Minela felt her knees weaken as she dropped the letter an sat down like a withered plant. Her vision became blurry until she could no longer see her surrounding. She closed her eyes as hot angry tears rolled down her cheeks. This marriage is just a show for him? He doesn't care whoever she has in her life and told her to do same? Does that mean he loves somebody else?
Multitudinous thoughts crossed her mind as she tried to imagine how her life would be like if she married him. She would have to stop the wedding! She didn't want to accept his conditions! She couldn't!
"Minela, what are you doing?" Her mother, Jeeneah asked anxiously. Minela tried to hide her tears as her mother entered her room cautiously. However her mother, on seeing her dewy eyes recognised that something was wrong.
"Are you crying, baby? What's the matter?" Minela faked a smile and, even though her mother noticed her feigned smile, she pretended otherwise. Minela knew how much her step mother Jeeneah was keeping her hopes high for the wedding and didn't want to disappoint her. What would she tell her? To call off the wedding and humiliate her in front of everyone? The whole world was waiting eagerly for this wedding and lots of planning had been made. Lots of money had been spent and cancelling the wedding would cause a great downturn for their company since the whole idea behind their marriage was solely for their business afterall. What kind of daughter would this make her? Would this disappoint her family? She needed time to weigh the pros and cons of marrying him.
"I'm just sad to leave you mom." Her mother smiled sadly.
"I will miss you too, Minela. It just won't be same without you."
"Will I even be able to adapt?"
"Let's forget about small talks. Tell me what you think about your future husband. Clomestiana told me you guys have started sharing love letters? " Her mom raised her eyebrows and smiled, showing her shiny white teeth.
Had Minela not known what was written in the letter, she would have blushed shyly. Her expression hardened and all the colours drained from her face.
"It's nothing mom." She said, trying her best not to let her sadness show.
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Minela was watering her plants as she contemplated what to do. Her balcony was filled with various species of ferns and flowers. Her plants were her life, she did not have many friends and thus this what she often did when she had to think or when she was bored. She watered all her plants herself and didn't like anyone touching them. Nobody in the house had the right to touch them hence, allowing strangers to touch them was out of question. This is why they had no gardener. She took care of her plants herself.
When they were having dinner, Minela's father and mother quickly noticed her change in behaviour. It was not like she was always cheery and bubbly, no Minela was a poised, calm girl of 24 years. All her life had been dedicated to studying and then work. She was the complete opposite of her sister. Minela was a down to earth girl who like perfection in life. However, today, her mind seemed to be somewhere else. Clomestiana, her sister, noticed it too. In attempt to cheer her up, Clo deliberately poured some sauce on Minela's dress.
Minela barely noticed and when she did, there was no reaction from her. She looked like in a daze, she just mechanically took a napkin and wiped the sauce and continued eating her vegetables with her knife and fork.
"Baby" Minela's dad said in a soft tone, "what's wrong ? You don't quite seem like yourself today. I heard Ariven sent you a letter. I hope your change of mood doesn't have anything to do with that, does it?"
"No dad, I'm okay. I'm just.... I....I'm good, dad." She said quietly, averting her eyes. She knew her dad would not be able to see right through her even though she lied but she hated lying to him.
"Are you sure you're happy with the wedding, sis coz you seem a bit off since your wedding was announced in public. I personally don't think it's wise to just marry a stranger like that. You don't even know how he is!" Clomestiana exclaimed, making gestures with her hand and raising her eyebrows just to stress her point.
"Is it true dear? We clearly asked you before planning everything and you accepted eagerly. If you had any problem with him, you should've informed us right from the start. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts after having had such a grandiose engagement last week!" Mr. Gillion said.
This made Minela realise that it may be too late now! If she broke her engagement now, many things will be at stake. Their company, their reputation and perhaps even their home! As soon as their engagement had been announced, many investors came their way, many deals were made and those investments were not made in Gillion Company Ltd, no they were made in Watsons & Gillions Co. Ltd. They had made a deal that if their alliance were broken, the money invested had to be returned in double amount.
