CHAPTER FOUR
Maria and Sylvia couldn't believe their eyes. Fred and his parents were back, and were having dinner with Maria's parents. She knew she was done for because since Fred was back, he would insist that they got married as soon as possible and she definitely wasn't comfortable with the idea, because she haven't divorced Henry yet.
Sylvia and Maria walked up to the table, Maria's legs and hands were wobbling. She took her seat beside Fred and forced a smile. He also smiled and patted her cheek.
"How have you been Maria?" Fred's dad asked her.
"I have been well sir, thank you", she replied.
"How are you preparing for the wedding? Hope everything is set because I would like you both to get married as soon as possible", Maria's father asked.
"Ye_ yes father", she replied.
Maria worshipped her parents, and her in-laws. She worshipped even Fred himself, and even though she was pampered and got whatever she wanted she dared not say no to their commands. She knew getting married to Fred was business for her parents and Fred and his parents. She also knew she didn't love him that much, but she liked him enough to date him.
She wasn't sure about marrying Fred, but she didn't have a say in all of it. As long as her parents and Fred's parents were concerned she must get married to him.
After eating Fred held her hand, and walked her to the balcony so they would discuss about their future. Maria didn't really have much in mind to say, because she was already used to Fred making all the decision.
"When are we going to pick my wedding dress Fred? I have been waiting patiently for you to come. My friends have been disturbing that I hurry_"
"Are your friends the ones getting married or you? Will they marry you?" Fred asked her.
"I am sorry", she apologised. "I just got overwhelmed".
"To hell with you, and getting overwhelmed", he cursed.
She kept mute and bowed her head. Fred noticed her change in countenance and raised her head to look into his eyes.
"Are you mad at me already?" He asked, and she shook her head. "One thing about women, you scold them and they get emotional".
"I am sorry", she apologised again.
"It's fine. I will pick you up tomorrow so we could go pick your dress, and other stuffs. I would also go with you to the church tomorrow to get a few stuff", he informed her.
His mom stepped into the corridor, and beckoned on him to come forward. She whispered a few words into his ear and walked away. He walked back to Maria, pecked her both cheeks and began walking away.
That was his way of saying good bye and Maria was already used to it. She placed her hands on her head as she dragged her feet towards her room. She cried herself to sleep, and thank God Sylvia was there to console her.
~
The next day, Fred came to pick her up and they both headed to the church together. Maria noticing they parked in front of the church instead of the mall decided to ask questions.
"Sorry Fred, I_ I_ thought we were supposed to go to the mall first?" Maria asked Fred.
"It is very clear Maria that I am not blind, neither am I in sane. I do not understand why you are putting so much pressure on me about the gown. We are still going to get it Maria, I am not foolish and we came here for a reason", Fred replied.
"I am sorry", she apologised.
"Maria sincerely I am tired of you saying sorry all the time, I am tired!"
Maria was mute. She remembered he was the same person to always complain that she didn't apologise to him, when she was supposed to. She just ignored him, and they from the car and walked into the church. After seeing all the pastors, it was almost evening and Maria was hungry but she didn't want to complain.
They were finally done and left the church straight to the shopping mall. They got in, and in less than five minutes they were already hunting gown for Maria.
She found a lovely dress and picked it up.
"Do you want that?" The sales girl attending to them asked her.
She turned around to seek Fred's approval, but he had shifted for a bit and was talking to someone over the phone. He was smiling warmly, and Maria could easily tell he was talking to his mom.
"Uhm_ I'll have to wait for my husband to be, to come first", she replied immediately she turned back to face the sales girl.
"But ma, you can try it out while he's on the call. After he is done you can just call him to check it out", she urged.
"Thanks, but I'm fine. I will just wait for him", Maria replied.
She walked around the dresses, they were all so beautiful and she wished she could have three gowns at once for her wedding. After about twenty minutes, and Maria was almost starving, Fred returned and began checking out for the gowns. He picked one and asked her to try it. She hurried into the curtain where she changed and returned for Mike to see.
