I Married My Twin Sister's Husband

The slap landed across his face before I even realized my hand had moved. Smack! The music around us seemed to stop for a second. The man slowly turned his face back toward me, his eyes wide with disbelief. I stared at him, my palm still tingling. “What nonsense!” My friend, Rita, grabbed my arm. “Amara…” But I wasn't done. I stepped closer to him, fuming with anger. “Do you think every lady offers her body for s*x in exchange for money?” His mouth opened, but no words came out. “No way!” I picked up my handbag from the table and glared at him one last time. “You saw two women standing alone and the first thing that came to your mind was to ask how much we cost? Have some shame.” Rita pulled me away before I could say anything else. “Let's go before you actually kill somebody.” “I should have slapped him twice.” “You already slapped him.” “One slap wasn't enough.” She laughed nervously as we hurried toward the exit. The club was packed tonight. Loud music shook the walls, people were dancing everywhere, and the smell of alcohol filled Everywhere. Normally, I would have enjoyed myself, but tonight, I couldn't. Maybe I was already irritated before that man approached us. Maybe that's why his question got under my skin so badly. Or maybe I was simply tired of men thinking they could say whatever they wanted to women because they had money. Outside, everywhere was cool, air blowing gently . Rita sighed. “Amara, one day that mouth of yours will put you in serious trouble.” I rolled my eyes. “People have been telling me that since I was ten.” “And they were right.” “Are you my mother?” “No. Your mother would probably say something worse.” I laughed. For a few minutes, everything felt normal. I checked my phone. There were three missed calls from my mother. My smile disappeared. “Mum has been calling.” “Then call her back.” “I will when I get home.” “You'd better. You know how she worries.” I nodded and waved goodbye when we reached the junction where we would part ways. “Text me when you get home.” “I will.” I climbed into a taxi, still thinking about the incident at the club. I didn't know that by the time I got home, that stupid slap would be the least important thing happening in my life. ******** Something was wrong. I knew it the moment I stepped into our compound. The front door was wide open. Our house was never left open at night. I paid the driver and hurried inside. “Mum?” There was no answer. I heard voices, loud, angry voices from the sitting room. My heart started beating faster. I walked in. And I stopped abruptly. My father was sitting on the old sofa, his head lowered. My mother was crying, the cry was different from times she got upset. She was crying so hard that her shoulders were shaking. There were two strange men standing in front of my father. One of them was holding a file. The other had his arms folded across his chest. “What is going on?” Everyone looked at me. My father's eyes immediately faced me. “Where have you been?” I blinked. “Dad?” “I asked you where you've been!” “At a friend's place.” “At this time of the night?” I glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven. “I didn't know there was a curfew.” “Don't use that tone with me.” I sighed. “I'm not trying to…” “Of course you're not trying to do anything. That's the problem with you.” My mother wiped her face. “Please, Amara. Just…” She couldn't finish. One of the men cleared his throat. “Sir, we have given you enough time.” I looked at my father. “Enough time for what?” There was silence. My father looked away. The man opened his file. “Your father borrowed money from us to expand his poultry business. The repayment date passed three months ago.” I stared at him. “What?” My father suddenly stood. “I told you I would pay.” “And we believed you.” His voice became louder. “But believing you doesn't mean we will wait forever.” I looked at my mother. “Mum?” She began crying again. I felt something I couldn't explain settle in my stomach. Our poultry farm had always been my father's pride. He had started small, with a few birds behind the house. Over the years, he had expanded. Last year, he decided to take a loan to increase production. Everyone was excited. Until the storm came one night that destroyed almost everything, the poultry houses collapsed, hundreds of birds died , the equipment damaged, and the little savings my parents had were swallowed by repairs. I knew about the storm, but the loan?!!! No !!! “How much?” I whispered. My father didn't answer. But, the creditor did. “Twenty-eight million naira.” My mouth opened widely. “Twenty-eight…” I couldn't