CHAPTER 4

SAMANTHA'S POV

Blood drained from my face as I held the phone closer to my ear.

"What's happening Doctor?" I asked, scared of what might be.

"Miss Samantha, it's not something we can talk over the phone, your presence is needed here at the hospital and I'll appreciate if you can come as soon as possible –"

I wasn't hearing him anymore, he must have ended the call when I didn't say anything, I put my phone back into my bag and held the hem of my gown.

If it meant running down to that hospital, I would do so, I would run all the way there.

"You're leaving? Good riddance." The shopkeeper shouted as I made my way through the door.

The watch can wait.

I took off my shoes and held them as I walked towards the direction of the hospital, my heart slamming hard against my chest, my head was filled with a thousand and one thought.

There was no cab in sight, this all had to be a coincidence.

"Mum, hang on, I'm coming." I muttered to myself as I increased my pace.

Few distance away from from the shop, I saw his car parked at the corner of the road.

He didn't leave.

Almost like he had seen me, he dashed out of the car and ran towards me.

"Did you get the watch?" He asked, his height towering above me.

"No, he sold it to someone else." I answered , my voice deflating.

"And you're out here because? I told you to get that watch by all means." He yelled.

I felt tears streaming down the corners of my face, everything was overwhelming, like I was being choked by an unconcerned hand, it was getting too difficult to breath.

He noticed and walked even closer to me.

"What's wrong now? Are you looking for a way to escape? because you can't fool me."

"My mum, the doctor just called, I have to be there as soon as possible."

"Come on, you're trying to run off or what? Do you think I have all the time to do this with you?" He asked.

I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his, my mouth was quivering and I was trying hard to swallow my saliva.

"Please." It was a plea, almost inaudible.

"Come."

That was all it took for him to lead me into his car and drive all the way down to the hospital, the whole time my fingers were inside my mouth as I prayed silently.

Immediately the car stopped in front of the hospital, I jumped out and made my way to my mother's ward, praying she was okay, praying a daughter wouldn't lose her mother.

When I got there, my eyes were unprepared for what I saw.

"What's happening here?" I asked confused.

My stepmother was in front of my mother's room with some nurses and Doctors trying to stop her from what I assumed was her entering my mother's ward.

"Thank God you're here, atleast I don't have to shout down the full building." She said pushing the nurses away and taking several steps towards me.

"Sandra, this is a hospital for goodness sake and this show you're putting on here isn't allowed, stop creating a scene here, Go home." I barked at her angrily when I realized it was probably the reason the doctor called.

This was supposed to be my wedding day, I had sacrificed a big part of me for this family and the last thing I wanted was this sort of drama.

"Go home? I'll only leave here when I get all the money I have spent to keep that partially dead woman you call your mother breathing, I want everything."

Her words stung me, her words had always had that effect on me but today, I wasn't going to let her have her away.

"My mother and I do not owe you anything, you came with nothing into my father's house, everything you're enjoying is as a result of my mother's hard work and faithfulness to your husband."

"I hate the fact that you would stoop so low to want to do this here, please leave."

"No, I'm not leaving till I get the last dime." She said and moved to sit on the vacant seats outside the ward, tapping her legs loudly on the tiled floor.

I had to do something about her, there was no way I was going to let her stay here and cause more trouble at the hospital.

"Hello Dad." I said the moment he picked, I figured he was the only one who could handle his wife. "Did anything happen with your wife? She's at the hospital causing a scene, please come and do something about her." I said frustrated.

"Well, we had a little argument and she left the house angrily."

So that was it "please come and get her." I pleaded.

I ended the call and walked to the doctor and nurses, they were probably Wondering why I was in a wedding dress, looking dishevelled, I was able to talk to them and they all left for their duty posts.

Turning back, that was when I noticed him, he stood there with no Expression on his face, just staring at me, I swallowed, it was embarrassing watching him see this side of my family firsthand.

Few minutes later, my father came in and dragged her out, I heaved a sigh of relief and went in to check on my mother, when I was sure she was okay, I followed him to his car and we drove to his house in silence.

I was tired.

~•~

"You can turn off the light if you don't like it." He said and laid down on his side of the bed.

He had not said a word since we got back and I wasn't ready to start a conversation with him, I just wanted to sleep.

I tossed severally, unable to sleep, our sleeping arrangement had not been something I was willing to argue about, I just wanted to lie down on any bed available even if it meant sleeping close to him.

"Are you awake?" I asked breaking the deafening silence.

He didn't reply but I knew he was awake.

"Why did you agree to this marriage? Why initiate it when we barely know each other? Don't you like the idea of being with someone you love?" I asked.

No reply.

"Are you ok–"

"I promised my uncle I was going to, it was his dying wish." He said cutting me off. "If you're not okay with the arrangement, get the watch and we'll bid each other farewell."

The watch! I had forgotten about it, if my stepmother hadn't caused a scene and the hospital hadn't called, maybe all this would have been settled, I cursed my luck.

I was tired, every part of me was too, slowly I drifted off to sleep.

~•~

The next morning, I woke up to a knock on the door, it started softly and after some seconds, it intensified.

I wasn't sure the man sleeping next to me was expecting anyone and it would be rude to wake him up, I had no choice but to go downstairs.

"Who's there?" I asked peeking through the peephole but I couldn't see anyone.

The knock came again,I finally opened the door, standing outside with a sly smile on her face was the last person I expected to see – Lisa

"Hey sister." She said smirking.

I staggered back in shock, my heart racing.

How bad could my life get?