CHAPTER 4
1071 Words
"I just hope you two are not planning to marry me off to that skunk of a son”, Zara warned, facing her parents and pointing at them simultaneously.”
“We have a wedding to plan. What are your grievances exactly? That he isn't wealthy or that he isn't as popular as the rest,” her mother threw in.
“He is everything the rest of his brothers are not.” She moved closer and started picking her fingers one after the other in explanation, “others are rich he is bankrupt, others are handsome, he's ugly, others are easy going, he's stern for no good reason, others are high maintenance, he's too casual, definitely not for me.”
At the other end was Helin sitting down and staring at the whole thing play out. Rico, her only brother, was lying in the hospital at least not after remission had been done.
Zara was currently in a relationship with Helin's boyfriend who's now her ex.
The Greenwoods are a business oriented family, highly influential in their city and the country at large. The CEO had three sons whom he empowered separately, refusing them to have a stake in his company because he believed it was a way to make them work hard and not rest on the success of their father. So, if any of them didn't work hard enough, their father's resources wouldn't be a saving grace.
The third son, being the most casual and ‘poorest’ of them all was going to marry the first daughter of the Fords. Zara knew how much of a cream she was and how it was a stain on her, so she rejected the idea vehemently.
She scampered around the room and mistakenly broke the glass of wine kept on the table.
“Father, how did you agree to this ridiculous decision to sell me off just like that? Isn't it disgusting? I'd rather leave than consent to such a crazy arrangement.” She threatened, making her way to the door.
When she realized that no one came after her or tried to stop her, she turned back and screamed, “I won't leave. It won't hurt so bad when I leave.”
“I just think you should have some patience and think it through. That organization is very reputable; getting married to one of their sons is a privilege,” Helin advised.
“Oh! shut up! What makes you think your opinion will be valued here. You know nothing. The guts!” Zara yelled at her but when she felt words meant nothing, she made her way to where her half sister was and landed a loud slap on her face. “When did children start meddling in the affairs of adults?”
Zara's mother called their father briefly into the room to say something to him.
As impatient as Zara was she screamed from her own space, “please after the private meetings. I hope it amounts to something useful because whatever it is, I'm not getting married to their third miserable son.”
“Don't worry darling, we are going to do whatever we can to ensure things go in our favor, but trust me, this is an organization which you will be an heir to. Have you forgotten?”
“How will I be an heir to the organization when he wants me to marry his third son. All I know is that Mr Greenwood does not go where there is light, he has sinister plans.”
“I have told your father this same thing but I don't know why he finds it hard to understand. Maybe because they're old time friends,” her mother chipped in.
“If you really care about our family, then this is the only thing I ask of you. I don't think that should be too hard to do.”
“Go and get me a cup of water,” she ordered. Helin hissed and took a few minutes to stand up from her chair because she was pondering whether to obey or hesitate.
“You know I have a hunch. Between me and this girl, do they know who's first or last.”
“I really doubt it,” her mother responded.
“Well, why doesn't she replace me?” she suggested pointing at Helin who was getting her some water. “If she says one word about not being the first daughter, I'll personally kill her myself,” she threatened.
“I'm right behind you. What does your father say?”
Mr Ford sat still and sent his glasses to the bridge of his nose not saying anything.
“I don't agree with this plan especially because of the caliber of person involved. If any word of this gets to him or someone who knows him closely enough, we are all going to be in prison with no hope of coming out. He's not the type of man you mess with.”
“They don't know who is who and that's the point,” cut in the wife.
“You can't be so sure,” Mr Ford objected.
“And why didn't you propose she marries the first son and not the last wretched one? If the last one was so good they wouldn't be trying to get him a wife.”
“You better start packing your things. You're going to his house to be his wife.” Zara ordered Helin who was approaching her with a glass of water.
“I don't want to get married yet,”she said.
“Your opinion isn't needed here, just do as you are told. Get out of our sight and get on with it,” Zara commanded her.
She knew who the last son was, he almost never smiled.
She went into her room, locked her door, knelt on the floor and wailed silently with both palms covering her mouth.
She thought about so many things all at once: the possibility of her marrying the man she never wanted, the biggest betrayal of Carter cheating on her with her half sister and her brother's condition which no one seemed to care about.
All these made her consider taking the offer.
As all these thoughts pierced through her mind, she got a notification reminding her of her brother's visiting hours.
She freshened up and headed for the hospital.
- Writer
