When Jeff stord into the house, his face was flushed with anger and frustration. The weight of his financial troubles was crushing him, and he was ready to lash out at anyone who crossed his path.
Lottie, oblivious to his mood, was busy unpacking her shopping bags in the living room. "Honey, I got you that new tie you wanted," she said, a smile on her face.
Jeff stared around the living room which was strewn with tissue and shopping bags from na brand store, his anger flared. "Tie? Are you even serious right now?" He roared.
Lottie’s smile faded. "What did I do wrong? You said you needed a new tie."
Jeffe paced about in frustration, "We are drowning in debt, my neck is on the line and you are buying ties? What is wrong with you?"
Lottie jumped out of her seat. "I know, Jeff, I know. But sotis, a little retail therapy is very important and it helps ."
"Help?" Jeff scoffed. "Help? We are going to have to sell this house, Lottie. Sell everything we own. And even then, we are probably not going to be able to pay off that loan."
Lottie’s eyes widened in horror. "Sell the house? But this is our ho, i don’t want us to sell it."
"Well, it is about to be our forr ho," Jeff corrected. "Unless you have a better idea that will take us out of this ss."
He sat down tiredly in a chair. "If you did not have to attend every single gala in town and rub your shoulders with all the important people in the city we would not be in this ss."
"?" Lottie screeched, "are you saying that it is my fault? Who wanted to buy luxury cars and wristwatches?" She taunted.
They both went silent then Jeff spoke. "There is no point pointing fingers and assigning bla. We are in this together and unless we find a solution we are done for."
Lottie thought for a mont. "What about Lyse?" she suggested. "She just got married to a wealthy man. Surely she should be able to help us out."
Jeff scoffed. "Lyse? That is a long shot. We treated her terribly in the past. Why would she want to lift even a finger to help us now? I an, she did not even talk to us after that marriage."
Lottie persisted. "Because we are family and you don’t turn your back on family. It’s worth a shot."
Jeff hesitated. He knew that Lottie was right. Lyse might be their only hope. But he was still hesitant to reach out to her. The guilt and sha of their past actions weighed heavily on him.
Even though he had not outright hurt her, he had always looked the other way when she was getting mistreated which was as bad as hurting her.
"Fine," he said, finally relenting. "I will call her. But don’t get your hopes up. Maybe Brooke can speak to Brandon on our behalf."
Brandon’s family might not be as wealthy as Lyse’s new husband but he did have so money. The amount he needed was not going to cause a huge dent on his pocket.
"Don’t you think Brandon already has enough on his plate? They spent all that money for the marriage with Lyse and that was a waste and now he is preparing for the wedding with Brooke." Lottie said.
Jeff did not want to have to speak to Lyse about this problem and he was looking at any other alternatives.
"If only Mara had not set the 28th birthday as the date for the last part of her will." He sighed.
"What do you think she will give this ti?" Lottie asked eagerly, her eyes bright with greed.
"Probably another company or so investnt or a lot of money." He thought greedily. "This ti when we receive it we have to ensure that we spend it wisely." Jeff warned.
"Well, no matter what it is. It is still a whole year ahead, you are going to have to call Lyse because I am not going to lose my house."
With a heavy heart, Jeff dialed Lyse’s number. As he waited for her to answer, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. He knew that this was a long shot, but it was their only hope.
*
"So how did she manage to hide for so long?" Ophelia asked after she ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
Edward shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, for one we were not looking for her. And even if we did, she took special care to cover her tracks."
Ophelia paced about the room while grinding her teeth and wanting to pull off her hair. She could still not believe that the problem she had thought was eliminated had been waiting sowhere.
Edward continued. "She changed her na to Mara Williams and married so loser called Jeff, then she died but after giving birth to a baby girl. Maeve’s daughter is called Brooke"
"Brooke?" Ophelia frowned. "I thought her na was Lyse."
"Lyse is allegedly the daughter of Jeff’s lover who he married after Maeve died." Edward explained.
Ophelia threw her hands in exasperation. "What sort of ss have I found myself in? What does this Brooke look like?"
Edward pulled out a picture and handed it it Ophelia who collected it and stared at the girl in the picture.
"This is a joke." She said and looked up at Edward in disbelief. "This girl looks nothing like Maeve, the children must have been switched."
"Actually..." Edward said with a mischievous smirk.
"Out with it already!" Ophelia demanded impatiently.
"There are reports that Jeff’s lover, a woman called Lottie Spade gave birth to a baby girl a year before Maeve gave birth to hers." He explained then took a leisurely drink, knowing that his actions were irritating Ophelia.
"Maeve Aka Mara left behind so tidy sum for her daughter, I guess it was easier for them to just switch the girls so that Lottie’s daughter would get all the benefit."
Ophelia wrinkled her nose in disgust, "Where did Maeve et such lowly people?"
Edward raised an eyebrow at her condescending tone then said, "One might reason that you are just as bad as those lowly people."
Ophelia glared at him then walked out of the room angrily, leaving him chuckling softly.
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