I wished the buzzing and merriment would continue forever, so that I could find reason not to return to my mad husband. For over an hour now I had stilled my sight upon a large mahogany door which I perceived was the entrance to our chamber. I sniffed and got swallowed into the heavy expression on my face.Shortly after we were legally joined together, Fanny approached me with the one million dollar credit card. I sobbed and dared to perk up as he spoke to me.“This is your gift for agreeing to marry my mad son,” he said and touched his face as though he was yet to forget the saliva Brian plastered on his face. “Once again, congratulations, Melissa Brant and welcome to the Fanny’s,” his voice brooded excitement even when his face said otherwise.I forced a smile yet I could barely keep the smile longer than normal. He handed me the credit card, grinned and joined the guests.“Congratulations, Melissa,” that was Opula’s voice right behind me.When I swirled around behold there she was
Soon, everyone left for their various homes and I was still breaking words with Salsa, who I knew was tipsy and heavy in her eyes after having so much to drink. Virtually everyone was alcoholic tonight and I wondered who would run to my rescue if Brian should pounce on me like a lion.“Won’t you go to your husband?” Salsa reminded me with an emphatic look on her face. She rolled her eyes at me and smiled briefly in what I took for mockery.I could perceive much of the exudates of rum from her now.My countenance fell hugely especially when I recalled the man she called husband wasn’t just mad but violently mad. Wasn’t he the reason I was still outside till this moment? I just wish they could mind their business and let me perch wherever I wanted.Salsa’s eyes were still around me, perhaps expecting nothing else than my response.“I will…I will go…go to him,” even my voice shook with uncertainty and I became scared to call him my husband. That clause wasn’t yet activated in me. I only
I barely could shake my head when I turned around and realized there were about six of the security. They made at Brian, over powered him while one unlocked his chains and set him loose. They made sure they took away the chains and any weapon around him.I was abandoned to gazing at them as they dared to put him to rest. The intense struggle left Brian grunting and groaning like a bull on the floor while the security endeavored to pin him on the floor.“Ma’am, the billionaire wants you to know your way around the chamber,” one said while the rest still struggled with Brian. “The chains often cut into his wrist and ankle that is why we often unchain him, especially at night and give him sedatives so he could sleep well at night,” he elucidated yet further.“Would he ever sleep well at night? Why would you put me at risk by unchaining the most violent mad man in Rio Hondo?” I nagged in my head as I scowled my face at what the other security were doing with Brian.I noticed there were wi
The kidney dialysis and transplant was successful. Finding an eligible donor wasn’t a problem since my kidney was not compatible with that of my mother.I was delighted to see the face of my mother light with smiles and life. Her eyes were bright and filled with energy as that of a fish in the ocean. Happily her body wasn’t swelling like balloon again. And fresh spring had come under feet. She was back to explore her prime now.She could speak perfectly well and raise her body at will. Mom was rejuvenated again, and hope wasn’t far-fetched anymore; this captivated me and put smiles on my chin.At the sight of me, she sat up and opened her arms in wide embrace as I clenched her in an engaging hug. “I am happy to see you alive, hale and hearty, mama, “I muttered behind her neck as we burnt each other with hot breath and hum of gladness.We hugged for a time that seemed eternal“I am delighted to see you hearty too my daughter”, she said, withdrew her face and kissed me on the brow. “Thi
When I announced the recuperation of my mother’s health to the Fanny’s they were delighted, especially the billionaire himself, Fanny Luis. Fascinated, he was eager to host my mother to a dinner bouquet at his villa.“Now you see what money can do, Melissa. Your mother is hale and hearty today because you took the right step”, Fanny said to me while we had a walk along the courtyard. I wanted to show some appreciation but on a second thought there was no need for it, since it was a fifty-fifty thing. I had a contract marriage with his mad son and in return he gave me the one million, so why should I sound appreciative. I was in for a worse fate, and event were yet to unfold in this contract marriage I got myself into.I forced a smile, pulled my hands backward as we walked along quietlyHe cast an inspective glare at me, “I would love to see my in-law, so go straight away and inform her that the richest man in Rio Hondo, your father-in-law would be honored to host her to a dinner bouq
Once mama sighted the Ferrari that booed into our compound, she sprang out and stood at the door, arming herself with her dark, flaming eyes that warned us not to come close.My gaze was still on her even as the driver rushed out to open the door for me. I wondered what could be the reason for the looks on her face. She was all frown and crimson. The patches of red on her cheeks were evidence of reserved anger she had for me.I walked with unsteadiness, expecting her to open a wide embrace as usual, but I was disappointed. Instead she crossed her legs on the door as though to stop me from entering our house. Her jaw dropped as she winked at me.“Good morning, mama,” I greeted, with the hope that the anger would let her mouth respond to me, at least. “Good morning my mama,” I gave a more emphatic tone and she hissed and gave me the cold shoulder.I winked, cleared my throat and dare to enter, since the haze of early hours sun was beginning to set, but mama came on my way.“Where do you
