Brian paced in his hotel room wondering who that man was and why he wouldn't allow him to see Maggie. He'd kept tabs on all her boyfriends. He knew each and everyone one of them and what they did. Whoever that man was, he wasn't on the list. So who was he? Why had he prevented him from seeing Maggie? He seemed to know a lot. An advantage he had over Brian.

Could he by any be one of her employees? No. His clothing was too expensive for him to be just a mere employee. Then had he kidnapped Maggie? In her own house? That was absurd. Brian realized he was looking for all kinds of excuses because he didn't like seeing anyone with Maggie. From the looks of it, that man knew a lot about her and her past and he was willing to protect her. Which was okay with him. What he didn't like was how the guy had talked about her. As if she was his world

He'd been in love once and he knew how a man looked like when he was trying to protect his woman. Fierce and determined. It unsettled him to know someone loved her but what he couldn't stand was knowing she wasn't okay. Had she been suffering all these years by herself? He felt like a scum for not trusting her. Not once did he stop to think how that might have affected her. And the miscarriage, did she blame herself or him?

When he'd left home, his intention hadn't been to blame her for anything. Abby was having a hard time and while she was his sister, Brian believed she deserved it even though she'd changed. The pain she caused Maggie couldn't go unpunished. What he was worried about was his niece and Thomas. They were innocent and didn't deserve to suffer along with Abby. So all he wanted to do was open Maggie's eyes to the truth that she could take her revenge on his sister but she should keep in mind that two other people would also be suffering.

He would be a hypocrite if he asked her to forgive Abby. He himself couldn't bring himself to do that. She'd been cruel to both him and Maggie when they hadn't done anything to deserve that cruelty. It had taken him three years to even say hi to her. When she'd been in the hospital after being attacked, he hadn't gone to see her. Their parents had pleaded with him but he'd told them that he would do anything except forgive her. Although he'd put the past behind him now, their relationship would never be the same. He didn't hate her anymore. That alone was progress.

His ringing phone made him come to a halt. Brian took it out of his pocket knowing it was probably Denise. When he'd left home, she had screamed and yelled at him for going after his ex girlfriend. Apparently he was looking for all and any excuses to see Maggie. Which wasn't a lie but he wasn't about to admit that. What he did do, was tell her to calm down and be rational or leave him if she couldn't trust him. That dialed her down a bit but sooner or later she was going to start complaining again. Without thinking of the consequences, he ignored her call and turned off his phone. She could go ahead and do her worst.

The next day he woke up early and went to Maggie's house again. This time he didn't knock or go anywhere near the entrance. He stood on the other side of the road, well, hid behind a tree was more like it. The house behind him had a 'for sale' sign so he didn't have to worry about anyone exposing him. What worried Brian was his mental health. He'd left home without a care even though he knew this could put his job in jeopardy. If the board members found out he'd left the country for personal reasons without informing anyone, they would all be pissed. Most of them still thought he was too young to be a CEO and were always watching his movements.

It was understandable since they were looking out for their money, but most of the times he felt suffocated. Like he couldn't even fart in peace. The funny thing was that he'd gotten used it. He could listen to those old men all day long while they did nothing but criticize him. Deep down he'd accepted his fate. Maggie was the only one who knew how to turn his world upside down. He'd gotten on a plane to come talk to her when he could have called her or done something from home. The man protecting her had made it clear that he was more powerful. That didn't mean Brian had no power.

He could pull strings and get her a job that would require her to go back home. In fact, he could have done all sorts of things instead of flying here but since he was already there, nothing could be done to change anything. There was a balcony facing him with what looked to be an outdoor dining table. If today was his lucky day, she would decide to eat her breakfast outside.

An hour later Brian decided it wasn't his lucky day. Coming out from behind the tree, he took a step forward to leave, when the front door opened. Maggie who was in the process of stepping outside froze. They locked eyes for a second before he stumbled back and hid behind the tree again. There was no reason for him to hide. This was his chance to talk to her but all of a sudden he wanted to disappear. Apparently he didn't have the courage to face her.

So this was what it had come to. Him acting like a stalker. Peeping to see if she was coming his way, he saw her going to the next house. She must not have seen him or something more important caught her attention. Either way he was grateful. He didn't want her to catch him embarrassing himself like that. He would rather meet and talk to her on familiar ground. Which meant he was going to pull some strings and hopefully everything would work in his favor.

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Maggie wondered if she was hallucinating. Surely that couldn't have been Brian. She was older and wise enough to realize he wouldn't follow her all the way to here. In all honesty, a part of her had hoped he would go looking for her when she'd left five years ago. That was how stupid she'd been back then. Even with all the anger and hate she felt towards him, she had still hoped he would follow her. Every time anyone called out her name, her heart had skipped a bit thinking it was him.

But he hadn't. So why would he do that now? Besides he was engaged to someone else. He had already moved on and forgotten about her. She was the only one who still wasted her time thinking about him. And that just wouldn't do, not when she had someone too. Stephan had made it clear that he loved her. Yesterday he'd promised to help her with whatever she needed. He was the only one on her side now. Thinking about someone who didn't care about her was being unfair to him.

