Bond and Blood

Bold and Feisty

Vynessa's POV

Time seemed to pause for a couple of second and everything seemed to equally be paused. I did not know what to say or what to do at that point. I could have doubted it if I heard the words from any other person.

I squinted my brows initially as I stared at her in disbelief.

“What..... what did you say, mother?” I questioned. I was still in denial of everything and anything that I heard her say.

“I know it is difficult for you to take in but please,.. you have to understand. You have to understand that I am doing this for us. It is not just for me alone. Please, understand.” She pleaded. “I do not have a choice”

“You have a choice, mother! You have a choice. You have a choice. When you met whoever, this man is, you had a choice! You could have told him you did not want him. You could have told him you were not interested! When he asked you to marry him, you had a choice!

You could have told him you were not interested! When you got to know he has a family, you had a choice! You could have told him you were not interested!

When he told you, you had a choice! You kept it within you for so long and you feel the right time to tell me is now?!

Of course, you had a choice!”

“Don’t you dare yell at me like that! I am still your mother!” She yelled at me. Her words were supposed to make me a little sober but it instead made things even more complicated.

I lost my appetite immediately and dashed to my room.

I was most grateful that I had a room of my own. It would have been very difficult for me as I did not want to see or speak to my mother. I was hurting really bad from her decision.

After father died, she was all I looked up to. Aside the two friends that I had in school, she was all I had and now, she was already getting someone else to replace me?

How on earth did she expect me to cope with a total stranger that I had no idea of? That too, with a family? That was the most miserable thing that could happen to anyone.

“You should come out and have your lunch.” Mother drew me out of my thoughts. Her voice was calm and soft like nothing had happened.

I refused to utter a word to her and instead laid on the bed. I was hurting really bad.

I did not believe she could be that insensitive to me.

“I am not hungry.... have your meal all by yourself.” I responded and laid on the bed. I missed father so much and I really wished he was here. if he was, I would definitely not be going through this mess. How was I going to cope with all this?

I laid on the bed till I drifted to sleep.

**

The next morning was quite difficult for me. I could barely sleep considering what had happened last night. I was a little hurt and pained that she felt no empathy. I believed that morning was going to be better but instead...

“Our guest would be here tonight. Be at your best and please, do not give him a reason to not want to be with us.” She spoke and I smirked.

Our guest? I smirked. Of course, I did not care about what he was thinking or wanted to do. I ignored her and made my way out of the house.I struggled to go to school.

That was the only place and the only thing I could do to make myself feel better.

“Your legs aren’t heavy, weirdo? Are they?” Saskia questioned me again and I rolled my eyes. I did not have the energy to argue with her this morning or say anything to her.

I was quiet for the whole of the class and even though my friends tried to speak with me, I refused to hearken to them. Speaking would only make the pain worse.

“You can talk to us, you know?” Madelyn followed me into the restroom. I wiped the tears off my eyes immediately and tried to fake a smile but it was not just working.

“Do not try to pretend. I know something is wrong with you. I am your friend, am I not?” She probed and I let out a sigh. I couldn’t hide it from her anymore.

“Aside you guys, my mother is all I have but I guess I am getting replaced.” I shrugged and a wry smile found its way to my lips. Her brows arched as she stared at me and I could tell she was utterly confused at what I had just said.

“You know..... my mother is getting married.” I started and she arched her brows. “I know I sound selfish right now..” I wiped off the tears in my eyes and sniffed. “But I don’t want to be replaced. Aside you and Gideon, she is all I have. I do not want any other person to take my place. The worst of all is that this man has a family!” I ranted.

She let out a sigh and placed my hands on my shoulder.

“I do not know your mother and I do not know why she is doing this but... I believe she is simply doing the best for you. I believe she would never do anything to hurt you neither will you be replaced so you just have to calm down!” She responded.

I shook my head. Of course, she would not understand. She was not in that position so she would not know how it feels. I am the one who wears the shoes and I know where it hurts.

“I did not expect you to understand anyway.....” I crossed my arms and looked away from her. “You are not in my position.” I creased my brows.

“Vee... try to understand me. i...”

“It’s fine.” I responded immediately. “I will be fine.” I added before walking out of the shower and she walked right after me.

The day seemed to be the fastest so far and even though I did not want to meet this monster of a man, I knew I had to do something. If I stayed back, he would definitely have arrived before I come and I would be forced to see him.

With a frown, I picked up my bag and headed home.

“Just in time, my child. Our guest would soon be here and....”

“I don’t care.” I responded before going into my room and locking it up. Mother tried to speak to me multiple times but I did not respond.

A couple of minutes later, I heard a masculine voice and I knew her guest had arrived. I was determined not to show my face to him until I heard my mother say:

“I am sorry she can’t see you today. She is down with fever. You would definitely see during the wedding.”

I was upset as I realized she was still willing to carry on with the wedding even though it hurt my feelings. She did not seem to care.

I couldn’t just stay in there and pretend like I had not heard what she said! I had to fight for myself. With force, I pulled open my door, diverting his and mother’s attention to me.

“She lied and that is how she always lie! She is married and just lost her husband a couple of years back...” I started and mother furrowed her brows and clenched her fist. If she didn’t care about hurting my feelings, I would not care about hers either.

“What is going on with you, Vynessa?” Mother gritted her teeth. “I asked you to be in your best behavior this night.”

“No, child. She did not lie to me. I know she was once married and no, that is not a way to talk to your mother.”

“Oh, spare me those bullshit. It is not in your place to tell me how to talk to my mother. Have you no shame? How could you even decide to.....”

“Enough, Vynessa!” Mother yelled and banged the table. I could see the anger in her eyes but the defiance in me was not going to let her win. “You will not speak to my guest in such despicable manner. I have been good to you and always respect your decisions. Do not serve as an hindrance to mine!” She yelled at me.

My eye suddenly became watery and I stared at the monster who stared back at me. He was the reason why my mother was yelling at me. she had never done that to me and now, it was happening because of him. I was going to make him pay.

“Bold and feisty!” He chuckled and our eyes met. “I love that.”