Kath had opened her eyes to see her mom at her side, she tried sitting up but her mom rushed to her side to stop her, " what happened, where am I?"
" thank God you're awake" her mother cried, " Dave told us you has slipped and bang your head when you both went out yesterday".In a rush, Kath recalled all that happened the previous night, how Dave had beaten her till she had fainted, that liar, he had told her parents' different story."Mom, that wasn't what happened"" Shhhhh, you need to rest, do not talk now"Why wouldn't she let her speak, couldn't she see she was suffocating already in this relationship? At that moment, Dave walked in and she turned her head to the other side of the bed." How's she" he had asked as if concerned, " improving, she's awake" her mother replied" Thank goodness" he rushed to her side, " I'll go get something outside" her mom left them alone and Kath felt tears run down from the corner of her eyes, her parents were bent on her marrying Dave, so in their eyes, he could do no wrong, she truly has no one, she was slowly dying inside but none could hear her crying out."My love, I'm truly sorry, forgive me" Dave cried immediately after her mom left" Till when do I have to bear it Dave? I'm tired already"" Please, don't say that, I'll die if you leave me, please I'm sorry"" No Dave, I need a break, I need space" she cried" Okay, I'll give you space but please do not break up with me" tears were streaming down his face, his eyes red from crying.**" You cannot break up with Dave" her dad shouted when she told them her decision of ending the relationship, she had been discharged from the hospital two days ago and she had made her decision known to her parents but her dad would hear nothing of it."Dad, he is the reason I was sent to the hospital"
"And he is the reason why you are back, he took care of you in the hospital".
Kath shook her head, she couldn't believe her dad was actually saying this to her, " do you even care about me dad?" She asked in a whisper.
Her father glowered at her, his lips curved menacingly, " from the day I married your mother, I let you stay in my house, you should have a heart of gratitude for harboring an illegitimate child"
" Donald please," her mother said from behind.
She walked towards Kathleen, "please honey, he doesn't mean it" her mother tried to console her.Kath shook her head in disbelief, tears streaming down her eyes, she ran out of the house.
Over the years, she had strived to win her father's love, although he wasn't her biological father but she regarded him as her father since she had no idea who her real father was and her mother had been so tight-lipped about it. To think that he'd want her to be in an abusive relationship for his selfish interest hurt the most, it showed he had no iota of love for her.Kathleen didn't stop running, she didn't know where she was going but she just have to leave this suffocating place, a place where there's no happiness, a place where she has no say, she needed to outrun the pain she was feeling inside, she needed to outrun the disappointment and broken dreams, she ran till she pants for breath, she sat under a peach tree, tears streaming down her cheeks, she lost count of how many hours she sat there crying, she cried for the pain she was feeling inside, cried for an unfulfilled dream because with Dave, she knew she could never get the kind of love she had always dream about, she cried that her parents were not able to see the real Dave, she cried because right now she felt so broken, she was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the stranger standing in front of her till she offered her a handkerchief.
" What is a beautiful woman doing out here alone crying," he asked in a deep baritone voice.Kath accepted the handkerchief from him and wiped her tears, "thank you" she murmured" It's always a pleasure to wipe away the tears of a beautiful lady"Kath glanced at the stranger, he's quite handsome with laughing blue eyes, " you can pay me back by doing me a favor" he grinned at her showing a set of dimples" What favor could that be?" I have nothing to offer"" Oh, yes you do, your smile, I want you to do me a favor by giving me a smile"Kath smiled wanly and offered him back his handkerchief." Better" he looked at her keenly, a man came out of nowhere and whispered something into his ears and he nodded, he looked at her again, " as much as I'm enjoying your company, I think I have to leave now" he glanced at her stretched hands offering him his handkerchief, " and you can keep that, each time you're sad and feels like crying, just look at the handkerchief and smile because it will always be there to wipe your tears" with that he turned to leave. Kath wondered why she felt so at ease with this stranger that she doesn't even know his name." Wait" she shouted at his retreating back, " I'm Kathleen by the name". He smiled and tipped his head at her, " nice to meet you Kathleen" he replied and left before Kathleen could ask for his name in return.Kathleen returned home, it was dark already, how time flies, she walked into the house to see her mother pacing and in tears, she quickly rushed towards her, " what happened mum?"
