The Highlander Cherokee jeep that had been sent to come pick her up for the party rolled into the driveway of the glamorously exquisite castle that was the Caspian-Asiegbus family home on Sunday night. The house was lit decoratively with Christmas lights to favor the festive mood of the day. The house was full with family and friends of the Caspian-Asiegbus and a few close acquaintances.

Sara was a little apprehensive about coming to this house, since the last time had been that very day she was forced to give up her son. The valet pulled open the car door, allowing her to climb out. She stood at the beginning of the pathway for a few minutes, convincing herself that she was here strictly by invitation. No one would humiliate her for showing up uninvited all those weeks ago. The celebrant himself had personally requested to see her.

She ran a nervous hand through her shoulder-length weaves, loving the feel of the hair in her fingers. She continued her search down the length of her silver sequined gown with plunging neckline that accentuated her full breasts, briefly wondering if she had overdressed. She had paired it with dangling silver earrings and silver bracelet. Juliet had helped her get ready, claiming she was going to that party to win Lucas’s heart since she had admitted to herself that she may have fallen in love with him too.

Slowly, she placed one black stiletto covered leg in front of the other and walked determinedly to the house. She walked up to the door, ready to be swept away by the exquisite of the interior that always left her breathless.

The cobbled pathway led directly to the heavy oak double door which was wide open now and manned by a butler who directed guests into the house. Past the door, she was ushered into the foyer that was lined by ceramic white tiles that invariably covered the floors as was the off-white and cream colours that lined the walls of the house. Directly in front of her was the twin staircase that branched separately off the two sides of the house leading majestically into the first and second floors where the rooms were. She still remembered exactly which room was Lucas's.

To her left was the passageway that led to a massive ultramodern kitchen, a pantry and the servants quarters. She knew Mrs Caspian-Asiegbu loved cooking and always demanded her kitchen spotless and sparkling at all times. The pantry was indirectly another name for 'free food' as it was habit for some of the servants to disappear some foodstuffs without the knowledge of their employers. But it didn't even matter since the bosses hardly cared about it.

Although there was a hallway barricaded by heavy iron doors that led straight ahead to the lawn area where the party was taking place, her attention was diverted to her right, to the hallway that led into the elegance that was known as the living area.

The living area had a huge sparkling chandelier hanging from the ceiling, illuminating it. There was a two-way step-down that led into the massive living room and further to her right was the dinning area and a few paces later revealed the study.

The room had four red couches, three white sofas and two ebony armchairs all arranged alternatively in a nonagonal manner around the circular glass center table that was placed on top a black and gold patterned carpet. An LED TV, huge speakers, and a home theatre system adorned the right side of the room closest to where she stood, and was directly facing a set of three arch windows that overlooked the lawn area, bathing the room with a warm feel.

Paintings and family portraits adorned the room at strategic positions, giving off the feel of a happy family, which they undoubtedly were. There was a potrait of the parents dressed in traditional attires in one of the numerous chieftaincy title taking placed directly above a sofa. The next portrait that hung above an armchair was of the two children; Lucas and Amanda. He was dressed in an immaculate white suit and Amanda in a floor-sweeping white lace gown. The aura of wealth was exuding heavily from that picture judging by the majestic pose they striked.

Sara strolled to the next portrait that was at the far left of the room and hovering over a couch. It was at Lucas's graduation party where he was the best graduating student. He wore the black graduation gown with red lapels and was smiling exuberantly at the camera. Amanda had his graduation cap on her head with a goofy smile on her face. His father dressed in suit was all smiles as he held his son across the shoulders, while his mother, Hailey, who stood next to her daughter smiled mistly at the camera. It was obvious he was a mommy's boy. The look on his family's face screamed extra proud and Sara couldn't help feeling her heart swell that this man loved her.

She was still admiring the painting when an excited squeal had her whirling around in shock.

"Sara! You came!" Freddie screamed from the top of the step-down, hopping from one foot to the other.

She beamed at his happy disposition as he ran to her. She squatted down to allow him run into her arms and he happily obliged. "I missed you, Freddie," she said cheerfully, squeezing him tight.

He giggled when they broke apart, his eyes brimming with sheer joy. "You really came." And then studying her from head to toe, mumbled shyly, "You're pretty!"

She blushed at his charms. Like father like son, she thought. "Thank you. And you look very handsome in your suit," she replied commenting on his black, perfect cut tuxedo with bowtie.

He smiled and then linked his fingers with hers. "I want to show you my papa. He likes you!" Sara swallowed hard at his remark.

