Samie's pov:

7th July, 2020

Beautiful!.... I looked at my well sculpted painting.

The painting of my family. I was going to give this to mum for the event tomorrow.

“I hope they like it…”

I packed my brush and paint, put them where they should be. Packed my hair into a high bun and started cleaning.

I finished cleaning an hour later and started cooking.

I'm not a good cook but I need to do this for mother and her friends.

2 hours later….

Phewwww…. Settled!

I hope they like it.

Mother and her friends came back 30 mins later and settled to eat

“What the hell did you cook, Samie?!”... I heard mother shout from the dining room

She came over and started shouting at me.

Ma, I tried to cook a good meal for you and your friends ma.

“Do you call that food?!”

“I'm sorry, mother”

“What will my friends think of me now? If you didn't know how to cook, why didn't you order in? Are you planning to poison us?”

“I'm sorry, mother…. Please take my card and get anything you want with it”.

She snatched the card from me, hissed and walked off.

I smiled… I'm used to this kind of life.

Sigh….

I took my bath in a rush….

I have to meet my parents. I want to have dinner with them tonight because ,they will probably be busy with the event tomorrow.

I took my painting, “the portrait I made of my family”!

I hope they like it.

I put it in my car and drove off to my parents house.

I got to my parents house after 30 mins of driving

Mum…..

Skylar… I called out…. I'm home!

Where is everyone?...

I glanced at the pictures around the house; just pictures of mum and Skylar were scattered around the house.

Mine was nowhere to be found.

Sigh..

I called mum, hoping to ask where everyone was but she wasn't answering the call.

I decided to call Mr. Kim, Mum's personal assistant.

As I was asking him where everyone was, I picked up the family's calender.

Today was the exhibition!! How come I don't know this?!

No one told me!

“ Mr. Kim, today is the exhibition?”

“Yes, ma'am”

“I didn't know, I thought it was tomorrow”

“It is today ma'am, should I come pick you up?”

“No, don't worry. I brought my car along, I would come myself.”

“I have to pick something up anyway, so let me come pick you.”

“Don't worry, Mr. Kim.. let me help you bring the stuff. I will start coming myself. Just tell me where the stuff is.”

“Alright, thank you ma'am!“

He told me the location of the stuff,took it, then I left the house.

Driving off to the venue of the exhibition.

Ruth Grey, Samie's Stepmother was busy bossing every around.

Samie's husband, Michael was already at the venue making videos of Skylar.

Skylar was being interviewed by reporters and Michael just continued smiling at her. Everything she says brings a smile to Michael's face. He looked smitten!

Ruth was talking to the women from affluent families. They love buying paintings from her.

The Grey family owns a private loan company which is being run by Samie's father; Chris Grey; CEO of Grey's limited.

Back to Samie's pov:

I kept on trying Michael's number to let him know the event is today but he still wasn't picking up.

I got to the entrance and decided to call his office instead, to my surprise, I was told he took the day off; stating he had an important event to attend.

That wasn't the only thing that shocked me, I was told that my husband was planning to resign.

I looked left and there was my Michaels car staring right back at me. I went to the car and I saw the letter outside the car.

What are you thinking, Michael….. sigh.

I took my painting and headed into the gallery with the letter in my pocket.

I remembered what mother said; “Michael wants to resign because of you, he can't stand working for his brother-in-law… That's a shame to him”.

Sigh…

Inside the gallery…

Reporters were asking Chris Grey questions about his company:

“Are you planning to use the paintings in the gallery as collateral to acquire the savings bank in order to save Grey's limited?”

“No, that's not the plan. Grey's limited doesn't need saving.”

“ Some people also said you are planning on using this gallery as a means of making illegal money”

“That's not true, you know people like to gossip, it's merely a rumor that isn't true. We are simply here to enjoy ourselves and celebrate the collaboration of Grey's limited and Grey's Gallery, which will be called Grey's art foundation”.

Michael suddenly came over and handed a cup of champagne to Chris, who in turn handed it over to the reporter.

“Father”.. he greeted

Chris nodded his head to acknowledge him

Back to Samie's pov:

I came over to where my dad and Michael were.

“Father”..

“Oh, you came”...

“Yes, Father”...

“And who's this?” … the reporter asked

I'm Samie Grey, the oldest daughter of Chris Grey and this is my husband Michael!

“You have such a beautiful daughter”.. the reporter said

“Thank you”... Father said

Let's enjoy the event now.

I and my husband were finally alone.

I smiled at him “Thank you” …

“Why?”

“For attending the event even when I forgot about it”

“Oh! That?! Don't thank me”

I smiled sheepishly… I love this man!

He's always right in my eyes

“I have to tell you something after the event, I hope you don't get angry” … Michael said..

“I trust you. I won't get angry”

Michael had a forlorn look on his face like he had a break news to break.

Byee…

I went over to assist with the event.

I looked at the painting of my family I made again and smiled… took a picture of it and decided to send a message to grandfather.

Grandfather doesn't like text messages…

As I was lost in thought, Skylar suddenly jumped on my back, startling me and I clicked the send button.

Gasp.. Oh my God!!

The noise attracted mum to us.

“Wow!.... I didn't know you were such a goal-getter” Skylar said

Huh…

“Did you bring this painting here so that those rich madams can see it and decide to buy it?”

No, that's not the plan, I wanted to give it to you as a gift.

“Scoff…Aren't you married now? Think about your new family and stop thinking of us!”

“You shouldn't be greedy!”

I'm sorry, mother.

“Take it away from here before people start asking.”

“You shouldn't be greedy!”

