CHAPTER TWO
"How dare you talk to me like that? Who the heck are you?" Her father's voice barked through the air as venom spat out of his mouth. "Honey, you're being too harsh on her." Her mom inputted, but her father glared hard at her. "Will you shut up?" Her father interrupted her mother, "You're the reason she's to this extent; just to do one simple thing that will free us from this debt, she's refusing, all because of you, you!" "But honey." Her mom pleaded. "Shut up! Shut the heck up before I do something I would regret." He directed his attention to Ashley: "You'll marry him, and that's final, idiot!" With that said, he left the sitting room for his room. "Mom! I can't! I can't! I have other things to do with my life." "Honey, just obey your father; he's always right." Her mother said, trying to persuade her. "Mom, you know he's the one that made us like this, so he should be the one to pay for his mistakes, not me. Mom, I can't; I don't think I can. Can't you try to persuade him?" "You know your dad; once he puts his mind to something, he always wants to achieve it, and if it doesn't go as planned, you know what can happen." "I know, mom, see, I can do other things, but this one is too... Too absurd, too demanding; it's my life we're talking about here, you know, mommy." "I know; just endure it." "Mom, can you hear what you just said—that I should endure it? Should I endure getting married to a man who's over Daddy's age? Mom, why. At least you're supposed to protect me; you're a woman like me, mom," she said, tears pouring out of her eyes. "My dear, your dad, he has started drinking again and..." "I understand, mom; you don't want him to beat you again. Sometimes I wonder, mom, why can't you just leave him? Divorce him or something?" "What? Divorce my husband? My dear, I made a vow, for better or worse, and I plan to keep that promise until I die. I will endure all the beatings your father would beat me because he is my husband; I married him." Well, mom, I can't be like you; I'm still too young; heck, I'm just twenty-two years old, and you want me to get married to someone who's sixty-three, sixty-three! No, mom, even though I don't have a boyfriend yet, I know I will still get one someday; in fact, I will get someone who is rich, but maybe this is not my time. I'll sort everything out, but I can't marry that old man! I can't!" "Well, my dear, I've said my own, and I've tried my best for you." Ashley ran straight to her room and laid on her squeaky bed. She closed her eyes and cried for the second time that evening. She knew what her dad could do, and she knew that no amount of persuasion could change her father's words. She knew even her mother couldn't change her father's words. She had always persuaded her mother to divorce or leave her father, but her mother always told her the same thing she told her this evening. She was hopeless; the only person who can change her dad's words is if the old Mr. Walter says he doesn't want to marry her anymore, but she knew that also couldn't happen, and if that happened, then where would they get the money to pay him back? When she checked her time, she could see that she had cried for over an hour. She wasn't comfortable staying in her room and crying when she could meet her friend, who would console her. "Have you made up your mind?" Her dad's voice roared. "No, Dad, I haven't and I won't." "Then suit yourself; I've accepted his request; he will be coming here tomorrow to meet his bride-to-be, so be prepared and make yourself beautiful as always." "Dad, I won't marry him." "Your wedding party will be next Saturday, so be prepared by then; we will rush the preparation." Her dad continued nonetheless, blatantly ignoring what she just said. It was as if she were talking to a basket because everything she told him was falling on deaf ears. "Me too; I've told my own dad I won't marry him. I'm going out." She told her parents, who were still eating in silence, "Where to?" Her dad asked her. "I'll be back before eight thirty." She said this, ignoring the question her dad threw at her. "You can go." "I'll go even though you tell me not to." She muttered to herself as she left the house. She hailed a taxi that would take her to her friend's house, which took about thirty-three minutes. Her friend, Suzy, was living with her mother, who was a single mother who would do anything to make sure her child lived a comfortable life. She loved that about Suzy's mom. She reached the house and knocked at the door, willing it to be opened. "Ashley!" Suzy called out as she opened the door. "Hey." She responded. "It's been a long time since you've actually visited me at my house." Suzy pointed it out as she led Ashley to the living room, and they both sat down. "I came because there is a big issue." Ashley said she was not wasting time spilling what had been bothering her. "What