Papa was Grandpa Fred and he didn't just like her, he doted on her. He also called her 'My mother' in a way that signified she resembled Lucas's great grandmother, Isabella. Isabella was pretty, strong and smart, having grown up in the slums too, only to have the misfortune of marrying the self-acclaimed billionaire and dictator, Caspian Asiegbu. The crazy man had married her after having called off his engagement to his partner's daughter a week earlier, just to spite the man for trying to dupe him. She had then gone through hell after that, but survived with 55 years of peaceful marriage and four children, in which Frederick was her youngest child and only son.

Grandpa Fred always believed Sara was stronger than she looked, claiming that she was just the perfect woman to put the reins on his wayward grandson. She had believed it too at the time, but it hadn't worked out, she reasoned ruefully.

They were strolling through the small hallway that led out from the living room when she saw him. He was looking elegant and dashing in a Tuxedo similar to his son's. His face wrinkled up into a smile when their eyes met. Slowly he made his way to her.

"You're so beautiful!" He murmured, barely taking his gaze off her.

She grinned at his compliment before blushing. "You're not bad looking yourself."

"I aim to please," he remarked, winking at her.

He reached out for her arm when Freddie who had been silent during the whole exchange piped up. "I'm taking Sara to go see Papa Fred," he intoned, attempting to drag her off.

Lucas frowned at his son. "Don't worry. I'll take her. You go on and play with Tobi. He's been looking for you."

Freddie shook his head in disagreement. "I want to stay here with Sara."

Sara stared at the pair thoughtfully before attempting to diffuse the situation. "Freddie, why don't you go play with Tobi? I'll stay here and talk with your father. Then I'll come get you later and we'll go see your papa Fred. Is that alright with you?"

He looked into her eyes and grinned. He didn't even think about it. "OK!" He affirmed, running straight for the stairs on the right side and heading to the direction of the small theatre room where the other children supposedly were.

"I should probably hire you as my right hand man when I go for hostile bid takeovers," he remarked, impressed with her skills as he linked his arm with hers.

She grimaced at the image, quietly falling into step beside him. "I'll rather not. It sounds bloody."

Then they fell silent, each deep in thought.

"I'm glad you decided to come. It means a lot to my grandpa and to Freddie. And definitely to me." He spoke up and then smiled at her, reaching out to scratch the back of his hair.

"Grandpa Fred has always been like my father. Despite everything that happened, he's still my family. It would be awful on my part to not accept."

"How is he? I've not seen him in five years." She asked, shifting the topic away from them.

He nodded, smiling at her question. "He's alright. Still mischievous, still nonchalant, it sometimes makes you wonder how he managed to make a name for himself in the petroleum industry. He's also got a new partner in crime, Freddie. It's a disaster when they are together. No one is safe from their pranks, not even me."

"Really? But you were his other half!" She cried in disbelief. Those two were peas in a pod when they were still married five years ago.

He shrugged, smiling at the memory. "I was, but I got invested in numerous projects and he spent more time with Freddie, so they pushed me out of the boat, figuratively and literally."

She burst out laughing at that. Freddie had told her the tale the night she had slept over at his mansion. Apparently, he was too busy to enjoy the holidays with them so Papa Fred had taken them on a cruise. They led him up to deck claiming they had a surprise for him, right before pushing him into the freezing water below. That ended their pranking trio, and the two Fredericks had bonded like glue after.

They had reached the massive lawn now, where the meet-and-greet was being held. Slowly, they made their way along, pausing to greet guests. A few people remembered her, mainly because she was with Lucas, the majority not so much. It wasn't awkward like she had assumed. Most of the guest had been too invested in the older Caspian-Asiegbus to bother much about Lucas's life and for that she was grateful. Soon though they rounded the guests to meet his parents. Eric and Hailey Caspian-Asiegbu.

Eric at 58 had dark chocolate skin, with low cut Afro hair and aquiline dark features his son had inherited. He looked domineering from his gaze and showed that during business negotiations, but he was a soft plush toy around his family. Being born into wealth, and having privileged education, he had used it to acquire more wealth expanding the family's petroleum business.

Eric was a proud man who stood his ground when he ignored his father's choice to marry a Nigerian girl and went ahead to marry his long time American love, Hailey Johnson. It caused friction in the house for some years, seeing that he had married her overseas and had children, Lucas and Amanda, before returning back to the country. Once he became a billionaire, the oppositions died down instantly realizing the man was rich enough to make his word ‘law’. He was super proud when his 22 year old son had brought up investing in petrochemicals and making his first billions two years later, thus adding petrochemicals to the company their grandfather, Frederick, built and more wealth to the Caspian-Asiegbu name.

