My Identities Were Revealed After Marriage Free Preview

SANDRA'S POV

The loud chatter and lively atmosphere in the dining room of the Smith’s family mansion was everything one could hope for, except I wasn’t welcome here. My grandfather, Edward Smith, the current head of the Smith family had three sons— Uncle George, Uncle Richard and my father Andrew.

Uncle George had two children, Stellah and Samuel, while Uncle Richard also had two children, Stacey and Liam, and I was the only daughter of my father. As my father was the least favored son, I was despised by default especially because my mother wasn’t from a remarkably rich background.

I didn’t have the good fortune of growing up with my parents’ love and was sent to live with a close friend of my great grandfather. My return two years ago was only possible because the great uncle who raised me, my great grandfather’s friend passed away. His death was very mysterious and left behind quite a few questions.

Since my return, I was never given the respect or regard a family member, or the youngest grand-daughter of the Smith family deserves. My grandparents, my uncles and my cousins all looked down on me, but I endured everything not wanting to cause more trouble for my poor parents who have been through so much already.

I sat silently picking at my food, watching as my grandparents doted on their precious grandchildren. I’ve long accepted the fact that I was not one of them. Stellah and Stacey excitedly shared about their lives and relationships while everyone else listened. No one paid attention to me or my parents as we silently ate dinner at the far end of the table.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the living room. It sounded like someone was trying to get an audience with our grandfather. Soon, the butler entered with a pale face as he looked at the head of the table nervously.

“Sir, someone from the Anthony Family is here to see you. They say it’s important.” I watched with interest as my grandfather, Edward pressed his lips and his eyes hardened.

“Tell them, we’ll be there soon,” he nodded. Whatever it was, my grandfather was definitely not happy about it.

Rushing through the meal, my grandfather led the way with my grandmother close behind him, followed by his precious sons and their families to the living room. My parents looked reluctant but slowly followed at last. I decided to stay at the door and observe their meeting first. A group of men, all dressed in black occupied one side of the living room as they took in their surroundings with a hint of disdain.

‘Ah! Finally some fellow feeling.’ I thought with a small smile.

"Mr. William!” Looking somewhat shocked. “What brings you here?" My grandfather asked, once he saw everyone settle in their seats.

Mr. William? Isn’t that the right-hand man and personal assistant of Levy Anthony, the youngest and most powerful member of the Anthony family?

“We’re here for the marriage agreement between the Smith and Anthony families.”Mr. Willam replied with a blank face.

Now, that’s interesting! I didn’t even know any such agreement existed and from the looks of it neither did Stellah and Stacey. The shock and horror on their faces was absolutely priceless. While everyone knew that Levy Anthony was absolutely ruthless but his success since he took over the family business was not public knowledge, and was labeled a good-for-nothing man by his enemies. Hence, the idea of marrying him was definitely not appealing for women who want to be a social climber. However, I know there's more to Levy Anthony than meets the eye. I wonder how Stellah and Stacey would feel if they knew the Anthony family is not as simple as they think.

I watched the carefully thoughtful expression on my grandfather's face. My eyes narrowed as it confirmed my suspicion. He already knew about the marriage agreement. Then, he turned to look at his beloved grand-daughters Stellah and Stacey, a pained look on his face. I resisted the urge to laugh at the dramatics. Silently, I typed a message on my phone and continued to watch the drama unfold.

“Grandpa!” Stellah instantly cried. “I can’t marry Levy Anthony. You know I am already engaged to Mark. We’re planning on setting a date soon.” Mark Jackson, the heir of the Jackson family, one of the wealthy families in the city. Of course, they wouldn’t want to break Stellah’s engagement with a man who could bring their family more respect.

“Grandpa, I am working hard to build my life and career. Besides, I am in a committed relationship with Jack. We’ll be engaged soon too. This agreement was made by two members of the families that are no longer alive. You can’t hold us to it.” Stacey cried out. She looked close to hysteria. Of course, Stacey, in her second year of university was a renowned actress, and was dating her boss Jack, the owner of Eza Entertainment company.