"This isn't nice at all. It's too tight on her", Fred complained.
The sales girl pointed to one of the dresses. Fred stared at it for a while and stared at her with a deadly glare. He ignored her and left walking ahead.
"The design is too poor", he murmured while looking at a dress.
He picked another dress and turned it around.
"Nah, it's too open".
"Don't you guys have anything good and decent here?" He shouted at the sales girl.
She ignored him and continued walking behind them. He picked another dress and handed it over to Maria so she would try it on. She tried the dress on and walked out of the curtain.
"Why is your breast all out like you are advertising baby milk? Is that the dress I picked or you swapped it?" Fred shouted at her.
"It's the same dress, you can take a look", she replied getting closer to him.
"I have now gone blind or what?" He fired at her. "Don't you guys have any decent clothes here?" He shouted at the sales girl.
"I didn't sow the dresses", she replied.
"Take off that rubbish right away let's leave", he commanded Maria.
She hesitated for a while, and he raised his hand to slap her, but took them back immediately he remembered her father would never forgive him for that.
She took off the clothes, and he pulled her forcefully by the arm. Due to the force, her purse fell off and when she bent down to pick it, he thought she was stopping him from taking her away.
"So you want to stay here right?" He asked and pushed her to the floor.
She fell to the floor and injured her arm, while he walked away. She was still struggling to stand up when someone helped her up from behind, and when she raised her head it was Henry.
CHAPTER FIVEHenry had seen all that had transpired between Fred and Maria. So it was Fred she was getting married to? The son of the millionaire? The popular business tycoon? No wonder she was now rich and was pretending not to know him. No wonder she didn't want to come home.So she enjoyed being maltreated by this arrogant fool, than coming back to her family who loved and cherished her so much.He walked up to Maria and helped her up. "Thank you", she muttered.She lowered her face to the ground, and refused to look up. "Let's go", Henry saidnpulling her gently outside the mall."Where to?" She asked in a very low tone, her voice almost didn't come out and her face was still buried on the floor."Take a break away from all of these", he replied. The both of them walked out of the mall together, he held her hands tightly in his as they walked out. He made her sit in his car and drove her to his house.She was hesitant at first to go in, but when he insisted she decided to do so.
CHAPTER SIXHenry rushed into the room and saw Maria lying lifeless on the floor. He carried her up, and helped her lie in bed. He used wet towel to massage her head. He knew it wasn't something to worry about so much. She had fainted in front of the picture, that simply meant that she was trying to remember things, and it was too much load for her head. He called his doctor and his doctor came around to check up on her. Maria woke up later in the evening. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. She didn't remember Aby bew thing. Their was no new memory, she wasn't able to remember anything but was so sure that she was Mary. She decided to keep calm and investigate the whole issue. Henry walked into the room and met Maria seated on the bed. She was lost in thought with her jaw in her palm, and her eyes was glued to the bed cover."Are you okay?" Henry asked and sat beside her. He placed his hand on her forehead and felt her temperature with it. "What are you doing?" Maria
CHAPTER SEVEN"Don't look at us like you don't know what we are talking about Maria, who is the man you married?" Maria's father scolded her."Is there really a need for all this question and answer section? Let her take us to him so we can sign the divorce papers right away. Where is your lawyer? Call him to get his ass to the location right away", Fred's mom suggested."Can I at least change into something nice?" Maria asked, and everyone turned to look at her as if she had asked for someone's head to be giving to her."I am sorry, let's just go", she apologised. Maria stood up and began walking out of the house while dialing her lawyer's number. Everyone else joined her as they walked out together. She kept dragging her feet while she walked, she looked down at herself immediately she got to the car and stared at her reflection on the glass. Her hair was a bit messy, and she decided to tidy it a little."What are you doing Maria?" Her father scolded her as he walked towards her.