finish. My father sank back onto the sofa. “We were expecting the next batch to save us.” “But the farm was destroyed.” “I know!” His voice was shaking. I stared at him. For the first time, my father looked old. Not angry or strict but defeated. One of the men placed the file on the table. “If we don't receive a substantial payment soon, we will have no choice but to take the property used as collateral.” My mother's crying became louder. “Please,” she begged. “Give us a little more time.” “We have already given you time.” The men eventually left. The moment the door closed behind them, silence filled the house. I stood there, unable to move. Twenty-eight million. How were we supposed to find twenty-eight million? My father suddenly looked at me. “And you are out there partying.” I frowned. “Dad, I didn't know….” “You never know anything!” “Because nobody tells me anything!” “You don't listen!” “Because whenever I try to talk, you tell me I'm disrespectful!” My father stood. “Look at your sister! Amelia doesn't behave like you.” There it was, again! Amelia. My twin sister. The comparison that had followed me my entire life. “She is responsible. She knows how to carry herself. She doesn't embarrass this family.” I swallowed. “So now I'm the reason we're in debt?” “I didn't say that.” “You didn't have to.” I turned before he could see the tears gathering in my eyes. I hated crying in front of my father. I hated giving him another reason to think I was weak. I went upstairs. Amelia was sitting on the edge of her bed. Unlike me, she had probably been home all evening. She looked up when I entered. “What happened?” I forced a smile. “Nothing.” She studied my face. “Amara…” I shook my head. “I'm tired.” I walked into my room and closed the door, but I didn't sleep. ******* The next morning, the house was extremely quiet. Nobody mentioned the debt. Nobody ate breakfast. My mother barely touched her food. Then, around noon, a black SUV pulled into our compound. I looked through the window. A woman stepped out, she was elegant, everything about her screamed money. Her cream-colored dress looked expensive without being flashy. Her heels sounded on the ground as she walked toward our house. I frowned. Who was she? My mother hurried to open the door. “Good afternoon.” “Good afternoon. Mrs. Williams?” “Yes.” The woman smiled politely. “My name is Victoria Sterling.” I froze. Sterling? Even I knew that name. Sterling Group was one of the biggest companies in the country. Victoria walked into the sitting room and took a seat. “I apologize for coming without much notice.” My father looked confused..“How can we help you, Mrs. Sterling?” She crossed her legs. “Actually, I believe I can help you.” Nobody spoke. Her eyes moved around the room before settling on my father. “Someone recommended your daughter to me.” My heart skipped. “My daughter?” “Yes.” She smiled. “Your daughter Amelia.” My father straightened. “What about her?” “I have heard that she is well behaved. Respectful. Soft-spoken. A young woman who knows how to conduct herself.” I almost laughed. Of course. The perfect daughter!! Victoria continued. “I have a son.” Something about her tone made the room suddenly feel smaller. “He needs a wife.” My mother looked at my father. Victoria leaned back. “I am here because I believe Amelia would be a good match for him.” Nobody spoke. I stared at my twin. Amelia's face had gone pale. The woman continued speaking, explaining that her son was from a wealthy family, that the marriage would benefit everyone involved. But I barely heard her. Because my father was looking at my mother. And my mother was looking at Amelia. Then Victoria said the words that changed everything. “If Amelia agrees to marry my son, I will settle your family's outstanding debt.” My heart stopped. I looked at Amelia. She was staring at the woman as if she hadn't understood what she'd just heard. My father swallowed hard. “Twenty-eight million?” Victoria nodded. “I know the exact amount.” My mother's eyes filled with tears. “Why would you do this for us?” “Because I believe this marriage can benefit both families.” I looked at Amelia again. She was trembling. I expected her to refuse. I expected her to say that she didn't even know this man. Instead, she slowly lifted her head. Her eyes met with mine. There was fear in them. But there was something else too. Desperation. Then Amelia turned toward Victoria. We barely heard her voice. “Yes.” Everyone went silent. Victoria smiled and broke the silence. My mother covered her mouth. And I stared at my sister in disbelief. She had just agreed to marry a complete stranger to save our family.