GET ME MARRIED

Welcome to the family

“Is that the way you speak to your mother-in-law?” my father-in-law, Liam Chase growled. A shiver ran down my spine. I deliberately averted my eyes from him and directed my attention to mom Leona, who remained speechless.

“You are the one who got me into this. Don’t you think I deserve some kind of explanation?” I moved closer to her and she let out a sigh.

“My dear…” she cupped my cheek and let out another sigh.

I apologize for the unfortunate circumstances you find yourself in. Being a mother, I would absolutely detest putting my child through this. The moment Jordan left, I had a feeling something was off, and her words only intensified my suspicions.

“What is it?” I took hold of her hand. She shook her head and led me back to the bed. She made me sit, then sat beside me while taking my hand and covering it in hers.

“You were put in a difficult position when Jordan left the altar. And I know how confused you were when you heard me speak with the reporters.”

“I couldn’t just let them speculate about what happened. Neither could I afford to have our name tainted because your husband chose that time to attend to something important.” I frowned.

“What could be more important? He walked out without an explanation, a smile, or a kiss. He said nothing, even if it was so important, he could have said something to me.”

“He was supposed to.” She entered.

“I was the one who asked him not to say anything. It was a deal that he was supposed to close after the wedding. But they suddenly wanted to have everything done quickly. He told me that morning that he might leave, but his executives could handle things until then. Knowing that he would just go and return, I asked him not to say a thing. You might not have understood. But I think something went wrong, and he found out sooner. He has been a businessman all his life. He didn’t think about anything else before storming out the way he did.” She explained. My heart fell, and it still didn’t fit, right? Was there an AirPod in his ear that I didn’t quite see?

“Why is he not back then? Why am I locked up in here? With no access to the internet or my parents.”

“You are a Chase now.” My father-in-law came in before she could answer.

“Protecting our name, image and identity should be your number one priority.”

“What would people think if they see you roaming around when you are supposed to be on your honeymoon? What happened is between us and should remain till Jordan returns.” I smiled sadly. So, that was it. To protect their name and image, I had been locked up in there, away from internet, friends, or family because I could not say anything to anyone. To protect them, rather still, their image.

“Where is Jordan now? Wasn’t he supposed to come back earlier?” I turned back to mom Leona. She gave me another heavy sigh, and I frowned.

“I wonder what is happening, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Since he left, we haven’t been able to reach him or track him.”

“We have no communication with him as of this moment.” My heart skipped, and I got up from where I sat.

“What are you talking about?”

“He is…he might be in danger or in trouble.”

“We have to report him, a missing person and….”

“We are not doing any of that.” Liam snapped, and I turned to him.

“Are you not in the least worried about him?” I snapped back, hating myself for feeling despicable because I did not have my husband by my side when he could be in danger, needing all the help that he could get. His gaze hardened at me and he took steps towards me in a threatening manner.

“He is my son,” he snarled. I remembered the last time I had been in front of him like that. How scared and intimidated I had been. Now that I stared at him, that I could feel the aura, the coldness that radiated from him, I did not dare look away like before. I might be a nobody, but I came from somewhere, with love, family, and friends, and I wanted him to treat me like that, not an animal, or someone he picked up from the street. I stared right back at him, challenging him. A very dumb thing to do when I was clearly helpless.

“You won’t tell me how to treat my son.”

“Liam…” Mom Leona came in between us.

“She is your daughter-in-law, and this is not the time.”

“A trophy wife doesn’t qualify as a daughter, Leona,” he scoffed. My heart caved in and mom Leona stiffened.

“She is still a child and clearly missing her husband. Don’t make it worse.” She hissed after a second of silence. He turned his gaze back to me. I could feel it against my skin, but I kept my gaze away. However, it was just like the last time.

******

It was a beautiful morning. I had slept late because I was up all night speaking with Jordan and arguing about something. He did not let go, and I did not either. We talked and argued until we actually forgot which side we were on. I woke up feeling butterflies all over my stomach. And to top it off, my phone rang at that exact moment. I picked it up and felt my cheeks grow hotter at the name on the screen.

“Did you actually sleep?”

“A good morning to you too,” his words came, calm, sweet, velvety and, like the morning air, refreshing. I could feel it wash all over my skin, taking away my fatigue.

“Good morning.”

“You just woke up?”

“Yes,” I pouted and turned to the bathroom.

“You?”

“Had to head to the office soon, so I woke up a bit earlier.” He answered, and I smiled.

“Hope you are having breakfast before any of this work stuff.”

“Way too early and I don’t….”

“Jordan…,.” I interrupted, and he sighed.

“When did you become so persistent?”

“Stop being stubborn about everything.” I chuckled.

My days were brighter like that. A call from Jordan was all it took, and I would be losing my mind. Just like the other days, it was the same thing this time around. I was humming while bathing and smiling foolishly at myself half of the time until my sister came upstairs.

“You slept in again…” she pushed the door open without knocking first and I glared at her from the mirror.

