CHAPTER 1

JENNIFER.

How can I be sure I will be happy with him for the rest of my life? I snapped back at my father," If I had known that this was the reason you wanted me so urgently I wouldn't have come" I blurted out, upon hearing the devastating news my father welcomed me with.

Dad, I need answers, you can't keep me in the dark forever! What do you mean I should prepare myself to tie the knot with Mr Davidson's son?

"every marriage is arranged, some by destiny, some by chance, some by a clash of common interests and some by the parents and family Daddy replied, as I looked at him with my mouth agape.

Enraged with furry and dispair I ran upstairs, slammed the door and fell on my bed, crying and wishing this was just a dream, as I lay there my thoughts took me to Brian the love of my life, who has been working his tail off, so we can start a family together.

As those strenuous thoughts ran through my mind, my father knocked and entered the "Child, put yourself together"

He looked at me, his emotionless voice taking another toil on an already saddened soul, "Get a grip. Stop this show of tears and just take a peep at the bigger picture here, do you know what we stand to gain in this arrangement?

Think of the countless benefits and the specks of being a Davidson, my child, this family is rich I'm doing this for your good " he said.

" what do I stand to gain? I questioned," Dad, you are doing this for your selfish interest" As I looked up at this man who is supposedly my father, that instant, an idea came to me, if I could just move a little bit closer to the wardrobe where he was standing, and smash his head on the wooden wardrobe, maybe I can get rid of him once and for all, what am I even thinking? I thought to myself.

" You can't use me as a pawn in reviving your ailing business, I refused to be a part of this ridiculous arrangement, Gosh! this is the 21st century, not the Victorian era Dad" I cried out, with misty eyes, filling up with tears.

" I don't know this man and his son from anywhere" I growl back, Daddy what do do what me to tell Brian my fiancee" I recoiled into my bed yet again wishing this was just but a nightmare that would soon go away.

My father's demeanor changed as if irritated by the name, Daddy has always hated Brian, because of his financial status, on countless occasions he has called me to quit the relationship due to the financial troubles Brian faces, but those pleas and threats fell on deaf ears.

"Jennifer, you are going to marry Davison's son and that's final, I have worked hard to finalize this arrangement, you won't ruin it with this happy-ever-after Barbie tale fantasy land scene, that is all in your head, leave those to your imagination, this is the real world, my child, it's a dog eat dog life, better man up and accept the harsh reality of life and stop wallowing in self-pity "those word cut through my skin like a sharp knife, how could my biological father be so insensitive to my feeling.

I Knew my father was wicked and I never thought he would go to this extent to sell me off to the next available billionaire's son.

These I the moments I wish my mom was alive. My mum died while having me, which is the origin of my dad's hatred for me, he sometimes thinks I was the one who took the love of his life, and he wasn't always ashamed to say it out loud wishing I was the one who died that day, not his beloved Amelia, he has always seen me like a cursed child, and he seize every opportunity to show it.

I have taken a lot of ill-treatment from the man I called my father but this plan of his was the one I planned not to take, I have spent my whole life trying to erase his narrative by doing his bidding so that he can love, it's not my fault that mummy died while having me, all my life I have always been an obedient child because I always wanted to clear off that image he has of me, but there is a breaking point to even strenuous relationship and this right here is my moment to break.

I need to man up for myself, I can't be a daddy puppet doll forever, I lived to please this man, and he can't take what is mine away from me, and that is my happiness, Brian is the man I'm going to marry not some spoilt billionaire Son. I summoned up courage as sat up to face Father and damning the consequences.

"Daddy, no matter what you do or say I won't marry Davison's son, I don't know this lad from Adam, I don't have any chemistry with him, I don't love him I'm going to marry Brian even if it kills me"

I noticed my dad's face turn red with anger, he clenched his fist in rage, his nose twitched, and he looks enraged and uncontrollably vexed "You selfish bitch, you spawn of the devil. You butterfly calling itself a bird, you think you have a say, you are mine, you become mine the day you took my beloved wife, Amelia, you don't call the shot around here, I do.

I whimper, as he leaves my room and shuts the door with a big bang. I wept silently as I felt my whole world crashing down on me, I managed to summon a little bit of zeal, stood up and yank open my laptop, opened G****e, and earnestly searched for (Larry Davidson)

LARRY

"What the hell is going on here" Mr Davidson asks rhetorically, trying to replay the scene he just saw in his head. I was dumbfounded and short for words, I tried to mutter some, but they seemed to evaporate right from my mouth." Dad, it's not worth it seems, I can explain"

I managed to squeeze these words out from my now patched mouth." tell me, what does it seem?

My father catching me red-handed in the act with my best friend Sammy was not how I planned to come out to my Dad as gay, despite leaving subtle signs here and there.

The old man couldn't grasp the message I tried to pass across all these years, I am gay I can't help it, I have tried to hide this from my parents for close to 36 years but I know this day will come what I don't know is; it will come so soon

"Who else knows about this" my dad inquired, "nobody" I replied grumpily "And no one should, and you Sammy, you son of a bitch" my daddy muttered with irritation in his bloodshot eyes, "after all I have done for you, is this how you repay me" Sammy was too stunned to utter a word, as he stood up trying to scamper for safety, avoiding the burning fist of my dad's anger.

He charged at Sammy like a deranged lion," Daddy please stop" it's not his fault " I was the one who introduced him" Please don't hurt him I love him" Those words dived right into my daddy's soul like a melted glass on a human skin " you say what!, Love? , Love who?" He fired back, his demeanor broken by my words. " Daddy please don't hurt him.

For a moment I felt sorry for my dad, as he drew back like a defeated leopard I cupped my face with both hands praying earnestly for his next line of action.

Sammy used this little pause as an opportunity to run to the bathroom, for his safety and he bolted the door almost immediately knowing he was as afraid as I was, Davidson Manchester is not a man to be messed with let alone toying with his only son.

I know that this is not going to end well stood there confused, enwrapped in my guilty countenance, words failed me this time, and I couldn't help, but see the confusion on my dad's face "You can't drag the Davidson name into the mud, I have thrived to uphold the family name and give it the respect it deserves, you imbecile can't ruin it because of your selfish interest, I can't allow it" he mutters as he stands by the doorway contemplating his next step of action.

He swoops his phone from his breast pocket, I watch as he punches the numbers angrily" Jasper, bring in the boys" No no no no, this is no good, I can't afford to lose Sammy, in a split second two buffy men strode in, each wearing a neatly ironed black suit, with matching shade of sunglasses.

My father's pawns, those two pairs are always off to no good, I have known this duo since I was a baby, they often do my father's dirty work, and their name is still a misery to me, none of the members of Davidson household is allowed to socialize with these two, mummy and I just nicknamed them flotsam and jetsam, we coined the alias from Ursula's minions in the little mermaid cartoon. These two are always up to no good.

My father instructed them to break the bathroom door and bring out the occupant, I stood there wailing, crying but my cries seemed to fall on deaf ears, Unlucky for me, Flotsam and Jetsam, flung open the bathroom door and matched Sammy out like a condemned witch waiting to be burned at the stake.

"Dad! What are you gonna do to him" I interjected," None of your business, son, you can't mess with my son and go scot-free, when I'm done with your lover boy, he will wish he was never born, he will cry for death but death will be far from him. "Dad please don't hurt him" I cried."it's too late. Son" my father fired back with contempt.