"I don't understand, Mom. Why should I tell him that I am not interested?" Lerisa looked at her mother in disbelief. She already knew that her mother wouldn't accept this situation, as her mother and Anthony's mother were close friends too.Martha rushed out of the kitchen as she heard her mother's voice. She stepped into the living room to find out what had happened."What happened, Mom?" Martha inquired, looking from her mother to her elder sister.Mrs. Antonia hadn't thought about the man who caused Anthony's relationship to crash being the same man desiring her daughter.She was initially happy that Anthony's relationship had crashed, thinking that maybe then Anthony would finally notice Lerisa. But now, Lerisa had moved on with the man instead of Anthony."Can you believe your older sister? She said she is dating the same man who dared to have an affair with his brother's girlfriend.""Mom, I already knew about that before, and I know that he's asking Lerisa out too," said Martha.
Anthony felt relieved after leaving Lerisa's family mansion and walking back to his car. He got into his Jeep and drove off, heading home in his car, and he said, "I cannot believe that Lerisa has become so stubborn these days. But I wouldn't sit back and watch Remy break her heart to pieces." Anthony was relieved for reporting Lerisa to her mother, and he finally went home to his family house. Meanwhile, Lerisa was very annoyed shortly after she had walked into her bedroom. She complained, "Why can't Anthony mind his business? What gives him the right to think that he can decide my life? He should better stay away from me." Lerisa walked up to her bedside drawer, as her room was spacious and moderate. She took her phone and called Anthony's number. She wanted to warn him and let him know that she was serious about not wanting to have anything to do with him. "He used to be my best friend, but not anymore. I won't allow him to dictate my life. What I want is that I will do it now
"Hmm, Mother. Each time I try to get past this, you just keep making it hard for me. I cannot love Lerisa in that manner. It's too hard for me. My best friend, my younger sister," "She's not your sister, Anthony. It's okay. I know it is not easy for you. But I wish that you could just try to see Lerisa beyond siblings bonds and date her. Anyway, who is the new young lady that you are now dating? Come, let us have something to eat first. Your father went out with his friends. They had a party to attend, but it's men's stuff, and I cannot go with him," Mrs. Beatrice explained. "That's fine, mom, but about Lerisa. We cannot date. Lerisa is even dating Remy now," Anthony said. "What??" Mrs. Beatrice looked stunned. "You see what you have caused. When your father and I advised you to marry Lerisa, you refused. Now Remy has seen her value and importance, and you just lost." Mrs. Beatrice was not happy to hear the news. Anthony walked up to the dining room to join his mother. He had an e
Anthony got into his bedroom frustratingly and shut the door. Then he went to take a shower. He murmured, "I cannot believe that my mother would support Remy marrying Lerisa. No way. I cannot allow that to happen between them." Anthony finished taking his bath. He walked out of his bathroom and went into his closet, where he grabbed a white robe and wore it across his shoulder. Wearing the white robe properly and tying the robe at the front. He went back to his room and got a phone call from Benita. "Hi, babe," Benita said, as she loved the expensive dresses and shoes that Anthony had bought for her. "How are you doing?" Anthony asked her, and Benita replied, "I am fine. Thanks for taking me out." "You're welcome. Have you had something to eat for tonight?" Anthony asked her again. "Yeah, I have. I just called you to thank you properly," Benita said. "No problem," Anthony replied. Benita was actually looking forward to Anthony requesting to see her the following Sunday, but An
"Mom..." Lerisa looked at her mother, her face reddened with anxiety. "Aren't you going to say anything? I am not going back to the L.H. group, and that's final," Lerisa deadpanned, and her mother sighed. "Lerisa, your recent behavior is becoming increasingly antiquated, and it disgusts me. Let us have our dinner first," Mrs. Antonia said, and Lerisa had no other option than to keep silent. She watched her mother walk up to the dining room too, with her father sitting silently on the first chair. Lerisa finally dragged herself to join her family for dinner. Indeed, she was the quiet type of lady before, and she wasn't pretending to be quiet just to gain Anthony's attention. Lerisa let out a sigh, meeting her parents' expressionless gaze on her. Martha finally walked out of the kitchen, interrupting all her trance of thoughts and the dead silence in the dining room, and she said, "Dinner is ready. Come assist me, sis; I'm hungry too." Lerisa stood up from the chair and assisted M
"So what are you having us do? Do you want me to come officially see your family?" Remy asked, and Lerisa gasped out, "No. Don't come here now." "Why? How else will they know that I am serious about you and deeply sorry for my mistakes? I really do love you, Lerisa, and I want to have you as my wife; please give me a chance too," Remy begged, and Lerisa sighed heavily. "Let's just be friends for some time now. You know that it hasn't been long since all this happened, including Anthony breaking up with his ex-girlfriend that you slept with," Lerisa felt sour saying that. Not only because she loves Anthony, but because she knew how she caught Clara with Remy too. She could probably understand his regret, and Remy said, "But Anthony has already moved on. We cannot continue to dwell on the past, Lerisa. Life goes on, and I want you to know that I am serious about you." "Hmm, okay. I will think about us, but it's still better we get to date first; maybe after that, we will know if we
