CHAPTER SIX

I clenched my left hand against my dress after I dropped the call with my dad. Bran had already stepped out of the car and I stepped out of the car too, in quite a hurry to get an answer from him on why he tricked me and my dad into giving up the rights to our company.

“Bran!” I yelled out as I walked over to where he was, all fueled up and ready to demand an answer immediately.

He suddenly turned and pulled me by the waist, closer to himself and whispered into my ear.

“Shhh, remember we have an interview and an image to put up for the media,” Bran said, determined.

“You tricked me and my father!” I said through my teeth immediately with anger but in a low tone as I struggled to break away from his firm grip on my waist but failed.

“Remember, your family’s reputation is in my hands so stick to the plan,” Bran said and released me from his grasp.

I quickly found my balance and adjusted my dress as the lady who was to interview us walked up to us with a broad smile on her face.

“Mr and Mrs Garner, it’s so nice to have you both here..why don’t you both come on in and let’s get things started?” She said as she led the way into the building.

Bran followed the lady almost immediately while I hesitantly followed as well, my hands clutched to my handbag.

We both finally had our seats on a double-seat couch while the female interviewer sat right in front of us with some documents.

“I trust you both have been briefed on the questions I will be asking during this session,” she asked with a smile.

“Yes, you can go ahead with the interview,” Bran said, not even giving me a chance to voice out my thoughts.

“Okay then,” she said and gave a signal to the media team on standby to start recording after the count of three.

“3,2,1!” The media team counted.

“Good morning, dear viewers of today. Welcome once again to the Ask and Get Answers with Natalie Show. Today, I have with me the current and popular couple that have been trending for the past few days…..Mr and Mrs Garner!” she said with a smile as the camera shifted focus onto us.

It was my first time, my first time being in front of a camera and not just that but to be aired in front of many people, of course, I would be nervous. I was lost in my thoughts when I suddenly felt a slight push from Bran against my thighs and this brought me back to reality as I gave out a cheesy fake smile alongside Bran.

“So now, my first question is, why did you decide to have an interview with us, Mr Garner?” She asked firmly.

Bran cleared his throat and sat right.

“Well, I guess you can say that I have been overwhelmed with excitement and happiness ever since I got married to the love of my life,” Bran said as he stretched out his hands and clasped my hands into his as a gesture of love between us.

My instincts immediately tried to break my hand away from his subtly, but when I remembered we were on camera, I stopped and played along.

“We just wanted to share this happiness, isn’t that right sweetheart?” Bran asked and looked at me, as his eyes demanded a response.

I looked up at him and held in the anger I was feeling. I knew that I couldn’t get an answer from him if I didn't play my role well on screen.

“Yes, my love. We only want to share the love that brews between us” I said with a subtle fake smile and caressed his hand that was on mine.

The female interviewer asked other questions and we answered according to the scripts we were given and had read through.

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We were finally home now as I broke off from his grasp immediately we stepped into Garner's villa and into the living room.

“Let go of me, you liar!” I said and released my hand from his.

“You said you were going to clear the debt in my dad’s name but you tricked him into signing the rights of our company to yours?!” I asked, angry.

“You didn’t really think just clearing your dad’s debt would guarantee you staying with me did you? I know you too well Sophia and I knew that I needed to do more than that to have you stay with me for good” Bran said as he pulled off his suit onto the couch.

“What??…..you did this on purpose?? What the hell do you want from me, Bran?!” I asked, my eyes fixed on his.

“You, Sophia!…. It’s you I want, will you give yourself to me?” Bran asked, he came closer to me now.

“You must be joking Bran,” I said as I laughed a bit jokingly.

“You’re the only one laughing Sophia” Bran said.

“That’s never happening, the Sophia you knew years back, isn’t the Sophia standing in front of you….we are not getting back, not after what you made me go through!” I said and took a few steps away from him, tears built up in my eyes the moment I remembered how I felt back then.

“Sophia, I am truly sorry about what happened years back….I was…” Bran said but was cut short.

“Stop! Just stop with the excuses, I don’t want to hear it! It’s too late to hear it now, it won’t change the anger and hate I feel towards you” I said, my two ears closed with my hands.

“You never let me explain myself, Sophia, why?!” Bran asked.

“You had every chance and opportunity to explain yourself to me back then Bran but you chose not to!…..it’s too late to take a walk back to the past with you, nothing will change!” I said adamantly.

“Sophia!” Bran called out.

“It has always been about lies with you Bran…. I am only here as your contract wife because you lied, not because I wanted to be here!” I said.

“You have taken everything from me, Bran….. I will eventually get back my family’s company from you and I won’t stop until I get them back.” I said and walked out on Bran and headed upstairs.

*BACK AT MY FAMILY’S RESIDENCE*

HENNA'S POV

“Henna, don’t you think you’ve been locked up inside your room for too long?” My dad asked from outside my room hoping to get a response.

Just then the door slid open and I walked out.

“Henna, are you okay?” He asked, concerned.

“I’m fine Dad, I never could have been better…now I know exactly what I have to do” I said with a sinister smile plastered on my face.

“What do you mean Henna?” He asked.

I gently grabbed Dad's hand and led him to sit on the couch.

“What is it you have to do Henna? Is it regarding the predicament we are in?” He asked.

“Dad, you know that I am your eldest daughter, and I have always been trying my best to help the family just as much as Sophia does,” I said, holding his hand.

“Of course, my dear, both of you are my precious daughters and I count myself lucky to have you both…if only your mother was alive and Sophia’s mother wasn’t bedridden,” he said in a low sad tone.

“If my mom were still alive, would you have gotten married to Sophia’s mom regardless?” I suddenly asked.

He slowly looked away from me as though it was a difficult question he couldn’t answer at the moment.

“It’s fine if you can’t answer that dad….. I have decided to help out the family the best way that I can” I said.

“What are you planning to do?” He asked.

“I need to be near Sophia, Dad” I replied with a knowing smile.

“Near Sophia?” he asked.

“Yes Dad, we both know that Bran tricked us into signing over the rights of our company to his company, who knows what bad he might have planned out for Sophia, I need to be there to watch out for her,” I said.

“That’s true, that trickster of a man tricked me so bad. I can’t bear to leave my dear Sophia unprotected with him” he said with determination.

“Exactly Dad……she needs someone on her side while staying with that monster,” I said.

“You’ve thought well Henna, but didn’t you use to crush and wish to be married to Bran before?” he asked.

“That was before Dad, I wouldn’t bear to bring myself to be married to a man who would rather render my family broken and homeless” I said convincingly.

“That is true, he would definitely pay for this” he said.

“But there is a problem, Dad,” I said.

“A problem? What is it?” he asked.

“I feel Sophia wouldn’t want me to be near her, you know our relationship hasn’t ever been the best” I said.

“I know, I have been trying to close the rift between you two for a while now and I can’t seem to achieve that” he said and bowed his head in disappointment.

“But I think Sophia would listen to you if you talk to her about it,” I said cunningly.

“You mean for you to move in with her?” he asked.

“Yes Dad, she won’t listen to me but I am certain she will listen to you….we have to think about her utmost safety now more than ever Dad,” I said.

“You’re right, I have to think of ways to bring her out of that sham of a marriage…. I will call or meet with her to talk about that alright?” he said.

“Okay Dad,” I said.

“If that is all, I would be in my room if you need me alright?” he said and exited the living room to his room while I sat there and basked in a mischievous smile and scheme.