003

Inaya’s POV

“What do you mean the bride disappeared from the house?!!” Father yelled at everyone in the room, “Weren’t you supposed to be looking after her? Why do we even pay you such an amount if you can’t do your work,” Father yelled at Karisa’s bodyguard.

“I’m sorry sir,” Karisa’s bodyguard apologized with her head lowered.

“How does that make sense? Not one security saw her leave this house,” Father said to no one in particular.

“Father, instead…….”

Father folded his hands in front of my face, “Inaya, please not now.”

I nodded my head and kept my mouth shut, I just wanted to give a suggestion.

“Let’s check the CCTV,” Alex, my self-centered, annoying older brother, said from nowhere.

“That was what I was trying to say,” I muttered under my breath.

“Y’all better pray someone kidnapped her,” Father glared at Karisa’s bodyguard before he walked out of the room.

I nonchalantly watched the CCTV footage with everyone. Deep down, I knew there was no way someone would kidnap Karisa from the house; she must have been somewhere inside the house.

From the footage, we could see Karisa leaving the house by herself, she drove out of the compound using Alex’s car.

Alex pointed at the big screen, “She drove out with one of my cars and that’s why no one knew she left.”

“Mr Valentino,” An unknown man called, “Mr Beckham has arrived and they are asking for the bride?”

Father nodded his head, “We will be right down.”

Mother held Father’s arms in tears, “Honey, what do we do?”

Alex sighed miserably, “Karisa removed my car tracker, she left it at home, now we can’t track her.”

“Inform the guest that there will be a three-hour delay, make up any believable reason, and in the meantime, secretly dispatch security to search the entire city, turn every single stone until you find her,” Father said and walked away.

Alex grabbed my wrist and dragged me to an empty room, “Have you gone mad!!” I yelled as I freed myself from his hold.

“According to the CCTV, you were the last person to see her. What did you tell my sister to make her run away?” Alex spat his usual nonsense.

“You are older than me, so behave like one before I lose it,” I warned, “Don’t go around spewing nonsense, else you might lose your tongue.”

“You know I can’t stand you, I wish I can kill you right here and right now,” Alex gritted as he showed me his fist, “I will make sure you leave this house soon, I will make sure to ruin you the way your prostitute of your Mother ruined this family.”

“Alex!!” I fumed, “That’s enough.”

Alex burst into laughter, “I told you never to raise your voice at me.”

I hated Alex because he hated me, ever since I could remember he had tried to make things difficult for me. I always ignored him and this time I will ignore him too.

I glared at him with tears in my eyes before I walked to my room. I was about to open the door to my room when I heard laughter coming from inside, I wiped the tears off my eyes and entered the room like nothing happened.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked Eveline, Hayes, and Keona with a smile on my face.

“I brought pregnancy kits, painkillers after abortion, snacks, and pads for you,” Hayes raised the bag, and I took it from him.

I might have a lot of family issues but being with these people makes up for it.

“Thank you, that’s why I love you and I will marry you,” I laughed as I looked at the contents inside the bag. “How do you know this is the product I use?”

“I have seen it a lot of times,” Hayes said as he pointed at the pads on my dressing table, “I will set the date, ma’am.”

“Shouldn’t we be heading down for the wedding?” Keona asked.

“The bride is nowhere to be found,” Eveline answered on my behalf.

“What? How? Why did she run away? What’s going to happen now?” Keona asked a lot of questions at once.

“I don’t know,” I took the bottle of liquor from Hayes' hand and drank from the bottle, “The wedding might be called off.”

“Is your Father the type to do that?” Keona asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Let’s let the adults handle this one,” I passed the bottle of liquor to Eveline, “There is no need for us to go down for the wedding, let’s just have fun up here.”

“Aren’t you taking the test again?” Keona asked as she pushed her glasses up.

“Later, but for now, baby, let’s get drunk,” I winked at Keona as I brought out a bottle of alcohol from under my bed. “We don’t have to do much tonight, no smoking, just alcohol.”

LED lights were on, music turned on to the highest volume, and alcohol in our hands as we danced the night away while awaiting the return of the bride.

I opened my eyes when I felt someone tapping me, “Mom?” I sat up on the floor, “What are you doing here?”

I looked around the room, my friends were sleeping on the bed, five empty bottles were on the floor, and the music was turned off.

“Your dad wants to see you,” I nodded my head. I was about to stand on my feet when I fell back to the floor.

Mother handed me a bottle of water before she helped me up on my feet, “Is Karisa back?” I questioned and Mother shook her head, “Why does Father want to see me?”

“I don’t know, let’s go before you wake your friends up,” I glanced at them before I walked out of the room.

The members of our household were panicking when I entered Father’s reading room, “Why did she run away?” One of our relatives asked Father.

“Now our head will be in shame,” Another said and I rolled my eyes.

I wasn’t interested in this drama. Karisa had a boyfriend; she could have told everyone instead of agreeing to this wedding. Now she is causing us such drama.

“Father you sent for me,” I said, making my presence known to everyone.

“Inaya,” Father sighed, “You are close to her, do you know where she might be?”

I shook my head. I looked at the wall clock. “It’s been four hours already. Shouldn’t you inform the guest of the situation?”

“Inaya, an alliance like this comes once in a blue moon, I just can’t get rid of it,” Father explained.

I wasn’t interested in hearing any of this. I just want to be back in my room today and think of how to get rid of Professor Marcel.

“Brother, how about we proceed with the marriage?” One of the relatives said with excitement in his eyes.

“But the bride isn’t here,” Father sank into his chair.

“Then we can replace the bride,” Slyness dripped out of our relatives' tone.

“You want someone else to take my Karisa’s place at the altar?” Father rose from the chair.

“You should do what is right,” His eyes brightened as he stared at Father.

“What are you saying?” I know I shouldn’t interfere in adult affairs but what the fuck, “Uncle, how can you even think that way? Let’s just cancel the wedding and whenever Karisa returns you will know what…..”

“You shouldn’t speak when elders are speaking,” Alex interrupted me arrogantly.

“Alex, how many times have I…..”

“Inaya,” Father mumbled, I stopped whatever I was going to say to that lunatic Alex and turned to look at him with confusion.

This wasn’t the way Father normally called my name. I knew something was wrong and watched patiently to understand what was wrong.

“Chloe, you should get Inaya dressed in the bridal gown, she will take Karisa’s place at the altar tonight.”