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FOUR

last update Last Updated: 2024-05-19 01:56:25

RILEY 

Somehow, Aunt Hailey managed to convince me to keep the child.  At 23, I have never been able to make important life decisions myself. Even after I insisted on getting rid of the baby. Aunt Hailey threatened to fire the doctor if she went ahead to help me terminate my pregnancy. I had no choice but to leave the hospital with them that day. Worst of all, I was made to go to my brother’s mansion with them. Call me an idiot, call me a fool or whatever, I won't judge I've always been foolish and cowardly. The only person who stood up for me, who argued that I must have an important reason why I wanted to get rid of my pregnancy upon getting to know about it, was my sister Leah, and my brother's wife Rosaline. However, the elders were quick to hush them saying that there had never been a history of getting an abortion in the family.

“You're a christian, Riley, do you think getting rid of a child God blessed you with is the best thing to do?” Aunt Hailey had asked.

“God knows all. I believe there is a reason he made you fall pregnant, Riley.” she had insistently told me.

All my elder brother did was punch Nathan and give me a look of disappointment. He never uttered a word to me or offered me any support.

Here I am, seated in front of a dressing mirror and wondering if I made the right decision. The elders of the family had somehow managed to make me see reasons why I shouldn't terminate my pregnancy, they managed to make me see hundreds of reasons why I shouldn't think just for myself but for the life growing inside of me and the best decision they think I could make was to settle down with Nathan. According to them, whatever transpired between us in the past has already happened and can't be changed, however, we could change the future for our child, even if we have no feelings whatsoever for each other, we can put our all into raising the life growing inside of me.

You know I must be the world's biggest fool for listening to them and letting myself get dolled up here today. The moment the elders managed to convince me, they immediately organized a small wedding. Just yesterday I learned I was pregnant for a jerk and today I'm getting married to him. What's worse is that throughout all this time of everyone trying to convince me, Nathan never said a word to me. Instead, he kept his head bowed and avoided eye contact with everyone. When the wedding date was announced, he didn't even react. 

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Leah’s voice resonated right next to me, startling me. 

“Excuse us,” she waved the hair stylist off and walked over to stand in front of me. The moment the stylist shut the door, she squatted before me

“Think about yourself first, Riley. I don't even think you're still attracted to Nathan. Each time you look at him, all I see is disgust. Don't hurt yourself, Riley, please…”

“It's all for the baby,” I cut her off, taking a deep breath.

“Fuck the darned baby, Riley. Fuck it. The elders have managed to convince you into believing that that child is important. You're more important for fuck's sake. You can always get pregnant and have a baby later. With someone you love, you'll get to enjoy the entire process of it, please Riley, listen to me. I only want your happiness.”

“Leah, I don't know…”

“I'll help you take off the wedding dress, that will be a start,” she declared and rose from the ground.

“Leah!” Aunt Hailey’s angry voice sounded from the door.

“What!” Leah yelled back at her, taking a defensive stance before me and blocking me from her view.

“Take off the wedding gown, Riley,” Leah looked down at me, pleading

“Riley, dear, do not listen to her. You're doing it for your unborn child. Imagine the happiness you'll feel when you welcome it to the world. You'll make an adorable mother, Riley,” she smiled at me

“Yeah, welcome an innocent hold into a loveless marriage. Bring a child to the world to suffer!” Leah completely lost it.

“Take the darned wedding dress off,” Leah yelled at me.

I was indecisive. All my life I've never made any big decision myself and right now, it felt like the two people before me were trying to force me into going through the path each of them chose for me. It annoyed me greatly.

“I'll keep the baby,” I announced.

“Riley…” Leah called, but I cut her off.

“I'll also get married to Nathan, but it's all for the baby. I will have nothing to do with him, not now, not ever.”

“They've succeeded in emotionally blackmailing you,” Leah shook her head. Giving me one last look of pity, she walked away.

“I'm very disappointed in you. I just lost all my respect for you and your entire family,” I heard her tell Aunt Hailey.

About thirty minutes after Leah left, I was all done and ready to walk down the aisle to seal my loveless marriage. We all got into the car. Aunt Hailey had chosen to stay next to me and I knew it was all to keep me from changing my mind. Nathan was nowhere to be seen, and so were Leah and her boyfriend Ethan. I clasped my hands throughout the ride. Today will mark a turning point in my life, which might either be good or turn out to be a misery.

Getting to the church, we all got down.

“I'll go check if Nathan has arrived,” Aunt Hailey whispered and for once, she left my side. I could finally breathe.

Ten minutes later, she wasn't back yet. Twenty, thirty and almost an hour later, there was no sign of her.

