I Hope You Will Never Regret

On Sunday around 6 pm, Elizabeth requested an Uber and went to Havana Club to fetch her niece. Lily had been missing in action since Saturday morning. She left the Martins mansion without uttering a word to her beloved aunt.

Elizabeth was so worried that she couldn’t sleep a wink. As a result, she had bags under her eyes. She used a lot of make-up to hide them.

When she arrived at the Havana Club, she approached the bartender. He smiled at her and asked, “How may I help you, Auntie?” Aunt Elizabeth smiled and replied, “I am looking for Lily Parker.”

The bartender called one of the security guards and asked him to call Lily. A few minutes later, the security guard came back with Lily.

Her eyes were red, indicating that she was sleep deprived. She looked at her aunt annoyed and asked, “What are you doing here, Auntie?”

Aunt Elizabeth replied, “I am here to take you home. Let’s go.” Lily looked at her aunt and replied, “Aunt Elizabeth, please stop acting as if you are my mother.

If you want to play the role of being a mother, please go and find your two goody shoes daughter, Avery.” Aunt Elizabeth was dumbfounded when she heard her beloved niece’s words.

She looked at her and said, “Lily, I am not here to fight with you. The helper referred the unfair dismissal dispute to CCMA and the matter is set down tomorrow at 12 pm.

She also attached her medical report indicating that she had been assaulted. Please let’s go home and discuss how to approach this matter.”

Lily was so scared that her face turned pale. She became sober and asked, “Auntie, am I going to be arrested? Let’s go home and ask Mr Duma to help us.”

She ran to her table and grabbed her handbag, then she followed her aunt outside.

When they arrived home, her aunt took her phone and dialed her ex-husband’s lawyer, Eric Duma. The call went straight to voicemail. She started panicking, then she decided to dial her ex-husband’s number for help.

At that moment, August was at His Glory Hotel in his Presidential Suite with John discussing Xavier and Avery’s wedding guests list. Avery had already designed the engagement and wedding invitation cards.

His phone started ringing but he was surprised when he saw the caller ID. Because after their divorce, he had never received a call from his ex-wife and asked, “Elizabeth, is everything alright?”

Elizabeth smiled and replied, “Hello August, I need Mr Duma’s help, but he is not answering his phone. Do you mind asking him to call me back?”

August heaved a sigh of relief when he heard her words and replied, “Eric doesn’t take calls on Sundays. He will be able to respond to you tomorrow. Did something happen to you?”

Elizabeth smiled and replied, “Forget it. I will call him tomorrow morning. Take care.” Then she hung up the phone. Elizabeth didn’t want to waste her time talking to her ex-husband.

August was dumbfounded. He looked at his best friend and said, “Elizabeth is looking for Eric, but she didn’t tell me the reason behind it. She used to hate Eric because he became a lawyer using her son’s inheritance.”

John looked at his best friend and asked, “August, if Elizabeth wants you back, will you forgive her?” John was reminded of his sister-in-law, Caia, who was head over heels in love with August.

August shook his head and replied, “Elizabeth doesn’t love me, John. I believe that there is someone out there who will love me unconditionally with all my flaws. It’s just that we haven’t found each other yet.”

John heaved a sigh of relief when he heard August’s words. He smiled at his best friend and said, “I am glad you have closed Elizabeth’s chapter. You deserve to be happy, my friend. The Lord will bless you with a good woman.”

Later, John and August finalized the wedding guests list, then John bade his best friend goodnight, and he left.

When he arrived home, his beloved wife was in the living room watching the news. Caroline smiled brightly at her better half and asked, “Did you manage to finalize the wedding guests list, Hubby?”

John smiled at his lovely wife and replied, “We did, my wife. When is Caia going to confess to August?” His wife smiled brightly and replied, “After Xavier and Avery’s wedding. Why are you asking?”

John looked at his wife and said, “I hope it’s not too late. I think Elizabeth will want her ex-husband back soon. You know that August is kind-hearted. He might fall into his ex-wife’s trap again. She called August seeking his help.”

Caroline smiled and replied, “Honey, please don’t worry. If August and Caia were meant to be together, no one would stop them. Also, they would never be together if August was not Caia’s soulmate.

Caia and I have been praying for signs. When I saw August dancing with my sister, I felt that our prayers had been answered.”

The following day, Elizabeth took her phone and dialed Eric Duma. When it was connected, she said, “Mr Duma, I need your help. Lily slapped and fired my helper. However, my former helper slapped my niece hard across her face.

I was so surprised when I received the CCMA referral form indicating that Sierra had referred the dispute to the CCMA. Hence, I need a lawyer to represent us. Please name your price, I will satisfy you.”

Eric replied, “The legal representative is not allowed at the CCMA. Is it conciliation or Arbitration?”

Elizabeth looked at the CCMA form and replied, “It is written Con-Arb. What does that mean?” Eric replied, “It means that should the Commissioner fail to resolve the dispute in the Conciliation hearing.

An arbitration process will follow immediately on the same day. The conciliation hearing is not a formal process. Please try to settle the dispute in this process.

You could give Miss Sierra her job back if she was a good worker or a twelve-month salary as compensation because Lily beat her up.”

Elizabeth thanked Eric, and then they hung up. Then she went to Lily’s bedroom. She knocked on the door. Lily asked her aunt to come inside. She didn’t sleep a wink, she was turning and tossing. She was scared that she might be arrested.

Aunt Elizabeth walked into the room and sat on the sofa. She looked at her niece and said, “Eric indicated that lawyers are not allowed at the CCMA.

I am not sure what to do. Should we ask Sierra to come back as part of the settlement? Or give her the money as compensation?”

Lily shook her head and replied, “Auntie, I don’t want to see that woman ever again. Rather give her some money as compensation. I think ten thousand rand will be enough.” Her aunt nodded her head, then she left Lily’s bedroom.