CHAPTER 6

I stood up and walked out of the living room with the urge to cry, but I couldn't. I went to mum's room and knelt beside her, grasping her palms; they were so worn out. A gazed intensely at her face as the tears began to flow freely with reckless abandon.

“Mum” I spoke but in whispers, my voice failed.

I sniffed before continuing.

“The worst has happened. Samuel has done his worst. He sold me out of marriage to some billionaire today and in a few weeks, I will be taken away. How more devastating can my life be?”

Just as expected, there was a dead silence when I finished talking. I maintained my position with tears still streaming down.

Suddenly, the door flung open revealing Samuel; he had returned from seeing Adrian off. He leaned on the door frame staring at mum and I with contempt, his grey eyes piercing through me.

“Thank your stars you didn't ruin the meeting with your lack of composure”. He said with a voice laced with anger.

I tried to avoid his gaze, fixing my eyes on Mum's body. I wished he could just go away.

“You've gotten what you wanted Samuel, just leave me alone”. I said in shutters.

Samuel scoffed giving no regards to what I said. “The wedding takes place next month, there's no need to waste time”.

He turned around to leave but I called him back.

“Samuel, please I have done my part so don't let anything happen to my mother”. I pleaded in a cracky voice.

“Whatever”. He replied, rolling his eyes as he strode away.

After spending a few hours with Mum, I drifted to my drawing board and started painting. Maybe this would be my last time painting in this house so I had to make it memorable. I didn't really have anything in mind to paint but I started anyway but at the end I made a unique painting of Mum lying on her sick bed with me by her side.

Done with that, I started again this time more emotional and soft, this painting was in respect of the future. I painted Mum standing beside the sick bed beaming with smiles, I was kneeling in front of her hugging her thighs.

When I was done with the finishing touches, I took some steps backwards to admire my work. It was perfect. Suddenly I felt this surge of energy rising in me, a conviction that Mum would get well and an assurance that we shall be happy again.

With that feeling, I strode to my room to sleep. The following morning arrived more quickly than usual. I took a cool bath staying long in the bathtub, the water was soothing and satisfying. I proceeded to dress in leggings and a bra top because I wanted to go jogging. I couldn't remember the last time I did it but I know it's something I love to do.

After taking a last stare at my mirror, satisfied with my final look, I dashed out of my room descending the stairs steadily. I headed for the main exit and bumped into something huge making me fall to the floor.

“Are you blind?” Samuel's voice echoing against the walls of the living room.

I stood up to see what made me fall down. It was a huge glass wardrobe so I could see that the content was a white long gown, two men were carrying it while Samuel led the way.

Samuel moved forward and pushed me aside roughly to make way for them, I staggered trying not to fall. I'm sure that was my wedding gown, I couldn't help but turn around to admire it, it was beautiful. I was sure that the luxurious wedding gown was from Adrian because Samuel would never want anything for me. I snapped out of it and proceeded to jog. On my way back, I realized that the wedding preparations were very intense.

Samuel's phone calls increased; he was either speaking with the event planner or inviting dignitaries to the wedding. But he told me I had no right to invite anyone, I wasn't concerned because I had no one to invite in the first place. He had long made me cut ties with all my friends, he never allowed anyone to visit mom so I had embraced my lonely world.

So many people kept visiting and this was the part that annoyed me most. I hated every moment that I had to lie or pretend like I wanted the marriage. I forged fake smiles swallowing the congratulatory messages. Samuel ensured that all of them supported the wedding in one way or the other. He had a reputation for monetizing every opportunity.

The wedding announcement was all over the news, it was the headline of several newspapers and magazines.

I woke up one morning to a knock on my door, before I could respond, the door flung open revealing Samuel's figure. It was still a bit dark but I knew he was the one. I wasn't dressed properly as the buttons of my pyjamas were open exposing my cleavage. I quickly tried to cover up cursing Samuel under my breath.

He scoffed with his gaze still fixed on me making me so uncomfortable.

“Samuel l don't appreciate you barging into my room like that, at least I still deserve my privacy”. I said visibly annoyed.

“Get ready in the next one hour you'll be on a live interview concerning the wedding”. He said in one breath, ignoring my complaint as expected.

“Why”. I asked with a frown.

He gave me a cold stare and turned around to leave.

“Will Adrian be present”. I asked abruptly, making him stop.

“He's the groom for heaven's sake, you keep asking stupid questions”. Samuel snapped, hissing loudly

“One more thing, this interview is very important for our deal, be of your best behaviour while at it. He added before walking away.

I laid back on the bed and covered myself with my duvet. This will be the second time I will be seeing the man that's marrying me.