“Why don't you get into the car and wait,” her husband suddenly approached me.

I only nodded and got into the car, wondering what was going on.

“Riley!” Leah’s angry voice suddenly sounded.

Looking out the car, I caught sight of her storming towards me, the entire family was behind her and seemed to be trying to calm her down.

“Get off that car, we are going home,” she announced.

“Leah!” Aunt Hailey called out.

“Don't utter my name with that disgusting mouth of yours. First, you emotionally blackmail my sister into marrying your fucked up son. Now, your darned son is missing on this fucked up wedding day. To what extent would you go to humiliate her? Don't you have a heart? Would you let someone else treat your daughter this way? Look around you, my brother isn't even here, yet you went ahead with the wedding….”

Every other thing Leah was saying failed to be grasped by my ears. All I could think of was how much of a fool I'd made myself. Nathan didn't only insult me, he humiliated me and now he didn't show up for our freaking wedding.

“I'm done!” I cried aloud, stumbling out of the car and dashing out of the church.

“Riley!” They all came running after me, but I ran as fast as I could. Getting outside the church, I didn't bother to look at the road, all I could think of was how I'd get away from the people after me who were almost catching up with me. Blinded by my tears and fury, I ran into the road.

“Riley!” I could hear my sister scream, followed by a loud bang, then everything went blank.

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  • Night + Rum = Passion    FINALE

    RileyI sat in the aircraft and admired the man by my side, he had once been my fantasy and dream but he was finally my reality. Mine to keep without worries. "Did anyone ever teach you that it's unladylike to stare?" Nathan caught me staring at him and I immediately looked away."I was not staring." I tried to deny it but he just chuckled and looked out the window.We were returning to Texas where I was going to give my testament against Nancy and send her to jail for good.Waking up and seeing Nathan’s injured arm, I knew he could give his life for me so I gave him another chance in mine."Riley!" Leah literally jumped on me when she spotted me from where she stood with Ethan holding my name up.We had stayed a few weeks in New York until Nathan’s arm was completely healed so I hadn't seen Leah since the whole saga with Nancy.I hugged her very tight not willing to let go."I'm sorry Riley, I'm sorry for not ---" "Shhhh, today is a happy day and the past is in the past so let's not

  • Night + Rum = Passion    FORTY FOUR

    LiamWatching Nathan slide to the ground I knew he knew something we didn't know but I didn't insist because I was not sure I wanted to expose Tina to just any information. I easily consented to letting Nathan ride in Tina's car because I had my own plans."What am I going to do if I lose the both of them Liam?" Tina cried.Tina was very attached to my sisters and the twin brothers as well."Hey, look at me. Nothing will happen to any of them, I called the station already they should arrive any moment and we'll lead them to Nathan, there we'll find Riley too. Dead or alive but I need you to be positive." I comforted her.Beyond my duty to keep her happy as her husband, I had a duty as an older brother to keep my sister safe as well and I was not going to neglect that."I think they are here Liam." Tina sat on the porch and waited for the police to arrive. We got into my car and I led them to where Nathan was."Please the both of you just stay here, we don't want any collateral damage

  • Night + Rum = Passion    FORTY THREE

    EthanI knew letting Leah get anywhere close to Nancy was not good but I had a different plan up my sleeves. Nancy was laughing like a maniac."Oh dear, you are going after the wrong person because your darling sister will be nothing but a corpse in a matter of minutes save your energy to pay your last respect to her."Nancy was intentionally pushing Leah but I held her back."She's not worth any of your anger, she's talking trash. Riley is safe with Nathan, okay? Calm down." I held her close to my chest but Nancy would not give up or drive away."Just go away from here Nancy and never show yourself here again." I knew better to expect Nancy to leave yet I turned to go back into the hotel with Leah."Why are you doing this? Please just let me go already." Riley's voice sounded over the phone Nancy held."That's your big sister right now." Nancy sneered, I observed that she had come down from her car and she was leaning on it while holding the phone out."Come and speak to her so you

  • Night + Rum = Passion    FORTY TWO

    Nathan I staggered a bit and my phone suddenly felt too heavy."What is it Nathan?" Liam asked. We all heard the gun shot and saw the call disconnect but they had not seen the image I was sent. I slid to the floor devastated and shattered, it was the end of the road for me, I could not save Riley, I wasted three years of my life with that useless Nancy yet I could not beat her at her game and keep Riley safe.A thousand thoughts tormented me, Riley's last words rang in my head. "Save me if you truly love me Nathan." She had pleased but once again I failed.I failed her.I got a text on my phone when I would not pick up the several calls I was receiving from Ethan. I did not pick up because I did not know how I was going to break the news to him that Riley had been shot dead but I opened his message. If I could not save Riley, I was not going to spare Nancy either."Nathan hurry, save Riley. Not everything you are told is true." The text was like a warning but I knew it came late. E

