CHAPTER THREE

"Don't be so ridiculous. I don't wanna believe you've got nothing inside that big head of yours. I don't want my father to find you here. We should think of getting you out of here before he walks inside,” bewildered, Ciara whispered. Her head was spinning. She could barely think straight to come up with a solution.

"And I asked us not to have sex here. We could have just gone to your place. Now see the mess you caused me.” Ciara berated Walters for what happened.

"Enough with the self-pity. It wasn't my fault. Don't act like you didn't want it, too. If you were so serious about this, you would have declined. But no, you jumped on the bed and spread your legs so damn wide while I fucked you so hard.” Walters clapped back and taunted Ciara. Leaning forward to her room door, Kelly called out again, this time, screaming out his lungs.

"Ciara, I know you're in there. Why are you not answering? I've been calling for over an hour,”

Making an indistinct chatter, she ordered Walters to go hide inside the bathroom immediately while she hid his clothes and shoes. After confirming that Walters was out of sight, Ciara opened the door and pretended to be asleep.

“Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you went job hunting?” Ciara yawned to convince her father, but he wasn't falling for her tricks. Somehow, Kelly felt Ciara was hiding something. Narrowing his gaze everywhere, he popped the question. “Why is your room so scattered? I've been searching for you all over the house. A thousand times I called, but not for once, did you respond. You are sweating, too. Is everything the matter?”

“Yeah, Dad. I'm doing just great. I felt a bit ill after your departure. I had to get some drugs to feel better. I guess I fell asleep immediately. I didn't even know when you got back,” she lied and displayed an Oscar-worthy performance.

"Holy grail! Are you getting better? We should take you to see a doctor,” concerned about her health status, Kelly suggested.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now let's talk about you. Did you get the job? You called me from a different phone. What happened to yours?” Ciara swiftly deviated from the actual discussion.

"Hmm!” Kelly sighed and faced the ground. He was speechless and worried. He didn't know how to explain to Ciara how he got robbed.

"Dad, what's the matter? You don't look happy. What's the problem?”

Motioning to her bed, Kelly quietly sat down and placed his hands below his jaw. “How do I explain this to you? I've got good and bad news. I bet you're not ready to hear them,”

"What are you talking about? Your suspense is slowly ripping my soul apart. Say something!” Ciara flared up. She couldn't bear his prolonged silence. Kelly stood up, held her hands, and explained everything that happened, including the robbery incident and how his old friend, George, gave him two thousand dollars with the assurance of improving his life again. What a sad tale! Mixed reactions trailed his story.

“Okay? I don't even know how to react to this. First, you got robbed. Then you meet an old friend who gave you two thousand dollars? That's absurd! Is that all? Why do I have a feeling you're hiding something,” asked Ciara.

From Kelly's body language, she could discern he's got a skeleton in his cupboard. Aside from losing his phone and cash to a robbery, Kelly doesn't seem so excited talking about the huge sum George gave him.

"I guess I have to tell you already. You deserve to know the truth,”

"What damn truth are you talking about?” Ciara's nostrils flared up. She was eager and impatient to hear what he had to say.

"I, erm...erm.” Kelly stammered and disclosed to Ciara that she'd be getting married to George's billionaire Son, Dexter, in an arranged marriage. Kelly also revealed the vow he made with George while they were in school.

Walters covered his mouth to avert a scream. He couldn't believe his ears as he eavesdropped on the conversation from the bathroom where he hid. Boiling in rage and disgust, the question that plagued his mind was. “Why is her father so cruel? I can't give up without a fight. I can't watch and do nothing while Ciara is forcefully taken away from me. That's never gonna happen,” vowed, Walters.

Deep down, he wanna come out of his hiding place and punch Kelly in the face, but he decided to halt until he was out of Ciara's room.

"Dad, this is a joke, right? How can you even stand in front of me and say those words, knowing they would hurt me? Are you aware I'm in a serious relationship with Walters? Dad, I'm disappointed. I don't even know this guy. How do I love someone I haven't met yet? Does that even make sense to you?

You could have done better,” cried, Ciara. She felt betrayed and humiliated that he father would choose her over material things.

"Don't you dare talk back at me? Who gives a fuck about love? Just give it time. You'll grow to love him. When I met your mother, she never loved me. She even hated me at the first time. But when she started developing feelings for me, I craved more. You're gonna get married to his son and that's final. I guess you're not too young to become an orphan, right?” Sounding the threat, Kelly hinted at what was like a suicide note.

"Dad, please stop that. You're beginning to make this sound like a death wish. I love Walters and that's it. It's Walters or no one. He might not be rich now, but I'm pretty he's got a bright future, at least better than someone I don't even know,” she yelled at her father and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.

"You will obey me as your Father. This is our only escape route from poverty. Walters has got nothing to offer. Can't you see? Wake up and smell the coffee. I'll be stepping out to get some things. Make your decision now,” Kelly angrily slammed the door and exited.

Ciara had to go check the house a few minutes after to confirm his departure. She got so engrossed in her thoughts and forgot about Walters hiding in the bathroom.

"I heard everything! I don't wanna talk about it now. You've had a rough day. I wish to go home now,” Walters frowned, and he motioned out from the bathroom majestically and got dressed.

Ciara was speechless and shivered. She couldn't move closer to Walters, knowing her hot-tempered he was. Right in front of her, Walters exited the house without saying goodbye.

It was 2:30 pm at the scooper’s Mansion and the night was still serene and reenergized. The Air reeked of honeysuckle and throb.

"Son, you don't even have anyone in your life right now, do you? And I hope you do not consider making Melissa your wife?” George reaffirmed and left Dexter in astonishment. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.

"But….but I'm not inclined to marriage. Besides, I don't even love this so-called Ciara. Dad, for goodness’ sake, we are not in the 90s. How do I even explain this to Melissa, my girlfriend?” Dexter yelled at his Dad as the two almost came to blows.

"You've got 7 days to walk down the aisle with Ciara or consider yourself excommunicated from the family's inheritance. I'll shift all your inheritance to your younger brother, Derek. He's more of a man than you'll ever be. Just look at you. You're nothing but a complete disappointment to the family. At your age, you still live under my roof, while your brother has already gotten himself an apartment a long time ago. I just wish your mom was…”

"Oh, don't you dare speak ill of my mom? Take her name out of your fucking mouth.” Dexter fumed at his Dad and was rewarded with a thunderous slap. He caressed his cheeks in anger and returned to his room only to find her packing her stuff and set to leave the house.

"What are you doing?”

"I presume you're not blind, are you? I overheard everything your father said to you. I rather sleep in my apartment tonight. I can't stand the heat,” Melissa wailed as she attempted to exit the room with her luggage.

"We can still discuss this, right?” Dexter pleaded and grabbed her box.

"There's nothing to discuss. Didn't you hear the conditions? You'd be stripped of your inheritance. You're not that stupid to choose me over fortune, right? What I don't understand is why your Dad keeps controlling you as if you were a kid. I can't take this. I'd be back when the drama has ended.

But right now, I'm out of here.” Melissa wept like a child and departed. All efforts to make her stay proved abortive. Dexter grew in rage and screamed,” Jeez! What the fuck have I done,”