Lerisa drove her small red car to the church, Martha said, "I am so excited. I cannot wait to meet my big brother once he arrives home." "Me too," Lerisa replied as they finally arrived at their church, just a few minutes' drive from her father's home. Lerisa drove into the premises and parked. At the same time, Anthony also arrived with his car and parked his Jeep right beside Lerisa and her family. Lerisa got out of her car and met Anthony's gaze as he walked over to assist his parents in opening the car door. Though Anthony's car wasn't faulty, he was just being a gentleman. Lerisa quickly looked away from Anthony, not wanting to greet him, as she locked her car door. Her mother and sister paused and greeted Anthony's parents as they got out of his car. Lerisa knew she couldn't walk away without greeting Mrs. Beatrice and Mr. Joshua. She didn't hold any grudge against them, so she paused and greeted only Anthony's parents, avoiding Anthony's intense gaze. Anthony was wearin
Anthony stood speechless and staring at Lerisa. He observed her get into her car and leave the church premises with her mother and sister seated in the back seat of her car. Lerisa looked away from Anthony as she drove past him and zoomed off, not needing his advice. She went home, and her mother and sister couldn't stop teasing her about what Mrs. Beatrice Gregson was asking her about. "Lerisa, you don't want to disclose what you went to do there with Anthony and his mother?" Mrs. Antonia asked Lerisa. She was seated at the back seat with Martha and looking at the rear-view mirror, hopefully to catch a glimpse of her first daughter's facial reaction. "It is nothing, mom," came Lerisa's calm reply. She arrived at her family house and drove into the garage. Then she parked her red car. She didn't take notice that her father's car ahead arrived. Switching off her car engine, she took her silver handbag with her as she got out of her car first. "Don't mind her, Mom. My sister doesn't
Anthony already knew Remy would be heartbroken, so he left and went back home to apologize to his parents, not wanting to add to Remy's agony.Remy already grasped the situation, and if Anthony hadn't been his cousin, he could have dealt with him for daring to come to his house and tell him directly that he had slept with his woman.After Anthony left, Remy went back into his house to nurse his broken heart.A month passed and after the trending news stopped, Remy went back to his business. The female staff didn't dare to gossip about the matter. except they risked losing their jobs.Lerisa knew she owed Remy an apology, and her mother had said that she wouldn't marry Anthony unless she tender an apology at Remy.Lerisa arrived at Remy's hotel with the car gift that he bought for her. She did not know his house, so she donned a red dress and made her way to Remy's office.When the female staff saw Lerisa, their murmuring and gossip resurfaced. Lerisa didn't care and made her way to Re
Lerisa hadn't stepped out of her father's house since she started trending. She was ashamed and couldn't face Remy. She couldn't tell Remy why she had broken up with him.Hearing her mother's voice, Lerisa rushed out of the house as she heard her mother shouting at someone. However, as Lerisa walked out, she saw Anthony drenched, with water dripping down his body.Anthony wasn't annoyed. He didn't want to leave until he saw Lerisa."Mom! What have you done?" Lerisa shouted, shocked to see that her mother had actually baptized Anthony with a bucket of cold water. Mrs. Antonia hissed and went back into the house, not wanting to answer Lerisa's questions.Looking back at Anthony, Lerisa offered her apologies to him. She did not know that Remy had arrived earlier, but seeing Anthony wet, Lerisa offered to bring James's clothes for him to change into."See them, shameless people," Mrs. Antonia muttered from her kitchen window. She should have known that she could not change her daughter's d
Lerisa looked at her father sadly and said, "Dad, you cannot tell the Creed family that it's because of Anthony that you want to call off the wedding.""Then what should I tell them?" Mr. Fred asked. "You went to Anthony's house and ended up sleeping on his bed.""Dad, I don't want Anthony and Remy to quarrel because of me. They're brothers and...""You should have been aware that they were brothers and not comfortably slept with Anthony unclothed on his bed. I don't want to discuss this matter again. Mr. Joshua and his wife are equally disappointed, as they know this would cause a rift in their family, especially since Mrs. Samara is Mrs. Beatrice's only sister. Your actions have caused a lot of problems, but it will be settled. You can go." Mr. Fred dismissed Lerisa. He did not believe his wife at first, but after visiting the Gregson home, Mr. Joshua told him personally that his wife had been in tears, blaming Anthony as the cause."Why did Anthony not admit his feelings sooner? He
