CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As she prepared a meal for the family, she felt a touch from behind.

Turning, she found Joshua, causing her heart to pound at the sight of him.

His captivating face had a mesmerizing effect on her. "Hi, Joshua," she muttered softly.

"Can I join you in this?" he asked, picking up onions and starting to slice.

She smiled softly, captivated by his beauty in every way.

Together, they cooked the meal and served the full family.

Andrew teased, "Can you both just get married already?"

Rosa and Joshua exchanged shy smiles.

Fabian added, "Rosa's cheeks are already red," earning a glare from her, followed by shared laughter.

Melvin focused on Joshua. "Do you love my sister?"

Joshua sighed, "I love Rosa so much, I could die for her."

Melvin pressed further, "You won't leave her even if you know her full identity?"

Confused, Joshua asked, "Full identity?"

"Twenty nine years ago, my father patronized a prostitute and she got pregnant. The baby was Rosa Anderson".

Joshua was dumbfounded. "Er...I thought Rosa was Mrs Juliana's biological daughter".

Tears welled in Rosa's eyes as she revealed, "My biological mother was a prostitute...and,I am an illegitimate child".

Everyone watched Joshua.

He stood up, dumbfounded.

He turned towards the door.

"Where are you going Joshua?". Victor fired.

Joshua turned, his red in anger. "How can a daughter of a prostitute be a virtuous woman? I must have guessed wrong...". He opened the door.

"Are you ending it with my daughter?". Juliana asked with tears in her eyes.

Joshua silently left the house.

Fabian glared at Melvin. "Why did you reveal everything to him?".

"If I can't come out naked with you, why do you claim you love me? It was such a happy moment and I thought of asking him that question". Melvin shrugged.

"Melvin did the right thing ". Andrew said sternly. "If Joshua doesn't know the truth, how will we know how much he loved my daughter?".

Rosa continued eating.

She swallowed in her emotions and continued eating.

Juliana sobbed as she watched her. "Don't ever allow anyone make you feel bad about yourself. You are everything to us and we love you".

Rosa smiled at her mother. "Mother, I don't feel bad at all".

Following breakfast, the maids cleared the plates, and she hurried out of the house, heading to the gym center.

Tears streamed down her face as she jogged on the treadmill.

Was it really over?

Joshua had really walked away because her identity was so messed up?

Was her identity that messed up?

Messed up enough to loose such a good man?

The treadmill came to a halt.

It was him again.

Raymond Smith.

"Why are you crying on the treadmill again?".

"Victor called me. He says you come here anytime you are having a difficult time and that i should come and stay with you".

"Why on earth will Victor call you of all people?".

"He told me that your boyfriend broke up with you. Can we talk outside?".

"Why will Victor give you such information?".

He held her hand and pulled her out. "What exactly happened?".

"He just found out everything and he couldn't take it".

"Found out what?".

She sighed. "It is a family secret that I can't share with you".

Offering a handkerchief, he observed her as she wiped her face and said, "Follow me to the amusement park at the front."

Before she could reply, he gently pulled her along, leading them into the amusement park.

Guiding her to the spinning ride, she attempted to jump out, but the ride had already started.

He chuckled as he watched her scream fearfully.

Once the ride concluded, she gasped, "Am I still alive?" nearly out of breath.

He smiled. "Do you feel any bit better?".

She chuckled. "Why not?".

He took her hand, and together they headed to the eatery.

A crowd quickly gathered around him, eager to take pictures.

After agreeing to take pictures with his star struck fans, he walked over to Rosa and assisted her to the chair, aware that all eyes were on them.

Observing people discreetly taking pictures of him and her, he sighed nervously. "Be ready to see yourself in the media," he warned.

"Why can't these journalists give you guys privacy for once?" she exclaimed.

"Privacy and celebrity? We never have it. That's part of the reason I don't eat outside my estate or come out of the house." He explained.

She nodded thoughtfully.

She felt so much better than she was when she left the house in the morning.

They walked to the car after their meal.

She remained seated in his car and smiled shyly. "Thank you for today".

He coughed self consciously and started the ignition.

She watched him closely. "Why are you kind to me, Raymond? You did everything to cheer me up today like your life depended on it".

"Er...I do that for everyone ".

She chuckled. "I used to think that you were a cold personality but with our subsequent meetings, I think there is a different aspect of everything ".

He was getting so uncomfortable as he drove on. "Er... where is your home address again?".

"Can we be friends?". She sighed. "I actually don't have any other friend aside my mother and brothers but if I am out of the home and I miss them, I can just call someone my friend. If you don't mind though ".

"Did you really like Joshua?"

She was surprised at his sudden question. "Joshua? Er...what actually affected me the moment he turned me down was the hope. When you have put so much hope in someone and then the person suddenly leaves you, it hurts more than love sometimes. I was already imagining Joshua as my husband to be when he left me. I was so unprepared for it".

He nodded thoughtfully. "Does that mean you are not sure if you completely loved Joshua before he broke up?"

"We were not officially dating when he left. He didn't break up with me, he only ended his shoot ". She sighed indignantly. "Is my secret that terrible? The moment he discovered my secret, his facial expression made me ashamed of myself for the first time".

He wondered what could be her secret.

He didn't want to probe further because she was almost tearing up.

He held her hand in his. " If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;then you will understand the fear of the Lord ,

And find the knowledge of God.You are worth everything, Rosa. Don't make rejection make you feel otherwise ".

"Thank you so much, Raymond ".

He parked at the front of the estate. "Feel free to call your new friend anytime you need anything. Anything at all".

She smiled heartily. "Thank you so much ".

He watched her longingly as she walked into her estate.

What could Rosa be going through that would make any man leave someone like that?

What burden was Rosa Anderson carrying?