Chapter Two

Genevieve.

Seeing Marcus here meant two things; it’s either he was here to make my life a living hell or he was here to go on and on about how unladylike and stupid I was, how he wouldn’t marry me if this wasn’t signs years ago.

That is what Marcus is, he thinks the whole world revolves around him because his family is rich.

If it was up to me I would have done everything possible to break this engagement because lately, while I’ve taken my head from cloud nine, I could see how he looked at me and treated me. He didn’t act like someone enthusiastic about the engagement and I didn’t want to end up marrying someone who didn’t care about how or what I felt but that of society. But I have no choice, he’s been the one for me since I was young, and as stupid as this sounds, I like him.

“About what?” I asked, seeming more intrigued by his response.

“About our engagement,” he said.

I’d thought I would feel bad that he was going to talk about this; something he hasn’t done since I returned. We have just been going round in circles again and again, we haven’t really talked about the engagement or what we wanted. We could only do what our parents and family wanted.

“What about it?” To be honest I no longer feel intimidated by him.

“I would like you to know these things before we get married Genevieve,” more reason why I hate my full name.

“What’s that?” I gulped and moved back when he took a step forward.

“I’m only going through with this engagement because my family wanted it. I don’t love you and I wouldn’t have been in this mess if you didn’t return,” he spat out.

“Your coming back was a mistake, you shouldn’t have come back. You should have remained in that orphanage that you belong to, you do not belong here and both of us know it!” He went on and on.

Deep breaths eve, don’t let him get to you.

Don’t cry, don’t break down in front of him.

“Then call off the engagement,” I blurted out, surprising myself and him.

I get that he was surprised, this was the first time I have ever talked back to him.

Stop talking Eve, my mind warned me but I was too angered to know what I was saying.

“If you do not want me or love me as you said then it wouldn’t be a problem to call the engagement off,” I repeated though it pains me to say that he should do it if he doesn’t love me and save us both from this mess. I can’t spend the rest of my life with someone who doesn’t want me for me even though I love the person.

Marcus looked at me without saying anything for a while before speaking up.

“I’m not doing any of that Genevieve, if you think I’m going to let you go free from this even after you know I don’t want this then you better think twice. I’m not calling this engagement off, though it wouldn’t happen but I’m not going to be the one who called it off,” he replied.

I didn’t fail to catch his words about the engagement not going to happen and I really want to know what he meant by that.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, moving back as he took another step forward.

Gosh, I didn’t want him near me. Although I’m trying to act bravely, his presence still scares me.

“You have to speak clearly if you want me to understand Genevieve,”

“What do you mean the engagement isn’t going to hold?” I asked and he smirked devilishly.

As he took one step forward I took two back, we did that until my back hit the wall.

He leaned down, his hair playing with my hair while his head was buried in my neck.

“Wh….what are you doing?” I stuttered and cursed myself for stuttering. I shouldn’t be intimidated by him.

“That’s something you have to find out, my dear Genevieve,” he whispered.

My eyes opened widely as he brought his head up and leaned down to kiss me. I closed my eyes when his lips were almost touching mine. I didn’t move for a while, just stood there with my breath seized as I waited for whatever was coming but after not feeling anything for a while I opened my eyes.

Marcus was still in the room but he was staring at me with disgust,

“You are so delusional Genevieve,” he said and burst into laughter.

“You thought I would want to kiss you, dream on baby girl,” he hissed and then turned around to walk out.

I stayed there frozen, it felt like a bucket of ice water was poured on my body. I couldn’t move and I had no idea if it was because I was humiliated just now.

I remained like that until the door opened for the umpteenth time; everyone in the house didn’t have the decency to knock.

This time it was Dahlia, gosh I did not want more drama.

“Mom said you should…..” she paused as her eyes connected with mine.

“What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she paused and then it finally clicked. I saw her eyes open wide a bit before they returned to their normal size.

“Or rather you are the ghost. What are you wearing, Evie?”

I quickly snapped out of whatever trance I was in and looked at her,

“Mind telling me what’s wrong with my dress?” I asked.

“What…..you look like a slut, an ugly one at that and I don’t think you should be wearing that out. Nobody would like to see you in……this horrible dress,” she said and I rolled my eyes.

“Good thing I loved the dress. It’s my body, not yours Dahlia so mind your business,” I didn’t know where the sudden courage came from but it felt good to talk back after such a long time.

“What did you just….” The door opened.

Now you believe me when I say everyone in this damn house has no manners.

I looked to see who our guest was this time and felt glad it wasn’t my mother or Marcus’s mother but a maid.

“Mrs Parker wants you downstairs, miss,” she reported with her head down.

I had no idea if she was talking to Dahlia or the both of us, but before Dahlia could say anything I was already on my way out.

As I held the door handle I could hear her hurried steps behind me.

“Where do you think you are going to dress that way?” She yelled as she stepped out.

I didn’t bother to answer her and kept on walking, I walked down the hallway unhurriedly. I had no reason to rush when the party wouldn’t fully start until some minutes later.

“Evie!” She yelled and I frowned.

I hate when she calls me that. That wasn’t my name for crying out loud.

“Hold on,” she rushed toward me and tried to hold my hand but I moved to the side before she could touch me. Because she was putting on heels and her stance wasn’t balanced, the next thing we both knew was her falling straight to the floor.

At first, she didn’t say anything or move but when we heard footsteps rushing toward us, that was the time she cried out.

“Ouch, why did you do that Evie? All I wanted to do was make sure you look okay,” she said and sniffed.

I looked at her in shock and not until I saw who just walked closer to us, did I know what she was up to.

“What’s going on here?”