My countenance fell hugely while the driver took me back to the mansion. Mama had stabbed me in the heart with a knife I used in fighting for her. I thought I was doing my precious mother some favor by going into a contract marriage of no return.Oh my God! What a world we live in! The ones we love despise us in return and call us wasters. Had I known mama would sound ungrateful I wouldn’t have taken this risk. Just look at me now. Where would I go from here? What would my fate look like? Am I not disgrace to womanhood? I just made a fool of myself and destiny by signing to this contract marriage all in the name of sourcing fund for her medical bills.My jaw dropped in wrath.My very mother wrote me off because I went into a contract marriage to generate funds for her treatment. Oh my God. I am so ashamed of myself now. Nobody would see it in any light but in her light. I would be termed wayward, greedy, ambitious and self centered. Wasn’t Fanny the richest man in Rio Hondo? I would b
Salsa threw a gaze at me at the time, wondering if something had gone wrong that warranted Opula to order me around. When I cast a glance at the crimson face of Salsa I guessed she wanted to tell me more about the domineering attitude of Opula; perhaps something more annoying than I thought.“You just have to obey. She is too arrogant for my liking,” Salsa whispered to me, “She is just an annoying parasite you don’t want to deal with,” she added staring evilly at her with the corner of her eyes yet forcing out a smile to give her the good-girl impression.I struggled to keep my gaze at Opula, who was smoking heavily now, patiently waiting for her command to be carried out as she stared at me with disdain.My cheek burnt with peril as I struggled to stare back at her. “What do we do now, Salsa?” I asked in whispers, feeling the chill that hung around my face when the winter wind blew at me through the window and how tensed I was now.Salsa snorted in disappointment, “I doubt if she wou
Whenever I stopped by the hospital to check up on Brian, hope of seeing Brian again often increased in me. His coma was indeed repulsive. When I touched his warm palms, my fear dissipated only for a while; at least he still had an ounce of life in him.The moment I stepped into the ward, I began humming his favorite song, with the absolute intention of making him rise from the coma. I had done this several times in the past weeks, and it seemed I wasn’t making headway.But my instinct had often told me Brian would wake up, soon at a time no one would expect. I only wondered where I would be when it would happen.Would I still be in marriage, or would I be with someone else? Would this love I harbor for Brian tarnish someday? Or would it become increasingly stronger?“No, Brian, please, this is the time I need you most,” I mumbled as I grabbed his palms and went on my knees, “A lot has happened and more are yet to happen…” I paused to stamp a chaste kiss on his palms, “Your father is g
Fanny and James Benson were ascending the elevator to the penthouse when James intoned, “Wow, I guess I love what I saw. She is pretty for my son and if you can convince her to marry my son I will give you the two billion dollars diary contract in California.”Even before now Fanny had been full of contagious smile; the truth was out. Fanny didn’t want to offer his son, Brian as potential husband to the billionaire old daughter who came visiting his office the other day.And the only way he could escape it was by paying up his debt of eight hundred million dollars. And now James Benson had baited him with the two billion dollars contract, he would have to give me to Rod as wife so that he could clench on the contract and pay up his debt.Everything fell on me now. And I wondered how he was going to do it.On another note, James Benson was hiding my pregnancy from Fanny since Fanny had not known of it, it was a plus to him, so he would forever keep it a as secret while Rod fathered the
Salsa had nicknamed Fanny a time bomb that was about to happen. And indeed Fanny was. If not for Salsa, who made that revelation to me, some day Fanny would take me unawares and demand a divorce.I was midway putting my inner chamber in order when a servant approached my door, knocked shortly and said, “Melissa Fanny demands you share the table with him.”With my eyes shut, a wave of irritation swept over me and I wondered if I could keep low and not question his intention of getting Brian an older lady once he woke from a coma.“I will be with him in a jiffy,” I said, and swallowed hard to contemplate the audacity I would use to share a table with him.“If Brian wakes from a coma and Fanny threatens to deprive him of being the heir unless he marries this old lady be rest assured that Brian may divorce you.”Those words of Salsa resounded in my head as I got ready to go to Fanny. “Brian would never do that,” I said to myself, “He can never divorce me,” I said yet again as I shook my h
