CHAPTER THREE

Sophia's POV

The next day, in the morning, I woke up all cheerful although I was still a little worried, I took my bath and sat before my mirror. It was different from the one I had.

In fact, a lot of work had been done to my room while I was away, which changed it for the better. It no longer had a wardrobe standing in the bedroom but it had a dressing room in it.

So it was that I had my room which had a dressing room in it that had a bathroom in it too. I checked the time and discovered that I was getting late. 

Dad was taking me to SGHC, short for Sophia Grace Hospital Centre, a growing hospital as it was started when I was in India. I had never been to the hospital before and that very day was going to be the very first for me to set foot in the hospital premises. 

First impressions, they say always count a lot so if I had to go to the hospital, I needed to look smart and beautiful in a totally different way.

****

I don't know how long, but I knew for sure that I had spent more than fifteen minutes, searching through my dresses for a suitable outfit. After a thorough search, I decided to go for a pink blazer with pink tight pants. Colours boost your looks while the clothes you put on boost your appearance.

It was a quick selection but the best as I looked radiant and simple in it.

(Tony chirps in "you mean bossy" he says and everyone laughs excluding Sophia who gets a little offended by it but shrugs it off as he was right.)

The ponytail I tied my hair into, boosted my looks and appearance even the more. 

****

On my way out of the house, dad called and I scoffed annoyed. I saw them on the dining when I was climbing down the stairs and decided not to join, talkless of eating with them. Stepmother had turned her face away and continued eating like she never saw me, but she was the least to get me irritated on that morning. 

"Join us." Dad said and I shook my head in disapproval after looking at the faces that were with him.

"Sorry dad!" I politely declined. "I might just puke on my food due to some ugly things around." I added and walked away not minding him yelling my name. 

*****PRESENT*****

"It hurt you know." Cindy chirps in.

"I do. I was full of hatred and anger back then that I was ready to sit with dogs rather than sitting with you guys." She replies.

"Well you know hatred can make you do something crazy and stupid. It's not a good thing." 

"Mom stop cutting the story already." Alex groans earning chuckles from all of them.

"Why are you so much interested in knowing it?" 

"So I can tell my friends about it." He turns to face Cynthia on whom's laps he sits on. "Right aunt?" He asks and she rubs his head playfully.

"I love stories and you know how I can behave when a story is interrupted." Cynthia says while Sophia nods in agreement. 

*************************************

I walked to where my cars were parked and entered a BMW. I waited for close to 30mins before dad opened the door of the rear seat where I was.

"Dad you delayed." I scolded as soon as he entered the car.

"Don't sound harsh here. I was taking my breakfast with your mom and siblings when you decided to ditch your family."

"Dad_ please. I don't have a mother neither do I have siblings. So please_" I scoffed and rested my head on the chair. I was so not going to enjoy my ride if dad kept talking about those devils.

*few minutes later*

We arrived at our destination_ SGHC. I was so excited and so was dad. Hopefully, he avoided any family related stuff.

"Are you ready to explore your world?" Dad asked and I nodded in a broad smile..

"Great." I squealed excitedly and we stepped out of the car and headed into the big building. 

Many of the doctors and nurses stood at the entrance to welcome us. I smiled and walked my way into the massive hospital of mine. 

I gasped in awe with my jaws dropped. It was almost a heaven which made me wonder why it was ranked 5th best hospital when it actually was supposed to be ranked first. 

But, I'm here now to make it the best not just in all of Atlanta, Georgia but in the whole wide world - I thought.

The managing director of this hospital, Mr Jean showed us round. We were taken to various wards, surgical rooms, the gynaecology building, the children's block, many other places. The hospital was not just big but it was very organized. 

I was busy admiring the hospital that I didn't notice the crew had gone further in front. 

I rushed to meet up with them when I bumped into someone.

"Oh Lord!" I whispered not loud enough even for me to hear. I stood up on my own and wanted to go but I decided to look at the person that pushed me and I was shocked but didn't express it.

"Oh!" I exclaimed lackadaisical. "So it's you." I added

"Yes, me. Any problem?" He asked and I rolled my eyes. 

"So he can talk!" So I thought but I did it out loud.

"Yes I can talk, silly." He answered and I arched a brow.

"Really!! I actually thought you were deaf and dumb since you couldn't raise an objection to our arranged marriage." I said with a sly smile and he scoffed.

Tony's POV

When she bumped into me, I thought she was not going to recognise me but I was wrong because my image was stored unaltered in her mind. Cindy always told me of how bossy and annoying she could be but I didn't see it that way.

I actually saw a little kid who was trying to act tough by overacting the rude type of a girl. It was very obvious with her speech because she was so abusive with her words. She even called me deaf and dumb but I didn't care much because I wanted to stop the wedding at all cost.

"You know what, I don't know why you are here but I want you out of this building this very minute." She told me in her sly smile. I returned the very smile to her surprise.

"It seems you didn't_"

"Oh I did get you very well." I interrupted. "You want to drive me out of my property." I said and she furrowed her eyes.

"What in the worlds are you talking about?" She asked and I chuckled. 

"This is my hospital. I own here. I boss here." She added.

"Sorry cutie pie. I also own here." I replied still in that sly smile. Her face was in a complete frown now.

"Well, why don't you go ask your dear daddy over there?" I added and with that said, I left her standing gobsmacked. 

I walked out on her satisfied that the little I said said shut her mouth.

Sophia's POV

"What's going on? He just walked out on me." I thought very confused.

I was too shocked by his last phrase that I couldn't utter another word as he was standing in front of me.

"Well, why don't you go ask your dear daddy over there." He tilted his head to his back and walked away to the main exit. 

"What did he mean by 'he also owned here.'?" I wondered. 

I had made up my mind to go ask dad as he asked me to do.

"Princess."  I heard dad's voice which startled me. I sighed, placing my hands gently on my chest patting it gently. 

"You scared me dad." I groaned but he laughed instead. 

"I came here because I didn't find you with me and the committee assigned to show you round." He said and I shrugged. 

Maybe what that Tony guy said is nothing. 

He's just trying to intimidate me and I won't let him.

"I'm sorry dad. I got distracted." I apologized and followed him. We continued our hospital tour...

~~~

Some minutes later, we decided to go back home but not after my dad exchanging pleasantries on both our behalves. 

I stood there and smiled perfectly faked smiles, as soon as their eyes met mine. 

Others that did look at me in the eyes stared deeply into them and I'm sure they were dazzled at my eye colour.

"Seriously Mr Devale, I've never seen someone with such charming eyes. Did she colour them?" A certain woman asked and I rolled away my eyes. 

"Actually, my daughter had these eyes from when she was born. And I comprehend it not." Dad replied on my behalf. 

I just smiled to avoid some embarrassing questions.

I'm beginning to think I should better change my eye colours.

 But who am I kidding? I love my rare eye colour.

"If only she wasn't engaged, I would have married her." One man of my dad's age said and I scoffed.

"I mean her eyes are so charming. So hypnotic." He added. 

I cleared my throat, "Don't drool for too long.__ You barely have few years to live __so don't waste your eyes away on me." I half-yelled to his hearing and he frowned.

Now that's what I call quick to anger.