A Billionaire pretended to be poor to look for true love

PART 2

If money keeps attracting the wrong people, then I’ll walk away from it.  ‘ I want to know who would love me without the billions. I want the truth. Mr. Benson, freeze every account and manage everything yourself. ‘ Madam, what exactly is happening? ‘ For the first time in my life, I need to disappear.

Goodbye. You gave me everything money could buy. Now I need something money cannot. My chicken doesn’t bite. Don’t be afraid. I’m not afraid. ‘ You look like someone running away from something. ‘ Maybe I’m running towards something.  ‘ [singing] ‘ Madam, move small. You’re blocking my customers.

‘ Sorry, it’s just This place is so alive. ‘ Welcome to Ikorodu. Nobody sleeps here. 3,000 naira. The fan works when it feels generous. ‘ It’s ‘ perfect. ‘ This room? Perfect. ‘ I’ve had bigger places, but never peace. One bed, one fan, one small window, and somehow I can finally breathe. Maybe less isn’t always loss.

‘ Are you sure you can carry this? ‘ How hard can it be? ‘ That’s exactly what everyone says the first day. ‘ I am fine, thank you. ‘ Good market, I wish you well. ‘ Thank you, mama. ‘ You are welcome, my daughter. ‘ See this one. Have you ever carried a tray before? ‘ Maybe she escaped from government house.

‘ I’ll pick them up. Every single one. Fresh oranges, sweet oranges. ‘ How much? ‘ I’m still learning, but they’re very sweet. ‘ Then give me two. ‘ Madam, should I wrap some for you? ‘ No, thank you. ‘ You sure? ‘ Tonight, water will do. Billionaire ‘ yesterday, ‘ [snorts] ‘ two oranges for dinner today.

Life really knows how to humble people. Please, sir, just one customer.  ‘ Madam said no hawkers. ‘ Fine girl like you carrying tray, what a waste. ‘ Sometimes life changes without warning. Not again. I don’t even have money to replace them. ‘ [snorts] ‘ How much more can one person lose? ‘ PURE WATER, ICE COLD PURE WATER, FIVE NAIRA.

‘ YOUNG MAN, YOU’LL GET YOURSELF KILLED ONE DAY. ‘ Not today, sir. Today I still need to make a profit. ‘ He’s smiling. In the middle of all this, how can someone work that hard and still laugh? Who is he? ‘ Are you mad? WATCH WHERE YOU’RE RUNNING. ‘ SORRY, BOSS. ‘ OH MY GOD. ‘ I TOLD YOU, death and I are still negotiating.

One day this road will defeat me, but not today. ‘ He’s actually laughing.  ‘ You look like somebody just stole your happiness. ‘ Maybe they did. ‘ Then you should go and collect it back. No oranges left?  ‘ Not exactly. ‘ Sold out? ‘ More like washed away.  Then congratulations.

‘ For losing all my oranges? ‘ No. For surviving the day. That’s a bigger victory. Here. ‘ I don’t have money. ‘ Good. Because I’m not selling this one. ‘ Why? ‘ Because you look like you need it. My name is Samuel.  ‘ I’m Vanessa. ‘ Nice to meet you, Vanessa. ‘ Nice to meet you, too.  ‘ Tomorrow will be better.

‘ How can you be so sure? ‘ Because the sun always comes back. ‘ I hope you’re right.  You shouldn’t walk alone this late. ‘ And why not? ‘ Because Lagos can be kind in the morning and dangerous at night. ‘ Then I suppose I need an escort. ‘ You know, I think your oranges escaped because they were tired of being sold.

‘ That’s a terrible joke. ‘ Yet you’re smiling. ‘ I hate that you’re right. ‘ So, what do you do? ‘ I sell fruit. ‘ No, before that. ‘ Before that, I had another life. Let’s just say I needed to start over. ‘ That’s a big sentence. ‘ It’s been a very big year. ‘ Mama, I’m home. ‘ Did the road return my son safely today? ‘ By God’s mercy, yes.