“Dad, the agreement states, any one of your grand-daughters can marry the eldest grandson of the Anthony family. Sandra is one of your grand-daughter’s. Why can’t she marry Levy?” My second uncle, Richard chimed in before anyone else could say a word. I knew that he’s always disliked my father, and he used every chance he got to bring my father down.

“No! Dad! Please, don’t do this! It will ruin my daughter’s life. She is my only child, and she has just returned to us. She is still so young and has her whole life ahead of her.” My father begged, and my heart ached for him. His entire life, he let his family walk all over him, but he was standing up for me. Before I could interrupt, my phone buzzed and I went through the details I received.

“What has your daughter done for the family?” My grandmother suddenly yelled bringing my attention back to the scene in the living room.

Ha! As if I would do anything for these vultures.

“She’s not in university, she’s stupid and ugly. At least she would be of some use this way or do you want one of your nieces to marry Levy and become the laughing stock for breaking up with excellent men. This agreement was made by your grandfather before he died, and it should be fulfilled!” She exclaimed, her haughty demeanor doing nothing to hide her disdain of us.

“This was your grandfather’s dying wish. Stop being selfish and envious of your brothers and their families.” My grandfather's voice boomed. My uncles have nothing to be envious about, if anything they’re jealous of my father’s capabilities but they’d never accept it.

“If Sandra doesn’t agree to marry into the Anthony family, you can pack your bags and leave with your worthless wife and daughter.” My grandfather— no, Edward, yelled. This was not my family, it never was, and it’s time to embrace the truth. I decided I've heard enough, and entered the living room.

I surveyed the room, coldly watching each and every member of this so-called family. They didn’t deserve my parents or their love or respect. It’s time to end this farce for good. Then, I turned to look at the men from the Anthony family before my gaze settled on my parents and my heart softened.

“I will agree to marry Levy Anthony, but I have a condition,” I announced.

Both my uncles' families sneered at me. “If you think your good-for-nothing ass is getting a dime out of the inheritance, then dream on.” Liam, one of my cousins said. I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him.

“You have no claim to the family fortune. Don’t act like a fortune hunter.” My grandmother said, it didn’t stop there, everyone had to say something or the other about us.

“Enough! If this is what you think about us, and if this is how you treat my daughter? I don’t want to be a part of the Smith family anymore. My wife, daughter and I are leaving immediately.” My heart swelled with pride at my father’s announcement. After years of disdain and insults he was finally standing up for our family.

“I bet you do Andrew. May I remind you of the exclusive work contract you have with me? You cannot work anywhere except the Smith Group.” He laughed, a cruel mocking laugh. No one deserved this, especially not my father, and I was at my wits end with this family.

“That’s enough!” My voice, cold and full of fury echoed through the living room. No one thought I would snap at them this way, but they’ve crossed all limits today.

“The marriage agreement clearly states that if the Smith family fails to ensure their end of the deal all of Smith family’s fortune will be given to the charities. If I don’t agree to this marriage, it means you have to pick one of your two precious grand-daughters to marry Levy. Which means it's the matter of which one of your precious grand-daughters do you love the least? Either that or you will lose everything you hold so dear to your heart. Which means bidding farewell to the company, the mansion, the fortune and the luxurious life you’re all so used to.”

My words cut through the sudden silence as everyone in the room realized I know more about the agreement than they do. The agreement created is iron-clad to ensure strict compliance from both parties. Knowing they could lose everything by not adhering to the agreement was bringing them distress and panic.

Good!

SANDRA'S POV

Both Uncle George and Uncle Richard were unwilling to sacrifice their beloved daughters because they were their ticket to the upper class, especially now that they're both dating rich men from influential families.

Even our grandfather looked unwilling to let his favorite grand-daughters suffer in an unwanted arranged marriage. But he was also loathed to give us anything from the Smith family fortune.

Well, too bad! It's not up to him anymore.

He glared at me and my parents with cold, disdainful eyes as if we were his biggest enemy. We probably were because no one treats their family this way.