CHAPTER EIGHTMaria returned home, and immediately she walked into the mansion. She heard her mom humming a song in her room. She walked straight to her mother's room, knocked twice on the door, and pushed the door open gently. She walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Her mom turned around when she heard the noise behind her. A wide smile formed on her face when she noticed it was her daughter. "Come on in honey," she said to Maria, who was already walking in. Maria walked in and pecked her cheek. Mrs Faith was seated in front of her mirror and trying to style her hair."Let me help you with this," Maria offered, taking the comb from her. "No, it's fine. I really don't have much to do, and I am almost done, "her mom replied.Maria took the comb from her mom and went ahead with the combing of the hair. Her mom smiled and continued staring into the mirror. "You look so beautiful today Maria, what is the secret?" Maria's mom asked her.Marai smiled broadly, and the
CHAPTER NINEHenry lay in the bed with his son, singing him a lullaby, as he tried to put him to sleep. Dylan had a slight fever that made it a bit difficult for him to sleep. Henry heard the doorbell ring, and he stood up from the bed reluctantly. He was feeling sleepy and very tired."Dad, do you want to abandon me as well now?" Dylan asked. Immediately, he saw his father sneak out of the bed and began to tip toe outside.Henry stopped at the spot, turned around, and walked back to the bed. He bent over and kissed his son's forehead as he ruffled with his hair."Of course you know I would never leave you, son. I just want to get the door," Henry replied."Please don't ever leave," Dylan begged. Henry pecked his forehead again and walked out of the room. He walked towards the main door and froze the movement he saw marai standing outside and looking so messed up.He pulled her to himself and hugged her tightly while she just stood at a spot without moving any part of her body. "Wh
CHAPTER TENMaria woke up very early in the morning, she wouldn't be going to her office because she now had a new job. She had a family now to take care of. She climbed down from her bed and walked into the bathroom to wash her face and hands. After washing, she walked out of the room, heading straight to the kitchen. On getting to the kitchen, she met Henry in there, preparing breakfast already. She walked into the kitchen, trying to avoid making any sound. She stopped right behind him and hesitated for a while, then she walked even closer and hugged him from behind. She tilted her head to the side and kissed his cheek. "Good morning love", Henry greeted her."You are awake so early?" She asked him."I have to make breakfast for us before getting Dylan ready for school," he replied."Let me join you. I know I cannot make up for the lost times, but at least I would try to do one or two things, "Maria said.Henry closed the pot and turned around to face Maria. He held her both hands
CHAPTER ELEVEN It was a cool Sunday morning, and Maria was having fun with her family. They had just finished their breakfast of pizza and ice cream that was delivered about two hours ago and were playing games in the sitting room.Dylan was having a good time. He held the ball tightly in his tiny hands and threw it upwards to his mom who caught it, and when Henry tried to get the ball from her she put it inside her dress. He tried to take it out of her dress and the both of them fell to the floor. Dylan rushed to them and jumped on their body."Dylan, you can see it now that your mom is cheating. The both of you against me, yet you can't play fair?" Henry nagged."Was there a rule in the game in the first place?" Dylan asked."Oh, I see", Henry said. He stood up quickly to his feet, hit the ball off Maria's hands and ran off to the back of the chair. They tried to chase after him, and when they caught up with him, he dipped the ball in his trouser. Maria and Dylan tried to get the
CHAPTER TWELVE"How dare he? What gave him the audacity to_" Maria was saying but kept quiet and sat down beside Henry. "What is going through your mind?" Henry asked her."I don't know. But we have to find a way forward, maybe eloop or something, "Maria replied."Where do we go?" Henry asked."I am helplessly in love with you, Henry. I can't let them take you away from me," she said and held his hand with her heart beating really fast."Do you really want to elope with me?" Henry asked."I love you, Henry. I would die if they rule this case against us, and the court hands me over to them, "Maria insisted. Henry hugged Maria tightly and pecked her forehead. Dylan figured out what was going on and fell ill. Maria kept assuring him that she wouldn't leave him no matter what. She tried to avoid anything that would make her think about the court hearing as the day kept drawing closer. Maria and Henry knew the atmosphere wouldn't be good for Henry, so they decided to take him on a vaca