I was in my chambers the other night when I overheard a whispering at my window, and when I cast my stare it was Salsa. I knew she was out for gossip and having discovered the rear entrance to my chambers, she often frequented my chamber these days unlike before, when one must pass through Brian’s chamber to get to mine.“You know it is the annual financial record meeting for the Fanny’s and soon Fanny Luis will invite all of you,” she mumbled and forced a smile.I raised a brow, “What has it got to do with me? I am not part of the Fanny’s.” I walked to the side of the jug, “Coffee?” I asked, and once I got a nod from her, I poured for two, and handed her a cup.“Melissa, it is high time you started seeing yourself as part of this family. Hope you know you are supposed to go by the name Melissa Fanny and not Brant. But at the hospital you still used Brant,” Salsa sounded.I paused, winked in guilt and snorted, “perhaps it never occurred to me.”“Heh, I can see it in your eyes. Obsessi
Now there was whirring tension in their midst. Opula flared up, feeling like to flake out within herself. At the time my husband was announced as heir, I couldn’t describe the crimson looks that wired across the face of Opula. But I could best describe it as thunderous; the image you get on the soil when birds scavenge it for food.“Father, tell me you are joking,” Opula snapped, her jaw sagged and voice shook with tension as she surged close to Fanny. “How are you going to disgrace the entire Fanny’s group by presenting your mad son as your heir? Do you realize it is a summit involving billionaires from all walks of life?”Fanny shook his head in affirmation, “Yes, I know, Opula. I know Brian is mad but it should occur to you that from day one I have been presenting him as my successor and not you…”Kate interrupted, “Yes father, because he had his sanity, but right now he is mad. He has lost his sanity, father, don’t you get it? How can a mad man become the successor of the entire F
I wasn’t good at fashion. Although I had all the luxury dresses and tuxedos for my husband, I found myself wanting in the area of fashion. With the help of Salsa, I chose the best dress and clothes that were the best formal and fit into the occasion. Later that same day, we got our delivery, which had dresses and clothes for the occasion. And when I tried them on, I got Salsa eulogizing my beauty.“Oh you look elegantly beautiful, like the wife of the incumbent heir of the Fanny Group.”Salsa had me blushing with those words, but I rebuked her, “Oh come on, stop. You always forget that I am just here to render services. I am just an ordinary contract wife whose tenure will elapse in a few years time ….” I glanced at the mirror to admire my gown which I would wear to the summit.“Don’t tell me you don’t have bubbles of joy in your veins as your husband is chosen as the successor of the multibillion-dollar Fanny Group.”I scowled my face as Salsa brought her box over to continue her mak
Even before we got back home, I got a bizarre, disturbing phone call from Salsa demanding from me what happened because they were seeing it live on TV. She pestered me so much with the calls until I was plunged to turn off my phone and broke down in tears.Fanny returned home writhing in pain and misery. I had my face in shame and wallowed in my misery. My countenance fell hugely in sorrow and disappointment. I had flopped in my duty as a contract wife and I wondered the strokes I was getting to get from society over my flaws. The Fanny’s would laugh the hell out of me, especially Opula and Kate. Although I was ready to tell the world what happened was a fight and not the unleashing of Brian’s madness, yet, hi fame as the most violent mad man had deprived me of that; that was little or nothing I could do to defend his madness.That very billionaire was bitten beyond repair.I had derailed in my obligation as Brian’s contract wife and I knew Fanny wasn’t going to take it lightly with m
The woman had flinched to the wall now, staring at Brian with obsolete, blank eyes, and yet to believe he was standing next to a violent mad man some seconds ago.“Now I recall his face,” the woman pointed at Brian thoughtfully as she spoke to me, “He is Brian, the most violent mad man in Rio Hondo. His billionaire father almost got him registered under our care some months ago, but he changed his mind.I lowered my gaze in shame and barely shook my head to all that she said.“What have you come to do, ma’am? Why are you here?” Nehi queried me, her hands on the door for easy escape should Brian dare to attack her again. “We are ….”I dared to speak when she interrupted me, “There is no need bringing him to the chronicles. We don’t have facilities anymore to cater for the insane. We don’t have financial security anymore. Look at our drainage system, dilapidated and messed up. We don’t have good pipe-borne water for these insane people. Do you know that we barely have enough food tha
Brian had run into an oncoming vehicle which ran into him and smashed him on the tar. I believed the universe heard my scream because I had shut my eyes and let loosed at the tops of my voice. Literally and in my head, that was the end of Brian; my husband was dead.I couldn’t stop shouting as I beheld his body convulse hugely on the road.“What the hell did you say happened to my son? I am asking you, Melissa. " What happened to Brian?” Fanny almost pinned me to the wall as his loopy voice questioned me.I had been all tears since the ambulance brought Brian to the hospital. After countless explanations, the entire Fanny were yet to understand my story. Although Eva believed me, she couldn’t understand how Brian smashed down a bullet-proof wind screen with his bare hands. Considering the thickness of the windscreen, it wouldn’t have been possible, but he actually did.“Calm down, Fanny! Perk up!” Doctor Emma nursed and beckoned on Fanny, who was already flaring up at me.“How can you