"What are your conditions? What will it take for you to marry Levy Anthony and leave this family for good?" He asked, gritting his teeth in anger.

Unable to stop myself, I laughed, my gaze and words filled with mocking firing their anger. “Don't worry Grandpa, I wasn't planning on staying with the Smith family anyway. Neither was I planning on letting my parents stay here,” the shocked look on everyone's face was worth it. They exchanged gazes looking uncertain, not completely believing my words.

“Your conditions,” my grandfather asked once again. The look of victory and cheer my uncles and their families had on their faces was proof enough that they couldn't wait to be rid of us.

“Sandra, honey, calm down. Don't rush and make any rash decisions involving your future. I know I haven't been a good father to you or the best husband to your mother for that matter but I've let you both suffer long enough. I can't let you ruin your future like this. You have your whole life ahead of you, I'll do everything I can to send you back to school. Please, sweetheart, I promise I'll be a better father but don't do this,” Dad’s pleading voice broke my heart but I knew I had to do this. It was time to break free of this viciously toxic cycle.

“Dad, I know you did the best you could, and don't worry. I've thought it through and getting married is not a bad thing and I have to get married eventually so why not now?” I replied, doing my best to reassure my father who looked so hurt and broken.

“Marriage is built on love, trust, respect and most importantly friendship. You're still young and you're agreeing to marry a man you don't know, one that doesn't have a good reputation.” The love and worry in his voice warmed my heart.

“Dad, you should know better than to trust any rumors. Besides, it doesn't matter because I've made up my mind. I think Levy and I can become good friends and if he does turn out to be a jerk I can always divorce him.” There was nothing in the agreement that could stop us from getting a divorce if things go wrong. It was also the only way I could calm my parents down.

Turning to my grandparents, I said— “I'll marry Levy if you terminate the exclusive work contract you have with Dad and pay him every single cent he's owed for the work he's done since he joined the Smith group. Oh and you'll let us leave the Smith family for good without a fuss. If you can do that I'll agree to the marriage; if you can't then ask one of your beloved grand-daughters to break off their relationship and join Levy at the altar. It'll ruin their prospects— sure, but you'll get to keep everything. You have five minutes to decide. I don't have all day to wait for you.”

The sudden panic in Stellah and Stacey’s eyes was comical. They pleadingly looked at their fathers shaking their heads with identical pitiful expressions on their faces. Meanwhile, my grandparents looked at me like I had grown a second head or perhaps they thought I was stupid.

I could see my grandfather's eyes flickering with uncertainty. He knew very well the only reason the company is still afloat is because of my father. Although, he'd never accept it but he knew that his grandsons were a bunch of playboys. There was no way he'd leave the company in their care but he was also unwilling to lose the favor of the influential families Stellah and Stacey's relationships afforded him.

“Dad, let him go. Let's see what he'll do when he's spent all the money we give him. He'll come crawling back, begging for mercy because no company will hire him without the Smith family name. Everyone will know he's not a part of our family anymore.” My Uncles urged. It was killing them to know their father was unwilling to cut ties with my father.

“Grandpa, you can't make us marry that man! You know we're in committed long-term relationships and it will be in our family's best interest to marry into such highly influential families.” Stellah and Stacey cried.

From the corner of my eye I watched William scoff and shake his head in disbelief. I was right to think Levy Anthony is not as simple as everyone thinks and neither is his family. He was also silently observing me and everyone else, his sharp eyes and ears noting every detail. It suddenly made me a little nervous but I decided I was going to focus my energy on the matter at hand.

“Fine, I agree.” Our grandfather relented. And after a minute's thought he looked rather pleased and smiled. Of course, he'd still have the company and all of the Smith family assets while also keeping the influential connections Stellah and Stacey's relationships brought him. The only thing he's losing is the money he should have paid my father for his hard work.

“Look Sandra, Grandpa has agreed to your conditions. You cannot go back on your word now.” Stacey said, giving me an arrogant smirk.