issue?" Suzy asked, confused. "My dad wants me to get married to an old man." Ashley spilled. "What?! Why?! How come?!" Suzy asked, surprised. "I don't know; I seriously don't know why my dad would want me to be the one to pay for his mistakes." She explained everything to Suzy. "I think I understand where your dad is coming from. He doesn't have any other children, and as you said, Mr. Walter asked for you. See it from another perspective: if you agree to marry him, then your dad wouldn't have to pay the money and would even be offered more!" "Just shut up!" Ashley interrupted, feeling betrayed. Why would her friend take her dad's side? "Babe, I get you." Suzy tried persuading her. "No, you don't! Because if you did, you wouldn't take sides with my dad. Suzy, I would be getting married to an old man! A sixty-three-year-old man! And I'm just twenty! Forty-one years difference!" "But what if it isn't the man? What if—" Ashley raised her palm to stop Suzy from talking, already feeling dejected. "Just stop! I don't know why I bothered coming to you. I thought you would advise me or something." "I'm trying to let you see the reasons." Suzy objected. "What reason? I ran here to tell you how I'm feeling, how I think, no, how I know I'll get married to an old man next Saturday, and you're trying to let me see the reasons? Suzy, I trusted you; I thought you were my friend; I... I came to you for advice, so you can tell me how I can escape from this god-forsaken marriage, and you're taking my dad's side. I don't know what to say anymore. Goodbye, Suzy." With that, Ashley left her friend's house; anger filled her heart. She was confused and didn't know what to do. As she strolled the community for the next two hours to clear her head, an idea fell upon her, and a wide smile grew on her face. She was going to escape!CHAPTER THREE By 2:35 a.m. in the morning, Ashley woke up to proceed with her plan. She stood up from her bed and walked towards her wardrobe to bring out her luggage from where she kept it. She took it and opened it to remove all the unnecessary dust. Then she began throwing in clothes that she would need for her little escape.She packed little clothes, so carrying them wouldn't be a problem. By the time she was done packing, she picked up her phone to check the time. Good, it was 3:01 a.m. She quickly changed her clothes, and soon she was ready to depart. She was ready to run away, to escape.She tiptoed out of her room towards the sitting room. She looked around to be sure that no one was awake. She was sure that no one would be awake by this time. She didn't say anything to her mother, so her mother wasn't aware of her running away; she had already made up her mind, and that was what she would do. She couldn't get married to that old man; now she preferred getting married to any
CHAPTER FOURMichael stared blankly at his room door, not realizing when tears dropped from his eyes. He cleaned his eyes and sniffed."He collapsed? When?" The next words that were spoken by his elder sister, Michelle, made his phone fall from his hands.He couldn't believe it; he really couldn't believe it. His dad was in a coma. As if just realizing the words that kept ringing in his head, he picked up his car keys from his table, left his room with a bang from the door, and ran out of his house, forgetting to lock the door.He sighted his car, which was neatly parked in his parking lot, entered, and drove out hurriedly towards the hospital with a speed that he'd never driven before.The smell that came from the hospital reminded him of memories he wished not to remember—the smell of drugs, injections, and mostly blood. It reminded him of how and where his mom died. He hated it.On reaching the room that was assigned to his dad, he sighted his sister, his only sister, seated outside
CHAPTER FIVEThe agreement has been made. The contract had been signed. The wedding was over. The young couple made their way to their matrimonial home after the reception. The drive to the house was peaceful and quiet, except for the noise created as Michael rapidly typed on his iPad. He didn't utter a word, and neither did she. The drive lasted for about thirty-three minutes—the longest thirty-three minutes that Ashley could ever imagine. The couple arrived at the mansion, and the golden gate was opened by the gatekeeper. As the driver drove in, she could see the mansion and how magnificent it looked, and then she stepped out of the car.She made her way to the front door and was amazed at the sight before her. She noticed the intricate gold molding on the pillar fixed at the sides of the front door. The glittering color was the perfect accent against the beige building; it added an imperial flair to the neo-classical-style mansion."Welcome home, Ashley." Michael said, which made he
