Forced To Be His Bride

Three- Marietta

I let the wind blow in my face, I didn't feel sad I didn't exactly know what to feel. I looked at my bandaged hands, the burns and peeled skin underneath hurt less now. I heard a footstep behind me, I refrained from turning, already guessed who it was.

Mr Romano soon stood beside me as I watched the horizon deepen further as the sun fell from the skies, night was approaching.

“I promised Jessica, I would try and be a good father to you.“ I looked ahead, my expression unaltered by his words or my mother's name on his lips.

“I apologize for Natasha's behaviour. Joyce told me everything.“

I blinked away the shock resonating within me.

Did he just disagree with his wife? Is he being nice by default or he is trying so hard to impress me? Paint a picture of a family we are not, and make me more receptive to their abuses. Which?

“You are going to school tomorrow. I have spoken with the school to make things easier for you. Marie, Micheal would drop you off.“ He said. I saw concern shine in his eyes but I was being delusional.

“I will do fine on my own.“

“I know, but Micheal would do as I say. I reached out to the school and they are to make the process easier for you.“

I blinked at him. Was he expecting gratitude? This is what I hated. I never wanted his influence to rub off me, I don't need his help ever. I survived without it for a major part of my life.

“You shouldn't have done that.“ I raised my voice, feeling my chest bubbled with emotions I wasn't familiar with. They burned me with the intensity.

“ I don't need your help, now especially. I am only here because Mother left me no other choice. “

“I am only fulfilling my responsibility towards you!“

“When did you start having a responsibility towards me? Fine one point to you for becoming the best father of the year.“ intensity.

“Marie… I know I haven't been present in your life. None of my reasons justifiable but I want to try.“ He says, I look at him for a while. I saw regrets swirling in his eyes, enough for me to pity him.

“I am already used to your absence. There's very little this can change. Especially when it took a media drag for you to realize I exist.“ I walked out, incapable of holding my tears in if my childhood memories of how desolate and incomplete I felt decides to torment me.

∆∆∆

I sat still in my seat, taking slight notice of how warm my butt was starting to feel. Mr Eugene, a man with 90s lenses perched carefully atop the bride of his nose, stared at me in scrutiny for a while.

He stopped chattering for a while but resumed, he was gossiping trying to bring out a response or affirmation from me but I remained unyielding.

“Everyone was shocked to their bones when Mr Romano, your father revealed he had another daughter. A successful Alumni he had been, donating to the success of this school at every chance he gets. We can't forget such a great man, it'd be an atrocity to do so“ He had a mix of a French accent and British if that was possible.

It made him sound like Queen Elizabeth's butler.

I smiled at him in a silent response, awaiting his signature on all my documents so I could submit them all to my head of department for further processing.

“So are you adopted?“ He asked and I raised my brows at him.

I squinted my eyes at him, one thing I have learnt is that they gravely fear and respect Mr Romano. I can use that to my advantage.

“I fear only my father can confirm that, Mr Eugene.“ I smiled in a tight line. He reciprocated, signing the last documents.

“Hmm, though I see some semblance between you too. Haha, but what do I know?“ He laughed awkwardly before slamming the school stamp on his signed document, gathering it in an orderly manner.

“Your documents are just about ready, Ms Marie. You can have them now.“ I reached out for them and was ready to walk myself out of his office.

“ I am grateful for your help, Mr Eugene.“ I muttered politely.

“It's a pleasure.“ He smiled tightly at me.

A huge sigh of relief escaped my lips as I walked through the door

Every office I have entered was more interested in confirming I am Mr Romano's daughter than my study with the school.

It was easy to pass all their qualifications, I have beautiful grades, and I don't beat the nerdy allegations I just so happen to be one.

Once I submitted my papers at my HOD's office and went through an odd interview, I was almost done for the day. I held my stacks of files in my arm and walked along the pristine hallways of the administrative building. I was heading to the accommodation office.

Today threw me into the realization that I can't possibly study from home. It's a bit near to the school, thirty 30-minute drive but… it's too far for me. What if they throw an 8:00 am class, it would be such a struggle to wake up from such a comfortable setting like Mr Romano's home and want to leave.

My second reason is the major reason, I can't be around my new family, I need to get away from them and campus accommodation is the key. Mrs Natasha strikes me as someone I should try and avoid, and Clarrisa demeaning my identity in front of her boyfriend tells me all I need to know.

Unlike Mother said the last two days, I should fight and not let anyone intimidate me, it's like she knew exactly what she was pushing me to. All my life, I would rather avoid confrontations to prevent conflict and I would keep doing that.

Lost in my thoughts and hardly paying any attention to my environment, I bumped quite hard into someone.

The hit was so brutal I fell straight to the floor, my head aching. I noticed one of the lenses cracked a bit at the impact. Cursing myself and the careless individual who wasn't watching his way too. I was met with a 6'3 bulky giant. Wearing a tight jean, and an equally tight shirt.

He looked like a hockey game star mixed with a football player build. His finger raked erratically through his curly dark hair, his golden skin reflecting the rays of the sun. He had light sunny eyes, almost the shade of honey, a straight nose crooked at the septum, and thin but wide lips coloured the fainted shaded of pink. They seemed parched for a while then he passed his wet tongue over them.

It was kind of inappropriate to watch him do it, I thought. I noticed I was still on the floor and Mr Bulky had annoyance etched on his face. It was a slight throw from anger, he glanced at something on the floor and I noticed it was his phone.

“You never seen a man before? You staring too much to realize you are in deep shit.“ His trebled voice broke through me for a brief second. I took him as seriously as I take Jean, my rascal of a Cousin.

I stretched out my hand for him to draw me up but I was ignored. Annoyed by him, I stood to my feet, before rolling my eyes at him.

“Whoever told you are a man? A big little boy is all I see here. A man would have apologized for bumping into me and offered a hand.“ I scoffed at him and noticed a girl, my age was walking towards us. She had a curious look on her face as she approached him. I glanced around to see the mess our mini-accident produced, and a string of curses leapt off my lips.

“Oh, and you have it mistaken who is in deep shit.“ I stared in unfilching horror, as the files that had been arranged for me had their papers thrown in all directions.

I glared at him. “You should have watched where you are going to.“ I yelled, visibly infuriated. It took so much effort to do this for it to be done again

“I would have said the same for you but you are blind as a bat.“ He said as a matter of factly, all seriousness strewn on his expression.

How dare his tight ass?

I folded my fist and walked straight at him feeling extra brave, what happened to avoiding confrontations to prevent conflicts, Marie?

“You are going to pack my files, and documents, back in their initial arrangements. If anyone is found to be displaced, God help the both of us.“

He looked at me, unflinchingly. Unwavered by my threat.

“You don't want to mess with me.“ I warned I pointed my index finger close to his face. With a swap of his index, he pushed mine away. I stood just in front of his chest my head not any taller.