“Unlike you, I'm a woman of my words. However, we need an agreement made and signed between us. You should contact your lawyer to come and terminate the exclusive work contract my father has with Smith group. Then I'll contact my lawyer to make a new contract. How does that sound, Grandpa?” I asked with a sweet smile as if I didn't just openly insult him.

I know better than to trust anyone in this house. The dark look on my grandfather's face confirmed that he wasn't going to be honest without something binding him legally.

“Call Enoch from City A Law Firm,” he said, turning to Uncle George.

‘City A Law Firm? Great, let's see what he has up his sleeve this time.’ I thought as I typed a message to my lawyer. We didn't have to wait long before a man in his fifties arrogantly walked in with a heavy looking briefcase.

“Good, you're here.” My grandfather said, nodding his head in greeting at the man. He then went straight to the point— "Well, we'd like to make some changes in an agreement I made with my son."

SANDRA'S POV

“I'll allow him to leave the company at any time, but with my consent.” His words made me shake my head. Just like I thought.

“That is not what we agreed with Grandpa. We're terminating the exclusive work contract you have with my father, then you're paying him every cent you owe him for all the years of hard work and lastly, we're leaving and severing ties with the Smith family once and for all. I think there's a reason people say never lie to your doctor and lawyer.” I interrupted. If he thinks he's going to get away by cheating his way through the contract he has another thing coming.

“Is that how you speak to your elders? You have absolutely no respect or manners at all! Where is your lawyer? Do you know who I am? I'm Enoch, one of the senior partners from the City A Law Firm. Are you trying to argue with me?” The lawyer said arrogantly. His gaze flickered at William who was now standing behind her. “This is your lawyer? I don't even know him. He's probably just a rookie and you want me to compromise with him? What a joke!” He scoffed in disdain.

I wonder what sort of people Mr. John is hiring in his firm? This Enoch person is a complete fool. Senior partner? Really? Whatever, it was none of my business how the old man handles his business. I'll let him deal with this idiot.

“You do have eyes, don't you? I wonder how people trust or choose you as their lawyer. No, this isn't my lawyer; he will be here in five minutes.” I replied coldly. He looked at me in disbelief and he was clearly offended by my indirect insult of being blind. He was probably so used to people doing him favors that my words cut him deeply.

"If your lawyer isn't here, I'm leaving! Mr. Smith, I can't believe you called me here to insult me." He said, trying to gather his things.

Unable to take my discreet insults anymore, my grandfather snapped. “Your daughter can't show any respect to her elders. This is the girl you're proud of?”

“I always knew this girl would only bring misfortune to this family since the day she was born. Now that she's back, we can't even have a moment's peace in this house.” My grandmother said, well, that hurt but whatever. What they think doesn't matter.

“Mom, Dad, Sandra is also your grand-daughter. How can you say that about her? Who wouldn't be proud of her when she's sacrificing her life for my freedom? Freedom that I failed to fight for myself. Besides, what she said is also true. If your lawyer had eyes he would have instantly realized Mr. William is not a lawyer.” Affection for my father filled my heart as he stood up for his family once again. The shock on my grandfather's face confirmed he was not expecting that and his hate-filled eyes glared at us.

“Dad, let them leave. There's nothing else they can do for our family anyway. We don't need traitors who don't appreciate everything we've done for them in our family.” Uncle Richard's wife said.

“Are you guys done? You'll achieve nothing with this drama. My lawyer is here, so let's just get to the point.” I interrupted as the elderly Mr. John walked in with a smile.

“Sandra, I hope I'm not late. I was in court but I left as soon as I received your message.” Mr. John said, smiling kindly.

“No, you're right on time to witness one of your senior partners acting as if he owns the City A Law Firm. Nevertheless, Mr. Enoch, meet my lawyer Mr. Jack. If I'm not mistaken, he's also your boss.” The look on their faces was so priceless I almost laughed.

“Sir, if you had told me you were coming here, I would have made sure everything went through smoothly.” Enoch said with a nervous chuckle.

“Honey, how do you know Mr. John? Why does he talk like he knows you well?” My mother asked, I could understand her confusion but now was not the time to format this discussion.

