When a maiden gets married, she goes through the initiation ceremony where she would be taught by her female elders how to treat a husband, children and the household.
At the same time, she would receive the second round of piercing. That means that she, as a married woman, could now wear two sets of earrings. That was a sign of letting everyone know that you are married.
The waist beads were added to add charm to the woman and at the same time, it was a blessing to let the woman conceive a lot of children in the future. That was why the waist beads were usually concentrated by the spiritualist who always has the people's hearts all the time.
She got hers from the spiritualist. Mammy Adonai had prepared them for a long time, and she remembered seeing them getting made when she was just thirteen years old. After twelve years, they were finally around her waist.
And lastly, a married woman must wear an anklet given to her as part of the dowry by the husband. That was the remaining piece of jewelry remaining to be added to her according to custom. As for rings, that was optional. Who would waste money on rings when they would be going to the fields all day?
Won't the expensive rings get lost in the process?
Even the anklets were worn on special occasions. However, for the earrings and waist beads, that wasn't something that could be taken off easily.
That was how she was caught by her parents as soon as she walked into the ward.
The earrings sold her and they knew that she had lost her chastity, though that wasn't the case.
And they were pissed off because they didn't eat a single thing.
Did they think that she got so much money from nowhere?
It wasn't like she was lying to them, though. She indeed sold herself for half a million monthly and would be belonging to that man for three years to come.
And she was so happy just thinking about it.
She just hoped that her brother would come out of that place alive. Otherwise, wouldn't her love for Logan feel like a burden if things turned otherwise?
She didn't know how long she had sat there waiting for the surgery to end.
She just knew that she kept on watching as doctors and patients kept on coming through the doors, that she lost count.
After goodness how long, she spotted a familiar doctor, one who had taken her brother away earlier, coming out.
Upon seeing him and the stretcher following behind, Briar hurriedly stood on her feet before rushing to him.
"Doctor, how did it go?" she asked anxiously as she looked at the other.
Although her brother was just there, she wasn't a doctor and didn't dare disturb him at such a crucial moment.
The doctor, touched by this sibling's dedication to her brother, didn't bother with the irresponsible parents who reacted a bit later than the sister.
"Your brother is out of danger for now. He will need to be monitored and ….."
The rest was just noise after hearing that he was out of danger. The operation was successful. That's all that matters.
Briar was overjoyed knowing that. At least she didn't spend so much money for nothing.
On the way, Briar continued to ask the doctor questions and got to hear what should be taken into consideration.
After listening to the doctor, Briar knew that such care couldn't be left to her parents at all. Now that he was fine, they would surely ditch him to take care of their beloved son.
So, she asked the doctor if she could find a caregiver since she couldn't take care of Benjamin forever. She still needed to return to Stardale. To the kids and Logan.
With the doctor's help, Briar was directed to the right place where she could find the caregivers she needed.
Without checking on her brother, she went to find a caregiver and after going through several profiles; she managed to find a face she liked.
Rather than a man, she picked a woman. Women were caring at times. And when money was involved, they could treat anyone like a king. At least until her brother was fully healed, he would be in great care in the caregiver's hands.
She contracted the caregiver and took her to the private ward, which she had paid for when she arrived that morning from the village.
She wanted her brother to recuperate in peace, and in a shared ward, that wouldn't be possible.
"Why are you wasting money?" her mother grumbled as soon as she saw the young caregiver that she had brought with her.
Briar scoffed at the other and turned to the caregiver who was just twenty-four years old and single on top of that, though she had a child.
Anna looked kind and since she was able to take care and raise her child singlehandedly, then she might be a good person. Maybe her brother might score and gain a wife in the process.
"Anna, this is my brother. You listen to me or him when he wakes up. As for these two, don't bother with them. Since they aren't paying anything here, then they have no say!" Briar mercilessly cut off the connection between the four of them, making Mother Grace heave with anger as she pointed her fingers at her once again.
Briar ignored her mother and continued to instruct Anna.
Anna's eyes were on Briar and Benjamin. As for the parents, she didn't bother with them at all. She had seen this couple and heard so much from her coworkers, they weren't good people. And she hated bad people the most.
Without the couple knowing, Anna already drew a line with them. There was going to be a lot of drama in the future.
***
With Benjamin's surgery becoming successful and him waking up fortunately the next day, Briar's worries were finally lessened.
Anna and Benjamin got acquainted, and they were working together just fine.
As for her parents, when they realized that she wasn't going to give them a single dime, they hurled curses at her before they left. She had never seen them since then and she was happy without them there to bother Benjamin.
With all issues sorted out, Briar transferred some money to Benjamin's account and sternly made the other swear that if there was anything wrong, he should call and talk to her.
Before leaving, Briar gave Anna her contact details.
She didn't believe her brother at all. He would always dodge her in the future, so having another person to lean on when that happens was a must.
When all that was dealt with, Briar drove to City Y, where she was going to take the next day's morning flight to Stardale City.
That night, she called the kids for the first time since she left for Ascot City.
The kids were happy to see her and they chatted for a short time since it was a Monday and they needed to go to bed. They haven't closed school yet, so they weren't encouraged to stay up late.
After talking with the kids, she felt rejuvenated, but then something clicked in her mind.
Would this remain when they announce the news to them when she returns?
Would they be as happy as her, or would she be facing another unsolvable problem?
Dealing with her vampiric family was very easy, but dealing with Logan's family, now that was another hell mode. She had been scared of thinking about it for a decade.
Logan's family really loved her so much. She knew that very well. It wasn't just on the surface, but a very genuine thing. They saw her as another family member and jokingly called her second mother from the time when Selena was still alive.
It was because of that nickname that every single day she got greedier and wondered what it would be like if she really got that title in the real sense.
And now she finally got it. But how were they going to react?
Would they accept her wholeheartedly or she would be forced to start flattering people again?
Would all her hard work crumble now that she was his wife?
And the kids, would they accept her as their second mother?
She didn't mind being called second mother, even stepmother, or even nanny, as they had been calling her at times. As long as they continued being with her. She didn't mind that at all.
If they were to hate her because of the marriage, she didn't know how she would take it.
She just didn't want Logan, after all. She wanted his kids and his family. She wanted the whole package. She couldn't do with him alone; she was too greedy.
Cade and Tiana might take things a bit better, but what about Lyra?
How was she going to deal with this eldest daughter who was more of a best friend than a daughter?
"It's going be messy!"