Mr. Gillion then continued: "Minela, baby, you know what would be at stake if you break your engagement right? We're not forcing you to do anything. Should you decide to end it, we will support you but you have to know that this may cost us a lot. Ariven seems like a swell boy, maybe you should give him a chance. In fact, try getting to know him better and if you still don't like him, we will not force you to do anything. Alright? "
"Don't worry dad, I will try to get to know him better. I am not planning to end our engagement. "
Clomestiana puffed and kept her mouth closed.
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Minela was still sleeping when her sister burst into her room and threw her body on her bed, making it bounce a little.
"Minela, wake up!" She shouted, putting her mouth close to Minela's ear. Minela groaned, not liking the high pitched voice of her sister early in the morning. She turned around and continued to sleep.
Clomestiana shook her vigorously, saying her name again and again. Out of annoyance, Minela pushed her sister out of her bed. Her slim body fell on the floor with a loud thud.
"Ouch! How dare you push me?"
Minela was half awake now, she forced her self to sit, as she looked at her sister who was on the floor.
"That's what you get for waking me up like a bitc-.....I mean like a rude person! And how dare you just enter my room like this? There's a thing called privacy. What if I was doing something personal?"
Clomestiana started laughing hysterically from the floor.
"Yeah? Personal like what? Gosh sis, I know you enough to know that you're not masturbating at this hour in the morning. "
Minela turned red.
"Clo!"
"Okay, seriously, tell me sis...have you ever masturbated? "
"What kind of question-"
"What? You've never played with your pussy?"
"Clo, we're not speaking about this right now!" She quickly woke from bed, her sleep completely gone now.
"Omg, don't tell me you're virgin!" She giggled like a schoolgirl as she stood up, her knees were red from kneeling down.
"Well I'm taking a bath-"
"Fine, don't tell me anything! My innocent sister. I can't believe you never had sex with Zayan! He always seemed like a prude to me. Now I know..."
"I never said we didn't have sex! Why are we even discussing about him?" Her expression changed as she thought about him. Zayan was Minela's ex. They had known each other for a while now but she had always kept her relationship with him secret since he was not the type of guy that her family would consider as suitable for her.
Clomestiana noticed her change of mood.
"You loved him, didn't you? Just one word from dad and you forget all about him?"
"Clo, I don't want to speak about him right now, please!" Minela said and it came out harsher than she expected. Clo seemed hurt and quickly left the room without saying anything. This was strange to Clo since Minela was always nice to her. She was not the type to lose her cool rapidly. Not in the house at least.
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Minela greeted her mom with a forced smile as she came down the stairs.
Before she could say anything, her mother said, "Today you're going to meet the Watsons! Be ready, Ariven will come to pick you at nine. You have 45 minutes! You better hurry."
"What do you mean the Watsons? Is it just his parents or his whole family?"
"Of course his whole family, I think you should wear something chic, a dress preferably, they told me that the press won't be present but these paparazzi have become way too cunning nowadays and please get rid of that ridiculous hairstyle, I'd prefer you tie it into a neat chignon, the hairstylist will come soon and go-"
"Wait what? I'm not meeting them for the first time why are you so stressed? Why did you call a hairstylist? " Minela found her mother's suggestion strange since Minela used to comb her hair herself. She was just going to meet the Watsons. Why was she making such a deal out of it?
"Well, I heard that Ariven's grandmother can be a little hard to please so I am just taking some precautions. We cannot afford any types of hurdles in the way of your wedding, can we?"
"Well why should I even care-"
"Minela Gillion, go get ready at once, you are being late......and....go wear the dress I removed for you."
Minela looked at Jeeneah weirdly, before she decided to brush it off. She decided to just go with the flow but that did not mean she was not planning to confront Ariven and his family about the letter she received. She needed answers!
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