I wished the buzzing and merriment would continue forever, so that I could find reason not to return to my mad husband. For over an hour now I had stilled my sight upon a large mahogany door which I perceived was the entrance to our chamber. I sniffed and got swallowed into the heavy expression on my face.
Shortly after we were legally joined together, Fanny approached me with the one million dollar credit card. I sobbed and dared to perk up as he spoke to me.
"This is your gift for agreeing to marry my mad son," he said and touched his face as though he was yet to forget the saliva Brian plastered on his face. "Once again, congratulations, Melissa Brant and welcome to the Fanny's," his voice brooded excitement even when his face said otherwise.
I forced a smile yet I could barely keep the smile longer than normal. He handed me the credit card, grinned and joined the guests.
"Congratulations, Melissa," that was Opula's voice right behind me.
When I swirled around behold there she was with two flutes of wine and holding her husband hand in hand.
"Hi young wife, I am Ken, the fortunate husband to the eldest of the Fanny's," the lanky, short haired man said to me with his hands stretched.
I was pained. My jaw set and I glowered repeatedly. Why would everyone be congratulating me as though I won a jack pot? I expected such remark was going to be in the maxim; it's a pity, Melissa. Yes it was.
They congratulated me but none of them would go under the roof with me; and share day and night with the mad man; none of them would fight off his bite and scratch for me; what about the wee hours of the night I would stay up just to ensure he doesn't pounce on me like a cat and hurt me; I saw no reason for the congratulatory message.
I was in for the hottest sphere of this message. None of them knew I was in for. And the moment I just signed to that contract marriage agreement, I just signed my death warrant, and there was no going back. Absolutely none of them knew what I just opted for.
I gave him the cold shoulders and stylishly played with my fingers.
"Congratulations, Melissa," another voice sounded. It was the voice of Kate, Tonight she was with another man other than her husband.
And I wondered why she would have the nerves to be frolicking with another man until a thought hit me. Her father's wealth was responsible for their husbands. It was no longer news in Rio Hondo that the three girls got married to husbands that were financially dependent on Fanny. They were live-in-husbands.
"Poor vegetable seller," I heard a voice just moment I was yet to respond to Kate and her boyfriend
That was Eva, the last daughter. She was with her husband, Tony who was alcoholic. I never knew his hands were approaching my butt until I felt him squeeze me from my backside.
I flinched and turned around in anger only to see that he was actually being aided by Eva, who wasn't smiling.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked and advanced to slap him.
"If you dare raise your filthy hands on my husband, your fucking marriage will end tonight," she threatened me and I paused at a spot. Eva was abusive and blew hot at me from the onset of this marriage.
They mumbled and murmured under their breath until they trudged away.
"You just have to be careful of them," another unfamiliar voice mumbled by my right side. I turned and caught her pale, baby face.
She was Ella and an honorable chef to the Fanny's.
She looked easy-young and friendly and if my guess was right, we might be besties in this villa; although I was yet to trust anybody and get acquainted.
"They have never been happy ever since you agreed to marry her mad brother," she added and gave me a plate of beef and sauce.
I shook my head in disapproval. "Thank you… I didn't know her name so she added in a matter of introduction.
"Ella is the name. I will be feeding the entire Fanny's till the end of time." She chuckled and left me struggling to smile.
I looked around and I noticed the guests were gradually reducing and the party was coming to an end. "Everyone is expecting to see you return to the arms of your husband tonight." She stared closely at me once she noticed my countenance fall at the mention of that.
I had been pondering over that actually. Tonight was my wedding night, and like every woman I was supposed to happily run into the arms of my lovely husband to start consummating the union. But what would become of me now?
My husband was not only mad but the most violent mad man I have ever seen in Rio Hondo. How would I stand his presence let alone stay quietly in his arms? How would I look him in the face and call him my love.
I was scared of his bite, his scream, his saliva which he could easily pour at me. This man was crazy, damn crazy!
Emphatically, she pointed at a large door on the other end, "That is your chamber. Your husband must be in there, waiting to see his beautiful wife, I guess," she said and caught sight of the credit card in my arms, "What do you intent to do with the card?" she asked as though she really wanted me to speak up; or she was really trying to get familiar.
"First thing tomorrow morning I will rush to the hospital to pay my mother's hospital bills, which was my reason for marrying the billionaire's mad son," I said and she raised a brow.
"Please while you remain in this villa never you call him mad in the presence of Opula. She could lynch you. She doesn't like it when they call him mad, although it may change," Ella warned me and wanted to speak yet further when a noise, a vibrating noise interrupted her.
That was my mad husband, Brian. He was shaking and pulling on the door.
"Ta! Ta! Ta! Haha! Haha! I win! I will kill you! I win! Haha! Brian screamed at the tops of his voice and tried to pull down the door.
I swallowed hard and shook in fear. My heart was failing me; my palms had started sweating profusely as I felt my feet parting me…