GETTING MARRIED IN FIVE DAYS

AMELIA

The man stood tall, his face stern. His eyes hoovered around Noah, his eyes narrowing without uttering a word. His cold and deep green eyes lingered on my son's features. I pulled my son closer, my heart thumping.

Then he turned to me. “Move your kid out of my way,” he said, his voice a low command and his expression unreadable. “If you can't control him, then don't bring him to places like this.”

He looked away and strode past me, his steps calculated. I glanced back at him and my gaze flickered to a blood clotted bandage circling his wrist.

I picked my son up in my arms, still staring at the man. His deep green eyes were boring in my memory. The striking resemblance to my son. It made my heart race.

“Amelia!” A hand landed on my shoulder from behind. I turned to see Xander’s concerned face. “Amelia, are you okay?”

Xander Fletcher was my only friend and best friend since childhood. He was always there for me, mostly in times of troubles. He accompanied me throughout my pregnancy period without complaint.

He also recommended this job vacancy of a nurse for me, knowing that I loved nursing. I was grateful to have him by my side.

“Yes, I am,” I replied, my eyes straying to where the man had vanished.

“Did you meet up for the job interview?” he asked, brushing his wavy blonde hair away from his face.

“The interview was rescheduled,” I said, my voice soft.

“Momma, I want to go home,” Noah said, his words scrambled, though I could still understand, as he tapped my cheeks lightly. I looked at him. He was already worn out from running around and he needed to rest.

“Alright son,” I said, brushing strands of his wavy hair away from his face. “We'll go home now.”

Xander proposed to carry him and I agreed. “Let's go home, little champ,” Xander said, smiling as he lifted him in his arms. I smiled, following behind.

*************************************

As I entered the living room, I was surprised to see my parents sitting on the sofa, my father's expression heavy. Xander had dropped me off in his car and left.

“Amelia, can you sit for some minutes, your mother and I would like to talk to you,” my father said, his voice hesitant.

I laid my son, who was already sleeping peacefully in my arms, on the sofa beside me.

I glanced at my mum and there was no emotion on her face. I sat down, rubbing my palms together as my eyes flickered between them.

“You are getting married to Conrad Pierre in five days time,” my mum blurted, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

I furrowed my brows, glancing at both of them. “Getting married? What do you mean? And who is Conrad Pierre?”

My dad sighed, his expression dark. “Amelia dear,” he began. “Conrad Pierre is your sister's fiancé.”

I shot up from the sofa, my eyes narrowing. I was barely involved in any family events while growing up so I didn't know who her fiance was. I had never even seen him before.

“My sister's fiancé? Why do I have to marry him?” I asked, puzzled.

My dad stood and approached me, his expression soft. “Dear, please try to understand. Since the company went bankrupt, we have been finding it hard to survive. Conrad has accepted to invest in our company so this is the only chance we have.”

I moved away from him, disappointed. “So, how does it involve me? Why do I have to marry him?” My mind went blank as I tried to reason with them.

My mum stood, facing me, her face etched with irritation. “Nothing is free. Everything comes at a price. Your fiancé is dead, so is your sister and the least you could do for this family is accept the proposal.” She rolled her eyes at me and exited the living room.

My father tried to hold my shoulder but I moved away from him again. “There was no other option, Amelia,” he explained, his voice low. “He wanted another bride in exchange for his investment.”

I scoffed. “A substitute bride then.” And just like that, they accepted for me to be his bride. I tightened my jaw, glaring at my father. They didn't even seek my approval first. I carefully carried my son and went upstairs, ignoring his talks.

*************************************

I laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The shriek that tore from my mother's throat one week ago was a primal sound, one I had never heard before and hoped never to hear again. She had never cried for me like that or at all when I had broken my head and bled.

That fateful morning, as I opened the entrance door, I was shocked to see my fiancé, Brandon and my sister, Amy lying lifeless on our door step, their arms flung out.

The sight was surreal, like a painting rendered in shades of impossible horror. My parents, mostly my mum, refused to accept the sight in front of them. But I stood there, staring at them, a strange metallic taste filling my mouth, but it wasn't fear. Only a profound, chilling emptiness.

To my mum, her only daughter was dead. I wasn't considered her daughter, since I was born. I wasn't sad, not this time. True, my fiance treated me like I was some rejected monster, he deserved to suffer, but I didn't think it would end like this.

“Their death is not normal. Someone did this to them,” a neighbour from across the street said. My mum didn't want to hear that.

However, I didn't panic. My mum hit my chest continuously as tears poured from her eyes that day.

“Why was it her? Why was it my precious daughter? It should have been you, not her!” my mum said, hitting me. My heart broke to shards as I listened to her, but I didn't let my emotions show.

I wasn't allowed to show up for my sister's burial or condolence as it was considered bad luck by my mum. I sat in my room, watching from my window as the people who paid condolence visit came and left. And once again, I was ignored and forgotten.

And now, they wanted me to marry her fiancé?

Without consideration? I would never agree to that.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes to see a hand fondling my breast from my clothes.

“Aiden!” I gasped as I tried to move away from him. He pulled me back, covering my mouth with his hands.

“Don’t try to scream little sis,” he said, a smirk on his face.