SHE HAD TO S*CK THE BILLIONAIRE BIG THING FOR MONEY: She Regretted it!
The Price of Ambition
The hospital corridors were silenced by a sound no one could ignore: the primal, agonizing cry of Amanda. It was a scream that spoke not of physical pain, but of something deeper, invisible, and utterly broken. Her eyes were wide, fixated on a horror only she could see, signaling a collapse that went beyond medicine.
This was the tragic end of a dream that began three months earlier in Makoko, the floating slum of Lagos.
The Girl Who Dared to Dream
Amanda grew up fighting the odds in Makoko, where life was harsh and dreams often drowned. Her ambition was a university degree, and she worked grueling, masculine jobs—selling sachet water, laying bricks, and lifting cement bags—to earn enough. “I go go school,” she used to vow, “Even if not death remain, I go still try.”
One day, while working at a construction site, a sleek black Jeep rolled up. Inside was Victor Ashford, a wealthy, self-made billionaire in real estate and finance. Victor, known for his ruthless business strategies, saw in Amanda a fierce “spirit of a lion” and “fire in her eyes.”
He didn’t offer a favor, but an opportunity: a scholarship to study abroad in the US and a better life. Amanda was cautious, knowing men like him. “Why me?” she asked. “What makes you think I’m worth this chance?” Victor simply stated he saw potential and liked her defiance. He offered a sleek business card and a final warning: “Opportunity only knocks once. Don’t keep it waiting too long.”
The Gilded Cage
Despite her instincts warning her to be cautious, the relentless poverty of Makoko pushed Amanda to accept. The offer was everything she’d dreamed of: a pristine apartment, a scholarship, and a chance at a new beginning in the US.
However, Victor’s help came with an unspoken price: absolute loyalty and submission. He began orchestrating every aspect of her life, thrusting her into a world of lavish parties, high-ranking professionals, and powerful, calculating figures. Amanda was no longer just a student; she was a piece in his game, meant to perform a role and further his ambitions.
Victor’s interest quickly shifted from professional to possessive. He called constantly, demanded to know her whereabouts, and pushed her to attend private events where the focus was less on her studies and more on her image. Amanda felt like a puppet, her autonomy replaced by the gilded cage of his expectations.
The Ultimate Compromise
The pressure from Victor—the fear of losing the opportunity, being sent back to Makoko, and failing her dream—became unbearable. After months of subtle but relentless manipulation, Amanda reached a breaking point. She agreed to meet Victor at his hotel room.
She tried to rationalize it as a “small compromise” necessary to secure her future, telling herself it was just “one time.” But the guilt was immediate and suffocating. What transpired in that room left her feeling violated, not just physically, but spiritually. Her body had become a tool for someone else’s gain.
The Cost of Success
The consequences manifested quickly. Amanda’s health deteriorated with sudden fatigue, stomach pains, and headaches. Her stomach began to swell painfully, and no doctor in the US could find a physical explanation, dismissing it as stress and exhaustion.
Realizing her body was failing, Amanda returned to Nigeria. Her homecoming felt like a failure, a shattered dream. Hospital after hospital offered no diagnosis or cure. Amanda began to understand that her illness was not just physical, but emotional and spiritual—her body was paying the price for the unforgivable line she had crossed.
Her condition worsened; her mind was haunted by Victor’s sinister image. The pain became all-consuming, driving her to the edge of sanity. She realized the true cost of her ambition: she had compromised everything she believed in for a success that now felt like a nightmare.
Amanda’s scream in the hospital was the sound of her spirit shattering, the agonizing realization that she had paid the ultimate price for her dreams. The journey that started with a lion’s spirit had ended with a crushing defeat, leaving her with the question: Was success truly worth losing herself?