  • Night + Rum = Passion    FORTY ONE

    NathanThe situation seemed helpless since I was sure that Nancy was in Texas, I tried to figure out who had abducted Riley, a part of me told me Nancy had something to do with it but I needed more than just my sixth sense to lead me to the answer I sought."Nathan i think we should call the police," Liam said worried but I was not going to sit around and wait for the police. The police was going to ask us to wait a couple of hours before reporting a missing person and I was so broke on time that I couldn't afford so many hours.Riley would have been long dead if that were to be the case.I called Nancy."Hi baby, did you call to apologize and return to me before your little lover is killed? Typical of you to save her life again not so." She laughed hysterically.Liam wanted to respond since I put the call on speaker but I stopped him."Stop your silly game Nancy. I swear to you, if you harm a single hair on Riley's body then I will not spare you." "Relax, alright fine, I won't harm

  • Night + Rum = Passion    FORTY

    Riley"My head hurts, my - oh my goodness. Ouch!" There was a throbbing pain in my head, it ached like I had been hit with Thor's hammer so I held it to keep it from falling off my neck.I tried to hold my head but I couldn't, that was when I realized that my hands were bound, I struggled to free my hands only to discover that my legs were also bound, I looked down and realized I was completely strapped to a chair.Wait?! I was really hit on the head. Where was I? I looked around and carefully observed the very unfamiliar room, I tried to recall how I got there and I completely remembered. I was in the porch in Liam's house with the others when the power went out, I had motioned to take shelter in the house immediately to avoid any impending danger but that was when I received the blow on the back of my head and at the same time, a cloth with a pungent smell was put over my nose and mouth so not only could I not scream, I could not even breathe.I had struggled for some time with the

  • Night + Rum = Passion    THIRTY NINE

    LEAHFEW HOURS AGOI picked up my phone after such a time with Ethan and saw a lot of missed calls from Riley. I bet she was worried sick about me but her text calmed me and I knew she knew I was safe and with Ethan. Kudos Nathan, who else would have told Riley that?I tossed my phone aside and snuggled closer to the man that made my heart beat regularly. He was beautiful, I traced my fingers along his jawline and admired the stubble on his jaw."What are you doing?" Ethan grabbed me by the waist and pulled me over him without opening his eyes.I chuckled and tried to free myself from his hold. "Let go of me you." "No," he opened his eyes but he looked very serious. His expression and tone didn't match my jovial one."I mean it this time Lee, I'm never letting you go again. Ever again." What was he saying?I was just joking but he was being very serious so I dropped my gaze to his bare chest, my face completely flushed."Where are you going" he asked when I tried to roll off his bod

  • Night + Rum = Passion    THIRTY EIGHT

    NATHANSeeing her cry further strengthened my resolve to protect her, she looked vulnerable and delicate, her face plae and pink as she wept in her hands."What did I ever do wrong? What was my mistake?" Riley had questions that no one could answer."How can you tell me that Nancy, the same Nancy that I loved like Leah my sister..." She choked on her words amidst sobs "That same Nancy was responsible for the accident that cost me my child, my memory and almost my life." Riley broke down completely but the good thing was this time, she broke down in my arms. She was not pushing me away or fighting with me, she was just leaning on me for physical and emotional support and I was comfortable with our progress so far."Babe you need to calm down and you need to come with me." Like she was shocked by electricity, Riley jolted away from me like she only just realized who she was embracing so casually.I could have remained quiet but the longer time we spent there the more endangered Liam a

  • Night + Rum = Passion    THIRTY SEVEN

    NathanEverything was happening so fast yet in my favour. I was halfway to success but I was still yet to tell him the entire plan. "I would call Ethan right now and ask him to stay back and keep an eye on that bitch, I'm sure he is making plans to chase after Riley and I with Leah.""Good, please do that right away." Liam encouraged me, you could see the worry lines etched on his forehead as he spoke.Ethan's line kept ringing but he didn't pick up. So I dropped him a text hoping he'd see it as soon as he picked his phone up. Ethan was the kind of guy that checked his phone often because he believed in the power of communication more than anything else. "Did you get through to him? How is Leah? Is she still with him?" Liam's questions were endless but I did not count it against him because if was in his shoes I'd have started throwing punches about. "Not yet but I left him a message." "We can make do with that for now. So Riley would stay here a while I guess to keep her from har

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