too, but of was on a rare occasion but Jack's was getting outta hand.

The little girl was trying to tie her shoe lace when I approached them.

"Hey" I said as I squatted and helped the girl tie it.

"Thank you" she said and I ruffled her hair.

"I heard you singing on stage, you've got a very melodious voice" I said still squatting

. "Thank you sir" she replied.

I stood up to face the beautiful damsel, I could now see her face clearly, her eyes were blue, sky blue. I was short of words as I kept staring at her.

"Ciara, come on, we've got to leave for home before tis too late" The lady said forcing out a smile. She pulled the little girl whose name I got to know was Ciara walking as fast as she could. I went after them, walking as fast as I could. I met up with them and held Ciara's hand, then I squatted.

"Do you want icecream?" I asked and she grinned and then nodded.

"Do you think your sister will allow you?" I asked and Ciara looked at me as though I were insane.