Chapter 8

A loud bang came on the door and Katherine opened her eyes, she glanced at the door of her room, the knock came again and this time, she pulled out her covers wondering who it was, glancing at the clock on her bed side stool, she noticed it was just past seven.

She had slept late last night since she was searching for different job and had decided to go look for a part-time job today, still in thoughts, a loud knock came again at the door.

She rushed over since she had locked her door, unlocking it, she pushed it open to see the angry Rita standing at her door with a frown on her face.

“Good mor---“           

“Who told you that you have the right to lock the door while you sleep?” Rita didn’t want to hear her greeting, she didn’t like her, so there was no need pretending she does.

Katherine wondered why locking her room door was a problem, but then she remembered that this was her father’s friends home and not her family house.

“Mrs. Rita---“

“Get dress, we are going to pick your wedding dress this morning.” She said and turned to leave, while Katherine quickly spoke up.

“Mrs. Rita, I am not getting married.” She quickly spoke up and Rita halt, scoffing she turned her face to Katherine, and Katherine became terrified at the cold expression on Rita’s face.

“What?” The corner of her lips curled up and she clenched her jaw. “Are you going to disagree with me now?” Rita raised her brows, her face covered with a mask of hatred for Katherine, it was too early for this, too early to start up an argument, but right now, Katherine had dared open her lips to oppose her.

“I have decided to look for a job, a part-time work, anything that could make me earn a place here.” Katherine pleaded with her eyes, but Rita chuckled softly, and Katherine noticed she was mocking her.

“You want to earn a place here?” Rita couldn’t believe those words came out of Katherine’s lips, she had thought she spoke clearly when she told Katherine that this wasn’t her place to be and that she hate having her here.

“You want a place here, then you have to get married in place of Vivian, whereas, we are all in this mess because your father refused to help us, and now that the tables turn, you will have to help us, and I don’t want to hear you say the word ‘No’.” Rita said with gritted teeth.

Katherine wondered what she was talking about, she had been hearing them tell her half the truth, but what her parents did to this family to attract Rita’s hate for her was the one thing she didn’t understand.

“Then tell me what my parents did.” Katherine wanted to know, she wanted to know why she was being forced into a marriage that has nothing to do with her, why no one was telling her the truth, why Rita was mean to her, and the reason Vivian despise her.

She had only been in this house for three days and they are already making plans to get her married to someone unknown.

Rita scoffed. “Why don’t you ask your dead parents?” She said coldly. “Perhaps they would have an answer to that question,” She paused. “Oh…” Rita smirked. “They are dead and can’t give you the response.” She smacked her lips.

Katherine curled her hand into fist, tears clustered in her eyes, one thing she didn’t want to tolerate was anyone insulting her dead parent, but this lady was so cruel, she was too mean to her and must have forgotten she also have a daughter and one day her daughter could lose her too.

“Now stop arguing with me and get dressed into something nice.” Rita sized her up. “Whereas, you don’t have to work, the man you are getting married is wealthy, and your part-time job can’t afford those wealth.” Rita turned to leave.

“Then why don’t Vivian get married to him?!” Katherine spoke without fear, she had noticed that this lady didn’t care about her feelings, and there was no need trying. “He is wealthy, and Vivian could have a better life and gain many opportunity.” Katherine sniffled, she wanted at all cost to avoid this marriage.”

“Why?” Rita turned her eyes at Katherine again. “You want reasons?” Rita crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I can’t give my daughter to a crippled or blind man, no matter how wealthy he may be.” Katherine’s heart sank. “No one has seen him, so we assume he is either ugly or has one deformity, who knows.” Rita shrugged.

Tears rolled down Katherine’s eyes as she looked at Rita. “And you want to give me away to him?” Katherine’s lips quivered. “I am sorry.” Her eye lashes flickered. “I am sorry for whatever my parents did to you, I am so sorry, but don’t give me away.” Katherine begged.

Rita only chuckled when she saw Katherine begging. “This is not negotiable.” She tsk her tongue. “Just get down in an hour, a car is already waiting to take you to meet the stylist.”

“Mom, what is this drama so early again?” Celeb who had heard voices from his room came out yawning and his eyes darted to Katherine who was in tears. “Mom, isn’t it too early to make her cry?” Celeb rushed over to Katherine’s side.

“What are you?” Rita glanced at her son who had come stand in between her and Katherine still dressed in his pajamas. “Superman?” She rolled her eyes at him and then glanced at Katherine. “I don’t want to wait for you, else I will drag you to the car even with your pajamas.” She tsk her tongue again and walked downstairs.

Celeb watched his mother leave and turned to Katherine who was still in tears. “I don’t know if I should apologize to you about my mother, I hope you don’t take what she says to heart.” Celeb said in comforting words, but she didn’t seem comforted.

“I will be getting married after all.” Tears rolled down Katherine’s cheek again and this time Celeb watched it roll. “I don’t even have a say in this.” She sniffled.

Celeb held her shoulder and pulled her close to his chest as she sobbed, he patted her back. “How about we run away?” He whispered to her and Katherine quickly leaned back and glanced at him with wide eyes.

“What?” Katherine’s lips parted.