Shortly after mom had disgraced me, Opula and Kate hissed and walked into the villa. I knew they felt disappointed at my decision. They thought mom would have been the only person who would have convinced me to accept the annulment of my marriage. But my mind for Brian had gone rocky and not even my late father resurrecting from the dead, could convince me.“Pet Melissa and ensure she is well taken care of in her chamber, “Fanny ordered the maidens who had been part of the onlookers.Frankly speaking, I had gone soft in the head, my countenance displayed shame. Salsa and Eva surrounded me and I could hear Eva telling the maidens to disperse. As usual, she had taken my dilemma personally and wished she could save me from my fears.I didn’t expect this to happen; into the night I wailed bitterly and felt dejected. To an extent, Salsa and Eva grew wary of petting me.“Hence forth you cease to be my daughter. If you hear that I am dead tomorrow, please don’t come to my funeral …”Those la
With jerking hands, I wiped my cheeks, daring to comprehend what mom meant by one last decision. Everyone’s face dragged in frown as they stared at mom in one moment of bated breath.“Melissa,” mom called and said, “You are going to accept divorce this minute and join me home or you reject divorce and remain disowned forever,” she said through clenched teeth and impatiently waited for my reply.Opula and Kate shook their heads in approval as if, in a subtle way they would give me a warm handshake for finally agreeing to accept divorce.Fanny dimmed his watery eyes at mom and threatened her with his thunderous face. It was not only he that settled his gaze on my lips waiting for my reply, also Eva, Opula, Kate and Salsa wondered what my reply would sound like.I stood to my feet in one moment of payback. Mom had really bitten more than she could chew; what stopped her from inviting me home so we could figure this out. She shouldn’t have embarrassed me in this way. This was absurd.Thro
She had barely uttered out a word when mom’s voice shrieked at her, “May thunder strike that mouth with which you called me an in-law to a shameless billionaire who does nothing than lure naïve girls into unwanted marriage…”Fanny’s brow had knitted immediately as he surged closer to mom, with folded arms, “What is the problem, mom? Do you realize who you are insulting, huh? You can’t come to my villa and blurt out rubbish. Do I need to remind you that this is my compound and you have no right to insult me?”Mom couldn’t listen to me; my molded arms were still pleading with her but there was no stopping her. She hollered at a disheartening manner, which pulled out Eva and their husbands from where they had been in the villa.I couldn’t withstand this anymore; I lowered my gaze in shame and wailed uneasily like a child.“Even if I am in your toilet I will talk sense into your dumb head. You evil billionaire!” mom cursed, “So it is you that charmed my daughter into a marriage of no retu
A mountain of frown crept into my face as I shot an investigative gaze at Salsa. “What is happening, Salsa? My mom is here?” I asked, stood to my jerking feet and advanced to the window.I could hear voices at the third gate, and it was obvious the security had restricted her from barging in and they were yelling at one another now.“I should be asking you that?” Salsa snapped and shot crimson gaze at me. “How did your mom know that you are here? Did you tell her the last time you visited?” Salsa queried as she joined me at the window.A sudden rain of sweat descended on my body; nervousness enveloped me as my lips shook with anxiety. I stroked my French hair confusedly and paced up and down. I was locked in utter confusion.“I never did,” I replied at a breath, “Why would I reveal my destination to my mom, knowing how furious she would be? After I lied to her that I have reaccepted the divorce, I told her I had relocated to Ohio where I worked as janitor.” I paused as suspicion jumpe
Having waited for Salsa to show up in my chamber, but to no avail, I decided to check her up in the kitchen where I knew she could be found. I needed to appreciate her for saving me from being implicated the other day.Salsa gave me a second chance to stay at the Fanny villa; of course, she had saved my marriage the moment she told a lie about the gift.“Hey, I have come to say thank you for saving my marriage,” I said softly , standing at the door as she got startled under the sound of my voice.“You startled the hell out of me,” Salsa said calmly, her lopsided smile dragging from ear to ear as she turned on the gas cooker, “What are you doing here, Melissa? I hope you know I will be punished drastically if you are found in the kitchen.”I was all smiles too, as I glanced around for any onlookers, “I know family members are restricted from the kitchen. But it is taking you too long to take breakfast in my chamber,” I whispered and glanced around.Salsa seemed to be scared; it was evi
On this day, mom was in her garden harvesting some bunches of flower which had posed as weed to her vegetables, when a Ferrari sped and halted at her compound.She never expected a visitor and since she wasn’t expecting any, she busied herself with the weeding and didn’t consider checking who it was.“My mother-in-law! Where are you? I am here!” a voice called and my mom raised her gaze from the ground. Suddenly, she had familiarized herself with such name because she was certain I would get married to Rod Benson, whether I like it or not.And emphatically, no one called her by this name except Rod Benson. When she raised her gaze she saw a young man in a T-shirt and jeans, having dark shades on his eyes, with luxury hanging around him.Indeed, mom was aging; she couldn’t recognize who it was until Rod took off his dark shades and lit his face with a smile.“Rod Benson,” mom called, and tossed her hoe to the ground before dusting her hand on her wrapper to go forth to him. “My son-in-