CHAPTER 3
Ayakho Mabuza
“ looks like the mental institution ain't taking care of you as i pay them.”
Her father : Mabuza says walking in her room alone leaving his bodyguard outside the door.
" And you haven't changed being a bastard of a father."
Ayakho grew up in a world of opulence, where every whim was catered to and every desire fulfilled. Her father, Mabuza. A wealthy businessman, spared no expense in indulging her every fancy. From designer clothes to exotic vacations, Ayakho wanted for nothing.
But beneath the veneer of privilege, Ayakho's sense of entitlement blossomed into reckless indulgence. She coasted through high school, expecting stellar grades without effort. When college arrived, her lack of discipline caught up with her. Failing grades and skipped classes sealed her fate.
Enraged, her father saw his daughter's failure as a personal reflection. He couldn't accept that his prized possession had fallen so far. In a drastic move, he committed Ayakho to a mental institution, convinced she needed "fixing."
For three long years, Ayakho languished behind sterile walls, subjected to therapy sessions and medication. Her spirit crushed, she struggled to comprehend why her father had abandoned her.
As she navigated the bleak halls, Ayakho's eyes lost their sparkle. Her laughter silenced, replaced by hollow stares. The once-spoiled princess now faced a harsh reality: her father's love came with conditions.
Ayakho emerged with scars, both visible and hidden. Her relationship with her father fractured, she vowed to rebuild herself. Would she find strength in resilience or retreat into the shadows of her past? Only time would tell.
Dr. Lee walks in, a sterile sanctuary, hosted a tense reunion. Ayakho's father, Mabuza, stood beside her, his expression unreadable.
" Baby girl, your progress is satisfactory," Dr. Lee began.
"However, your father has expressed concerns about your transition back into society."
Mabuza cleared his throat, his voice firm.
" Ayakho, I've arranged a suitable marriage for you. A respectable man, he will provide stability and guidance. This union will ensure your well-being and secure your future."
Ayakho's mind reeled. Marriage? To a stranger? Her freedom, dangled like a carrot, came with conditions.
"You'll cooperate, Aya"
Mabuza continued, his tone brooking no dissent.
"This is the only way you'll leave this institution. Your husband expects a dutiful wife. You'll learn to appreciate his generosity."
The room fell silent. Her thoughts swirled:
Freedom versus captivity.
Autonomy versus obligation.
A life chosen for her versus one she'd choose.
A husband. A stranger.
Would he be kind or controlling? Would she be trapped or empowered?
Ayakho's gaze drifted out the window, where sunlight mocked her confinement. She felt the weight of her father's expectations, the pressure to conform.
"Understand, Ayakho" mabuzy pressed on,
"this is your only option. Refuse, and you'll remain here, indefinitely."
The unspoken threat hung in the air like a challenge.
Ayakho's response was silence.
Her father misinterpreted it as acceptance.
But Lily's mind whispered: "Is this my only escape?"
Simosethu Zulu.
Simo's world crumbled as he stood in his opulent study, the weight of betrayal settling upon him.
"Marriage?" he echoed, incredulous. "To a woman I've never met?"
Simosethu felt suffocated, trapped by his own mistakes. The memories he'd tried to bury now haunted him.
A sense of desperation clawed at his chest. He envisioned a life tied to a stranger, a prisoner of his father's ambition.
Resentment simmered.
Who is this girl? What does she even think of him.?
Simo's thoughts swirled with dread:
A loveless marriage.
A life without choice.
A future scripted by his father's greed.
He struggled to breathe, to think, to escape the suffocating grip of his family's expectations. But can be escape just like that...
What about his brothers.? Lord have mercy.!
His silence was not consent, but a pause in a battle he knew he'd lose.
Sphetheni Zulu. ( Simo's step mother.)
Sphetheni 's elegant facade concealed a labyrinth of secrets and simmering resentments. Her marriage to Andile Zulu, a wealthy and influential man, had promised a life of luxury and security. However, the shadows of his past refused to remain hidden.
His son, Simosethu embodied the proof of his infidelity, a constant reminder of the mistress who had borne him. Sphetheni 's heart harbored a deep-seated hatred for the child, a sentiment she carefully veiled behind a mask of indifference.
As she navigated the opulent halls of their estate, Sphetheni 's thoughts churned with bile. Simo's very existence taunted her, a living reminder of Andile's transgressions.
Sphetheni 's secrets:
The miscarriage she suffered soon after marrying Andile, a loss she blamed on Simo.
The hidden grave.
Sphetheni 's resentment simmered, fueled by Andile's overt affection for Simo She seethed at the mere mention of his name, her smile tightening into a strained line.
" Simosethu needs guidance," Andile would say, oblivious to Sphetheni 's festering emotions.
Guidance? Sphetheni thought. He needs to know his place.
If Simo gets married, the plan is to..
Secure Andile 's fortune and influence for herself.
Eliminate Simosethu's claim to the family legacy.
Ensure Ayakho's compliance, a pawn in her game of revenge.
Her eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing the shadows. Simosethu would soon learn the true meaning of loyalty and obedience.
That's why she turned him a hitmy, his brothers against him and his father to love him not.
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