Chapter 6

Prison? Did I hear Sterling right? But that made no sense. My parents may have not been perfect people but there was no way that they were criminals. 

“I don’t understand…” I said under my breath. “What do you mean by that, Sterling?” I asked him as he walked away. “I’m talking to you!” I stopped him by holding his arm. 

He stopped and then looked at me. A small smile played on his rosy pink lips. “Heather,” He began, his voice breathy. “I really don’t want to look like the bad guy here. So please, I’m begging you. Sign those papers.”

“What did my parents do?” 

He gently removed my hand from his arms before responding. “I really want to tell you, but I can’t. At least not now.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’d suggest you ask your parents and if they don’t tell you, then trust that they love you and that signing those papers would be the best for your family.” He flashed me a small smile and then walked off. 

I stood in the living room as I tried to process it all. If this was not about money, then what was it about? This all just became even more complicated. And what was that talk about prison? Did my parents do something that could land them behind bars?

Even though the question of where Samuel was and why he left, had been answered, there were still more questions rising in my mind. Questions that my parents knew the answer to. 

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called my mother as I walked out of the living room, towards the front door. After a few seconds of ringing, she did not pick up my call. But I was not giving up.

Giving up was not something that I did often. 

I swung the front door open and walked outside. The scenery was lovely and the warmth from the sun was evident and soothing. There was also a cool breeze swirling in the air. 

“Come on, pick up the phone,” I said to myself as I called my mother once again. It took about three to four rings but this time she answered. 

“Hello, darling. I’m sorry, I was in a meeting with a client. We just got done. Is there anything wrong?” Her voice was smooth. 

“Uh, yeah. Something is very much wrong. Can you please tell me why the man I am supposed to get married to just told me that if I don’t follow through with the whole thing, you and dad are going to end up behind bars?”

My mother released a nervous laugh before taking a few more seconds to reply. “Can we, uh, can we discuss this another time? I’d rather for us to talk about it in person and not over the phone.” 

“Another time? I am supposed to sign the contract for the marriage by tomorrow. I don’t have much time.” I slowly paced the compound. 

“And you’re going to sign it. Sign the papers and your dad and I would be on our way to London to tell you the truth about it all.” Her voice was surprisingly filled with a hint of care and concern. 

“When I sign it, there is no going back. I would be married to the guy for the next four years,” I said in frustration. 

“Look, sweetie. Time goes by in a blur. Just be the perfect wife and maybe love would show up later. Who knows?” 

“Wha–what? I don’t want love to show up later.” I breathed out a short sigh. I felt a strong need to tell her about Samuel. And why not? I did not have much to lose anymore. “I’m not looking for love. I found love two years ago,” I blurted out, and anxiously waited for her reply. 

“You’re joking, right?” She laughed. 

“His name is Samuel and we have been dating for two years. I didn’t tell you guys about him because you two would not have accepted him.” 

“And why do you say that?” The sound of passing cars underlined her voice through the phone speakers. 

“Oh, I don’t know. Because I thought he was a commoner.” I shrugged as if she could see me. “But I just found out that he belongs to one of the richest and most well-known families in the western world. He’s a Willaim.” 

My mother gasped lowly. “A William? Does that mean that he’s related to the man you’re about to get into a contract marriage with?”

“He’s his brother, mom. His freaking brother.” I sighed. “Things are really complicated and confusing. You and dad keeping things from me certainly do not help.”

A few seconds passed by and I waited to hear her say something. “Heather, my love. Sign the papers and we would be in London to explain it all to you before the week comes to an end. Okay? Please…” 

I blinked rapidly for a few seconds and then nodded as if she could see me. “Fine. Bye.” I then took the phone from my ear and ended the call. I placed it in my pocket and breathed out a long sigh.

I felt two emotions clashing on my insides. One of them was a relief for finally telling my mom about me and Samuel’s relationship which I had hidden from them for the past two years, and the other emotion was anxiety because of what I was about to get myself into by signing those documents. 

I had not much of a choice. It was either signing those documents or letting my parents go to prison for whatever the hell they had done. I could not wait to hear them explain to me what the Williams have against them. 

They had always put up this perfect act while making me follow in their footsteps whether I wanted to or not. They were good parents but it was clear as day that many of their actions were toxic. 

I ran my hand through my hand and then headed back inside the mansion. As I approached the house, I heard a car honk coming from the front gate. I turned in the direction of the noise and noticed a sleek silver Cadillac. 

The car screamed luxury. The automated gates were open and the car was driven into the compound. I did not recognize it so I knew that it did not belong to anyone that I knew. Also, the windows were tinted so I could not see who was driving. 

The front door opened as the driver got down from the car. It was Sterling coming from inside the house. He walked past me and approached the person who was getting out of the fancy car. 

The person that got down was a girl my age. She had wavy blonde hair and looked like a model. I watched Sterling embrace her, reaching for her buttocks in the process. 

When they broke the hug, the next thing that came was a passionate kiss that they were not at all shy to share with my viewing eyes.