Crisis in the Billionaire's Paradise

CHAPTER 3: PROPOSAL

CHAPTER 3.

The proposal

"Don't be so ridiculous. I don't wanna believe you've got nothing inside that big head of yours. I don't want my father to find you here. We should think of getting you out of here before he walks inside,” Esther whispered. Her head is spinning already. She could barely think straight to come up with a solution.

"And I asked us not to make love here. We could have just gone to your place. Now see the mess you caused me.” She blamed King for what was happening.

"Enough with the self-pity. It wasn't my fault. Don't act like you didn't want it, too. If you were so serious about this, you would have declined. But no, you jumped on the bed and consented.” King clapped back and taunted Esther. Leaning forward to her room door, Daniel called out again, this time, screaming out his lungs.

"Esther, I know you're in there. Why are you not answering? I've been calling for over an hour. I need you downstairs this minute. Are you trying to play a prank on me?"

Making an indistinct chatter, Esther ordered King to go hide inside the bathroom immediately while she hid his clothes and shoes. After confirming that King was out of sight, she opened the door and pretended to be asleep.

“Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you went job hunting?” Esther yawned to convince her father, but he wasn't falling for her tricks. Somehow, Daniel felt Esther was hiding something. Narrowing his gaze everywhere, Esther popped the question. “Why is your room so scattered? I've been searching for you all over the house. A thousand times I called, but not for once, did you respond. You are sweating, too. Is everything the matter?”

“Yeah, Dad. I'm doing just great. I felt a bit ill after your departure. I had to get some drugs to feel better. I guess I fell asleep immediately. I didn't even know when you got back,” she lied and displayed an Oscar-worthy performance.

"Holy grail! Are you getting better? We should take you to see a doctor,” concerned about her health status, he suggested.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now let's talk about you. Did you get the job? You called me from a different phone. What happened to yours?” Esther swiftly deviated from the actual discussion.

"Hmm! I see” Daniel sighed and faced the ground. He was speechless and worried. He didn't know how to explain to Esther how he got robbed.

"Dad, what's the matter? You don't look happy. What's the problem?”

Motioning to her bed, Esther quietly sat down and placed his hands below his jaw. “How do I explain this to you? I've got good and bad news. I bet you're not ready to hear them,”

"What are you talking about? Your suspense is slowly ripping my soul apart. Say something You know how much has been kept in suspense!” Esther flared up. She couldn't bear his prolonged silence. Daniel stood up, held Esther's hands, and explained everything that happened including the robbery incident and how his old friend, Lucas gave him $700k with the assurance of improving his life again.

“Okay? I don't even know how to react to this. First, you got robbed. Then you meet an old friend who gave you $700k? That's absurd! It's not even adding up.! Is that all? Why do I have a feeling you're hiding something,” asked, Esther. From Daniel's body language, she could discern he's got a skeleton in his cupboard. Aside from losing his phone and cash to a robbery, Daniel doesn't seem so excited talking about the huge sum Lucas gave him. He still can't get the robbery off his head.

"I guess I have to tell you already. You deserve to know the truth,”

"What damn truth are you talking about?” Esther's nostrils flared up. She was eager and impatient to hear what Daniel had to say.

"I, erm...erm. Gosh! How do I do this?.” Daniel stammered and disclosed to Esther that she'd be getting married to Lucas's billionaire Son, Sullivan, in an arranged marriage. Daniel also revealed the vow he made with Lucas while they were in school. King covered his mouth to avert a scream. He couldn't believe his ears as he eavesdropped on the conversation from the bathroom where he did. Boiling in rage and disgust, the question that plagued his mind was. “Why is her father so cruel? I can't give up without a fight. I can't watch and do nothing while Esther is forcefully taken away from me. That's never gonna happen,” vowed, King. Deep down, he wanted to come out of his hiding place and punch Daniel in the face, but he decided to halt until Daniel was out of Esther's room.

"Dad, this is a joke, right? Tell me this is one of your pranks and I'll believe you. How can you even stand in front of me and say those words, knowing they would hurt me? Are you aware I'm in a serious relationship with King? Dad, I'm disappointed. I don't even know this guy. How do I love someone I haven't met yet? Does that even make sense to you? You could have done better," Cynthia wailed. She felt betrayed and humiliated that her father would choose her over material things.

"Don't you dare talk back to me? Who gives a f**k about love? Just give it time. You'll grow to love him. When I met your mother, she never loved me. She even hated me the first time. But when she started developing feelings for me, I craved more. You're gonna get married to his son and that's final. I guess you're not too young to become an orphan, right?” Sounding the threat, Daniel hinted at what was like a suicide note.

"Dad, please stop that. You're beginning to make this sound like a death wish. I love King so much and that's it. We've come a long way to quit now. Breaking up with him is synonymous with committing suicide. It's King or no one. He might not be rich now, but I'm pretty he's got a bright future, at least better than someone I don't even know,” Esther yelled at her father and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.

"You will obey as my Father. This is our only escape route from poverty. King has got nothing to offer. Can't you see? Wake up and smell the coffee. I'll be stepping out to get some things. Make your decision now,” Daniel angrily slammed the door and exited. Esther had to go check the house a few minutes after to confirm his departure. She got so engrossed in her thoughts and forgot about King hiding in the bathroom.

"I heard everything! I don't wanna talk about it now. You've had a rough day. I wish to go home now,” King frowned, and he motioned out from the bathroom majestically and got dressed. Esther was speechless and shivered. She couldn't move closer to King, knowing how hot-tempered he was. Right in front of her, King exited the house without saying goodbye.

*********************

It was 2:45 pm at the Lucas's Mansion and the night was still serene and reenergized. The Air reeked of honeysuckle and throb.

"Son, you don't even have anyone in your life right now, do you? And I hope you do not consider making Anita your wife?” Lucas reaffirmed and left Sullivan in astonishment. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.

"But ... .but I'm not inclined to marry. Besides, I don't even love this so-called Esther. Dad, for goodness’ sake, we are not in the 90s. How do I even explain this to Venita, my girlfriend?” Sullivan yelled at his Dad as the two almost came to blows.

"You've got less than 14 days to walk down the aisle with Esther or consider yourself excommunicated from the family's inheritance. I'll shift all your inheritance to your younger brother, Felix. He's more of a man than you'll ever be. Just look at you. You're nothing but a complete disappointment to the family. Your brother is more than a complete man than you can ever become. I just wish your mom was…”

"Oh, don't you dare speak ill of my mom? Take her name out of your mouth.” Sullivan fumed at his Dad and was rewarded with a thunderous slap. He caressed his cheeks in anger and returned to his room only to find Anita packing her stuff and set to leave the house.

"What the heck are you doing?”

"I presume you're not blind, are you? I overheard everything your father said to you. I'd rather sleep in my apartment tonight. I can't stand the heat,” Anita wailed as she attempted to exit the room with her luggage.

"We can still discuss this, right?” he pleaded and grabbed her box.

"There's nothing to discuss. Didn't you hear the conditions? You'd be stripped of your inheritance. You're not that stupid to choose me over fortune, right? What I don't understand is why your Dad keeps controlling you as if you were a kid. I can't take this. I'd be back when the drama ended. But right now, I'm out of here.” She wept like a child and departed. All efforts to make her stay proved abortive. Sullivan grew in rage and screamed,” Jeez! What the f**k have I done,”