Catherine remained standing there, silently watching them leave.
The last time she had attended the carnival was when her father was still alive. Though he had not been her biological father, he had loved her like his own child ever since he found her abandoned in a dustbin when she was a baby. He had taken her in, raised her, and made sure she was cared for.
But when his business started having problems, everything began to change. His wife started mistreating her. Even on his deathbed, his only request to his wife had been simple: that she should never send Catherine away.
But after his death, Auntie Carol made sure Catherine’s life in that house became a living hell. She was forced to hawk on the streets, carrying bags of sachet water and selling them under the hot sun throughout the city.
Nathan was driving along the road when suddenly his car sputtered and stopped. He had endured a long, exhausting day and couldn’t wait to get home. And now this car wanted to make his evening even longer.
He managed to pull over to the side, opened the bonnet, and saw the engine overheating. He needed water fast.
Just then, Catherine appeared from the roadside, shouting loudly, “Cold sachet water!”
Nathan waved her over.
She hurried closer and held out the water.
“Good afternoon, sir. The water is 250 naira each, sir,” she said politely.
Nathan gestured toward the car.
“Pour everything into my car.”
Catherine smiled nervously, but obeyed.
As she poured, Nathan watched her carefully.
When the two bags she carried were nearly empty, he said, “Keep going. Pour it all in.”
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