“Don't worry Mom, I'll tell you once we take care of everything.” I reassured her before turning to face my grandfather's stupid lawyer. “Well, Enoch, I don't have the whole day and now that everyone's here let's get to the point, shall we?”

"Jack, I want to remove myself and my parents from the Smith family; I want to terminate the contract that prevents my father from working for another company; and they should pay him all of the money he demands from the Smith company."

Jack listened while writing everything down, then asked the Smith family if they had any issues with it.

All this time, the Smith family had been wondering "How on earth does this bastard know the boss of the City A firm institute," and the way he was respectful to her made them even more surprised, so they didn't listen to what the lawyer was asking them, they just accepted.

"If you accept, please sign here,"

They all signed, including the younger generation as witnesses, and then burned the old agreement into bits.

It was an arrangement he made with his parents in order to marry his wife; despite being the most hardworking, he was not expected to work for any firm or gain company favour.

He couldn't believe he had regained his freedom, thanks to his daughter.

He had always wanted to leave this family and start his own company because he knew he was bright and had great ambitions, but every time he tried to talk to his father about leaving the family and starting his career, he would threaten him with this agreement.

He can't believe it's now destroyed and he can work hard to provide his daughter and wife a good future, he grinned with tears in his eyes and held his daughter.

"Thank you babe for restoring my freedom, Dad promises you that from now on, I will work very hard to make you and your mammy proud."

His wife joined the hang because she felt guilty every time she saw her husband humiliated. She believed it was because of her, if he hadn't married her, he may have a better life and be able to fulfil his aspirations.

"Thank God in my heart for giving me a sensible daughter who understands and is willing to sacrifice anything for my family."

For the first time in the twenty-two years since Sandra had fled her home, she considered her family and wondered, "How are they?"

She wondered whether her parents would ever forgive her for her decision. Nonetheless, she was given a second chance to correct her faults, and she intends to work hard with her future husband to ensure they reach the top by their own efforts.

"Now that everything is done and we have signed everything, you need to fulfil your part of the bargain," said Old Man Smith, breaking the family's stillness.

"Don't worry, Grandpa," she said. “I'm good at keeping my words and I despise forcing people to do things they don't want to do, unlike you," she said, turning to William, who had been standing there as if everything in front of him was drama, he was so silent that if you didn't look closely, you might think there was no one there.

This made her question about her soon-to-be husband, if his people can be so calm in the midst of a storm, is it because they have a lot of drama or he is not as ordinary as they present to people, but she let it go.

because she didn't have time to think about these things.

"Tell your boss or whatever you call him that I have agreed to marry him, let him inform me the time to meet at the marriage affairs to get our certificate," she stated, as if she was referring to someone else who was being married, not herself.

As soon as his task was finished, Mr. William stated, "OK, now I'll take my leave."

Sandra told her parents to pack their belongings because they were leaving, and she told her grandfather to call the company finance to clear her father's money so they could leave the house.

Old man Smith greeted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do, so he asked his elder son to contact the company finance and inform everyone in the company that Andrew is no longer allowed to enter the company and is no longer a member of the Smith family, along with his daughter and wife.

This made the remaining Smith family delighted since they felt it was their turn to ensure that Andrew and his wife did not return to the smith family once they regretted their decision. The elderly woman smith approached Andrew as if she were not his mother and stated:

“Never return here begging! if things don’t turn out to be the way you planned them to be”.

"Perhaps you're forgetting that your stupid daughter is marrying a man who has nothing." So don't bother returning once the money you took from us is over."

Sandra's mother couldn't take it any longer; if it hadn't been for the guilt she felt towards her husband, she would have told them to get lost, so she finally uttered what she had always wanted to say.

"Well, mum." “I'm not sure if I should still call you mum at this point, because not everyone in this world wants money, some want love and freedom, so don't say my daughter sacrificed her future for these few dollars of yours, no! She is willing to marry because she wants my husband to get his freedom, which you have dined him since he was a child, and I wonder if he's even your child? or you got him off the street because no parent in the planet doesn't want their children to be happy."

