THE ACCIDENT: FORCED MARRIAGE

CHAPTER FOUR

    

         FRED

"Haha, you should have seen his face when I told him about the contract".

"No need for that, I know it would be all puffed up."

"Gosh! How did you know that? It seems what he always said is true. You were really a pain to him."

"Of course. We were never when I was a kid, and that was when I needed him the most, I hated his work and hoped it would fail, I never knew how important it was and that it was for my good."

"Don't tell me you did wished that?" 

"I did. Thanks to your parents who took me in and made me feel loved. I would have done something nasty, maybe taken my life."

"And Anna, What was her reaction?"

"She didn't care. She always locks herself in the room all day, making my predicament worst." 

Eric said to Fred as they discussed about their Dads and pass life, obviously drunk. 

" I feel sleepy." Fred said as he struggled to seat up over the bottles littered round the table.

"There's are rooms all over, but first let's make a toast to the ones we've lost. To your dad, my mum and Anna." Eric said as he raised his glass.

"Is that really necessary?" He asked while Eric stared at him with daggers in his eyes. 

"Alright, alright fine." He said as he picked his glass and gulped it down. While Eric burst into a vacuous laughter.

~~~~~~~~

"Thanks guy, you made my day, Fred said as he staggered towards his car. I don't regret coming here."

"Fred, you can just spend the night here. You're wasted. Its dangerous."

"Now you sound like Clara." "I'm fine, nothing's gonna happen to me."

"Alright bro, if you say that. I'd go in now. My head's spinning."

"Good night bro.."

Fred ignited his engine and zoomed off with a great speed. He struggled to keep his eyes open as he hit the road. He really had a great time with Eric, whom had just returned from Paris two days ago. 

They'd be planning to catch up, and finally did unexpectedly. It was so great. He kind of felt relived as he poured out his heart to Eric and was glad at the suggestion Eric gave. It seems Eric really changed when he went to see his sick dad.

The Eric he knew would have told him to have sex with numerous girls, and would be very annoying.

Well, people do change as they grow. His mind immediately drifted back to his kids. He hoped his guards would do a good job in keeping Clara off them.

He stared at his wrist watch with sleepy eyes, Wow, 3:25 am. Its dawn already. He needs to hurry back. He doesn't want his kids to wake up and found he left without informing them, he tried his best to concentrate as he battled with sleep, If he knew it would turn out like this, he wouldn't have taken so much wine. He drove madly as he hurried home. But then, he saw her running blinding towards his car, before he could do anything, he ran over her.

"O my God!" Running out of his car, he went to see the damage he has caused. "Jeez, this is bad." He picked his phone and immediately requested for the presence of his guards. He wasn't a strong drinker, so the drink was taking its toll on him. He doesn't think he can take her to the hospital cause it feels like he would soon pass out.

Now, he had begun regretting why he agreed to drink. Now's he's gonna be with a strange woman. He just hopes she doesn't die. He sat by his car staring at her face, while he waited for his guards and didn't know when he passed out.

~~~~~~

He woke to find that he was on his bed.

Phew, how did I get here? Recalling what happened, he immediately got up and realised that he's having a hangover. Gosh his head hurt so badly. His hands were still on his head, when Clara walked in.

"Seems the king is back from wonder land."

"Clara, what are you doing here?"

"Shh, no need to scream or your head will be terribly worst. Just sit still as I take care of you, I don't bite you know."

"Don't come close to me. What are you still doing here by the way? Get out immediately. I don't want you here." screaming he felt his head go on fire." 

"Ouch!" He yelled, cause the pain was unbearable, while Clara giggled.

"You Witch, get out."

"Whatever, please yourself."

He relaxed and beckoned on the guard at his door.

"Good morning boss, how are you feeling."

"I'm not okay. I don't want you to ever let Clara into this room again. If you go against this rule again, you know the consequences, I don't need to tell you."

"Yes sir. Do you need anything?"

"Well, no! Where's Eva and Eve?"

"They're in school sir."

"What!" Screaming like a madman, he trembled with a shaky voice and continued..

"Who took them to school?"

"Mr Henry, Madam Clara's driver."

Fred heard a loud bang in his head. That means they had been with Clara all this while huh? His guards are going to get it hot from him.

