Chapter 6 - "I accept."

Lillian walked slowly to where her father sat at the bar as she bowed her head. She was still thinking if this was the right thing for her to do. She just never wanted this but then, her mother?

"Do you need anything?" Mr Jeffrey asked turning slightly to her after he noticed her presence. She took in a sharp breath and swallowed hard.

"When is the wedding taking place?" She asked back almost inaudibly as she gulped down again.

"Huh?" Mr Jeffrey said pretending not to know what she meant. Lillian closed her eyes and swallowed hard again then she opened her eyes as she folded her hands tight by her side.

"Is the wedding still taking place tomorrow?" She asked again, trying not to have a reconsideration. 

"Yes." Mr Jeffrey replied in a nod as he adjusted on his seat that he could stare directly into her face.

"Alright." She said simply.

"Does that mean you accept to get married?" Mr Jeffrey asked in anticipation and furrowed brows.

"I don't have a choice." She replied lowly and he broke into a wide smile.

***************

Don sat on his bed with a cigarette in between his lips. He picked up a lighter, lighting the cigarette and dropped the lighter back on the cabinet. He smoked from his cigarette, puffing smoke out from both his mouth and nostrils.

The door opened and a lady entered.

"What do you want Bella?" He asked after a glance at the lady.

"Can't I come over to see my brother any longer?" Bella said as she made her way to the couch in the room and Don scoffed.

"Just spill and leave." Don said making Bella glare at him.

"I also don't want to waste my precious time here. You know, I've got more important things to do." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"Jeffrey called and said his daughter accepted the marriage." Bella said again.

"Took her long enough." Don mumbled as he puffed more smoke out.

"He also said you should get ready, the wedding still holds tommorow." Bella said but there was no reply from him.

"You know, I don't get why you aren't happy with this. I mean, she is beautiful and looks smart too." Bella said again as she placed her hand under her chin.

"She isn't my type of girl and you know that." Don stated simply, still puffing smoke out from his mouth.

"Then why did you accept to marry her?" Bella asked, staring intently at her brother.

"Because I need to pay back a favor." Don replied not bothered about the intent stare.

"You know what, you're fucked up." Bella said as she stood up with a scorn.

"Say that again and I will have your tongue for it." Don threatened, now glaring at her and she rolled her eyes.

"You're aware that doesn't work on me." Bella said and walked away while Don scoffed and continued what he was doing.

*************

"Are you sure you will do this? Or do you want me to talk to..........."

"No, don't bother. I gave dad a go ahead already and he has started making preparations." Lillian interrupted, staring into thin air as she rubbed her arm and Fred sighed. They were outside of the mansion, in the compound.

"You must be feeling cold. Here, have this." Fred said as he pulled off his jacket and wrapped it on her.

"Thank you." She muttered and there was silence.

"Can't believe my little sister would be getting married before me." Fred said in a chuckle, trying to break the silence and Lillian gave a sad smile. Fred noticed this and gave her a light elbow.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Fred assured and they both remained silent again.

"How is mom's health?" Lillian said after a while and Fred sighed.

"Is she getting any better?" She said again as she glanced at him.

"Well, we don't know yet because the doctor said she might be sent out of the country for proper treatment." Fred said and a tear rolled down Lillian's eyes but she wiped it off almost immediately.

"The doctor said she was in stage C, meaning she's been battling with it for some time now. Did you know about it?" She asked, trying not to cry.

"I also didn't know until last month when she had a terrible chest pain in my presence and we had to call the doctor." Fred replied making Lillian sigh, going into another moment of silence.

"How did I get back to my room today? I remembered leaving home last night but then someone kidnapped me and brought me back here. I want to know how it happened." Lillian said breaking the silence again and turned to Fred. 

She has been wanting to ask her dad this question but the fear of saying or doing something rash stopped her but in either ways, she would still ask him if she doesn't get answers from her brother.

"Do you have any idea how that happened?" She asked again gazing directly at her brother who had his head bowed.

"I,,,,,,,,,,, I also don't know how but I would ask dad." He replied lowly.

"How sure are you?" Lillian inquired as if doubting him.

"Chill lil sis, I just said I would ask dad." Fred said in a small laugh and she gave a little nod, turning back to the front. Just then, a maidservant came to them.

"Good evening Master Fred and Miss Lillian. Your father asked me to call you for dinner." The maid said in a bow. 

He leaned in a little bit to Lillian,

 "Want to have dinner?" He asked.

"No, I'm not hungry." She replied as she threw her face to the other side and Fred chuckled.

"Alright, you can leave now. Tell him we would join him shortly." Fred said to the maid who bowed and left making Lillian scoff.

"Come on now, let's go." He persuaded as he stood up.

"I'm not having dinner." Lillian replied, biting her lower lip.

"And why is that?" Fred asked as he tilted his head to her side.

"Because I don't want to." She blurted out with a small frown.

"Is it still because of this marriage?" Fred asked but she didn't say anything.

"Uhhh answer me. I'd like to know." Fred said again and this time, Lillian turned to him.

"It is not because of the marriage or anything else." She said the half truth.

"Then, let's go." Fred said dragging her up.

"I don't want to. Just go on your own and have dinner." She argued as she tried to free Fred's grip on her.

"Get up." Fred said as he finally pulled her up. 

"I don't want to." Lillian said trying to sit back on the chair but Fred didn't allow her.

"You are coming with me and that's final." Fred finalized and pulled her with him into the house.

**********************

Mr Jeffrey walked towards the bed in their room and sat beside it. He tapped his wife a bit.

"Hey! It's me." He said in form of a whisper and Mrs Helen after hearing her husband's voice opened her eyes as she sat up.

"She agreed." He revealed as a smile formed on his lips.

 "She fucking agreed to get married!" He rejoiced in a little shout.

"Keep your voice low. What if she hears you?" Mrs Helen said as she gazed at the door.

"She truly accepted?" She asked lowly to be sure of what she heard.

"Yeah and it is holding tomorrow." Her husband replied in a small laugh.

"Wow! She must really care for me." She said in a small sigh.

"Of course, you're her mother." Her husband agreed.

"You shouldn't feel bad. We're doing all these for her sake and you know it." He comforted when he saw his wife bow her head in sadness.

"I'm glad." Mrs Helen said in a feigned little smile which her husband noticed but chose to ignore, though not purposely.

"I told you she was going to accept. This way, we would know we didn't force her to do it." Mr Jeffrey said proudly in a wide smile, resting back on the chair.