"What did your good sons and grandchildren do for you, for the family, or for the company that you so proudly show off?" "It's always my husband's sweat and energy towards this family that you see. What does he get in exchange for standing? insults and ungratefulness from all of you people whose grandparents sent their three-year-old daughter to their parents' friend because they believed she was cursed. So, please, even if we don't have anything to eat, we will never consider returning to this house. Our daughter has given up her future and freedom for our freedom, therefore we must make her happy, and I hope it is not you who regrets it."

She then told her husband, "honey, let's go and pack our things and get the hell out of this house; I don't care where we stay as long as I'm far away from these people who pretend to be humans."

Her outburst startled everyone, including her husband and daughter, because it was the first time she had spoken back to members of the Smith family. Even when they were transferring her three-year-old daughter to a family friend to stay, she just secluded herself in their room and sobbed.

Even when she was made a maid in her own home for the last twenty years, she never complained or expressed any feelings.

"Now you see she has shown her true colours," the old mother Smith stated to her son Andrew,

"I told you not to marry that poor woman because she never loved you but loved our Smith family’s money!"

“You never listened, and now look at her or her daughter; they are all useless garbage who only care about our family's money. You will be regret you married her! You should see what your useless wife did to me; she insulted me in front of everyone and cursed me and our family."

Matilda gazed at her, wondering what kind of woman she was. They packed their belongings, came downstairs, and looked at the rest of the Smith family who were still in the living room.

His brothers pretended to feel sorry for their brother for having to live with them, but deep down they couldn't wait to celebrate victory and finally have all of the Smith properties to themselves.

Stacey and Stellah, along with their mothers, were doing a happy dance in their heads because they despised the mother-daughter combo the most.

"Make sure you will never regret stepping out of this house, never come back into this house even when you have nothing to eat and that good for nothing daughter of yours, better keep her promise and gets married, otherwise I will make her life a living heal," said the old smith to his son Andrew.

Andrew looked at his dad for a few second,

"I was wondering if we were making the right decision because this is the house where I grew up and you are my parents who gave me life and whom I have respected my entire life, but what you said convinced me that this is the best decision my family and I have made in years."

“I wish I had left this house twenty-two years ago because my daughter would not have grown up in the hands of others, she would have received the best education and would not be marring just to give me my freedom; I was a coward back then and couldn't protect my family, but this time, I make a promise to my wife and daughter."

"I, Andrew Smith, will never return to this house to live or to the smith group to work; I promise to work hard and make my family proud; I will never ask anything from the smith family or use the smith family name to make a living."

After that, he told his wife and daughter, "Let's go, we're no longer welcome here," and as he took a step, his daughter said,

"Dad, please wait! We have not yet received confirmation that you have got your hard-earned money, but it is your money! So it's only right that you get it because you worked for it for twenty-two years, so let them pay you to zero balance."

"If they can't, our lawyer is still here, and we will take them to court so that they make a decision for us," when the old man and woman of the smith family realised that this little bastard wants to report them to the police because of money, they felt suffocated that if they weren't sitting on the chair, they would have fainted from anger. The old lady looked at his younger son with hatred that if given a chance, she would kill him.

“because of our money, you want to take us to court, Andrew, is this the way we raised you I regret not killing you when I had a chance”.

After she said that she closed her eyes as she remembered that she almost said the words she shouldn’t say.

Andrew couldn't believe his own mother could wish him dead, let alone kill him for money. The little love he had left for the Smith family had vanished, leaving only hatred and a promise to make a name for himself and see how his mother would look at him and repeat the same words.

He crossed his eyes and took a long breath before taking his wife's hand and daughter and leaving the smith family. His daughter gazed back at the smith family and said,

"If we don't see a message in ten minutes after we leave here, we'll meet at court, and we'll ask your beloved lawyer Enoch if he can win my lawyer, or if there's a lawyer in this city who can win him, and we all know you can't afford a lawyer better than that." So, for the sake of my own peace of mind and my own time, let us not waste each other's time because you will not win."