The Hidden Secrets

CHAPTER 2

AVIAN'S POV

"You are getting married", she repeated



I stood there unable to move. Mouth gaped in shock. Did I just hear right? Me?? Getting married?



"Who am I getting married to?", I finally managed to ask.



"You are getting married to Derrick", she said. I could see the Joy in her eyes when she said this.



"Derrick? If I am right, is it not the Derrick Tanya was supposed to get married to?", I asked curiously.



"Yes", she replied to me.



She went further to say, "I can't allow my princess to get married to that broke ass since he has gone bankrupt. I don't want my Tanya to suffer".



Tanya sat down looking so happy. Like a mother, like a daughter. How could she have agreed to this? She stood up and went out of the house to only God knows where.



"I could not believe my ears. I'm meant to marry someone I don't even know, someone I barely know to be precise. The marriage was supposed to be between me and Derrick. Why is my stepmother so wicked knowing fully well that I do have a boyfriend".



All these while, my father could not even offer any statement. I stormed off with anger, straight to my room and banged the door behind me in rebel. 



"The wedding is in two days", I could hear her scream after me.



On getting to my room, I decided on what to do next because I could not possibly get married to Derrick when I was in love with Jack.



Just the thought of it brought tears to my face. I cried my eyes out until there were no tears left.



Finally, I decided to flee with Jack the next day. I picked up my phone to dial Jack's number. 



"Hello", I said.



"Hello baby", Jack replied.



"Mom said I am getting married to Derrick", the tears started rolling freely again.



There was a pause at the other end and I could feel the tension between us when I said this statement.



"Babe, Are you still there?", I was forced to ask.



"Yes yes", he finally said.



"So you are leaving me to get married to Derrick just because your stepmother said so?". 



I could feel the pain in his voice when he uttered this statement.



"No babe. You know that I love you. That is why I have decided to come up with a plan".



After explaining everything to Jack, he agreed to meet me at a point we agreed to once it was 6 am to elope.



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

I woke up the next morning feeling quite happy. At least, I would be leaving. This means no more weddings with Derrick. I and Jack can get married and settle down elsewhere. I stood up quietly to avoid being caught by my stepmother. After taking my bath, I checked my bag to see if it contained everything I needed. Seeing that I was all set, I tiptoed downstairs to avoid waking up the rest of the household.



I stopped a taxi and in due time, I alighted at my destination to wait for Jack.



It had been over an hour but Jack was not there. I tried calling him several times but he wasn't picking him up. I was so worried and thought something bad would have happened to him. So, I made up my mind to go to his place.



On getting to Jack's place, I noticed that the front door was not locked. My mind was racing.



"What could have happened? Is he okay?", I thought.



"Jack, Jack, Jack", I called out but there wasn't any response.



I decided to go to his bedroom to check if he was there or left a clue as to where he might have been.



I opened the door to the dimly lit room, my eyes widening in shock. Jack was in bed with Tanya; my stepsister.



I could not contain my anger so I screamed and both Tanya and Jack quickly got detached from each other.



I glanced at Jack, my eyes narrowing. "I thought you said you were down with all this," I said, my voice laced with disappointment and a hint of betrayal.



Jack did not utter a word. I could see a devilish smirk on Tanya's face. What a b*tch.





"He doesn't love you. You are supposed to be preparing for your wedding which is in two days". Tanya said smiling.



I left the room angrily and left the house. I was expecting to see Jack follow me and tell me that he was sorry, that it was all a mistake. To my disappointment, Jack did not run after me.



I sat down at the subway numb. I wasn't sure of what my next action would be. I felt so betrayed. How could Jack cheat on me with my stepsister of all people? 



Suddenly, the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness enveloped the city. The rain poured down washing away the past as if cleansing a wounded soul, while thunder rumbled in the distance, mirroring the turmoil within. 



By now, my clothes were already dripping water. I held back from going back home in devastated state. I decided to go to a club after getting another set of clothes. I drank and partied so hard to forget the pain that I was feeling inside. 



The next morning, I was surprised to see myself on the bed next to a stranger.



"What happened here?", I said.



"Is that question meant for me to provide the obvious answer?", the stranger said.



I gaped at him. I could see his abs clearly as the sun shone through the curtain.



"I guess you ain't satisfied yet", he smirked.



My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I stood up and immediately fetched my clothes and left the hotel room. 



"I hope we never meet ever again", he shouted.



"What have you done Avain? How could you have stooped so low? Having s*x with a stranger. What if he is dangerous? What if he comes after you? What if you get pregnant?", I was lost in thought which was suddenly knocked off by the drivers piercing voice reminding me that I've gotten to my destination.



I sighed as soon as I alighted from the cab at the front of my house. 



"About to enter hell", I groaned.



I noticed the house was unusually quiet today which is rare. My stepmother was nowhere to be found. My Dad wasn't in either. No one else needs to tell me that something is wrong. I went straight up to Tanya's bedroom and I found her in her room on a video call with Jack. 



"Well I am done with that dude, to hell with him", I said to myself.



"Tanya", I called out.



"Yes?", she answered angrily.



"What about my dad?", I asked her.



"First, can you not see that I was on a video call with my love before interrupting me? Didn't your mother teach you courtesy", she replied with a scornful look.



"Tanya, this is the last time I will be warning you. Keep my mother's name out of your mouth and answer my goddamn question", I said enraged.



Tanya laughed hysterically.



"What is so funny?", by now, there was so much anger in me.



"Looks like someone is getting angry", she said to me.



She continued," If you are that curious, our dad…o oh. I think I should have said your dad is currently in the hospital".



On hearing this, I was frightened.



No wonder that witch wasn't at home.



"What ha…pp..ened", I asked, my lips trembling.



I noticed that Tanya was back on her call with Jack and it seems like she won't answer me. I left the room with a final question.



"What hospital?", I managed to ask.



Luckily, she was kind enough to tell me which hospital it was. 



In not less than 30 minutes, I arrived at the hospital. I went straight to my Dad's ward and noticed that he was fast asleep. I was about to head to the doctor's office when I heard the witch's voice behind me.



"Where have you been?", She shouted



This woman must have forgotten that we are at the hospital. Always portraying her uncultured behavior.



"I was busy". I told her.



"Busy with what? You are a jobless child. You are such a waste. Good for nothing. After killing your mother, you want to kill your father again".



My brain sparked at the mention of my mother.

"You know that is not true", I screamed at her.



"If your father dies, It is all your fault", she hissed and walked out on me.



I was not going to let this woman's words get to me. I got to the doctor's office and I was asked to sit down.



The doctor explained everything about my father's situation to me. After that, he handed me a letter. 



On getting outside, I opened a letter and saw a note written by the doctor. He explained that if the surgery was not carried out on my father within the next 24 hours, he would die. The amount requested for the surgery was 5 million dollars.



"Where would I get such money from?", I thought.



Tears streamed down my face as I held the letter, torn between loyalty to my dad and my heart's true desire. With a trembling hand, I made a choice that would change everything.