Chapter Twenty-Seven
Damian went up to his room with a puzzled look on his face. He couldn't figure out why his dad spoke to him as if he was going somewhere. His dad's words echoed in his head. He was happy that he would get to pursue the subject he was passionate about, agriculture. So he decided that he would study agriculture online. The moment he won Angela over, he would leave architecture and switch to agriculture completely. He felt very happy and very contented with his decision and dozed off into an undisturbed sleep.
The next day he woke up early. It was his birthday and he expected Angela to wish him. His dad came down and wished him before leaving. He grinned happily. If only his dad could have been be in such a mood always, his life wouldn't have been be so lonely.
Xavion came over and wished him. Both of them spent the whole morning hunting for online agricultural courses. Finally they found one under the dual study program of their own university. Damian enrolled into the course and completed all the formalities. He would be able to start his classes from Monday onwards. Damian was satisfied at last that he would now be able to pursue his dream project.
A phone call drew their attention. Damian took the call. It was from Jim Rogers. There was some confusion regarding the greenhouse construction and he needed Damian's suggestion. So Damian and Xavion left immediately for Grass Roots Farm.
Angela went down to make breakfast. Her uncle Gavin had come over yesterday to inform them that her grandma was critical and had been admitted to the hospital. Adam already left for California with uncle Gavin and his son, Anthony. Today Alex and Arnold would leave for California. She would go with her dad tomorrow since her dad had a meeting at his university today.
After breakfast, she thought of visiting Steffi since she hadn't heard about her since that dreadful day of her engagement party. She was concerned about her since she hadn't attended college too. So she walked out of her house to goto Steffi's house.
She looked at Damian's house longingly. It was his birthday and she was dying to see him. She went to the stationery store in the neighbourhood shopping centre and bought a huge birthday card for him. She wrote in it,
My life without you,
Has no meaning, has no hue,
Dull, meaningless and oh so blue.
No one to laugh with at everyday things,
No one to talk to about what life brings,
No hand to hold, I'm walking alone,
No one to turn to, to call my own,
No goodnight kiss at the end of the day,
No one to chase my worries away.
I'm so lost without you by my side,
Like a leaf in the wind..like a shell in the tide,
You are my everything, my love, my friend,
My story's beginning, my fairytale end,
No matter how much you hurt me,
Torture me, torment me,
My love for you will always be true,
I'll always be devoted to you
And I'll die truly loving you.
Happy Birthday Damian.
Yours Angel.
She bought a single red rose and went back to Damian's house and slipped it into his post box beside his door.
Sighing, she walked to Steffi's house to check up on her. Strangely, she didn't find anyone living there. The house was locked up. She called her number but no one picked up the phone. She had been calling since last week only to find her phone switched off.
She hesitantly rang the doorbell of her neighbour's house. A middle-aged woman opened the door. "Aren't you Steffi's friend?" She asked, looking at her closely.
"Yes, please can you inform me where they went away to?" She asked her.
"They didn't inform you? Steffi's dad was framed and he lost his job at the Lockhart Group of Hospitals. They got Steffi married to her fiancé and left Austin forever. They went to their family ranch in Colorado," informed the lady.
"Oh, Steffi got married? I wasn't informed, " she said, surprised by the news.
"Yes it was a very low-key wedding since the Lockhart family was after Steffi's dad. Some personal enmity, I think. They didn't want anyone to know," she said.
"Can you give me her address?" Angela asked her.
"I'm not supposed to give anyone but since you're her childhood friend and I know you, I'm giving you. They gave me her address to forward any important stuff that might be delivered here," she said. She went inside and got address book. Angela typed in into her phone and thanked her.
She went home and started her car. She drove to the address that Steffi's neighbour had given her. It was a plush apartment in an upscale building, ten minutes drive away from her house. She took the elevators and reached the eleventh floor. There were two apartments opposite one another. She went to Steffi's apartment and rang the doorbell.
After five minutes, she rang the doorbell again but no one answered. After waiting for twenty minutes, she turned to leave when the elevator opened and Steffi came out. She squealed with happiness seeing Angela. She rushed forward and hugged her tight.
"Hey girl, seeing you after so long, " said Steffi.
"Where did you disappear to? I've tried to reach you on your mobile. I went to your house too," Angela asked.
"Sorry, sorry, it's a long story. Come inside, " she said going inside and pulling Angela with her too.
"You live here all alone?" Asked Angela.
"Oh no, no. I'm married to Harry. We bought this apartment together, " said Steffi as Angela glared at her.
"You got married and you didn't inform me?" She yelled, shaking Steffi by the shoulders.
"Sorry, it had to happen that way," apologised Steffi. "Sit, I'll tell you everything. Steffi went to get some coffee and cupcakes and they sat at the dining table beside one another.
"Start, I'm dying of curiosity, " said Angela, sipping her coffee.
"You remember Caitlyn Lockhart, the bitch at my engagement party and her cousin Evelyn Lockhart?" Asked Steffi and Angela nodded with hatred in her eyes for the two bitches.
"So they're Lockharts? As in the owner of the Lockhart Group of Hospitals?" Asked Angela, her eyes wide with horror.
"Yes, the same hospital where my dad worked as an administrative head and Damian's dad is an orthopaedic surgeon," informed Steffi. She explained to Angela how they hounded after Damian after that dreadful night when his dad had introduced him to them. The threats and the lies that they were always upto. She informed them how Damian always had avoided them.
Angela sat frozen after listening to everything. The whole situation became crystal clear to her and her heart went out to him. She felt bad that she hadn't given him a single chance to explain himself.
Steffi went on to inform her how the Lockhart sisters never attended any employee party yet they had arrived uninvited at her engagement party to get hold of Damian. She explained that Damian had been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia that afternoon.
"How? He was fine when I left?" Asked a puzzled Angela.
"After you left, he sat on my porch crying and got thoroughly drenched for an hour. When Xavion found Damian, he took him to his house. The doctor prescribed meds for flu but when he didn't respond, he took him to the hospital. They admitted him for a day," Steffi informed her. Angela sat stupefied. Her eyes filled up with tears when she heard about Damian.
"No one informed me," she said, with an unhappy expression.
"I went twice but you had flu. You were sleeping. After Damian and Xavion left, there was a huge drama at home with Caitlyn," Steffi told her. She explained everything that happened after Damian left. The slap and the threat, everything.
"After a week, she really took it out on us. She made her dad frame false charges against my dad and he lost his job. They maligned his name and ensured that he would never got another job anywhere. Dad was broken and on the verge of suicide when grandpa called him to manage our family ranch in Colorado. We had a low key wedding and then we accompanied mom and dad to Colorado. We just returned today in the morning, after ensuring that they are well settled there," said Steffi.
"My God, the bitch. She's vicious. I'm feeling very bad for everything that's happened. I really had no idea, Steff. You guys have gone through so much, especially Damian. I'm feeling bad for misunderstanding him," said Angela, looking guilty.
"Now you know everything, Angie. Make it up to Damian. He loves you more than he loves himself. He's broken since you left. I just hope he doesn't do anything on the spur of the moment, " said Steffi. Angela's eyes widened with horror. After talking a little more, she left to go home.
She decided to go to Damian's house and wish him personally on his birthday.