Chapter 1

**Amara Nicholas**

On the 31st of December, we were preparing for the crossover night celebration. I was in my room brushing my hair after having my bath. I donned a long blue sleeping gown and stood by my mirror.

When I heard a knock on my door, I walked up to it and pulled it open. I then saw my mother's maid, Agnes, standing there and smiling at me.

Agnes wore a similar long blue gown; she was light-skinned and of average height, like me. I am 24 years old, and I asked her, “What do you want, Agnes?”

Smiling back at me, Agnes replied, “Good evening, Amara. Your father sent for you downstairs to see him before the crossover night begins.”

“Why? We just finished having dinner, and I am not interested in the fireworks,” I replied.

“I don't know, but your dad is downstairs waiting to see you, and the guests have all gone outside, preparing for the fireworks,” Agnes said.

"Hmm. That's fine. Inform my father that I will be with him shortly; I want to use the restroom," I told Agnes. She nodded and left my corridor.

I sighed and went back to relieve myself before going downstairs to the living room of my father's enormous white mansion to see him.

We specifically reside in the countryside. My father is like a chief among others living there. He is involved in farming and agricultural work.

I feel like a princess at home. My mother is the center of admiration, and my people love me too, as my parents taught me to be kind and helpful to those around us.

As the time passed 11 PM, I didn’t know how to feel about the New Year's celebration. I am the only child of my parents, and I don't lack anything, although I am still single.

My parents are billionaires, but they aren’t pressuring me to get married, although my dad has rejected some bachelors, including my crush, Charles Wilfred.

My mother assures me that my father has my best interests at heart and wouldn’t just discard me to any random suitor. He wants the best for me, and so I am still single and waiting for my daddy’s approval.

I took the spiral staircase, descending into the living room.

We live in a standard duplex house surrounded by many trees and gardens. 

Although our mansion is fenced, with the ongoing celebration, we have many guests visiting us to celebrate the New Year's festivities.

Even my dear cousins, aunties, and uncles are nearby.

I entered the living room, but I didn’t see anyone. Agnes emerged from the kitchen and informed me, “Your parents request to see you in the office.”

“Okay,” I said, then went to my father's home office. I suspected that what he wanted to tell me was private, so I made a beeline for my father's office on the lower floor. 

I assumed he didn't want our relatives to eavesdrop on our conversation.

Upon arriving at the front door of my father's home office, I knocked and heard my father's calm voice respond, “Come inside.”

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

My parents sat on a blue couch together, their love blossoming. My father smiled at me, saying, “Come and sit down, Amara. Let's hurry up before the fireworks start. Your mother and I have something important to share with you.”

“Okay, Dad.” I nervously walked into the office and closed the door behind me. I then sat across from my parents on a similar blue couch.

My mother was wearing a red nightgown, and my dad wore a white garment, smiling and sitting beside her.

“Amara, it has come to the point where your mother and I need to inform you about our arrangement," my father said. "We have been keeping this from you all this while, but now is the right time to inform you about our decision for you to get married."

I gulped as I listened to my father speak. "Well, I am sure that you're familiar with my very good friend, Mr. Joshua Briggs."

Smiling, I replied, “Yes, Dad. I know him. He lives in the city with his family and occasionally visits here.”

“Correct. He's my dear friend, Amara. A business mogul based with his wife and two children in the city. Now, you are to marry his only son, Darlington Briggs, and you will have to go to the city tomorrow to start living with him," my father said.

“What? Daddy, I don't understand you. What do you mean that I am married to your best friend's son? When? How? I cannot remember getting married to any man. Did I have a memory loss or what?” I demanded, shocked that I was not aware of any prior arrangements.

"Calm down, Amara," my father said as I stared at both of them seated on the couch in disbelief. When did I get married without remembering it, and yearning to settle down?

My parents smiled, while my father continued, "Amara, this was an arrangement I made a long time ago with Mr. Joshua Briggs. You were only a baby then, and we wished for you to marry his only son, Darlington."

I gulped and continued looking at my father in disbelief as he said, "You are not fully married to Darlington yet, but you will have to live with him to see if you both can be compatible before completing the marriage rites."

“Daddy, I do not understand you. Do you mean that I will visit them and spend some vacation time there to get to know them? Or am I already married to the man you're saying is your best friend's son and engaged in couple activities with him?” I asked, wanting clarification from my father.

“Both. Amara, like I said before, you do not have to misbehave when you get there; you should be a good lady to Darlington Briggs since you’re his wife now," my father said. "Mr. Joshua had paid everything in the past to make you his son's wife and future daughter-in-law. So, according to our customs, Darlington Briggs is your husband, and you are his wife. Darlington may not be aware of this arrangement, which is why you haven't seen him here. You also didn’t celebrate your engagement in a grand style, but you're a married woman, and it's time for you to go to the city to be with your husband."

“What?? Daddy, I cannot marry a city-based man. I do not want to live in the urban area, Mom!” I looked at my mother sadly, wanting her opinion regarding these shocking details. My mother sighed and said, “Amara, calm down. It is for your good.”

“How, Mom? I don't wish to go to the city to live with a man I'm not familiar with. Daddy, I do not like the bustling lives of city people. I want to remain here, where there’s no noise and a wild lifestyle,” I pleaded, wanting my father to change his mind about these sudden ridiculous arrangements.

“Amara, I can understand your complaint, but you have to get married, and I trust Mr. Joshua's son to take care of you. So you will still have to visit them in the city for the marriage continuation tomorrow," my father concluded.