Chapter 38

But he could not just explain to her that the person that she looks like is Joanna right? A lot of things have been going on in Joanna's life lately, he really did not want her to have to deal with this. "I don't know how you came to the conclusion that I am the bad person but I am not! I won't try to kidnap someone and sell her! That I'm here today, it's really a concidence. I really like the food here! And me stopping you from leaving, well, that is..." Paul could not continue because deep down, he too did not know the reason. He did not know why he was here. And he did not know why he was trying to stop her. What is he even doing right now?
Just then, Allen's phone rang. She picked it up. "what?! What did you say Happened? Hold on Rita, I'll be there soon!" Allen said. Rita had just called her and said that her grandmother's condition was getting worse. Allen felt her heart sink. She also said that her grandmother wants to see her. Allen was afraid. Is her grandmother really going to die like this? After hearing about her grandmother's condition, she forgot about this weird man who might be a kidnapper. She could not be bothered to talk to him any more. Her grandmother was much more important!
Paul saw immediately that there was something wrong with her. Immediately she received that phone call she looked pale. "What is going on? Did something bad happen?" He asked. But he did not get a reply. Allen was already leaving. He went after her and held her back again. "What is going on?" He asked her again..
Allen yanked her away. "Can't you just leave me alone? My grandmother, my grandmother, I really don't know what will happen to her. I have to be there. I have to go see her!" Allen said. She tried to walk away again but Paul stood in front of her.
"Let me take you there then" he offered.
Allen looked at the man in front of her. Did he just say that he is going to help her? In all her life, this week the first time that someone was offering to help her like this. She and her grandmother had been living in a small village when she was young. For some reason, most of the residents seemed to avoid her grandmother and her. They were the representation of bad luck. Because her grandmother was afriad that something bad might happen to her, they moved away.
That was when she met Rita. She was the only person who would talk to her. Maybe because she got used to the fact that people did not like helping others, she learnt to deal with things on her own. She only had her grandmother. Now this person is offering to help her. The strange thing was, even though Allen had called him a kidnapper and human trafficker a few minutes ago, she felt like she could trust this man. What is going on with her? She barely even knows this person. Allen shook her head. What is she thinking? "You don't have to worry. I'll take care of my own problems" Allen said.
But Paul was determined. He did not want to watch this woman go like that. Maybe it was because she looked exactly like Joanna? He felt sorry for her. He wanted to help her out, in some way. She walked past him but he did not let her go. He stood in front of her again. He wanted to help her. She had called him a kidnapper and Human trafficker a few minutes ago but he still wanted to help her. He did not know the reason why he wanted to help her so much. He just knew that he wanted to help her.
"You have to go somewhere really quickly right? I promise you that I'm not going to do anything to you. I really am not a bad person. I'm not a kidnapper and I definitely won't try to sell a woman off. Can't you just believe me? Since you already have such a terrible opinion about me, let me make it up to you and show you that I am not a bad person" Paul said. He was only saying that to convince her. The truth was that, he too did not know the reason why he wanted to help this woman. Maybe it was because that pitiful image of her taking out the garbage was etched in his mind,he just wanted to help her.
Allen looked at him. Her grandmother's condition was getting worse by every passing second. And it seemed like this person did not have any intentions of letting her go. If she did not come to a compromise with him, she would just continue to waste time here with him. She did not want that. Since he wants to take her then fine! It's not as if there's something that he will be able to get from her anyway. "Fine then! Since you want to help me then take me. Take me to the city hospital!" Allen said.
Joanna came back from the restroom and discovered that Paul was gone. Where did he go? And why did he leave without telling her? What is going on? She took out her phone to call him but immediately she opened her phone she saw a text message from him. He told her that he had something to take care of and that she should go back first. He also said that he would be coming to her place that day. Joanna did not care if he was coming or not. She just thought that it was strange. Why would he leave without telling her?
