"Don't be silly. I don't want to believe you've got nothing inside that big head of yours. I don't want my father to find you here. We should think of getting you out of here before he walks inside,” She whispered. Her head is spinning already. She could barely think straight to come up with a solution.
"And I asked us not to make love here. We could have just gone to your place. Now see the mess you caused me.” She blamed Johnson for what was happening.
"Enough with the self-pity. It wasn't my fault. Don't act like you didn't want it, too. If you were so serious about this, you would have declined. But no, you jumped on the bed and consented.” he clapped back and taunted her. Leaning forward to her room door, Thompson called out again, this time, screaming out his lungs.
“Sophia, I know you're in there. Why are you not answering? I've been calling for over an hour. I need you downstairs this minute. Are you trying to play a prank on me?”
Making an indistinct chatter, Sophia ordered Johnson to go hide inside the bathroom immediately while she hid his clothes and shoes. After confirming that Johnson was out of sight, she opened the door and pretended to be asleep.
“Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you went job hunting?” Sophia yawned to convince her father, but he wasn't falling for her tricks. Somehow, Thompson felt Sophia was hiding something. Narrowing his gaze everywhere, Sophia tossed the question. “Why is your room so scattered? I've been searching for you all over the house. A thousand times I called, but not for once, did you respond? You are sweating, too. Is everything the matter?”
“Yeah, Dad. I'm doing just great. I felt a bit ill after your departure. I had to get some drugs to feel better. I guess I fell asleep immediately. I didn't even know when you got back,” she lied with a good performance.
"Are you getting better? We should take you to see a doctor,” concerned about her health status, he suggested.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now let's talk about you. Did you get the job? You called me from a different phone. What happened to yours?” Sophia swiftly deviated from the actual discussion.
"Hmm! I see” Thompson sighed and faced the ground. He was speechless and worried. He didn't know how to explain to Sophia how he got robbed.
"Dad, what's the matter? You don't look happy. What's the problem?”
Motioning to her bed, she quietly sat down and placed his hands below his jaw. “How do I explain this to you? I've got good and bad news. I bet you're not ready to hear them,”
"What are you talking about? Your suspense is slowly ripping my soul apart. Say something, You know how much has been kept in suspense!” She flared up. She couldn't bear his prolonged silence. He stood up, held her hands, and explained everything that happened including the robbery incident and how his old friend, Duncan, lent him a loan of $1 million with the assurance of improving his life again.
"I don't even know how to react to this. First, you got robbed. Then you meet an old friend who gave you a loan of $1 million? That's absurd! It's not even adding up. Is that all? Why do I have a feeling you're hiding something? Does this loan come with a condition?” asked Sophia. From Thompson's body language, she could discern he's got a skeleton in his cupboard.
Aside from losing his phone and cash to a robbery, Thompson doesn't seem so excited talking about the huge sum Duncan gave him. He still can't get the robbery off his head.
"I guess I have to tell you already. You deserve to know the truth,”
"What damn truth are you talking about?” Sophia's nostrils flared up. She was eager and impatient to hear what Thompson had to say.
"I, erm...erm. Gosh! How do I do this?” He stammered and disclosed to Sophia that as part of the loan repayment condition, she'd be getting married to Duncan's billionaire Son, Fabio, in a contract marriage that would last for 5 years. Thompson also revealed the vow he made with Duncan while they were little.
Johnson covered his mouth to avert a scream. He couldn't believe his ears as he eavesdropped on the conversation from the bathroom where he did. Boiling in rage and disgust, the question that plagued his mind was. “Why is her father so cruel? I can't give up without a fight. I can't watch and do nothing while Sophia is forcefully taken away from me. That's never going to happen,” vowed Johnson. Deep down, he wanted to come out of his hiding place and punch Thompson in the face, but he decided to halt until Thompson was out of Sophia's room.
“Dad, Tell me this is one of your pranks and I'll believe you. How can you even stand in front of me and say those words, knowing they would hurt me? Are you aware I'm in a serious relationship with Johnson? Dad, I'm disappointed. I don't even know this guy. How do I love someone I haven't met yet? Does that even make sense to you? You could have done better,” Sophia wailed. She felt betrayed and humiliated that her father would choose her over material things.
