CHAPTER TWO
1454 Words
"Your daughter is a virgin and you're ready to get her married?“ Arthur confirmed for the last time.
“Yes.“
“Alright. According to the announcement we made, you'll be receiving half of our property. That being the benefit of marrying the heir of the Shanks family.“
Albert grinned at that. “Yes. I saw it.“
Arthur rummaged through the drawers and pulled out a file. “You just have to sign this.“
“Of course.“ Albert made a big show of reading through the contract when in fact, he only wanted to make sure that he was going to receive the money.
“You don't want to know the consequences if I later find out that your daughter is not a virgin.“ Arthur spoke quietly.
Albert got scared at the tone Arthur used. It was meant to scare him, and it did.
“I know my daughter is a virgin.“ He said, again.
“You'll get the properties and all that is yours after the wedding. Again, you don't want to know the consequences of deceiving me.“
“Y…Yes sir.“
Albert knew there was no going back after this. He had already deceived the billionaire. What was left was how he was going to save himself. He decided in his mind that he was going to recover his company from the gambler, then flee the country with the remaining amount. Whatever Arthur decided to do with Verna after finding out she was not a virgin was going to be her cross to bear.
“Done with the contract?“ Arthur's voice jolted him back to reality.
“Yes.“
“Sign it, then…” he handed him a pen. No second thoughts, Albert signed the paper.
“You're officially my father-in-law, Mr. Ross.“ Arthur stood up and shook his hand.
“I guess so, son?“ Albert joked but the stern look Arthur gave him made him sober. “Mr Shanks.“
“The wedding will hold in three days. In the city cathedral. Be prepared.“
“That's on Saturday. Perfect for a wedding.“ Albert grinned.
“See you then, Ross.“
Albert Ross walked out of the Shanks building feeling like he hit the jackpot. Or better still, like he just won the lottery.
While Albert was sealing his daughter's fate, Verna was tending to her wounds in her old bedroom when her mother opened the door.“
“Can I come in?“
“It's your house. You do whatever you want.“
Evelyn sighed.
“Here, let me do that for you.“ Verna's mother offered.
“No, thanks.“ She muttered sourly. “What are you trying to play? The good cop? You were there when he treated me like that.“
“I'm sorry, Verna. I wish I could stand up to your father.“
“You and me both.“
“Just let me do it for you.“ Verna let the cotton go, albeit reluctantly.
“Fine.“
“You know, Verna…” She broke the uncomfortable silence. “Your father was not always like this.“
“It's bad enough that you put up with him but please, stop trying to defend him. Sometimes, you're just as bad as he is.“
“Forgive us, Verna.“ She finally looked at her. “We didn't mean to lie to you to get you back. It's just, we had no choice. No other choice. It also hurts your father's pride to have to beg for your help after he disowned you.“
“That was his way of begging?“ Verna snorted. “Good job.“
“Your father is quick to anger these days…”
“Try everyday.“ Verna quipped, sarcastically.
“I don't want him to lose the company. That was why I suggested that we bring you back home.“
“He's losing the company? What does that have to do with him forcing me to marry?“
“You see, your father made a wrong decision. He gambled away the right to the company. He's in a really bad place, Verna. He needs a lot of money to buy back the right to the company.“
“Okay?“
“Don't you get it, Verna?“
“No, mum. I don't get it.“
“If you marry the billionaire, he's going to be able to buy his company back.“ Her mother explained.
Verna shook her head in realization.
“He's going to use my dowry to revive his company?“
“Yes.“ Her mother sighed in relief, happy that she finally got it.
“Well, that's not going to happen, mom. Because I don't f*****g care if his company goes to ruin or not. I'm not going to be his ticket out of whatever shitty deal he got himself in…”
“Verna!“ Her mother gasped in horror. “Don't talk about your father like that.“
“He's not my father.“ Verna yelled. “He's Albert. And you're Evelyn. You stopped being my parents when you threw me out. Pregnant and alone. You were okay with me being by myself for six years until you needed my help? I'm done with this s**t. I'm leaving.“
“Verna…”
“I'm not going to marry a stranger just to please Albert.“ She didn't make it far when the door burst open.
“Going somewhere?“ His sudden presence shocked both women. He had his hands behind his back and a eerie smile playing on his lips.
“Albert…” Evelyn rushed to him. “I didn't know you were back.“
“I've been back for a while. I had the pleasure to hear what your b***h of a daughter thought about me.“
“Albert…” Evelyn spoke, when Albert took a step closer to Verna. She quickly got in their middle. “Should I run your bath?“ She tried to diffuse the situation.
“No, dear wife, I don't want you to run my bath.“ All of a sudden, he pulled his hands out, and to the duo's greatest surprise, it was a knife.
“What are you doing with that?“ Evelyn took a step back.
“This.“ In a sudden burst of movement, Albert had his wife in a chokehold with the knife against her throat.
“Dad, what are you doing?“ Verna yelled, her hands over her mouth at the scene before her.
“Shut up, you stupid whore.“
“Albert, what are you doing?“
“You shut it, too. Or I'm going to slice your neck.“
“Dad…”
“Now, listen to me carefully, Verna. You're going to do as I say. You're going to marry the man I have chosen for you or I'm going to kill your mom.“
“Don't listen to him, Verna.“ Evelyn managed to rasp out.
“Oh, you're on her side now?“ Albert sneered. “You're turning my daughter against me? You don't want her to help me? You want me to lose my company?“ Albert was hysterical now.
“Dad, calm down.“ Verna tried to reason with him. “Let's talk like reasonable adults.“
“Shut up. I'm really going to kill her.“ To drive home his point, he lightly scratched her throat. That, in turn, made blood rush down the side of her neck.
Daughter and mother screamed at the sight of blood.
“I'm going to kill her, then kill myself.“
“Dad, please.“ Verna sobbed.
“You better do as I say, Verna.“
“Don't listen to him, Verna. Albert, you psycho. Must you punish me and our daughter this way? For your own mistakes?“ Evelyn struggled for her release but he only seemed to hold on tighter.
“I own both of you. I'll do with you as I see fit.“
“Albert…” Evelyn choked from under his arm.
When Verna didn't tell him what he wanted to hear, he pushed the knife against her throat. Evelyn let out a small yelp.
“Don't push me, Verna.“ His eyes were feral now.
“Don't do it, Verna.“ Evelyn choked out.
“Dad, please.“ Verna sobbed. “Please.“
“What are you going to do?“ He pushed the knife harder, “Anymore, and your mother will be gone.“ He threatened.
“I'm going to do it.“ Verna yelled and collapsed to the floor.“
“I didn't hear you.“
“I'm going to marry him.“
- Writer
