Chapter 3

Leo leaned on the rail of his balcony with a cup of coffee in his hands, sipped, from the coffee enjoying the flavour combined with the morning breeze that touched his skin.

loeo pounderd on what his father had told him last night, though it's true, he needs a wife but isn't it in his place to pick for himself? He can't just go on getting married to someone he doesn't know, someone he hasn't meet, marriage is supposed to be a life time commitment, how will he commit himself in a marriage just like that.

Yet, he can never say no to his father's wish, he can never live with the fact that he said no to his father.

he also made a promise to his mother on her dying bed that he will always do his possible best to make his father and sisters happy, even if it means him forsaking his happiness.

The issue about him getting married really put him in a dilemma.

"Leo" he heard his father's voice call his name from the other side of the closed door.

"Come in father"Leo said taking a sip from his coffee.

Mr Radriel walked into Leo's room , using his eyes to scan the bedroom for leo.

"I'm at the balcony" Leo's voice came from the balcony .

Mr Radriel walked to were leo stood at the balcony.

"Good morning father," Leo greeted his father.

"Morning son" Mr Radriel answered taking a sit on the empty chair in the balcony.

"Father. Will me getting married to the lady you have in mind make you happy" Leo asked killingng the silence.

"Yes son it will definitely make me happy to see that your settled in life with someone that I can really trust" Mr Radriel admitted.

"I'd that is the case, then can I asked few questions about this so called lady"Leo asked moving towards the empty chair facing Mr Radriel.

"Yes you can son"

"Where did you meet this girl?" Leo asked as he dropped the cup on the table.

"I met her few days ago, when she gave an opening speech for her father's new company, they are rich but not as rich as we are"Mr Radriel said

"How can plan on getting me married to someone you met just few days" Leo asked with a little bit of pain down his throat.

"I met her few days ago but I had something in me telling me she's the right one"Mr Radriel said smiling.

"You know very much father that most girls out there are not looking for someone they would love, they are looking for someone they can call a trophy husband, someone that will give them asses to billions of dollars Leo said getting pissed .

" Look son, you know I can't make a decision without thinking about the consequences, so I want to let you know that I have done a background check on her and she is the best you can get.

and if you not secured, we can make a deal"Mr Radriel said trying to please his son.

"What deal is that father?"Leo asked with a pinch of interest.

"If you get married to her and find out she is not the best, you can just divorce her but that will only happen under one year"Mr Radriel said leavings Leo speechless.

"Father.…..." leo called looking so helpless.

"Son please... Do think about it"Mr Radriel said standing up from the sit.

"Wait father, can I meet up with her”Leo asked stoping Mr Radriel half way through the balcony exit.

"Yes son you can, I'll make a meeting for you guys to have lunch.

"Okay father"Leo said with a sad look on his face.

Maureen sat on that same position from last night, with the book glued to her eyes.

She didn't close her eyes last night to sleep.

She has never gotten the chance to sleep peacefully without having a nightmare she is tormented daily by nightmare she refers to as demons

She'll rather read all night that close her eyes to an endless torment.

It's been more that fifteen years and she's made it through those fifteen years. So she was definitely going to make it through.

The only time she gets to rest her eyes is when she's rendered unconscious.

Thee demons she see's in her dream are her fears. Fears that she know she can never over come, she can only get used to them,the same way she got use to her cruel fate.

She stood up from the ground, walked to her shelf and placed the book back on the shelf.

Walking into the bathroom, she started undressing, she quickly got into the bath tub and took a quick bath. After her bath she walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her chest.

She walked into walk-in closet, opened it brought out a white round neck blouse and a white trouser and her white undies.

she placed the clothes on her bed,taking of the towel from her body .

looking at her body in the mirror with tears threatening to fall from her face.

Who would ever know that behind this beautiful shaped body,lies scars.Scars she had obtained from being beaten up.

She touched her back and tummy her arm has just little marks, but her other part of her body had, worst mark. Marks that would make people laughing at her.

She quickly rubbed her lotion on her skin, then wore her clothes.

She walked to the bathroom, spreading the towel on the towel rank.

She dragged her feet tothe room and sat on the bed ready to get into another book.

"knock knock"she heard a disturbing knock on her door.

"Come in!" She sighed out. Still paying more interest on the book.

The maid came in with a tray in her hand, closing the door behind her.

"Miss your food" she said dropping the food on the table.

"Miss Mr Daniels ask to see you"the maid said bowing.

At the mention of the name, Maureen, body got stiffened, her head got clouded with sadness, her morning almost got ruined but she didn't let it happen, she brazed up immediately dropping the book on the bed.

She immediately stood up from the bed not wanting to get punished for making the devil wait.

She rushed down the stairs,leading to the garden where Mr Daniels normally sits before having breakfast.

She gather all the courage she could get, pushed the glass door open and walked in.

"Good morning Mr Daniels" she greeted bowing her head.

"You will be having lunch out with Mr Leornado, your husband to be" he said flipping the page of the newspaper.

Maureen, saddened heart turned to a shattered heart ,she didn't want to let the issue of her getting married ruin her morning,but fate like always has been cruel to her again.

"Did you get what I said?"Mr Daniels growled

"Yes! yes I got you" she replied.

"So now get ready and make sure you don't do anything to ruin this or else you would get the worst punishment of your life"

On hearing the word punishment, her body got clouded by fear, she hates anything that brings pain to her even if she had always been punished ever since her mother died she still hates being punished

Finally her morning has been ruined,by the cruel act of fate.