‘ Come and hug your mother. ‘ I ‘ I smell food already. ‘ Your nose works better than the fan. One day you’ll stop running on that road. ‘ And become what? ‘ Whatever God has written for you. ‘ Then I hope he writes something good. ‘ You’re smiling at your food. ‘ I met someone today.  ‘ A woman? ‘ A very unusual one.

‘ The unusual people are the ones who change our lives. ‘ I only met her for 5 minutes. ‘ 5 minutes is enough for destiny to introduce itself.   A stranger gave me water today. And somehow it felt like kindness I’ve been searching for. Who are you, Samuel? You’re trying again today? I have to.

 You don’t look like a woman who gives up easily. To give up is a sin to me. I can’t afford to. ‘ Good morning, fruit seller. ‘ You again? ‘ I came to support your business. ‘ At this hour? ‘ A loyal customer arrives early. ‘ Why are you buying 10 oranges? ‘ Because I believe in your business. ‘ You can’t eat 10 oranges. ‘ Then I’ll become the healthiest man in Lagos.

Have you eaten? ‘ Not yet. ‘ Good. Then let’s fix that. ‘ I don’t have money. ‘ Then today I’m rich enough for both of us. Careful, the pap is hot. ‘ I haven’t eaten like this in years. ‘ Then today is a special day. ‘ It actually is. ‘ Have you ever entered an okada before? ‘ No. ‘ Never? ‘ I told you I had a different life.

This thing looks dangerous. ‘ That’s why it’s exciting. Madam, hold tight. ‘ I suddenly miss walking. This is insane. ‘ You’re smiling. ‘ I know. ‘ Then enjoy it. ‘ I don’t remember the last time I laughed like that. ‘ Maybe you’ve been too serious.  ‘ Maybe I’ve been living the wrong life. I have been around the wrong people.

‘ My mother makes the best ‘ jollof rice in Ikorodu. ‘ That’s a very confident statement. ‘ Come tomorrow and prove me wrong. ‘ I’d like that.  ‘ You’re smiling this morning. ‘ Why? ‘ A woman only smiles like that because of one thing. ‘ And what’s that? ‘ Um Welcome to my palace. ‘ This is your palace? ‘ Every king starts somewhere.

‘ Then it’s a lovely beginning. ‘ So, you’re the unusual woman. ‘ Excuse me. ‘ My son hasn’t stopped talking about you. You are beautiful. ‘ That’s my father. ‘ You look like him. ‘ He taught me that money comes and goes, but people stay. ‘ That’s beautiful. No, no, that’s too much pepper. I thought more pepper meant more flavor.

‘ I don’t want to die during lunch. ‘ You’re very dramatic. ” I haven’t laughed this much in months. ‘ Then Vanessa must visit every day. ‘ Careful. I may take that invitation seriously. ‘ [laughter] ‘ My son hasn’t smiled this much in a long time.  ‘ He’s easy to smile around.

And so are you, my dear. ‘ Thank you for coming. ‘ No. Thank you.  For what? ‘ For making today feel simple. ‘ Good night, Vanessa.  ‘ Good night, Samuel. ‘ See you tomorrow? ‘ I hope so. Why am I smiling? I barely know him.  ‘ Then why does thinking about him feel like peace?  ‘ Special delivery.

‘ You’re here already? ‘ I ‘ brought breakfast. ‘ Young man, I like your priorities. ‘ I brought extra akara. ‘ You planned this. ‘ Of course. ‘ You’re becoming dangerously thoughtful. ‘ [laughter] ‘ You know, you’re smiling more these days. ‘ Maybe that’s your fault. ‘ That’s a responsibility I’m willing to accept.

I made this myself. ‘ For me? ‘ It’s not expensive. ‘ That’s exactly why I love it. ‘ Vanessa,  ‘ there’s something I want to tell you. ‘ Then say it. ‘ I ‘ Yes?  Auntie Vanessa, please, please come quickly. ‘ Grace, what happened? Why are you crying? ‘ Mama collapsed this morning.

