Chapter 1

Amara Nicholas;

December 31;

I was in my bedroom when I heard a knock on the door. I walked over and opened it to see Agnes, my mother's maid, smiling at me.

Agnes was dressed in a long blue gown. She was light-skinned and about my size. I am twenty-four years old. I was wearing a long blue nightgown, as it was already around 11:00 p.m.

I had pulled my hair into a bun after drying it from my bath. "What do you want, Agnes?" I asked, looking at her as she smiled back.

"Amara, I'm sorry to bother you, but your father sent for you," Agnes said.

"Why? But we just finished dinner in the dining room. What does Father want to say now? I'm not interested in the New Year's celebration."

Agnes smiled and replied, "I don't know, but he's downstairs with your mother, and the guests have all gone outside to prepare for the fireworks."

"Okay, tell Father I'll be down soon. Let me go to the washroom," I told Agnes. She smiled and left.

I sighed and went back into my room, then to the washroom. After relieving myself, I made my way downstairs in my father's enormous mansion.

We live on the outskirts of the city, in the countryside. My father is a chief and involved in agricultural farm produce.

I am treated like a princess at home. I am the center of admiration, and the people love me because my mother taught me to be kind and helpful. We were preparing for the crossover night to a new year, and I didn't know how to feel about it.

I am my parents' only child. I am still single, and my parents aren't pressuring me to get married. My father is understanding, but many men have asked for my hand, even my crush, Charles Wilfred, but my father refused.

I don't know his reason, but my mother assured me that my father wants the best for me and wouldn't give me to just any suitor who might mistreat me. I understand and sighed, going downstairs to the living room.

My father's white mansion was fenced, but with the celebration underway, we had many visitors, and the guest rooms were occupied by my cousins and aunts.

Finally, I walked into the living room, and Agnes stepped out of the kitchen and informed me, "Amara, your father requests that you meet him in his office."

"Okay," I said, then proceeded to my father's home office, suspecting that what he had to tell me was private.

I arrived at the office door, knocked gently, and heard my father's calm voice say, "Come in."

Quietly, I pushed the door open and peeked into the enormous office, which had two guest chairs and a set of four blue couches.

My parents sat on the blue couch. My father smiled and said, "Come in, Amara. Have a seat before the fireworks start. Your mother and I have something important to say."

"Okay, Dad," I walked in and sat on another blue couch across from my parents. My mother was clad in a red nightdress, and my dad wore a white garment and black trousers.

My dad smiled and said, "Amara, the time has come for your mother and me to inform you about our arrangement. We have been keeping it from you, but now is the time to let you know about our decision. I'm sure you're familiar with my friend, Mr. Joshua Briggs?"

My father asked, and I smiled and replied, "Yes, Dad. I know Mr. Briggs, the one who lives in the city and visits sometimes."

"Good. You are married to his only son, Darlington Briggs, and you will be going to the city tomorrow to live with him," my father informed me.

"What? Dad, I don't understand. How can I be married to your friend's son? When? I cannot remember getting married to anyone. Do I have memory loss?"

I stared at my parents in shock. How did I get married without remembering it and without wishing to settle down and have my own home? My father sighed, and my mother smiled understandingly.

"Amara, it was an arrangement I had with Mr. Joshua Briggs. You are not yet officially married to Darlington Briggs, but you will be going to live with him to see if you both can get along and finally marry," my father explained.

"Dad, I don't understand. Do you mean I will just visit them, or am I already married to your best friend's son?" I asked, wanting to understand him better.

"Amara, like I said, you are married to Darlington Briggs as of now, and you should be on your best behavior when you get to their house. You don't have to worry about anything. Darlington's father has already paid all the necessary dues for your hand in marriage for his son. So you're Darlington's wife. The only difference is that Darlington didn't come here to marry you, nor did you wear a wedding dress to walk down the aisle. But you are officially Mrs. Amara Briggs now, and Darlington Briggs is your husband traditionally by our custom," my father said.

"What? Dad, I cannot marry a man I don't know. I cannot go to the city to be with him. Mom?" I looked at my mother's face, wanting to hear her opinion.

My mother sighed, looked at me, and said, "Calm down, Amara. It is for your good."

"How, Mom? I cannot go to the city to live there, Dad. I do not like the bustling life of the city people. I want to remain here, where there's no noise and wildlife," I protested, wanting my father to change his mind.

"Amara, I can understand your complaint, but I trust Mr. Briggs's son to take care of you. So, you will be traveling by tomorrow," my father said.