" It's your father" her mother wailed" What happened to father?" Her mother didn't answer but kept on crying, she shook her mother and repeated her questions." The doctor is inside with him, he has had a heart attack"The doctor came out from the room and both Kath and her mother ran to him, " doctor how's my father?"" He's okay, it's just a minor attack, he just needs his rest"Kath breath a sigh of relief, her mom hugged her with tear-filled eyes." I'll be on my way, for now, he should not be upset by anything," the doctor told them and she nodded, " thank you Doc"Both Kath and her mother went into the room when the doctor left, he opened his eyes when they entered," Don't cry dear" he rasped, looking at her teary mom when they entered, her mom wiped her eyes with the back of her palms and hugged him.Kathleen stood there lost for words," Dad, I'm sorry" she managed to gasp out from her already clogged throat. He glanced at her and turned his face away from her without acknowledging her, she moved towards him and her mother nodded in encouragement." If you're really sorry them you'll agree to keep Dave in your life" he turned towards her and
"Hush now baby girl, it can't be that bad" Tasha hushed Kathleen" How could he be that cruel? Kath cried, " he tried taking advantage of me, all I did was defend myself, it's not fair that I still had to apologize to him" it" Life itself isn't fair, would you rather go to jail than apologies? You have no proof that he tried raping you"" Do you really think I should apologize?"" Yes Kath, trust me everything will be fine, I know Dave loves you"Tasha hugged Kath but inwardly she cringed, to be honest, she had always been jealous of Kath, she had always been everyone's favorite, that day that Dave had picked them up, she had eyes on him but he ended up choosing Kath, it has always been Kath and never her, that's why she feels that Kath deserves every bit of what she was going through with Dave, if Dave had chosen her, she would have treated him so well and they would have been so happy together. She rolled her eyes maliciously at Kathleen
Chapter five.Kathleen sat at the dresser and stared at her reflection, she was dressed as a bride, she was about to become a bride to the devil himself, she desperately wished for a miracle to happen, for someone to save her from this mess and prevent her from going into this prison called marriage." You look so beautiful dear" her mother walked in beaming, " you're so lucky. You made the right choice"." Are you sure mom?" Kath frowned at her mom's words, she doesn't feel lucky and she knew that this was far from making the right choice, Dave was all wrong for her but it was so unfortunate that only she could see that.Her mother stared at her, " what's with your tone? Of cause Dave is good for you, your father is very happy"."Dad would sell me because of money and you are too blinded to see that" she retorted." I thought we have discussed this, come, let's go, everyone is waiting for you".Kathleen followed her mother with a heavy heart.
Derek was astonished at her words, he laughed almost hysterically, he guessed she had hit her head so hard and it was affecting her thinking, "hold on, I have no intention of getting married anytime soon"She rose from her bed and looked at him desperately, " you have to, please, you've got to save me""Calm down, you don't even know me, you can't just get married to a stranger"."I bet you are better than the devil I am fleeing from, it would be just for a while"He looked at her as if considering it, "what do you stand to gain from this?""The protection of a husband" she answered frantically"And what do I stand to gain? She considered his question for a while, "I'll be forever indebted to you. you'll have my gratitude"Derek considered her statement, in reality, he needed a wife, his mother had been on his neck and had even gone ahead to arrange a marriage for him with Cassandra, he was supposed to get married immediately he got home and
They've just signed the marriage contract and Kathleen's stomach quivered as they came out of the magistrate office, she glanced at her husband, the only thing she knew about the man she had married was his name, Derek Deloux, her husband, her heart pounded as the reality of what she has just done hit her, she had sought shelter from him, what if he turned out to be worst than Dave, well, she can handle it, there was nothing like emotions attached to this marriage, it was simply marriage by name alone, she would have nothing to regret.Derek looked at her, "regretting already? The deed has already been done, now let's go home"."Home", the word sank into Kathleen, she have no idea where home is, she had no idea about anything."Where exactly is home?"He smirked at her question, "home is where the heart lies baby"Her cheeks burned at the name he called her, "that's not the answer to my question" she fired back trying to cub her discomfort."I see
Chapter 8"Your wife?" His mother's tone was that of surprise as she blinked, "but.....but....""But what mom?" Derek interrupted"I thought..." His mother stuttered and once again Derek cuts her off, "that's the problem with you mom, you're always thinking, I'm sorry I didn't inform you about her but right now my wife needs to rest""Oh! Sure" his mother left the entrance so they could both go in, her voice wasn't sounding happy and the expression on her face was that of anger, she narrowed her eyes on Kathleen as she went in."Your room has been prepared for you" his mother informed him"Thanks, Mom, right now I want to see Dad, where is he?"He's in his room" his mother replied him and he raised a brow, "I thought he's supposed to be in the hospital, why is he home?""Well, I am trying to avoid too much publicity, the doctor is coming here to administer treatment, I think it's better that way""Alright then, I'll see him shortly" he tu
He entered his father's room and saw him lying on the bed with his eyes closed, he looked aged and worn and for a moment he felt guilty about abandoning him, his father was his only family related to him by blood, his mother had died years back and his father had remarried, although, Derek wasn't cool with the marriage because he felt his father had made the wrong choice as he had married his late mother's best friend, he had made his misgivings known to his father but his father had gone ahead to marry her, he had no choice than to accept the marriage but that was the first step that created a gap in father and son relationship, his father had made many mistakes but he was still his father, he wondered why his father was so obsessed about him taking over the family's business, afterall, he has a Step brother, his step mother's son from her previous marriage.Dave was so much interested in the family's business but his dad had never given him the chance, that alone had ma
Chapter tenKathleen woke up the next morning, Derek hadn't come back the previous night, she wondered where he had spent the night leaving her all alone, she knew that their marriage was impulsive but he had promised to treat her as a wife, in the eyes of everyone, they were a new couple and so supposed to be spending time with each other but on their wedding night, her husband had gone missing, a knock sounded on the door, finally, he must be here but why was he knocking, she hollered that he was free to come in, the door creaked opened and a maid walked it, Kathleen frowned where was her husband? He had no obligation to her anyway but it would have felt better if he was at least with her on their marriage night, " breakfast is ready ma'am" the maid informed her, head bowed and Kathleen grimaced, she wasn't used to this kind of treatment, "please raise your head" she quickly instruct the maid who nervously raised her head but still refused to look at Kathleen in the eye