Chapter Three: All on Me
969 Words
"How could she think of doing such a thing!" Andrew stood up angrily.
He became angry, his words harsh and venomous, evidence of anger. "Do I look like a joke to her?" He furiously tried to storm out of the office before his father stopped him.
"Andrew, calm down." The Mayor held him by his hand, gesturing for him to sit down. "I have a plan." He added.
"Now that we have found out the truth, we have to change our approach." The mayor said with a reassuring tone. "The wedding will still go on as planned."
He added, smiling mysteriously at Andrew.
Andrew nodded in agreement and sighed deeply before readjusting his bowtie.
They both left the office and returned to the room where Emily was lying feeling dejected.
>>>
Emily was lying on the bed, readying her mind for the consequences of her actions. She turned and looked at her father, "It's all your fault."
"My fault!?" Mr. Simon defended himself with a disbelieving tone. "How could you do this to me? I trusted you but all you.. you could do was.."
"I could do what?" Emily said with a furious voice, looking at her Dad angrily.
"Your Mom would be ..." Mr. Simon was speaking when Emily cut in sharply. "Don't mention her name."
She interrupted with a rigorous voice, folding her arms on her chest.
"But do you have a boyfriend?" Asked Mr. Simon, his tone evidence of curiosity.
Emily turned to face her Dad. She looked at him with a funny face, her hair was messy and untidy, and a few strands fell straight to her face and down to her lips.
She blew the strands of hair with seriousness, eyeing her Dad funnily.
"Alright, I get it!" Said Mr Simon, raising his two hands up in surrendering to her silent action.
Amidst their argument, the door opened wide. Andrew stormed in furiously, while the Mayor walked in behind him.
"How dare you, Emily!" Andrew flared up. His voice dripped with anger. Emily's eyes opened wide.
Did he find out the truth?
"You dare lie to me?" Said Andrew showing her the test result. "You can't escape this marriage, Emily.
No amount of your cunning behavior will stop this marriage from happening." Andrew spoke with anger, his voice dripping with venomous words that stung Emily deeply in her heart.
Emily knew she had been caught, her lies didn't work out. She wasn't pregnant. And now she has to face her demons.
The mayor moved closer to Emily, "Young lady, you should think about your father, his company, and what will happen to your family if you lose a source of income."
He spoke with a mischievous voice before leaning towards her and whispering, "I know you want to become a journalist like your father, I can help you achieve that." He said before pulling away, smiling mysteriously.
Emily's face turned pale, surprised at what the Mayor just told her.
"So what do you say, Emily?" The mayor asked her, smiling brightly at her.
She paused for a second before responding, "I accept." She bowed her head in disbelief.
Did she just accept to marry Andrew? Even though she doesn't want the marriage, the thought of living a poor life isn't worth fighting the mayor.
"Good, you made the right choice. Alright, I will give you 24 hours to prepare for the wedding." Said the mayor before storming out of the office.
Emily leaned a little on the bed, closing her eyes and inhaling the air deeply before opening her eyes sighed heavily.
Emily was released from the hospital. Her left leg from the toes to the ankle was wrapped in plaster of Paris which saddened her Dad.
Seeing her in that condition made him feel like the worst Dad on earth right now. Upon getting home, Emily tried to climb the stairs to her room but found it hard to do so.
Mr Simon offered to help, "Here, let me help you." He put his hand to support her arm. But Emily rejected his help, "I am fine." She raised her hand in objection, squeezing her face furiously before trying hard to climb the stairs.
As Mr. Simon stood watching her try, his phone rang, startling him unexpectedly. He brought out the cell phone from his left pocket, looking at the screen it was the Director of the school of journalism.
"Hello, Mr Samuel." Mr Simon picked up the call, looking at Emily who was battling to climb the stairs. Upon hearing the name, Emily hastily turned her face, almost falling backward.
"Mr. Simon, what's happening, we haven't seen Emily." The director spoke, sounding curious and worried.
"Emily is doing fine," Simon answered, looking at his daughter with pitiful eyes. "There has just been a little problem but she is fine. Is everything alright?"
"Well, her final examination is coming up tomorrow and she has yet to sign her card for the examination." The director answered sharply.
Emily's eyes widened in shock, lost words, and felt dejected. Mr. Simon remained silent before hanging the call.
He sighed before walking away from Emily. Emily stood there broken in her heart. Her dreams are about to be shattered right before her eyes.
"What should I do now?" Emily mumbled to herself silently, she massaged her temple in confusion.
Emily has 24 hours to prepare for the wedding and now, her exam is coming up tomorrow.
What should she do?
Even though Andrew's Father had promised to help her pursue her dreams, Emily didn't feel comfortable and convinced by his words. It sounds like a trick, to get her wedded to his son.
But should she believe him and put her trust in him? Emily then opted to do something unthinkable, something beyond her father's wildest dreams.
- Writer