 Samuel took her to the clinic. The doctor says it’s very serious. ‘ You didn’t have to come.  ‘ Grace came for me. What did the doctor say? ‘ It’s Mama. I don’t know how I’m going to save her. ‘ How much did the doctor ask for? ‘ 380,000 Naira. I only have 42,000 saved. I thought I still had more time. ‘ Mama, if you were here, I already know what you’d tell me.

 ‘ Jewelry can be replaced, but someone’s mother cannot. ‘ This necklace is genuine, very rare. ‘ How much? ‘ 450,000 Naira. That’s my final offer. ‘ I’ll take it.  ‘ Samuel, this is for Mama’s surgery. ‘ Vanessa, what is this? ‘ Please, just take it. ‘ No, this is far too much money.

I can’t accept this. You sold everything you had.  ‘ Money can be earned again. ‘ Vanessa, ‘ a mother cannot.  ‘ Why would you do something like this for us? ‘ Because your family matters. ‘ I don’t know how to carry this kindness.  [gasps] ‘ Who are you, my daughter? ‘ Nobody special, Mama.

‘ No. God sent you to my family.  ‘ My name is Vanessa Cole. I own properties in Lekki, Victoria Island, and Abuja.  ‘ I’m worth about 4 billion Naira. ‘ Please, say that again. ‘ Samuel, please say something. ‘ I need a moment. My heart is trying to understand what my ears just heard.

‘ Please, don’t walk away from me. Not again. Please, don’t let this end the same way. I only wanted someone to love me, not my money. ‘ Vanessa, I’m not angry because you’re rich. ‘ Then why did you leave? ‘ Because you carried all that pain by yourself and never trusted me enough to share it. ‘ Every man before you changed the moment they discovered my money.

I became something to own, never someone to love. ‘ I have only 42,000 Naira to my name. But when I look at you, I don’t see 4 billion. I don’t want your money, Vanessa. I want you. ‘ I’m tired of carrying everything alone. ‘ Then don’t.  ‘ I’m not going anywhere, Samuel. ‘ And neither am I.  ‘ Come here, my daughter.

‘ Yes, Mama. ‘ I don’t care how much you own. I care about your heart, and your heart is beautiful. ‘ Thank you, Mama.  ‘ So, does this mean you’re going to be my sister? ‘ Grace! ‘ That’s a very serious question. Children always speak their minds. See, even Mama agrees with me. ‘ You never stop talking.

‘ Please don’t stop her. This laughter is the best medicine I’ve received today. ‘ [laughter] ‘ Welcome home, Samuel. ‘ This This is where you’ve been hiding. ‘ No, I’ve been hiding in Ikorodu. ‘ Now I understand. It’s ‘ beautiful. ‘ Does it change the way you see me? ‘ No. You’re still the woman who sold oranges beside me.

‘ Mama, ‘ this is Samuel. ‘ I never had the chance to meet you. But I promise I’ll love your daughter for who she is, not for what she owns. ‘ She would have loved you. ‘ You don’t have to hide anymore. ‘ Sometimes I still fear people will only see my wealth. ‘ Then look into my eyes.

 I saw your heart long before I knew your name. ‘ Thank you for choosing me. For 35 years, I’ve searched for this feeling. ‘ What feeling? ‘ Being loved simply because I’m me. ‘ And that’s all I’ll ever love. ‘ The city looks different today. ‘ Maybe because you’re finally looking at it with peace. ‘ And with someone beside me.

‘ Always. ‘ Today, I’d like you all to meet my partner. ‘ Welcome, Mr. Samuel. Thank you. I promise to lead with honesty. ‘ That’s exactly why he’s here. Who would have imagined our story would end like this? This isn’t the end, my children. It’s the beginning of God’s new chapter.

 I searched the world for love. ‘ And love found us where we least expected in Ikorodu. ‘ with the love [singing] that we never said.