The visitor

Shoving her into the small balcony, he stood firmly in front of her, watching her regain her stance.

“Tell me why you married Ryker!” He demanded almost immediately.

“Your lips are bruised..,” she cried, trying to touch his bruised lips.

He shoved her hands away and she retreated slowly, seeing his indignation.

“I wanna know, why did you do all of this?! Why did you marry my brother? Why did you trick the family?!” He raged, his charming blue eyes seething with anger.

“How.. can..can I answer all of it?” She stammered, her lips trembling as she stood before his intimidating stature.

“I want you to answer me as soon as you're done eating!” He said and walked out.

Her hands trembled on the balcony as she watched him return with a tray of food which he placed on the wooden table.

“Eat,” he ordered and took his seat on the armchair beside the table.

She took her seat and devoured the food almost immediately.

“You've been starved!” He said angrily.

She didn't respond and continued eating.

“Of all the men in the world, you choose Ryker?!” He slammed.

“I..I never knew about him,” she managed to speak as she looked up at his face.

“Then why marry him?” He scoffed. “Oh, I guess you found the proposal online,” he added.

She nodded and continued eating hungrily.

“You didn't bother to know why you were the only one who applied?” He smirked.

She gulped and paused for a moment.

“Oh, now you know. Even the gullible ladies had refrained from being Ryker's bride, especially with the rumors flying around,” he said.

“What rumors?” She asked immediately.

“You heard about his first wife?” He asked.

“No.. I don't know anything about the Clyde's family,” she replied curiously.

He looked at her thoughtfully and nodded.

“Nevermind,” he said.

“I wanna know, I wanna know what shit I've gotten myself into,” she said fearfully.

“Were you that desperate to get married, that you didn't run a background search?” He asked, looking at her face deeply.

“I..I never knew the wedding would be this fast, I..I never even knew I stood a chance to be chosen. I only gave it a try,” she explained innocently.

“And you thought you were the lucky one?” He asked with a mocking tone.

She kept silent and wiped the tears that escaped her eyes.

“Don't cry,” he said with a smile.

She sniffed and buried her gaze on the floor.

“You don't have a family?” He asked.

“Even if I do, they can't rescue me now, I'm like a prisoner here,” she said sadly.

“I can get you out,” he promised and reclined back on his chair.

“I don't want more troubles for you, I've caused you a lot already,” she said with guilt written all over her face.

“You betrayed me, Sam. After what we shared that night. But I won't hold grudges, I just want you to be free from this chain,” he said thoughtfully.

She swallowed hard and looked away from his handsome face which sent her heart melting at once.

“Just promise me you won't reveal what happened between us to your family,” she said.

“I still haven't forgotten that night with you, it's the reason I stayed back, I wanted to go in search of you. And then..and then I found out the next day, you were marrying my brother,” he said with devastation.

“ Please let bygones be bygones. I'm your brother's wife, and what happened between us that night was a mistake,” she said.

“It wasn't a mistake, I felt a connection, and..I want you, Sam. I can get you away from this mansion, I want us to go far away from here and build a life together,” he said with emotion.

“Stop it! I don't feel anything for you, it was a one time mistake and you shouldn't take advantage of the situation. I don't even know you, and I don't want anything to do with you, I'm married to your brother,” she said and stood up immediately.

He tightened his fist as he watched her stand on her feet.

“Sam,” he called, but she was gone.

“Is he sick? What's wrong with him? He wants me? Gosh, how did I end up in bed with him?” She soliloquized as she walked along the passageway back to the kitchen.

**

“What was doctor Steve's response?” Ryker asked his mother as she applied a dark shade of lipstick on her lips.

“Oh, he's out of the country, but he's sending his colleague to come do the test,” Mrs Clyde replied, smacking her dark lips.

Ryker nodded slowly.

“I can't wait to get this done once and for all. Once found infertile, I don't think I can stand her presence anymore,” he said, his face as hard as a stone.

“So, what are you gonna do about it?” She asked, walking elegantly away from the mirror, beautifully donned in a black blazer jacket and black pants.

“I think she needs to leave the same way Vanessa left,” he said sinisterly.

“Ryker,” she cried worriedly.

“Mom, I can't stand her presence, I believe there is something she shares with Ryan which I'm not comfortable with,” he expressed.

“Are you after Ryan? Or after your inheritance?” She asked, walking closer to him.

“I'm after both,” he gruntled.

“I didn't teach you to hate your brother,” she said.

