5

Nathaniel Johnson was known for his cold personality. Introverted and always on his own.

His accident five years ago which left him permanently disabled on both feet only heightened this.

Believing he wouldn't come as he was ashamed of his condition being seen by people, like he always did before, his brother, Draven had mentioned to him future bride his absence. Not wanting her to feel lonely and expectant of someone who wouldn't show up.

However when he heard his voice and they all faced the for to behold him being wheeled into the room by his bodyguard on a wheelchair, he had been taken by surprise seeing him there.

For Ophelia, she couldn't stop staring.

While Draven had a clean shave, Nathaniel's moustache had been left bushy.

She even noticed how Draven had buried his mouth in his hands and laughed to himself.

Jeans silent smirks already warned her not to commit the mistake of turning towards her. The venoiois witch wouldn't waste time to add more salt to the wound she was desperately trying to suppress its pain.

"How are you feeling today, fiancee?" Nathaniel mouthed on reaching the table, haven been assisted into one of the chairs by the help of his bodyguard.

"I'm fine" Ophelia forced a response, not wanting to leave his question hanging in the air.

But she didn't return his gaze. She noticed that they were on her ever since he entered the room but couldn't bring herself to return it.

Except when she had raised his head to study his looks.

He didn't look all that bad. Inshort, he had a far more chiseled face than his brother, Draven, it was just his body maintenance that was lacking.

Perhaps because he felt depressed taking care of himself as he felt it of no use. No woman would be interested in an incapacitated man, even if he were in Nathaniel's level.

Maybe that was the reason he didn't take his personal care thh deeply.

There was a weird and awkward tension in the air between the two brothers.

Draven was a fake or something in between. She had observed him for a while and noticed that his behavior was somewhere near me sister Jeans. Secretly rivelling and celebrating the pains of their sibling whom they might consider rivals.

But Nathaniel seemed like her in his own family. With his mother who didn't even pretend to make the disgust etched on her face when she had seen him, she wondered if this was the universe's way of helping show her that she hadn't been forgotten.

Imagine if she had been arranged to marry a man like Draven, and in the next day with this dinner being the only avenue for her to have discovered this character of his after she had given her confirmation?

Calling the wedding after would be unlike her and in her bid to please her parents, she would ignore her own standards and go with him.

"It's surprising seeing you here Nathan, I thought you were embarrassed of people finding out about your disability?" His mother's voice cut through the silence.

There was a stone drop silence that ensued in the room again. Ophelia had noticed the surprise on even her father's face.

What sort of a mother spoke to their sons in that manner?

There had been news reports that the old lady of the Johnson family had begun hating on her first son after his tragic accident.

She had dismissed them off then as her way of coping with the reality of her son's limbs lost, but not to the extent of what she had just witnessed.

"For my fiancee, I am willing to do anything" he responded absent mindedly, scooping a spoonful of grains from his plate into his mouth.

Ophelia smiled inwardly. She liked his guts. Being disabled wasn't a reason for his own mother to bully him. And from the look of things, he didn't seem like one who allowed her words about him get to him.

He might unravel about it privately, but not doing so publicly especially when she did in public took alot of courage. One she wouldn't mind wanting to emulate on the course of their marriage.

However long that was going to last.

"I hope this fiancee of yours is aware that the wedding is tomorrow? The family has no money to waste throwing money and spending lavishly on two different weddings , especially with one of the grooms not being able to earn back what would be spent on him"

Hearing his mother say this made Nathaniel flinch for a second before he nodded his head at her, smiling as if Ophelia had earlier on told him of her decision to accept the wedding..

It was too sudden, yes. Jean and Draven had courted for more than four months which she had been aware of. But she was expected to marry a man she was just meeting today the next day?

The thoughts of it gnawed at her mind but what threatened to consume it was the betrayal she felt from her own father whom she believed would be all out for her good and future.

Turns out those had been conditional and he had only invested on her to reap the benefits in later years. Later years which were already here as people were dying mysteriously.

"Mom, marriages don't work like that!" Draven chirped in to his mother.

His mother listened and loved his brother more than he did him. It might have taken time, but she had subtly taken this.

"And besides that, what lady would accept to marry him despite of his condition? You need to give him more time, mother" Draven whispered to the hearing of everyone.

" Who told you I wasn't getting married to him?" A voice came.