Chapter 2

Next day....

Reed woke up with a start as she heard someone banging on the door loudly.

"Open this door right now Reed." Her mother yelled from behind the door.

Her heart skipped a beat, she thought her parents would have realized that Lita was gone.

She hurriedly got down from the bed and rushed to open the door.

On opening the door, she was welcomed with Helen's hateful glares.

"G.. good morning mother." She stuttered.

Instead of replying to her greetings, Helen rewarded her with a slap. "Are you forgetting what day today is?"

"Today is your younger sister's wedding? She should be getting ready already, and instead of you waking her up and helping, you are busy sleeping." Helen yelled.

Oh no, mother has no idea about Lita fleeing. Reed thought. What should I do? She panicked.

"Go prepare breakfast, then go get Lita and help her get ready." Helen said, then turned to leave.

Oh no, I have to break the news to mother, we have to leave this morning. Reed ran after Helen. "Mother."

She called when she got to her parents room.

"What is it you want huh? Haven't I told you what to do? Don't bother me right now, just go do what you have to and help your sister. I have no time for you right now." Helen spat, her back turned to Reed.

Reed almost felt like crying, but she managed to control herself, it's not like her mother has ever had time for her.

"Good morning dad." Reed greeted after seeing him, but he ignored her greeting as always.

"I have something important to tell you mother." Reed said, then she took in a deep breath.

Helen turned to face her, and eyed Reed dangerously.

"Didn't I tell you this before, I have no time for you, whatever you have to say can wait, just get out already, your ugly face irritates me. Had I known you would have been this ugly, I would have aborted you, it would have been better than giving birth to a disgrace like you." Helen cussed.

Reed shut her eyes tightly, and when she reopened them, they were filled with unshed tears, "I never asked to be born in the first place." She muttered.

"What did you say?" Helen asked.

"It's nothing, mother."

"Good, then get lost."

"I can't mother, I must tell you this, Lita has eloped with her boyfriend." Reed finally broke the news.

Helen and Thomas both felt like a bucket of ice was poured on them.

"W w what?" Helen stuttered.

Thomas stood up. "What do you mean?"

"Yes father, what I'm saying is the truth, Lita has eloped with her boyfriend, she doesn't want to get married to Dave, and she says her boyfriend is rich too, hence she eloped with him last night."

"What rubbish is this, what nonsense are you saying Reed." Thomas' voice boomed.

He sounded so angry, and his voice sent cold shivers down Reed's spine.

"This is nonsense, you're talking rubbish, Lita is in her room and I'm going to prove it right now." Helen said, then she and Thomas hurriedly left for Lita's room.

Reed followed behind them in despair.

Lita's bed was still neatly arranged, and that's because she didn't sleep on it. Mrs. Helen and Mr. Thomas stared in shock.

Both turned to face Reed, and she swallowed hard, she just knew she was done for.

"Where's Lita?" Helen asked softly.

Reed went quiet, she couldn't find her voice.

"Answer me." Helen screamed.

Reed flinched,"She left mom." Reed said.

"W.. what? Left for where?" Helen asked in shock.

"I have no idea mom."

"You helped your sister elope with another man?"

"I'm sorry mother, Lita wasn't happy with this marriage." Reed said.

Thomas slowly walked up to Reed, and he slapped her hard.

"What have you done?" Helen asked as she slapped Reed across the face too.

"What have you done?" Helen's voice boomed and the next thing Reed felt was another hot slap on her cheek.

"I'm sorry mother." Reed cried as she fell to her knees.

"You're sorry?" Helen scoffed. She looked at Reed with so much hate in her eyes, one wouldn't believe she gave birth to her.

"Sorry won't solve this problem, you've made the biggest mistake of your life and now you'll have to pay for that mistake you useless girl" Helen screamed,

Thomas, Reed's father couldn't do anything else, he only stood there, watching the whole scenario. He felt like killing Reed but he held himself back.

"Please mom, I’ll accept any punishment you give to me, just please forgive me mother, I made a mistake, I'm sorry. We have to leave as soon as possible" Reed cried.

"You're right Reed, you caused this, so you'll suffer the consequences of your foolishness." Helen said.

Reed raised her head to look at Helen.

"What's the punishment mother?"

Helen stared deeply into Reed's eyes, and the next thing she said broke Reed. "You'll have to get married to Dave Mitaka."

"W.. what?" Reed stuttered, then she stood up.

"N.. no mother, please, you can't do this, l can't get married to him, please mother, reconsider this, he'll kill me if he finds out."

"And that's your problem, I don't care what happens to you, you made the mistake, so you'll have to pay for it. You'll be getting married in place of Lita, and there's nothing you can do about this, if you do anything to ruin this, then I swear to God I'll be the one killing you instead. I won't think twice about piercing your heart with a knife, mark my words." Helen said through gritted teeth.

She eyed Reed dangerously, then she left.

Thomas stared at Reed, his eyes held so much hate and disappointment in them. "You're a mistake and a disappointment, you should never have been born, you've ruined everything, and you'll pay for it." Thomas spat, then he left also.

Reed dropped to her knees, she now regrets ever helping Lita to elope, just for this mistake, she'll suffer the consequences for the rest of her life.

The thought of a miserable future flashed through her eyes, and she wept bitterly.