The lost Treasure

Joanna entered her house, visibly drained. The intense demands of her job, heightened by her superior's undue harshness, had begun to break her. As she settled into a chair, she reflected on the intense dissatisfaction pervading her professional life.

However, her thoughts were not confined to her career. The lack of family support cast a dark shadow over her life, a void left by her mother's premature death when she was just two.

The unclear events that led to her mother's untimely death left lingering questions. Despite the doctor's positive forecast and the expected discharge, her mother's abrupt decline and subsequent death shrouded the truth. Whispers circulated of a secret affair between Don and Maria before Joanna's mother's demise.

Maria leveraged her knowledge of Mr. Don Johnson's paternal secret to coerce him into marriage, threatening to expose his affair and his resultant child to the media. In a bid to uphold a perfect image, Don bowed to societal pressures and the need to shield his reputation and business. His marriage to Maria was, however, loveless, a cold arrangement dictated by fear and societal norms.

The town's whispers had hardened into established knowledge: Joanna had two half-siblings from Maria. The consensus was that Danny, Joanna's junior by a year, was the fruit of an illicit relationship between Don and Maria. His birth was shrouded in suspicion, hinting he may have been conceived while Don was still wedded to Joanna's mother, Leslie.

Conversely, Tasha was born following Don and Maria's marriage, an embodiment of their post-marital relationship. As Joanna wrestled with her tumultuous professional life and her family's dark secrets, the complex beginnings of her siblings added another complex layer to her life's intricate fabric.

Facing these revelations, Joanna found herself at a juncture, pondering her strained relations with her father and stepmother, and her own role in a family where truth and deception merged into a disturbing pattern.

Joanna sank into her sofa's cushions, her mind overrun with memories of the tempestuous years living with her father and stepmother.

From an early age, Maria displayed a harshness that cut deep. Joanna vividly remembered the hunger pangs Maria arbitrarily inflicted on her. The verbal attacks, name-calling, and the continual reminder that she was an "illegitimate child" lingered in Joanna's mind. Maria's contempt seemed unending, intensifying as Joanna grew.

As Joanna transitioned into her teenage years, Maria's demands amplified. Joanna was tasked with house chores and laundry, even with domestic help available. Don, was unaware of Maria's maltreatment, because he was always away at work. Joanna's academic successes sparked Maria's envy, leading her to thwart Joanna's progress relentlessly.

"Joanna, come here! Who gave you permission to sit and study? Can't you see the chores waiting for you?" Maria's stern voice echoed through the house, a constant reminder of Joanna's suppressed dreams. The order to kneel, the accusatory finger, and the cruel jibes about her deceased mother became a twisted ritual. Maria's hold over Joanna went beyond mere duties; it aimed to crush her spirit.

Tears flowed down Joanna's cheeks as she knelt, Maria's words weighing heavily upon her. Even as she sat alone on the sofa, the emotional wounds inflicted by those moments remained, casting a pall over her reflections of her painful past.

Joanna's train of thought was interrupted when there was a knock at her door. She promptly stood up, wiped away her tears, and hurried to answer it. To her surprise, it was her boyfriend, Samuel. "Hello, Samuel. I'm glad you're here. Please come in," she said. However, Samuel replied, "No, Joanna. I'm not here to stay. I just wanted to talk to you briefly." Joanna looked at him and noticed that something was off with his facial expression; he seemed upset. Concerned, she asked, "Is something wrong, Samuel? You seem rather upset today. What's the matter?" Samuel sneered at her and turned the question back on her, saying, "Why don't you tell me what the problem is? Haven't I treated you well all this time? Why would you cheat on me?" Joanna was taken aback and confused. She replied, "Samuel, I don't understand what you're saying." Samuel burst into laughter and sarcastically clapped his hands. "You're such a drama queen, acting like you know nothing. Impressive."

"Samuel, I don't understand, I've been faithful," Joanna protested, her face a canvas of confusion.

As Joanna prepared to speak, Tasha suddenly appeared behind Samuel. Samuel pointed at Joanna and exclaimed, "Look, your sister is denying everything. I told you she wouldn't agree." This turn of events left Joanna even more bewildered, prompting her to ask Tasha, "What's happening, sis? Am I missing something?"

Tasha stared at Joanna and said, "Be honest and tell the truth, sis. You've been cheating on Samuel. I finally showed some evidence of your infidelity." Joanna was taken aback and rendered speechless. She weakly inquired, "Samuel, what proof do you have of me cheating? We've been together for five years, and I've been faithful to you." Samuel retorted, "Joanna, you wouldn't let me touch you. You claimed you wanted to wait until marriage, yet you allowed another man to touch you." Joanna pleaded, "So, Samuel, you're just going to believe my sister without even hearing me out?" Joanna cried.

Samuel insisted, "Joanna, I saw you today with your coworker, who you claim is just a friend. But you looked more than just friends." Shocked, Joanna questioned, "Where did you see me?" Samuel presented a photograph from his mobile device, capturing a scene near the cafeteria at Joanna's workplace. This image revealed her having lunch with her male coworker. The image gave the impression of an intimate moment between them. Joanna was shocked, “is that your proof Samuel, me having lunch with Fred, from the office?” Samuel was convinced that Joanna had cheated and no amount of talking from Joanna could convince him otherwise.

Samuel insisted that Joanna take off the ring and give it back, thus declaring the end of their relationship.

Despite Joanna's attempts to explain and reason with Samuel, he was resolute in ending things. Joanna pleaded and wept, while Tasha clapped and laughed, proclaiming, "I'm not sure what you were thinking, Samuel, getting involved with my sister. She's always been promiscuous and worthless. Being with her could spell disaster for you and your family." Samuel walked away, shouting at Joanna, "We're done, Joanna. I don't know why I wasted my time dating you. You're such a liar," his voice trembling with anger. Amidst her sobs, Joanna screamed, "But I'm trying to explain. You've known me all these years. Why would I lie to you?" Samuel turned back, locked eyes with Joanna, and firmly stated, "Forget about me.

As Samuel walked away, he turned around and said in a decisive tone, "Lose my number," and with that he walked away.

Samuel, despite being unfaithful himself, was shamelessly fixated on Joanna. In reality, he was the one betraying Joanna, yet he struggled to accept the possibility of her infidelity. He believed that, as a man, he could engage in extramarital affairs and that Joanna, if she discovered his unfaithfulness, could overlook it. He viewed Joanna as the perfect wife material, someone to create a stable home and have children with.

In the wake of the emotional storm, Joanna retreated to her bed, the gravity of the situation weighing on her.

Alone in her apartment, Joanna reflected on the unfair twists her life had taken. Despite her high school graduation and enrollment in Providence State University, her prospects seemed insignificant compared to her siblings who studied overseas. She was once promised international studies by her father, only to have the offer withdrawn by her stepmother, a stark reminder of the unequal treatment she suffered within her family.

Undeterred by the obstacles, Joanna's tenacity and intelligence drove her forward. She graduated with top honors and set her sights on a master's degree in business. Two years later, she was the proud holder of an MBA, a testament to her determination and academic excellence. As she embarked on a new journey, Joanna dreamed of contributing to her father's esteemed construction firm, a component of the renowned Johnson Investment Group.