She turned to see if there was any sign he was home. From where she was standing, she could see his kitchen and there was a woman moving around it as if she was in her own home. It might have been one of his employees or one of the girls he worked with. Even his secretary. But Maggie didn't think that. All she could see was a woman in his house. Banging her door close, she stormed over. Since she didn't want to alert anyone of her presence because she wanted to catch them unawares, she tiptoed inside and went straight to the kitchen.

"I don't understand why you are being stubborn daddy. She doesn't want anything to do with us. Let's go home and forget about her"

Amy?

Why was she in Stephan's house? How long had she been living there? And why hadn't Stephan told her about it? That aside, was she trying to convince her father to forget about her? Maggie flattened herself beside the door. She'd thought she could be friends with Amy but it turned out that witch didn't like her at all. She was convincing her.... Their father to leave and forget about her while she pretended to be okay with having a sister. Why?

Maggie believed she had a right to act out. If that man really loved her then he wouldn't judge her or point fingers. He was the one who'd left her in the first place. If he hadn't stopped looking for her he would have found her a long time ago. Then, who's to say Amy would even exist? How dare she incite her father to leave her behind?

"Except for Jamie's, everything else should be divided among them equally"

Straightening from the wall, she walked in, pretending to look for Stephan. They both saw her and stopped what they were doing "Oh, you're still here?" she asked pretending to know they were there all along.

"Maggie..." Mr. Miller said getting up.

"Good. I was about to ask Stephan for your contact info but now that you're here, let's talk"

"Okay"

"Daddy!" Amy screeched "She literally told the whole country that you don't want her. Why are you still listening to her?"

"Calm down Jamie. Let's hear her out first"

As if she was some stranger getting ready to ask them for something. Who told them she needed them? Maggie scoffed and said "I'm not here to beg any of you for your love or affection. I've lived my whole life without knowing you existed so I'm not about to start needing you now. But since you are the one who wants to have a relationship with me, I'll indulge you"

"Thank you for giving me a chance my child"

"On one condition" she added as an afterthought.

"What do you want?"

"Jamie's"

There was silence for a while then they both asked in unison "What?"

"You heard me. I want Jamie's" the fury on Amy's face made her feel a little better. Let her know what it felt like to not have something. She'd been spoiled all her life and it was time for her to know the pain of losing the one thing she really wanted.

"No. That store is mine. My mother started it just for me and I'm not giving it to you or anyone else. Daddy has a lot of properties and businesses. Choose one of those or take all of them. I don't care. Just don't think about sinking your claws in what's mine" Amy bellowed

"That's precisely why I want it. Because it's the only thing you won't give up"

"Then think again because daddy knows that's mine and he won't give it to you. Right daddy?"

"I won't force him to do anything he doesn't want to" Maggie cut in before Mr. Miller spoke up "It's your property. You decide who to give it to. Your darling daughter who's had everything since she was born, or your illegitimate daughter, who has suffered all her life because you stopped looking for her. You should sit down and decide who deserves it more"

"God, you're such a bitch. Emotionally blackmailing your own father? That's how far you're gone Maggie. Besides, why the hell do you want Jamie's? You know nothing about it. If daddy hands it over, you would run it to the ground in no time"

Maggie snapped her fingers "Exactly. Now I have no doubt that we're sisters since we think alike. The second that store is in my hands, I will do everything in my power to ruin it. Ashes, that is all that will be left behind"

"You...."

"Stop it Jamie. That's enough" Mr. Miller said.

"Now you're taking her side daddy?"

"You say that as if only your feelings should be considered here. Here's my father too Amy. I want him to take my side now since he's been on yours all these years"

"You fucking bitch! I won't let you have anything that belongs to me"

"Finally, you show your true colors"

"Stop it both of you. Just stop it!"

Amy huffed and left, leaving Maggie to feel all victorious. She wasn't going to allow anyone to trample on her ever again "On second thought, I think I like our little family. At this rate, we would end up fighting over every little thing. A classic Kenyan family. Did you know that back home others end up killing each other over a piece of land? I can't wait to see who will win and how she will do it" taking the cup of coffee he had been drinking earlier, she lifted it in the air and toasted him "May the best daughter win. Right daddy?"

"I know you're doing this because you're hurt but it's not Maggie. Making others bleed because you can't get your heart to stop bleeding isn't the way to go about it"

"You're one to talk. Did it ever occur to you that you are to blame for all my misfortunes? Starting with my birth mother killing herself?"

"It's a burden I will carry forever Maggie"

"Good for you. Since you know that, then you should be thanking the heavens that I'm not coming after you. As a matter of fact, I want nothing to do with you. Hand over Jamie's to me then disappear from my life. I will consider the debt you owe me repaid"

"I believe you took after your mother in everything. She was beautiful, kind, gentle and had a good heart. So I'm confident deep down you're also like that. Which is why I won't give up on you. I did that once and it cost me so much. I'm not about to make the same mistake twice. Jamie's will be under your name as soon as I get hold of my lawyer"

"I wouldn't expect anything less" she said then spun around and left.

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Maggie's shooting without having an aim. Who do you think will be her next target?

I'm having fun throwing all these curve balls. 90% of the time even I don't know who our girl will pick. I'd like to hear your guesses 🤔