CHAPTER SIXAshley Black rose up from her bed in her matrimonial home, as she was supposed to be in school because her first class of the day was at 8 a.m. She checked her table clock in her elegantly designed room and realized that if she didn't start dressing up, she would definitely be late for her class. She ran towards the bathroom and did her morning routine. By the time she was done, she had quickly dressed up, and soon she was ready to go to school.She walked down the stairs and stopped when she saw him. Her husband, Michael, who was already seated on the dining chair, was eating his morning breakfast, which consisted of tea and three slices of bread with scrambled eggs. She saw that hers was also ready. She made her way to the dining room."Good morning." She greeted Michael as she sat on the chair beside him."Morning, how was your night?" Michael asked her."My night?" She asked to be sure of the question he asked. Because she could remember after the small chat they had an
CHAPTER SEVEN The class came to an end. Ashley and her friend, Suzy, found their way out of the hall and headed towards the lagoon front to rest, as their second class for the day will begin two hours later."So, married woman." Suzy, her best friend, teased her."Stop it, babe." Ashley cautioned her friend. They were back as friends again, and Ashley had apologized to Suzy for yelling at her and calling her a betrayal."Can't I tease my friend anymore?""You can't; I don't even know why I married; if not for my dad, who badly needed the money, I wouldn't even have married.""What happened? But your husband is so handsome.""A husband that I practically know nothing about.""Then try to get to know each other. If I were the one who got married to that handsome man, I wouldn't even care if it was a contracted marriage; I would just throw myself at him. My God! He's so freaking handsome! Sorry, babe, but I have a slight crush on him.""Talking about crushes, I have a crush," Ashley conf
CHAPTER EIGHTMichael was a bit scared that Ashley and her friend had caught him; he knew they passed him by, but he wasn't sure they caught him, because if they had, they could have at least said something. He had to make sure they didn't catch him, so he went to where they were seated to confirm."Ashley." He called."Yes, how can I help you?""I... I need to speak with you for a moment.""You're free to do so.""Privately. I need to speak with you privately.""Whatever you have to say, you can say it right here. With Suzy present.""Please, just this once. Please." "What do you want to say to me, Michael?" Ashley asked him."When did you arrive here?""Not quite long, why? Oh! If it's about the lady that was on your lap, I saw it." Ashley dropped the bomb, which made Michael instantly nervous."You... you saw the lady? Ashley, I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to.""You didn't mean to what?" Ashley interrupted him. "You didn't mean to kiss her? Or you didn't mean to cheat? Which one?""T
CHAPTER 9The sky was dull. It was as if it was going to rain that morning as Ashley made her way to her early morning class. She contemplated whether to go back to her hostel to get her umbrella, but threw the thoughts out of her head, cause she was quarter way through to the venue of her lecture. She didn't enter cab because she felt that she needed to exercise, not knowing that it would likely rain. She heard the honks of a car, and she ignored it as she kept on moving, until she heard it again. She directed her gaze to series of cars that were passing by her. A white car honked again."Ashley! Ashley!" She heard her name coming from he car beside her. She looked inside the car and saw that the person calling her eagerly was Justice."Hey!" She greeted him."Hey, yourself! I've been trying to get your attention since."I'm sorry.""Enter, enter." Justice encouraged and open the door for her."Thanks.""You're welcome. So how are you?" He asked as soon as her was comfortably seated.
CHAPTER 10The party was in full blast by the time Ashley and Suzy arrived. The music was loud enough to deafen the youths. Red solo cups littered all around the large room. Boys, and girls dancing to the popular music blasting from the speaker."Mhen! This party is so on point." Said Suzy as she pushed her way through the crowd."I know right.""So what made you come?" Asked Suzy."What did you say?!" Ashley asked shouting, as the loud music didn't make her hear what her friend had said."I said, what made you change your mind to come?!" Shouted Suzy."Ohh! I was invited personally, Justice invited me!" Replied Ashley."Wow! That's great. Speaking of Justice, where is he? I haven't seen him.""Ashley!" Shouted Justice and he pushed his way to meet her. He was so happy because she had decided to come and that means she had agreed to them dating."Justice!" "You came.""Yes.""Omg, thank you so much, Ashley." He hugged her, "I'm so grateful.""Wait, I don't understand, won't you thank