Anita Baker was a 24-year-old woman and the first daughter of her parents. She had five younger sisters. Her father was a banker, while her mother was a trader.

She was fair in complexion, beautifully shaped with sexy, curvy hips. Among all her sisters, she was the only light-skinned one, as the rest were dark or fair brown in complexion.

Anita looked like her mother but was more beautiful. Sometimes her father accused her mother of cheating on him and doubted he was truly her father because she was so light-skinned. But her mother always stayed silent about it and told her not to mind her father, assuring her that she was really his child.

Her father even threatened to run a paternity DNA test on her, as he couldn't understand why she was so light-skinned unlike the rest of her sisters.

Anita's immediate younger sister, Flora, who was a 22-year-old dark-skinned beauty, also disliked her, even though Anita was two years older.

Four of her sisters hated her, except for her youngest sister, named Glory, who genuinely loved her.

They say blood is thicker than water, but in Anita's case, water was thicker than blood.

Her father, Mr. Joshua Baker, didn't stop sending her to school. He only accused his wife of cheating on him and forcing another man's child on him so he would marry her, but nonetheless, he still sent her to the university to study business administration.

Anita was so happy as she wrote her final exams, and the results came out with flying colors.

Because of her father's constant accusations toward her calm mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, Anita had refused to accept any relationship from guys asking her out. She only went on dates with them but ended up rejecting their love proposals.

Anita's best friend in the university, Temisa Patrick, had also advised her to give love a chance, but she refused and said, "My father constantly accuses my mother of cheating on him, and yet he still goes back to her and gets her pregnant to birth the six of us. Mother says Dad loves her, but his daily insults to her don't show us that he truly loves her."

Anita shook her head as she spoke to her friend when they were still in year two at the university.

Guys were tripping over themselves to have her—handsome and well-to-do guys—but she felt they only wanted to use her.

Once they crossed the bridge and broke her virginity, they would dump her or accuse her of cheating, just like her father constantly did to her mother, wanting to send her and her mother into depression.

Anita sat in a private room with her best friend, preparing for their final convocation.

"Anita, I'm so happy. Finally, we'll be parting from this school. I can't explain how much I've missed home," Temisa said.

"Me too," Anita faintly replied, knowing it wasn't entirely true for her. She hated home and knew she would be facing her father's constant insults toward her and her mother again, while her three younger sisters—Flora, Esther, and Favour—would want to torment the hell out of her, calling her an outcast because they were jealous of her looks, as if it were entirely her fault.

Anita shook her head in sadness, and Temisa noticed.

"What is it, girlfriend? You don't seem happy, even though you're graduating as one of the best students today in our university?" Temisa asked. She stood up from her seat facing the mirror and walked over to Anita, who was sitting on the couch. But Anita shook her head again and stared away, not responding.

"What's the problem, dear?" Temisa approached and crouched in front of Anita. Even though she knew what the problem was—Anita had told her why she hated men in general and saw them as scumbags.

"Don't worry. When I get home, I can talk to my mother to let you come live with us, even if it's just for your I.T., until you get a better job to take care of yourself."

"Thank you." Anita smiled faintly at her, and Temisa responded, "You're welcome. You know you're like a sister to me, so you don't have to worry or cry much. Graduating with first class is no joke, so you should be happy. Today is your most blessed day. Come sit here; let me apply some makeup on your face."

Temisa pulled Anita to stand up from the couch, and Anita smiled faintly as she walked to sit on the seat facing the mirror in the private room they shared.

"You know I don't like makeup," Anita said as she sat and watched Temisa open one of her makeup kits and start preparing her brush.

"I know, but today is your lucky day, so you should look sweet when collecting your awards. No excuses from you. Just do this for me, okay? It will make you smile throughout today and lighten your mood."

"Okay," Anita replied. She stared at her beautiful reflection in the mirror as Temisa started applying the beautiful brown powder on her face.

Temisa began with Anita's eyelashes first, then switched to her cheeks and nose, applying the makeup powder. When she was through with the makeover, Anita was stunned by her new look in the mirror. Anita had never applied makeup before, and staring at her new reflection, she was speechless. Now she understood why Temisa had so many boyfriends.

Temisa was a billionaire's daughter, as her father worked in the Benson Group of Companies. The Benson family was one of the richest in their country, and Anita had read about them. Anita wished she could work for them, which was why she had studied so hard, reading day and night to graduate as one of the best students in her university.

Anita had thought of asking Temisa if she could help ask her father for a job application at the Benson Group, but she knew if she did that, it might seem like she was trying to gain a favor she didn't merit. It might make others see her as a gold digger or a lady selling her body to men for favors, so she decided against it and chose not to ask Temisa for her father's help.

"All done now. Don't you see how sweet you look in the mirror? Oh my god! I'm the best makeup artist on campus!" Temisa fanned herself with her hand while Anita smiled at her.

"Don't overhype yourself too much because of me, girlfriend. Yes, you tried, but I still don't like makeup," Anita admitted.

"Tar! Shut up. I'm hoping a handsome guy will see you today and ask you out," Temisa giggled.

Everything about her was guys. Temisa changed boyfriends every month like pants and was open about multiple relationships. She didn't care what other ladies had to say, as she also didn't believe in love but rather spent time dating different guys. Well, she never admitted to sleeping with any of the guys she went on dates with, and that was something difficult to believe, especially after Anita told her she was a virgin too.

That was hard to believe, and Anita didn't believe Temisa either. A virgin was supposed to be calm and keep to herself so no guy would use her, but Temisa dressed hot, wearing bum shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting outfits.

Temisa was a dark-skinned beauty, sexy and curvaceous like Anita, but she wasn't jealous of Anita being light-skinned. They were in the same department and studied the same course, which made them best friends. Anita was more intelligent than her, while Temisa was the party-hard type.

"Let's go out now. I'm sure most of our families have arrived," Temisa said as she quickly packed her remaining things and makeup kits into her box and zipped it closed.

They had rented the room they stayed in, so they often stayed back even when the university was on holiday.

It was their final year to say goodbye, so Anita dragged her two boxes, as she was already going back home after the awarding ceremony.

They stepped out to witness the university's final event and the awarding of the best graduating students.

Anita Baker was called and awarded a first-class award and recognition for her academic excellence. Temisa was smiling and clapping for her friend, who stepped out from where she was sitting among the group of graduands and families attending the graduation ceremony, to go and receive her awards.