Remy already noticed that Lerisa wasn't sounding like her usual self. However, he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with her. He donned a casual outfit, but he was still handsome and tall."Fine. If you say so, I will contact you tomorrow morning before going to work. Try to charge your phone, okay?" Remy said. As he looked at Lerisa's finger, where he had placed the engagement ring the previous day, he noticed that Lerisa had taken off the ring.He furrowed his brows and asked her, "Where's your engagement ring, Lerisa? Did you purposefully take it off? Where is it?"Remy suspected something fishy."I left it indoors," Lerisa tried to lie, but she wasn't good at lying as she spluttered."You left it indoors? Where? You know that you were not supposed to take this ring off. Fine, go inside and bring it, and you can wear it back. Right here in my presence," Remy insisted. He didn't know what was wrong with Lerisa. Just the previous night, he had called her, and she promised to call him b
Mrs. Antonia frowned and accompanied James to Lerisa's room. Lerisa had cried herself to sleep on her bed. She was hungry and weak, but she didn't want to meet with anyone. She had also switched off her phone."Lerisa!" With a gentle knock on her daughter's room door, Mrs. Antonia called Lerisa. "Lerisa, are you in there?" Mrs. Antonia asked again, and Lerisa, feeling hungry, woke up.Lerisa pulled the door of her room open. Her mother and James gasped as they spotted her."Since when did you return?" Mrs. Antonia was the first to ask Lerisa, who looked sad, as did James."Not too long ago. Maybe after you and Dad left for church," Lerisa replied in a sad tone."What happened? Why do you sound sad?" Mrs. Antonia inquired. Lerisa shook her head and said, "Nothing, Mom. I am hungry."As Lerisa walked out of the corridor, Mrs. Antonia saw the red marks all over Lerisa's neck. She inquired, "Wait, Lerisa. What happened to you? Who beat you?"Mrs. Antonia rushed to examine her daughter's ne
"Please, Lerisa, I am sorry," Anthony tried to apologize to Lerisa after his mother left his bedroom with a grimace.Lerisa started crying on the bed as she realized what she had just done with Anthony."What am I going to explain to Remy now? Remy loves me too," Lerisa cried, still sitting on Anthony's bed."You will tell Remy the truth, that you cannot go ahead and marry him," Anthony replied, as he wanted to touch Lerisa's arms again, not equally satisfied with the previous night's events with her. However, Lerisa pushed his hands away."No! It's easy for you to say, but I cannot do it. I cannot face Remy. I have to go home now." Lerisa stepped down from the bed, and Anthony admired her physique.Anthony got down from the bed, fully unclothed. Seeing him in that state, Lerisa remembered all that had happened between them the previous night; she wanted more but knew she had Remy to deal with and, more likely, her family too.Lerisa shook her head and wanted to search the room for her
Anthony stood up from the tiled floor. He knew that it wasn't just him and Lerisa alone. Due to his silence and denial of his feelings for Lerisa, Remy had already engaged Lerisa, and now he was coming to break that bond. The media would become aware, and it would also cause a rift in their family.Lerisa sobbed, and Anthony hugged her closely, comforting her."I am sorry," he continued to apologize, and Lerisa knew that if she had to choose between Anthony and Remy, she would pick Anthony."I don't know what to tell Remy. I don't want to see you both fight because of me," Lerisa said as she turned her back to Anthony's chest.Anthony kissed Lerisa on the neck; he could no longer hold himself back. He had always restrained himself, but now that he had confessed his feelings to Lerisa, Anthony reached to undress her, and she didn't try to stop him. She wanted him badly and hadn't thought the day would come so soon.Lerisa held Anthony close, and they kissed as Anthony took her into his
"How could you lie to me, Anthony? I have been in love with you all these years, and you lie to me that I am just like a sister to you." Lerisa was in tears, and Anthony's heart broke. He turned Lerisa to face him, but she pushed his hands off just as his hands touched her arms."Stay away from me! You cheated on me; you pretended not to be in love with me, breaking my heart further with all your lies. Yet you know the truth that we are destined to be together. Why are you denying that, Anthony? Do you feel scared that you would hurt me in the long run and feel another man deserves me?"Lerisa was in tears as she moved away from Anthony. Anthony stood speechless; he loved Lerisa, but he couldn't admit it to her. He had also felt she saw him as an older brother, and it was only recently when she confessed her feelings to him—that she had been in love with him and couldn't bear to see him with other women—that he knew he had wronged her dearly."I am sorry," Anthony said, but Lerisa move
Lerisa sat down next to Anthony at the dining table, and the maid served them dinner.Anthony's eyes were still glued to Lerisa's face as he saw her frowning. She was going to marry his cousin, so he shouldn't be entertaining the thought of snatching Lerisa from Remy.Anthony finally asked Lerisa, "Do you like the meal, or do you want me to order something for you?"Lerisa didn't look up at Anthony's face. She stared at her plate, which contained jollof rice and fried turkey legs for dinner. She eventually replied to him, "It's okay. I can manage it."Mrs. Beatrice smiled understandingly at Lerisa, not interfering; she soon blessed their meal, and they started eating.After dinner, Anthony's mother called his father, and Anthony spoke to his father for a while.Lerisa knew that she had switched off her phone to avoid her parents. She couldn't face them, so she waited for Anthony to show her to the guest room to rest.Anthony's mother was exhausted, admiring her son's house. She wanted