“That's harsh, mum”.... Skylar chuckled.

But, I'm family too… I said

“What?”

Instead of looking at the painting, can't you see how I feel?

I may not be up to your standard but I worked hard on this, with all of my heart….

“Beautiful!!”....

Some women passing commented on my painting.

“Who's the artist?”

“My oldest daughter, Samie”

“Wow!, so you have such talent and you've been hiding it”

“No, ma'am. Samie say thank you to them!”... Ruth said

Thank you ma'am for appreciating my work.

“It's so beautiful….”

Moments later….

“Don't be angry for what I said earlier, I've been stressed”...

I'm sorry that I misunderstood you, mother.

“We are family.. I would never look down on you”

That statement brought a smile on my face

Family…..

I'll do a good job, mother.. I won't disappoint you!

Mum walked off

“She's so gullible..” Ruth thought to herself and laughed.

My painting was hanged on the wall and people admired it a lot.

I stood in front of the portrait and smiled…. I saw a stain at the corner. As I was about cleaning it, someone appeared “Victor Roman” second son of the Roman Group.

“This is amazing….” He said

“Though, it's a fake even though it appears real”

What do you mean!

Skylar suddenly came over with Michael in tow.

“What are you doing here Victor?”... She asked

“I was studying your sisters painting”

“Good day sir”

Victor nodded to acknowledge Michaels greeting.

Skylar went over to Samie and grabbed her hand.

“Isn't my sister amazing?! I was impressed when I saw it”

“Stop that, Skylar”... Michael chastised her playfully

“What! Shouldn't you be boasting that your wife is so talented? Why are you stopping me? Do you even love my sister?”

“What!!” Michael was speechless

Samie glanced at him.

“Why are you shocked? I heard she confessed to you first.”

“She won't know if you don't express it. Don't you agree, Victor?”

I chipped in….

He doesn't have to express it for me to know he loves me.

“Really? How?”

Because of the time we spent together.

I smiled as I flashed back to a year ago….

1 year ago

It was a rainy day. I stood alone outside and cold.

Suddenly, I saw Michael running towards me with an umbrella

“Samie!”

You came! Michael! I was so happy

Thank you for coming! I hugged him tightly

“What?”

Since you are here, that means you accept my feelings right?

“What?”

I said you should only come pick me up if you accept my feelings and you came. Which means you've accepted my feelings! Thank you!!

“But you said you won't leave the rain if I don't come also”

Anyway…. Thank you for accepting my feelings

“Sure” Michael said and hugged me back.

Victor chuckled…. Bringing me back from my daydream.

“You call that , Love?”... Skylar said

“Love is something you should have conviction about. You should be able to tell if a person actually loves someone from the way he acts around the person he truly loves. Right, Victor?”

Grrrr….. Victor got a call and I left.

Michael didn't follow me.

I decided to go wash my face as what Skylar said kept playing in my head.

I'm overthinking this….. sigh…

I left the toilet and suddenly bumped into Victor on my way out.

Oh, Mr. Roman…. I'm sorry… Are you leaving already?

“Yes! My grandmother fainted”

Oh sorry. Should I help you call Skylar?

“Skylar? Why?”

I thought she was your to-be family… it's only right if she knows

“Scoff.. Are you really that clueless?

What?

“Nevermind”! He was about leaving

Uhm.. I also want to apologize for the previous interaction, my sister was just joking around.

“Are you their mouthpiece?”

What?!

“Are you that dumb or you can't see the way they are treating you?”

They are family….

Victor chucked and suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me closer

“You are really naive! Stop acting dumb, they don't see you as family!”

Let me go, sir!

“I'm sorry” he left my hand and walked away.

I crouched to the ground and thought of what he said….. maybe I'm truly dumb.

Sigh …

I pulled myself together, stood up and continued helping with setting the event up for the charity auction.

Mum overheard her telling the other women about the counterfeits paintings in the gallery and was already panicking because if word gets out, this would be the end of the gallery and she would get arrested.

Mum and her assistant decided to blame everything on me. Saying; I and her assistant Mr. Kim have been in cohorts. She said she wasn't aware her daughter has been doing such and there is evidence in my car.

Mother… I didn't do all this

“Please take the fall for me. I promise to get the best attorney for you. I will get you out of prison soon”

But… mum

This is the real color of the person I call mum….

The police were around already…

I ran away from the place with police following me.

Soon after, I saw Skylar and Michael talking…

“I like you Skylar; I always have”

“What?!”

“I married Samie so I can always be beside you”

Skylar smirked, “I know! I mean, who wouldn't notice? Well, only my dumb sister. I don't know how she can't see it”

“What!”

“But do you think I would like you, lol… keep dreaming “

Gasps……

They both turned and saw me.

“Oh, my Goodness”

Skylar walked away

Michael came after me.

Tell me that what I heard were lies! I shouted at him

“I'm sorry, Samie… that's what I wanted to tell you after the event”

But… but, I thought you wanted to talk about your resignation.

“I'm sorry, Samie”

How could I have been so stupid.

The signs were there..

I saw the police approaching from the corner of my eyes and I ran away from the venue to my car and drove off.

I balled my eyes out

I cried and cried… I couldn't stop

I only want to be loved by people I call family

It shouldn't be this way

This isn't how families treat each other.

I took a sharp turn to the left and I was met with a head on collision.

My car collided with another car

Oh, nooo

I can't die like this….

This isn't fair…

I couldn't even see the person in the other car but his silhouette is familiar.

A truck suddenly came from nowhere and hit both cars… I died or so, I thought…