"Don't you dare talk back to me? Who gives a damn about love? Just give it time. You'll grow to love him. When I met your mother, she never loved me. She even hated me the first time. But when she started developing feelings for me, I craved more. You're going to get married to his son and that's final. I guess you're not too young to become an orphan, right?” Sounding the threat, Thompson hinted at what was like a suicide note.
"Dad, please stop that. You're beginning to make this sound like a death wish. I love Johnson so much and that's it. We've come a long way to quit now. Breaking up with him means committing suicide. It's Johnson or no one. He might not be rich now, but I'm pretty he's got a bright future, at least better than someone I don't even know,” she yelled at her father and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.
"You will obey as my Father. This is our only escape route from poverty. Johnson has got nothing to offer. Can't you see? Wake up and smell the coffee. I'll be stepping out to get some things. Make your decision now. I may be forced to disown if you chose to go against my orders. Is that understood?” Thompson angrily slammed the door and exited. Sophia had to go check the house a few minutes after to confirm his departure. She got so engrossed in her thoughts and forgot about Johnson hiding in the bathroom.
"I heard everything! I don't wanna talk about it now. You've had a rough day. I wish to go home now,” Johnson frowned, and he motioned out from the bathroom majestically and got dressed. Sophia was speechless and shivered. She couldn't move closer to Johnson, knowing how hot-tempered he was. Right in front of her, he exited the house without saying goodbye.
*********************
It was 2:45 pm at the Duncan's Mansion and the night was still serene and reenergized.
"Son, you don't even have anyone in your life right now, do you? And I hope you do not consider making Nikki your wife?” Duncan reaffirmed and left Smith in astonishment. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.
"But … .but I'm not inclined to marry. Besides, I don't even love this so-called Sophia. Dad, for goodness’ sake, we are not in the old days. How do I even explain this to Nikki, my girlfriend?” Fabio yelled at his Dad as the two almost came to blows.
"You've got less than 9 days to walk down the aisle with Sophia, or consider yourself excommunicated from the family's inheritance. I'll shift all your inheritance to your younger brother, Felix. He's more of a man than you'll ever be. Just look at you. You're nothing but a complete disappointment to the family. Your brother is more than a complete man than you can ever become. I just wish your mom was…”
"Oh, don't you dare speak ill of my mom? Take her name out of your mouth.” He fumed at his Dad and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.
Fabio caressed his cheeks in anger and returned to his room only to find Nikki packing her stuff and set to leave the house."What the heck are you doing here, man?”"I presume you're not blind, are you? I overheard everything your father said to you. I'd rather sleep in my apartment tonight. I can't stand the heat,” Nikki wailed as she attempted to exit the room with her luggage."We can still discuss this, right?” he pleaded and grabbed her box."There's nothing to discuss. Didn't you hear the conditions? You'd be stripped of your inheritance. You're not that stupid to choose me over fortune, right? What I don't understand is why your Dad keeps controlling you as if you were a kid. I can't take this. I'd be back when the drama ended. But right now, I'm out of here.” She wept like a child and departed. All efforts to make her stay proved abortive.The damageThe relationship saga hit Sophia so hard and pierced her heart like a dagger. She got carried away and forgot where she was."G
Fabio and Sophia's tense stare-down seemed to stretch for an eternity, each harboring their secrets and resentments. The air in the room grew heavy with unspoken words, suffocating any chance of reconciliation.Duncan, Fabio's father, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting between his son and his potential spouse Sophia. He had hoped their first meeting would lead to a pleasant acquaintance, but the palpable animosity between them left him bewildered."Do you two know each other?" Duncan's voice broke through the silence once again, his tone tinged with a hint of desperation for answers. He had sensed something amiss from the moment they laid eyes on each other.Fabio's jaw clenched as he weighed his response, grappling with the tumult of emotions swirling within him. Sophia's mere presence stirred memories he had long buried, memories of a past he wished to forget."Is she the one I'm supposed to marry?" Fabio finally spoke, his voice laced with uncertainty as he tried t
CHAPTER 6Acceptance Sophia opened the door of the office, her movements graceful yet purposeful, and stepped out into the corridor. Fabio followed closely behind, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy in the air between them."So you're the one I marry?" Fabio's words cut through the silence like a knife, his tone laced with bitterness and resentment. "Your poor wretched family wants to reap where you guys didn't sow."Sophia stopped abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned to face Fabio. The hurt and anger that had simmered beneath the surface for so long threatened to boil over, her emotions raw and unfiltered."How dare you?" she seethed, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You think you can just waltz back into my life and pass judgment on me and my family?"Fabio recoiled slightly at the venom in Sophia's words, the sting of her rebuke cutting deep into his wounded pride. He had never intended to hurt her and had never imagined that his wo