He sighed in frustration and looked away from her.

“The only reason I'm against Ryan is because of your inheritance, I want Clyde's wealth to be in your name,” she said.

“If Dad wasn't so stupid to find out so soon that I wasn't his biological son, everything would have been in my name already,” he voiced out with disappointment.

“Oh, yes, and since he tried to prove smart by changing the will, I'll show him I'm smarter,” she said with a smirk and patted his shoulders.

“Come on, the representative from Otech is here, we can't keep such a dignitary waiting,” she said and adjusted her jacket before walking out.

Walking into the palatial living room, she found the charming, broad, blonde haired man sitting majestically on the sofa, handsomely dressed in black suit. She could see her daughters already engaging the man in a conversation and she smiled broadly, knowing too well what her girls wanted.

“Oh, mother, Mr Ken has been waiting,” Sophia said with a smile as she watched her mother walking into the living room.

“Hi, Mr Ken, welcome to our beautiful home,” Mrs Clyde greeted as the young man stood up and they both shook hands.

“It's a pleasure meeting you,” Mr Ken said with a smile.

“It’s an honor on my part, meeting a representative of the third leading tech company in Europe,” Mrs Clyde said with pleasure as she took her seat.

“Mom, Mr Ken is not just a representative, but a comedian too,” Claris said and they all laughed.

“Oh, it seems my girls like you already,” Mrs Clyde remarked.

“I like them too, they're so funny,” Mr Ken acknowledged with a charming smile and the girls giggled sheepishly.

“Um..permit me to ask, are you single?” Mrs Clyde asked.

“Oh,” he muttered as his eyes bulged while the women laughed.

“For now, I am,” he said and Mrs Clyde gave a signal to her girls and they both smiled sheepishly.

“Um, can I meet Mr Ryker, the acting CEO already?” He asked, and just then, Ryker marched in, elegantly dressed in a long black suit jacket that suited him perfectly.

He exchanged greetings with Mr Ken and he took his seat beside his mother.

“Congrats, Mr Ryker, for your wedding,” Mr Ken remarked.

Ryker nodded slowly.

“Thank you, I never knew the news of my wedding went far abroad,” he said with surprise.

“Your family is well renowned all over the continent, it shouldn't be a thing of surprise,” Mr Ken said with a smile and Ryker nodded.

“Where is your wife? So I can also say hi and congrats to her?” Mr Ken continued.

Ryker's face pulled into a frown and he took a quick glance at his mom.

“Oh, Mr Ken, our new bride is taking a nap. We'll send your greetings when she wakes up,” Mr Clyde put in immediately.

They were still speaking when Samantha walked in, looking so tattered, her frail hands trembling with the tray of drinks she was holding. Madam Kate could be seen running after her and all eyes were turned in their direction.

“What are you doing here?!!” Ryker flared and sprang up from his seat.

“Ser..serving drinks..,” she muttered with fear.

“I tried to stop her!” Madam Kate cried behind her.

“Oh, no! Go back now!!” Mrs Clyde yelled as she rushed towards her.

“Is..is that Mr Ryker's new wife?” Mr Ken asked, taking a good look at Samantha who was being shielded by Mrs Clyde and Ryker.

“No..no!! She's just one of the maids,” Sophia and Claris put in immediately.

“Go back now!!” Ryker thundered at Samantha whose hands were trembling greatly.

The tray fell off her hands and wine glasses shattered all over the floor.

“Oh shit!!” Everyone exclaimed.

Ryker, losing his cool already, sent Samantha a hard slap that landed her on the floor immediately.

Mr Ken stood up quickly and rushed towards them.

“You shouldn't treat your maid in that manner!” He yelled and brought up Samantha from the floor.

“I'm so sorry.. I'm so sorry,” she cried and tried to clean up the floor.

“Get out! Kate, clean up!!” Mrs Clyde yelled at once.

Samantha tried to run away but immediately bumped into Ryan who was heading to the living room in rage. He had watched the whole drama unfold from the stairs and he quickly grabbed hold of Samantha with his raging eyes, looking at his family who were watching anxiously.

“Oh..no, Ryan, not again!!” Mrs Clyde cried.

“Mom, Ryker, how dare you?!” Ryan thundered, storming towards them.

“Who is he? Mr Clyde has another son?” Mr Ken asked with surprise as his eyes fell on Ryan.

“No..not..yeah..!!” Mrs Clyde panicked and everywhere became tense.