She had always been the most important person in his life, but now he has something important to do and he left without telling her? What could be so important? Joanna sighed. She won't let things like this bother her. She is getting married after all. Joanna did not want to take any chances. Since Lydia is back she will definitely try to make trouble for her. Joanna decided to go meet with Raymond. If the both of them are going to get married then they should do it now. There is no need for them to keep waiting.
Lydia was in her room with her mother. Vivian had said that she needed to talk about something really important with her. Between the both of them, they knew what it was. The fact that Joanna is getting married to someone like Raymond Walker is something that she definitely won't be able to accept at all! Who does she think that she is? Why can someone like Joanna marry Raymond while Lydia can't? No matter what, they are going to make sure that Joanna doesn't get married!
"I really can't believe this mom! I can't believe that that wench Joanna is getting married. How can she find such a good man to get married to? Let me tell you something mom, Joanna is not such a good woman as everyone is saying! I know her better than anyone else! She is always full of tricks! I wonder what she did this time to make Raymond agree to get married to her! Anyway I won't let her get away with it! The one who should be getting married is me!" Lydia said. She is the one who should be getting married. How come Joanna can steal it away from her?
Vivian cletched her fists. Of course she knew what kind of person Joanna is. She may seem sweet and pitiful on the outside but she really is a terrible woman on the inside! She knew that ever since Joanna got into the entertainment industry she had done a lot of terrible things, but she was so good that it's practically impossible for someone to find that she is doing something wrong! She is always covering up all her bad deeds so well! Anyway her daughter should be the one who should be getting married!
All of this could have been avoided if Lydia had not been abroad. Vivian simply refused to believe that her daughter will lose out to Joanna. She thought that they picked Joanna since Lydia was not around. "You know all of this could have been avoided if you had been around. But since it's already like this there is no need for us to continue to beat around the bush. We have to find a way to expose just how evil that Joanna is! Once Raymond knows that she is a terrible woman, he won't want her anymore!" Vivian said.
Lydia sat there thinking. If there was a way for her to expose Joanna she would have done it a long time ago! She isn't the best person but Joanna is definitely the worst woman out there. Someone like her who only knows how to plot and scheme against otters to get what she wants, she definitely is a terrible bitch! And she was so good that she hid everything that she did really well. If there was a way for her to expose Joanna she would have done it a long time ago.
Joanna won't be enjoying the fame and popularity that she enjoyed right now! But since there was no way for her to do that she would have to find another way. Lydia suddenly thought of an idea. She knew that right now, there won't be a way for her to stop the marriage. Since Joanna knows that she is back, she won't let her guard down. No one can beat that woman when it comes to scheming! She really can't beat her. But what would it be like if she took away her husband after she got married? Won't that be the biggest blow? Lydia smiled at her plan. "Mom, don't worry. I have a plan" Lydia said with confidence.
Vivian looked at her daughter. She was smiling now. It meant that she already thought of something. She wanted to ask her what her plan is but she held herself back. If Lydia wants to tell her, then she would definitely tell her! She doesn't need to worry about it. She really trusted Lydia. She had watched her grow up and she knew that her daughter was a really sinister person. Infact, Vivian had more trust in Lydia than she had in Fred. Fred, he was always acting without thinking and so he was a easy opponent for people like Joanna.
But Lydia wasn't like that. The woman was really very calculating. She won't let anyone make her suffer a lose! She would do everything and anything to get what she really wants. Since she already has a plan she is just going to trust her. "Alright Lydia since you say that you have a plan then I am just going to trust you. But remember that you have to do something fast. You see the way Joanna is treating us now just because she is getting married right? We can't let this go on. You are our only hope now Lydia" Vivian said.
Joanna was sitting in front of Raymond in his office. She had a big smile plastered on her face. "So, when are we getting married?" She asked.
Raymond glared at her. He was really starting to hate the sight of this woman. She never spared any efforts when it came to annoying. She just walked into his office creating a scene. She even went around all the departments making sure that everyone recognized her as Mrs Walker. She really is an actress. She knew how to go the extra mile! Can't she live without a bit of attention? "What do you think that you are doing right now?" Raymond asked. She really is something else.
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira