Chapter 5: On one condition

Jason replied with a "huh," still thinking about the content of the letter.

"What did he mean that he would understand later? Was there something about this family he needed to know?" Jason lowered his gaze, thinking and sank into his seat in a more relaxing posture. 

Mirenda and James looked at him surprised and Mrs Haward left the living room with a straight face, heading for her room. 

"Brother, why did you marry secretly?" asked Mirenda, trying to understand his reasons for such a silent marriage. 

"It wasn't planned, it just happened," Jason replied. 

"What did you mean by it just happened? Is she pregnant?" asked James curiously and he burst out laughing, knowing how distant Jason is when it comes to women.

Mirenda looked at James, wondering what was funny about the question he asked, and Jason only lifted his gaze to look at him and lowered it again without replying. 

"Wait, wait, I am sorry," James said, trying to control his laughter, "Did she rape you?" he asked and started laughing again.

"Cut it out James, that is not nice," scolded Mirenda. "Don't mind him, you know how he is," she consoled Jason.

"You are a sneaky one bro. I almost thought you were gay. I didn't know you had a secret lover." James said, smiling. 

"Anyway, congratulations," James said, and Mirenda rolled her eyes at James. 

"You are just impossible," Mirenda said under her breath, looking at James. 

"I will not believe it until I see the woman," came the voice of Mrs Haward, standing in the doorway of the hall which linked to her bedroom.

James and Mirenda turned their gaze in the direction of Mrs Haward's voice. Jason lifted his gaze briefly and lowered it again.

"Mum, what is the big deal if he chooses to marry secretly," James asked. 

"This family has an image, and it needs to be protected. Imagine the media getting their hands on this news, it will create a scandal," retorted Mrs Haward. 

"Mum, you are exaggerating the situation. We can just have a press conference and introduce her. What is the big deal?" Mirenda commented. 

Mrs Haward analyzed the whole situation before her. Jason was completely silent but he had James and Mirenda defending him. If she continues, they will become suspicious and she can't reveal anything to them in front of Jason, so she decides to let it go for now. 

"You are right. I suppose I didn't think of it that way. We have no problem then," Mrs Haward said with a smile. 

"I am going to rest for a while. Do call me when Jason's wife arrives," she said with a smile, but the smile vanished from her face the moment her back was facing them as she walked away. 

James quickly moved from his seat and sat next to Jason.

"So, tell me, bro, what is she like?" he asked, smiling. 

Jason turned to look at him. "She is off your menu list. So don't try to cook her," Jason replied sternly. 

"Calm down, I have a girlfriend already forgotten?" James replied and relaxed on the sofa.

"Yes, you do, the question is how many and does that stop you?" Jason said and James frowned.

Mirenda laughed at Jason's comment, "Bro, you need to find a girl and settle down with her. Trust me, you will be happier," Mirenda said. 

"Why would I want to watch one channel when I have access to multiple channels with a variety of shows to watch," James replied, leaning forward and looking at Mirenda.

"Eui, gross," replied Mirenda, making a face at James. 

"You are not a man, so you will never understand and, anyway, you don't have such privileges," James said. 

'Sir, she is here," came the bodyguard's voice, and James and Mirenda turned to look at the entrance to see who would enter except for Jason, who remained in his position. 

They were both curious about the type of girl Jason would like and which crazy girl overlooked his distant attitude and dared to marry him. James, who doesn't believe in love, already concluded the girl might be a gold digger.

Mirenda was imagining what the lady would look like. A highly sophisticated person and extremely beautiful. 

Julia entered the private living room and felt like she would pass out. The place was too expensive. She had heard about expensive places and never had to walk into one. She stood rooted to her spot.  

The smile on Mirenda's face froze. Julia is beautiful but she is nothing like Mirenda had imagined. Mirenda scanned Julia from her head down to her toes. Julia was wearing a simple white blouse and blue jeans. The only expensive thing Julia had on her was the ring on her finger. Her hair looked like it had never come into contact with water. 

"What is that?" Mirenda thought, making faces like she had just seen something gross. 

James, on the other hand, did not hold back his laughter.

"Make sense. Now I understand why you didn't want anyone to know about your marriage," James commented. 

"Where did you find her? Did you pick her up from the trash can?" James said, stood up and called their mother. 

"Mum, come quick, you are never going to believe it," James shouted. 

Jason sat in his seat. He didn't want her there either, but his father's letter. He loved his father dearly and there was nothing he wouldn't do for him. It would have been easier if he had been alive. He could discuss it with him but he was gone and only left him a letter. Rejecting her is like rejecting a dead man's last wish. 

Their mother entered the living room with a frown because of how James was shouting. As soon as her gaze fell on Julia she shrieked.

"What is that? How did it get here?" Mrs Haward questioned. 

"Well, that is what the cat dragged in," James said, throwing his hands in the air and Jason shot him a warning look.

"James cut it out," Mirenda scolded and turned to Mrs Haward. "That is Jason's supposed wife," she said.

"You are joking right," said Mrs. Haward.

"No, she is not, look at her finger," James said, pointing to Julia's finger, and Julia covered the ring.

Since Julia entered, there had been one humiliating comment after the other and Jason was just sitting there on the sofa like he was part of the house furnishing, saying nothing. The guard was nowhere in sight.

"Jason, this is not acceptable. How can you do this to us?" asked Mrs Haward. "How can we present that to the public?" she said, pointing at Julia.

Julia exited the living room. Outside, the guards saw Julia coming out the front door and they stopped her before she could leave.

"And where do you think you are going," questioned the guard who had stopped her.

"To the place I belong," Julia replied almost in tears.

"No, you can't go," the guard said. 

"Why?" Julia asked.

"I don't belong here, so why can't I go back home? My mum doesn't even know I am not at home." Julia complained. 

"Just wait in the car," the guard suggested. 

That was Jason's most trusted guard, Peter. He knew how harsh the family can be when it comes to people who don't belong to their class.

Two minutes later, Peter saw Jason coming out the front door. Jason stood there for a while, as if in deep thought. He was so angry you could feel his anger miles away, but it did not take away his handsome, irresistible looks. The shirt he was wearing was hugging his broad chest and made his biceps visible. He ran his hand through his jet-black hair and stared straight ahead, making his blue eyes so visible under the bright shining sun. He took long strides towards this parked car.

Peter quickly opened the back door for him and he sat inside next to Julia. Julia pushed to the other side, pressing her back against the door.

"Please, I want to go home," Julia pleaded.

"No you can't," Jasson replied coldly. 

"Please, my mum doesn't know I am not at home. She would be worried sick. At least let me go tell her I am going to be away for a while. I beg you," Julia pleaded. 

Jason looked at her sad pleading face and he felt sorry for her. 

"Okay, I would let you go home on one condition; you will return the very next day by 6 a.m. You know I can find you if you run away," Jason threatened.

"Yes please," Julia nodded. 

They had already abducted her twice and no one had done anything because everyone was afraid of them. They are rich and powerful and hence can make you go missing without a trace. Julia didn't know who this man was yet, it was as if he controlled everything in the city. 

"Go drop her at her mother's and come for me later," Jason said and got out of the car. 

Julia felt relieved as soon as Jason got out of the car. She felt his very presence was going to suffocate her to death. The guard took her back to her home and dropped her off. 

"I will be here tomorrow at 5 a.m. to pick you up. Be ready then," Peter said to Julia.

Julia entered the house, wishing with all her might she could run away from this rich family, but where could she possibly go? Her friend Michael is still recovering from the beating. Tilly wouldn't talk to her after she found out she, Julia, gave their contacts and names.

Julia stood on the porch worried and not sure what to do.