Hailey, on the other hand, was noticeably different from her husband. She was a black American with mocha fair skin living in New Jersey with her Parents and her two sisters Eleanor and Sophia. She was tall for a lady, being 5'10 with long curly auburn hair, almond-shaped hazel brown eyes, thinly dipped nose and small full lips. She was slender and graceful looking, and doted on her family very much. It didn't reflect in her mannerisms that she was the wife of a billionaire since she had come from an average family that instilled contentment in her.

She met Eric in her second year of college in the University of Chicago and their relationship had blossomed immediately. She had fallen hopelessly in love with him despite her family telling her he was a Nigerian man who would one day return to his family. They had gotten married immediately she graduated and Lucas, her son was born a year later. Amanda, her daughter had followed two years later. Then she was torn with grief when Eric had insisted they return home because he was needed at the company. She had been so angry she had threatened to divorce him but changed her mind at the last minute because of her children. She had left with him back to Nigeria and never regretted it ever since.

Today, Eric was wearing a bespoke dark green dress shirt and pants called kaftan which was enriched with intricate designs and pattern, while Hailey donned an Olive green halter neck chiffon gown that brushed against her feet which was clad in black heeled shoes. Her curly long hair was tied into a bun similar to her daughter's hairstyle, giving off the look that she appeared a lot younger than she actually was. They had always been as loving and charming as they looked to all and sundry.

Now as Sara stood in front of the couple, she couldn't decipher what they were thinking. They had doted on her when she was married to their son, showering her with love and affection and gifts. They had welcomed her with open arms, but her divorce had torn that understanding between them and she didn't quite know if they were friends or foes.

"Hello Mr. Eric, Mrs. Hailey. I'm honored to be here." She greeted politely, gauging their reactions.
Which was shock, considering that it took them a few minutes to reply.

"Hello, Sara. I didn't know you and Lucas were back together," Eric said icily, looking between his son and his ex daughter-in-law.

Hailey stroked his arm gently, in a calming manner. "It's my fault, honey. I forgot to mention it to your hearing that she and Lucas have some kind of arrangement about Freddie," she explained.

Eric frowned then, obviously not liking the sound of that. "Arrangement about Freddie? What sort of arrangement?" Freddie was his only grandchild and he was very protective over him. Besides, Sara had lost their trust with that embezzlement case five years ago.

Lucas stepped in, cutting off his mother's reply. "It's a custody agreement. She demanded to be back in his life and I agreed. Don't worry, we're handling it quietly. It's more of testing the waters first," he explained, staring his father down and preventing him from throwing a scalding remark. His father could be caustic once he perceived someone as a threat against his family.

Eric held his gaze but seemed to calm down as he said. "I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. A mother never forgets her child."

Turning to look at Sara, his features grim, he said, pointing at his son. "I'm only allowing this because he thinks it's a good idea. If you hurt my grandson, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to, just to seek my revenge."

Sara nodded at the hostile air hovering over above her head before lifting her chin. "I only want what's best for him. That's why we agreed to not tell him anything yet until we are sure. He's my son and I'll never purposely hurt him."

Eric nodded, having nothing else to say before clasping his wife's arm in his. "I believe my father invited you so I'm not surprised. Enjoy the rest of the evening Sara. You too, son," he said.

Lucas nodded at him, bending to kiss his mother's cheeks before they walked away. It was a silent thanks to her for being diplomatic and not adding retorts to the tense atmosphere.

Sara expelled a breath she didn't know she was holding in a loud whoosh. She heard a chuckle and turned to find Lucas grinning at her.

"You look like you just saw a ghost," he said, laughing at her.

She scowled at him, hitting his arm playfully while laughing slightly. "I'll admit I didn't think they would be so cordial with me. I thought it would be awkward, you know, with the divorce and the fraud case."

He nodded, still smiling. "Why would you think that? Just because we split up doesn't mean it affected much people. Heck, I doubt people even bothered their heads over us, including my parents. They are only worried about Freddie's well-being. That's all."

Sara nodded, realizing he was right. They probably didn't give tuppence about her or her existence, so her fears that her presence would arise complications had been unfounded.

He looked across the lawn, his eyes settling on something before saying. "Come on, let's go meet Grandpa Fred. I'm sure he's dying to meet his sweetheart." He muttered the last part sarcastically.

~~~~~~~~

How many of you missed Freddie? I did 😄. I missed my hazel brown-eyed candy-craving sweetheart. 🍫🍬🍭

Grandpa Fred is a character alright. You'll see what I mean in the next chapter. And it's pretty obvious he and Lucas are not best of friends right now.

My theory: Introduce an annoying character to spice up the humour in this book.😛😝

What do you think about the Caspian-Asiegbus? I imagined The Onwukas in Wedding Party as them. 😂😂

Remember that votes and comments are the backbone of this book. So contribute your quota.

Thank you 😍😘