"Don't tell me she prepared them for school."

"Yeah, she did. She also made their breakfast."

Wow, he said trying to get up the hangover and the accident he had has really made him weak. But his gonna make sure Clara get arrested for trespassing. She has crossed her limits.

"Get me, Edward".

"Alright sir." The guard bowed, shutting the door behind him as he went to get his personal guard.

 Well, there are some few people he let into his room. Edward his personal guard, Brain his room guard and Mrs Dora, who was Anna's nanny, he trusts her to let her clean his room and of course his daughters.

"Good morning sir" Edward asked as he stepped into the room.

"Why did you let Clara near my kids?" Fred said ignoring his greeting.

"Sir, she insisted. She threatened to call the police on us, if we stop her from seeing her kids. There was nothing we could do."

"There was nothing you could do? You just violated my order and you're saying there was nothing you could do."

"I'm very sorry. It won't happen again."

"I hope. So How's the young lady doing?"

"Well, we've contacted her family, but I don't think they'd be able to do anything."

"Huh? How I don't understand. They aren't calling the cops on me?"

"Well, Yes. They're so poor, the mum is indisposed right now, and her brother is a kid. When I told them the news, all they could do was burst into tears."

"Oh! That's bad."" Alright prepare the vehicle I'd be going to the hospital. I'm not feeling strong and I need to get a clearer view of my victim. Inform Doctor Clark that I'm on my way."

"Okay. I'd take my leave now."

~~~~~~

After my medication. I went straight to the room, to see her tiny body on the bed. Hmm I scoffed as I went closer. Gosh she looks like she hadn't eaten in a while. Are guys now scarce? Or she meets with the ones as poor as her. Look her skinny she is.

I went straight and paid her bills, gosh, I don't want anything to do with her.

The doctor said she would be fine soon. Thank goodness she wasn't in a critical state. 

I decided to compensate her family for the damages I caused. With the aid of Edward, I arrived her house and walked in. I never knew, there was a place like this in the city. The road looked so rough and dirty, Cracked and fallen buildings with a little good room in it was what I saw.

Hmm... So this is where she lives. 

"Edward, please get me the nose mask, I don't want to be infected." Sincerely speaking the place is a mess, and one could actually be infected there. Maybe God wasn't happy with my drinking, so he let me encounter such an ugly situation.

We walked in. Gosh, the place looks like a hideout for criminals. How can a normal human being live here? We walked deeper and finally reached her house. 

Edward knocked countlessly on the door but there was no response. We were about turning back, when the door opened with a lady standing by it. Holding her crutch or should I say stick, like her life depended on it.

"Good morning ma." Edward greeted. "I was here earlier today, and this is Mr Fred."

"Oh! Yes I know you. You're welcome, come inside." She said, as we both walked in.

Gosh, the sitting room was a great disaster.

"Have your seat." What! That was what I dreaded. I did not want to disrespect her by indirectly telling her that the house is disgusting.

"Don't worry, ma. I'm going to stand."

"Well, let's go to the business of the day." I continued.

Sincerely speaking I don't think my leg would carry me. I haven't stood this long. I stared at Edward who was gladly sitting and I felt envious.

"Mrs Becky, we're here with your compensation fee." Edward said as he passed her the file and cheque to sign. 

"That's 100 million$. We're sorry for placing your daughter in that condition and thanks for not involving the cops and press.

I stared as she took the files from him and spent time staring it, when she suddenly spoke.

"What if I don't want the money."

"I don't understand." Edward said as he stared at me.

"What I meant is this. What if I want something else."

"Oh! You're free, go on what's it? 

Fred here can get you anything you need."

"What!" I screamed as they all turned to me.

"What else do you need, that's better than a 100 million $? This can change your life forever." I said to her. Such a greedy woman.

"Well, my request is a very simple one. I want you to marry my daughter." That was the height of it.

"Are you alright?" I said loosing my cool.

"You, heard me, that's all I need. Marry Audrey, if you want to compensate me and let this slide, You know this can tarnish your reputation if the press are involved." All Edward could do was stare in shock. No body was expecting that statement. She was right, my reputation would be tarnished. Due to the position I'm running for, my rivals would use it against me, and I might loose. What sort of problem is this? What have I entangled myself with?