I was vindicated by having Brian strong and alive in my arms again. Had it been he lost his life in the course of the accident, a worse fate than the former would have befallen me. And this time it wouldn’t just be a fight between me and the Fanny’s but one between me and her daughters, especially Opula and Kate. And to my very assertion, I saw myself going to jail over what they would have termed carelessness and gross negligence.Before I donated the blood to my husband, I paid him a visit in his sick bed, wept before him and told him I was going to give him another part of me after the kidney. So, he had virtually all of me in his body, so I saw no reason he should die. Although he was still on oxygen support, I spoke into his ears and believed he heard.He actually did.***“You almost got me into trouble! I thought the car that knocked you down took your life! What came over you, Brian? Do you want to put me in trouble before this contract marriage elapses?” I kept questioning Br
Grandchild for who?Oh my God! How was I going to protest to the Fanny’s that I wasn’t going to obey all the clauses in the contract marriage agreement? And how am I going to inform them that this Melissa Brant hadn’t known a man all her life, let alone get pregnant for an insane violent man? My virginity was my life. I wasn’t ready to sacrifice it on the altar of this marriage.A capital no!That was the straw that broke the camel’s back! Ever since the Fanny’s mentioned to me that I would have to get pregnant foR Brian, I had started avoiding our chamber like a plague.Staring at the marriage contract document which had convinced my doubt regarding the obligation of getting pregnant for Brian, I argued if I would ever set my feet into that chamber again.That obligation was yet to sink into me. If I were truthful to myself, I would have read it more than a thousand times in an hour.I didn’t see that obligation; otherwise I wouldn’t have signed the marriage contract. Some things are
Eva grinned briefly, “He was expecting war I guess. He wants you to finish strong. That is why you must not give in to the fuss my sisters are pulling. Your right is your right. My father drafted the clauses in the marriage agreement to benefit you and your husband. This the time you must stand firm and stop shying away.”I hummed and sucked my teeth; when I thought my husband’s sanity, which was restored, would fetch the peace I had long desired, I never knew a fresh endless war had just begun. I wondered how I was going to cope with two toxic sisters that were ready to pour hell on me.“They feel cheated, disgruntled and rejected. They think I am stealing from them. If my husband were here I wouldn’t bother because he has been destined to be the heir.” I sniffed back tears, “indeed Brian’s absence is the reason for this war. I wonder why he would want me to finish strong. Is he not going to survive the coma? Does that sound like a farewell?”Warm tears trickled down my cheeks.She i
I was stroking my sizeable belly while I stared at Brian’s photo with the test result handy. Right now my joy was full; I was carrying the baby of my soul food, a man that had stolen my heart to a coma; my true destiny.There was a shuffling walker at the corridor; obviously someone was approaching my chamber.Immediately I perceived an intruder, I caught the test result, squeezed it and hid out of eye shot.The door creaked and opened afterward.“Good morning, dear,” Eva greeted as she stood at the door, and smiled cheerfully at me, who smiled back.“I guess you are feeling better now. You were all tears when I checked on you earlier.”I had a light makeover on my face and a broader gown over my body, so as to hide symptoms of my pregnancy.“Thank you Eva,” I said softly, “I am getting stronger even when I shouldn’t. I don’t think it is ever going to be easy without a gentle soul as he.” My gaze was on the photo of Brian on the wall.Eva advanced forward, “I can’t thank you enough fo
I was able to make it to another doctor, not too far from the major town, but far from eyeshot.For over thirty minutes, I perched at my seat, waiting for the doctor to come up with the results of the test he conducted on me.He had mentioned the pregnancy confirmatory test, and my anxiety had built like rivers at the sea.The doctor was delaying and I was as anxious as a stolen cat. I couldn’t wait to hear the result despite having the instinct it was pregnancy. I had never been so cautious in life than I am now.My arms wrapped around my belly in expectation of the pregnancy.Smiling cheek to cheek, the doctor walked out with a paper in his hand. Although the smile was contagious, I wasn’t ready to return the compliment, so I frowned.As soon as he settled down he intoned, “Congratulations, Melissa,” The doctor offered a warm handshake to me, “You are two weeks pregnant, Melissa.” He handed the test result to me, his smile still kept.“Wow! Oh my God” I struggled to mutter, leaving
