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 young man. How she wished it was a young man she was getting married to, not some old fool. She won't ruin her life to please her father. As she was about to open the door for her escape, a deep, angry voice made her stop on her track. "Where are you going, now?" She heard the voice; the voice sounded so angry that it could kill her if she didn't retreat her steps. "Dad?" She called out to be extremely sure, but she was sure that he was the one. "I asked you, Where the heck are you going to this night with your luggage?" Her dad fumed. "Dad..." "Get back into this house, right this instant!" Her dad roared, rage sipping out of his veins. "Yes, yes, dad." She shivered as she entered the house and closed the door. "Are you planning on running away?" "No... No... I... I..." "I would slap the life out of you if you didn't open up and tell me the truth. Do you think you can run away?" "Dad, why do you insist on making me marry him? I won't marry that old man. I won't, and that's my final answer. No amount of persuasion can make me change my mind." "He'd spoil you. They're bastardly rich, and they'd save us from the mess we are in. Think about it." "No! I refuse! You're too selfish, dad!" She screamed out loud, making her mom wake up from her sleep. "What's going on here?" Her mom asked. "Your daughter wants to escape. I just can't imagine what sort of child you gave birth to. I tried to explain to her the reason why she'd be marrying Mr. Walter, but she refused to listen. Don't you know that marrying him will enable you to even go to school? Where do you think I'd get the money to pay your school fees when we have a huge debt on our heads? Why can't you be reasonable for once? You should be happy Mr. Walter likes you; if not, it would be another story we'd be talking about; perhaps we'd leave this house and become homeless." Her dad hissed. She looked at her mom, wishing she could convince Dad. Her mom was her only option now since her plan of escape had failed woefully. "Mom, please...." She held her mom's hand as her mom tightened her robe, looking between her and her dad. She was torn about who she'd go for. She just hope that her father would see the reason why she can't marry an old man. "We owe them a huge debt. Mr. Walter is doing us a favor, and it's best we grab it now." "But..." "I understand why you're scared, my dear, but you don't have to be. Mr. Walter has a young heart, and if you look at him more closely, you will know he's young. If you get married to him, he will also offer our company another chance to bounce back to how it has been. There are lots of benefits you'd enjoy in this marriage. Look at the bright side." Her mom spoke, and her heart tore into pieces; even her mom was in support of her dad. She just couldn't understand why her mom wouldn't stand up for her. "What, old man?" Her dad asked, quite confused. "Mr. Walter, I won't marry him." She stated it angrily, which made her dad laugh. "My dear, sit down." Her dad tried to cajole her into sitting and hearing him out, but she refused. She knows the moment she sits and gears her dad out, he'll convince her into marrying Mr. Walter, so she refuses. "Dad, I'm not getting married to him. I'm not! Why will I ruin my life to please you? How will I get married to an old man, obviously old enough to be my father?" She spat, which made her father laugh. "Dad, it's not funny; I won't marry him. No never!" Her dad laughed more loudly this time as he held his chest. She didn't know what was making her dad laugh so hard to the extent of holding his chest. What she said wasn't funny and didn't require any laughter. She wasn't putting on a comedy show. "Dad!" She screamed, and her dad immediately stopped laughing. "My life is about to be ruined all because you plan to sell me to an old man." "No, no, my dear, I can't. I'm your father, and even though I don't show it, I love you so much." "So that's why you want to sell me off to Mr. Walter?" "Yes, but no. I don't want to sell you; I want to marry you off so we can pay our debts." "Dad! Why?! And it's not even a young guy that's around my age; it's, it's..." She wondered how she would cope with marrying an old man. Just the thought alone was already making her want to throw up. "You are not getting married to Mr. Walter; you are getting married to his son, Mr. Michael Walter." Her dad threw the bomb at her, and she became extremely shocked.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
CHAPTER 11Michael understood what Philip told him and decided to act towards it immediately. "Where is she?" He asked Philip."Over there, where you left her." Philip pointed and Michael saw that Evelyn had already engaged herself with another person."Hello, babe." Michael said and out his arm around her waist."Oh, Michael.""Yeah, it's me.""Okay, Alex. See you later." Evelyn ended the conversation with the guy she engaged herself to, to keep her busy against any embarrassment."Let's go over there and sit, since the music has already reduced." Michael suggested and the two made their way over to the cushioned chair they sat before."And what do you intend we do there?""What do you intend to do?" Michael asked her instead. He was in for anything that would make his wife, Ashley, jealous."Let's make out." Evelyn suggested and he nodded his head in agreement."That's such a good idea."* * * * *"I'm sorry about what happened earlier." Ashley apologized making Justice chuckle."Th