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Catherine's POV:

I stood in the luggage area with a template of Talia's name raised. The girl insisted that I pick her up from the airport and I have no objection.

She won't allow anything other than a 'yes'.

My best friend is crazy.

"Zooming out on me are we?" A voice asked and I quickly snapped out of my thoughts.

I wrapped my hands around her waist and hugged her to myself "I missed you so much,"

She laughed and patted my back.

"I've missed you too girl friend, you look good." She said and I smiled.

Do I?

I don't think so.

I placed her suitcase inside the trunk of my car and walked around the car to climb on the driver's seat.

"Wow, I don't remember the last time I came to London, it has been so long. the last time I came here was with my father and that was when I was I think 12 or 13," Talia said while glancing at the window.

"You have been to so many places you even fly when you were just 12 that is wonderful, not many people can say that I can't imagine the number of people wishing to leave their home country and go to the country of their choice but finances and all the circumstances kept them back it is so sad whenever I think about the possibility of such thing happening."

Talia sighed softly "I am hungry do you have something that I can eat at home or can we just go to a nearby restaurant and eat." She queried.

Talia has always been a hater I remember when I was in New York whenever I visit her house she always has different foods that she is going to eat it is crazy though because after consuming such amounts of food she remains the same our body shape remains the same such a strong gene.

"Of course I had Margaret make a special food for you and it is our own so you don't have to worry," I responded.

I'm still with my mum she didn't let me leave when I wanted to she said I'm going to be staying at the mansion for some time. I guess she is worried about me because of all the things that happened and me thinking it is just her being careful.

I drove inside the compound and park the car in the garage before coming down.

"I can't believe that you had summer break before us it is crazy we are just starting the exams," I said to her when she got out of the car.

"Well, the academic system between the United States of America and the United Kingdom is not the same thing they don't do things in the same cell the academic system will be different too," Talia responded and yawned.

She glanced around the huge compound and her eyes widened.

"Catherine baby, I don't want to sound as if I am nagging you just immediately after I stepped into your compound but I'm confused. You and your mother are in this heavy situation that you don't even know if you're going to come out of it intact, f*** that you don't even know if you're going to come out of it alive but here you are living in this big mansion when you can do with a penthouse. what the f*** do you and your mum and Margaret need this big house for? I mean it's good it's beautiful but you are not in the kind of situation where you need to show off.

Baby, I know that you didn't buy it nor know when it was bought but you have to advise your mum, do away with the things that you don't need much do away with the expensive shits and sort out your problem first." Talia advise.

I don't find what she said offensive because she was right we need to spend as little as we can afford our budget is very low at this point scratch that we don't even have a budget at this period we have to do away with the things that are too big for example the house and the expensive cars in the garage.

I walked around the car and opened the trunk "you are right I'm going to talk to my mum about it but before doing that I have to get you inside and feed you before you faint on me."

She laughed and shook her head. "Indeed."

When working inside the house mum was sitting down so the living room with her laptop on her lap.

"Hi Mom, when did you get back I thought you said you're going to be late today." She raised her head and frowned.

"I had something to sort out and all so I didn't stay long at the office." She said, her eyebrows still pulled together in a deep frown. "And who is your friend?"

Why is she angry? I've done nothing wrong.

"Or she is Talia Scott my best friend from New York." I retorted.

She nodded and stood up from the couch, her laptop on her arm.

"It's nice to meet you, Talia," she said and forced out a smile. I know that it was forced because it didn't reach her eyes. "Catherine, can I see you in my room?"

I glanced at Talia and she raised her eyebrows but I just smiled at her.

"I will take your off suitcase upstairs to my room and Margaret will serve you food while I am away," I told her and then turned to look at Margaret who just walked inside the room. "I told Talia about the food you prepared so serve the food to her while I take care of things."

I carried the suitcase and follow Mom.

when I got to have one she was sitting down on the bed but she seemed restless.

"I don't understand what is going on in your head Catherine Meyers, we are in huge debt, we are in trouble and here you are bringing your friends over. For what? I don't understand what is going on in your head sometimes." She said and I frowned. I didn't like what she was insinuating.

"Let me get this straight, you went and get a loan from the bank and now we are in trouble, we are on the verge of losing our father's company and losing our house, and getting our bank accounts frozen. I am depressed. I fainted and was in the hospital for 24 hours and my friend..... my best friend offered to come over and offered me her support and here you are denying me of that. I just don't understand what you want me to do, what do you want from me Mom?" I asked, I was almost on the verge of crying.

I don't know I don't like getting angry I don't like being mad because sometimes when I'm angry I say something that I don't want to say and I am in such a situation right now.

I know that Mom took the loan from the bank for the betterment of the company that Dad left behind but the way I said it makes it seems as if she used the money for something else and that wasn't what I meant.

"What... What did you just say to me? What did you just say to me?" She asked in shock.

"I'm sorry Mom, I was just angry and couldn't control myself, I am sorry for the insensitive speech it won't happen again." I apologized.

"Save your f****** damn apologies to yourself! Do you know what happened at the office today? do you care to know? I got a message from Veronica Hampton she sent someone to me to give me an envelope and deliver a voicemail do you know what the envelope contained? your ex-boyfriend s wedding invitation and also her telling me that I have less than 6 hours to tell her my decisions about her buying the company so tell me do I also need to worry about someone else in my f****** house other than you?" She bellowed.

What? I didn't hear her right. No, I didn't.

Ace. ... My Ace... Is getting married?

"He is getting married?" I whispered asked.

"He is getting married on Saturday next week. Godam it, Catherine, I am going crazy over here." Mom said but I barely heard her.

I didn't know what to do, it was like everything faded to the background. It was like a cruel joke was said to me.

I didn't want to believe anything Mom told me. I want to believe that she was just lying to me.

Ace is getting married. He is getting married to Chelsey.

I felt numb.

I felt tired.

I felt my body leaving me as I slumped to the ground and close my eyes.

I fainted. Again.

What the fuck is going on with me?