Melissa! Melissa!” Salsa’s voice called earnestly as she advanced towards the closet, “Are you okay, Melissa? What is wrong with you? This is not ordinary anymore.” She gave an investigative gaze on my bust and face once more.At the time, I was still panting and struggling with breath at the sink. My stomach churned with hotness and more fluid wanted to leave my gut yet I fought it back. I was losing breath now, but I dared to breathe hard.“I shut my eyes and summoned the courage to fight off the urge to throw up again. “What is wrong with me?” I asked within myself, pondering over what I hadn’t eaten for the past days.My thought was in the direction of the food I hadn’t eaten for days now and if it was getting me sick already.“Are you OK, Melissa?” Salsa hounded me with her endless questions.Forcefully I replied her, “I am just fine. Let me be!” I snapped, almost getting furious at her. “I think I am sick. I may be visiting the family doctor soon.” I breathed uneasily and spat a
I saw the fire in the eyes of Opula and Kate while they discussed with the lawyer and she knew a war was raging; one that would end any time soon and might be heartbreaking.“Why is the family lawyer here?” Salsa queried and settled her gaze on me who was shooting furious eyes at Opula and Kate as they seemed to be carried away by the discussion.“I guess to divorce me.” I replied, “Perhaps I shouldn’t have signed to this contract marriage in the first place since there is only one way in and too many ways out…” she paused as warm tears trickled down her cheeks. “They are embodiments of ungratefulness. After all I did for their insane brother?” I sniffed and heaved a breath.Salsa kept staring at Opula and Kate as they accompanied the lawyer to the visitors’ chamber, obviously to continue the discussion there.“Why don’t you accept the divorce and have your peace since you are not pregnant for Brian. Salsa stroked my long hair, “You have suffered enough. You have sacrificed a lot for
There was a knock on the door. I lacked the verve to answer the door. But the guest entered after waiting for a while without anyone answering.It was Salsa. She was having handy a tray of dish and once she caught sight of my moody face and my sorrowful countenance, sobbing hugely, she paused, breathed uneasily and shook her head. She walked gently to my side.“I made you green tea, doughnuts and tomatoes. I specially made it for you. I guess you need to calm your nerves and pet your heart, after the troubles.”She was done serving breakfast at the dining. And although she expected me to respond, she didn’t expect it to be prompt. She hadn’t seen much of me these days, and she wondered if I had disappeared out of the villa like she had always thought.At the time, I was still gazing upon the photos of Brian and fondling with my fingers as I couldn’t stop recalling sensual memories with Brian and what fate had for him now he was in a coma.Salsa shook her head in pity once she shot an
Opula and Kate were glancing at the contract marriage documents and shook their heads as they glanced through the clauses, which got them saddened by the privileges I stood to gain if Brian should die.“Oh my God! I don’t know what came over father the moment he drafted this contract marriage agreement in favor of that bitch,” Opula said and tossed the document away, “Can you imagine! Is it because we are girls or what? Why would father make the entire Fanny Group revolve around that bitch because she is married to our brother?”Kate replied, “If we do nothing about this, I bet you we are going to lose. That poor kitten will rule over us. First, we have made the mistake of not going through the contract marriage agreement before letting that smelling thing marry our brother.”“Yes, you are right, Kate. It is a weakness on our path,” Opula concurred.Kate grabbed the document once again. “Is she not going to use this against us?” Kate queried, pointing at a clause, “Read through the te
Opula fumed at Melissa, “I guess you heard the doctor. Why don’t you leave now! He wants to discuss with the Fanny’s and I am sure you are no longer family.” She pointed at the door and yelled yet further, “Can't you hear me. I said leave now!”I fumed back at her, “What arrant nonsense, Opula. Have you chosen to disgrace me in public? I am still part of this family. I am Brian’s wife, legally married. You don’t have to embarrass me as though I am some stranger!”“Shhh!” Kate shut me up with her finger on her lips, “You are a liar. You are no longer my brother’s wife. He has regained his sanity and the contract marriage agreement has stated you can be divorced once he regains his sanity. Automatically, you are no longer family. Leave us now!”Opula added arrogantly, “Yes, of course, so I suggest you return home and get your luggage ready to vacate the villa because in not time soon, our lawyer will serve you the divorce papers. For now this is a matter that is exclusively reserved for
I barged into the doctor’s office only to meet the entire Fanny’s well seated before the doctor."Doctor! Doctor!” I panted, “How is my husband? How is Brian?”I paced up and down, anxious about the fate of Brian. When the doctor hesitated to speak up I asked yet further, “Talk to me doctor. What is the problem with my husband?”All eyes came on me. Opula quarreled with me through those gloomy eyes.Kate cursed me in her breath.It was only Fanny Luis that sucked a breath and snorted. “Melissa perk up. Everything is going be okay. You don’t need to worry,” Fanny petted me.“Calm down, Melissa,” replied the doctor, “You need to perk up. We are handling this and I promise you Brian is going to be fine.” he said yet so much was hidden in his eyes.I let those tears trickled down her cheeks. I could see the emotion that decked the eyes of Fanny and I could tell something drastic had happened to Brian. It was obvious all was