Duncan led Fabio back into his office, the weight of their earlier conversation still hanging heavy in the air between them. He gestured for Fabio to take a seat in one of the plush armchairs arranged around the ornate coffee table, the rich mahogany furniture exuding an air of old-world elegance.As Fabio settled into his seat, Duncan crossed the room to the well-stocked bar nestled in the corner, his movements deliberate yet unhurried. With practiced ease, he poured two fingers of whiskey into a crystal tumbler, the amber liquid glinting in the soft glow of the overhead lights."Here you go, son," Duncan said, his voice gentle yet firm as he handed Fabio the glass. "A little something to take the edge off."Fabio accepted the glass with a grateful nod, the cool surface of the tumbler soothing against his clammy palms. He took a sip of the whiskey, relishing the smoky warmth that spread through his chest, momentarily chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt and uncertainty."Thanks
Sophia trudged up the front steps of her family home, her mind still reeling from her encounter with Fabio in Duncan's office. As she reached the porch, she found her father sitting in his favorite wicker chair, a newspaper spread out in front of him."I miss the good old days of mail and paper news," he remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "You kids don't know what you're missing."Sophia offered her father a small smile, her heart heavy with the weight of the day's events. She sank into the chair beside him, the worn wicker creaking softly beneath her weight, and let out a weary sigh."How did it go?" her father asked, his gaze gentle yet probing as he studied her face for any signs of distress.Sophia scoffed bitterly, her frustration bubbling to the surface like a pot left unattended. "That son of a bitch," she muttered under her breath, her words dripping with venom. "That entitled prick."Her father's brow furrowed in concern at her outburst, his eyes searching hers for an
Fabio stood in his sleek, modern kitchen, the aroma of simmering marinara sauce filling the air, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at his gut. Tonight was the dinner date with Sophia, an event his family had been eagerly anticipating for weeks. Yet, despite the excitement buzzing around him, his mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Nikki.Nikki, his fiery and passionate lover, had dropped a bombshell on him just days ago: she claimed to be pregnant with his child. The news had sent shockwaves through Fabio's carefully curated world, shattering the illusion of control he had worked so hard to maintain. Now, as he diced onions with mechanical precision, his thoughts were consumed by the impossible choice looming before him.On one hand, there was Sophia, the woman his family had chosen for him, the embodiment of everything he was supposed to want in a partner. She was refined, elegant, and came from a respectable family with a long-standing relationship with his own
Sophia's phone buzzed softly on the bedside table, drawing her attention away from the turbulent thoughts swirling in her mind. With a heavy sigh, she reached for the device, her heart sinking as she saw Fabio's name illuminated on the screen.Reluctantly, she tapped on the message, her eyes scanning the contents with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. What she read made her heart sink even further."Your dress will be sent to you and a chauffeur to pick you up at 6 pm tomorrow."Sophia's lips curled into a scowl as she read the message, her frustration bubbling to the surface like a simmering volcano. How dare he presume to dictate her schedule and make decisions on her behalf without so much as a word of consultation? The audacity of the man infuriated her to no end."How can I marry such a guy?" she thought bitterly, her mind reeling with indignation. "He has no manners, doesn't know how to treat a lady."With a flick of her thumb, she composed a terse reply, her fingers flying
Sophia stood in front of her closet, her fingers tracing over the array of dresses hanging within, she couldn't shake the sense of unease that gnawed at her insides. The weight of Fabio's invitation to dinner hung heavy on her shoulders, a constant reminder of the tangled web of obligations and expectations that bound her to her family's legacy.With a heavy sigh, she selected a simple yet elegant dress from the rack, the fabric slipping through her fingers like water as she held it up to the light. It was a beautiful garment, one that had been chosen specifically for the occasion by her mother, who had insisted that Sophia look her best for the evening ahead.As she slipped into the dress and smoothed out the wrinkles, Sophia couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment bubbling up within her. Why did she have to conform to society's expectations of what a proper young lady should be? Why couldn't she make her own choices, and follow her own desires, without fear of judgment or repris