“Sorry…” she jumped on the bed, knowing exactly what she did wrong.

“I am the one getting married. Permit me to sleep as much as I want.” I answered her initial question.

“Is it not because you spend your entire time talking to Jordan?” she grinned. Just the mention of his name had my cheek heating up again.

“What are you doing here?” I got up from where I sat and she chuckled.

“Can’t I see my sister, who is about to be married off?” I sighed and fell on the bed beside her. I pulled her into a hug, and she hugged me back.

“I will miss you, you know.”

“I will miss you too,”

“But we have to go down before your soon to be father-in-law kills someone with his cold eyes.” She turned to the door. My heart skipped and my eyes widened.

“Ava….” I yelled and followed behind her.

Truly, he was downstairs, with my parents, his wife, and my friends. His very presence seemed to have stopped the air, and no one moved or spoke while he stood like a mighty giant in the sitting room. To think this house was bigger than the one we were living in.

“Oh, dear….” Mom Leona was the first to see me, and she pulled me into a hug.

“I am sorry, it took me a while longer to come here, I didn’t….”

“We value punctuality in our family.” His strong voice interrupted me. I turned to him, but his eyes were cold. I averted my gaze immediately and lowered my eyes.

“I am sorry,” I spoke, feeling reprimanded and nervous. It was the first time I was seeing the man since the marriage thing took hold. And knowing how much of a scary and mighty figure he was in the society, it became hotter around me.

“I believe you know the family you are getting married to. It’s one with a prestigious name and great legacy of great men and women. No taints to our name, no scandal, and no blemish. Are you ready to be a Chase?” his question came. I thought hard. I swore I did. But no matter how hard I thought or how prepared I thought I was, his presence made it harder. I was not prepared, I was not ready and the fear of all that could go wrong had me thinking about fleeing.

“No.” I responded honestly. The room turned tensed and the air hot. Silence followed, a weird and uncomfortable silence that had my heart racing inside my chest.

“Being a Chase is not being a Connor. Neither is this marriage like the relationship with nameless and useless boys you meet on the streets,” he snapped. And I instantly stole a glance at him. He was angry, and I was getting angry. Yet, I lowered my gaze again.

“I know that.” I answered.

“Then are you ready to be a Chase, to uphold my name, the reputation of our family and your husband?”

“I think I am,” I responded. The air dropped.

“What do you mean by you think you are? Is this a joke to you? To your family? Are you happy to just take our money and disappear or what? Need I remind you that if not for us, your sister would be dead, lying in a grave somewhere, or her ashes spread around already?” He snarled, and I snapped my gaze to him again. He glared at me, but behind him, my father stood. Face tight in anger and hands balled into a fist. My sister hid behind my mother, who lowered her head in shame.

“With all due respect, sir, we never asked for your help.” My anger rolled out of me in waves. He was insulting my family like we were mere slaves to him and I could not take that..

“Your wife, your family, had offered to help. And let’s not lie or pretend like you did us a big favor. You did what you wanted because you needed helpless us to be indebted to you. And we are. That’s the reason for this marriage.”

“Up until a few weeks ago, I was just a graduate who needed to pay her loan, get my sister treated and work hard till I get my family and myself out of the ditch of poverty. If I am suddenly getting married into a wealthy and prestigious family, sorry I am not prepared because it was never on my to do list. So no, I am not ready. I will do my best, but I am not ready.” He glared at me and the silence that I thought overwhelmed us grew thicker and heavier, stopping the flow of air. He glared at me for a very long time.

“You will do well to keep your attitude in check. Or find a new kidney in exchange for the one in your sister.” He threatened.

******

“Genesis, dear…” Mom Leona’s voice brought me back to the present. I turned to her and saw that look in her eyes. The same time that looked similar to my mom’s eyes when she was looking at me.

“Nothing happened to Jordan. That we are sure of.”

“But how can you be so sure?”

“He is our son. This is a business trip, and something must have happened along the line. That’s why we can’t reach him. He has a wife at home. He would be back soon.”

“But you are right. We cannot keep you in here like our prisoner. And since it’s supposed to be your honeymoon, why don’t you take a vacation? Any country of your choice, Paris, London, Italy, just till he returns.”

“But...”

“He is fine. Stop worrying about him.” She smiled, and I breathed out in relief. She was his mother. If she was not worried, then all was well.

“France,” I made my choice with a little bubbly feeling rising in the pit of my stomach. It was my first time being out there. It was my first time for everything and it was exciting.

“Whatever you do, maintain the story line. You are happily married, in love, and you miss your ever-busy husband, who will definitely make up for his disappearance. No one should know more than this, not even your family.” Liam’s voice came in and my smile disappeared.

“He is right, Genesis.” Mom Leona took my hand and a cold metal touched my skin. I looked down at it to find it was my phone.

“This is what it’s like to be a Chase.”

“Welcome to the family,” Liam added mockingly before walking out.