Situationship

sonia!

EPISODE 15
The exquisite hall was filled to the brim with people. Andy and Jessica had arrived late because they had been so preoccupied with their newly found love. Their father had sent a driver to pick them up. They both stared at the building with anticipation. They had both decided that the party was perfect because it would be a means of starting all over again.
And Andy smiled at Jessica. "Jess, you look absolutely stunning, sweetheart."
Jessica looked at her fingers, feeling shy and nervous. She was putting on a short black gown, which clung to her skin. It contrasted with her skin perfectly, making her eyes twinkle.
"I got you something." He pulled out a box and opened it. Jessica gasped as she saw the sparkling jewelry in the box.
"Andy," she gasped. She hadn’t worn jewelry for a very long time.
"I saw this when I was returning from Lizzy’s place, and I could only imagine you wearing it." He ran his fingers over it. "May I?"
She nodded, not trusting her voice, and turned. Andy raised the necklace and put it carefully around her neck, moving her hair in order to secure the hook. He put the bracelet around her wrist and put the ear-rings in her ear. She looked breathtaking.
"Thank you," she murmured. That he had actually bought it with her in mind almost made her weep. Who doesn’t love a romantic man? She sighed as happiness filled her heart. He opened the door and stepped out. He stretched his hand to her and she put her hand in his. "I hope you enjoy your evening, my lady." He leaned down and kissed her.
*****
The party was going on smoothly. The crowd was as full as the one they had on their wedding day, with numerous family members and friends. There was actually no one that Jessica knew that wasn't there, including her uncle and his family, her friends and others. Andy and Jessica had met about half of the invited guests and were busy chatting with some friends when their attention was drawn to the podium. Andy’s father stood there with the microphone in his hand.
"Hello everyone, I am so happy that you were able to make it today. I was not around for my own son’s wedding, but now I do not feel so bad. "I have a surprise for you!" Everyone applauded him, but the smile on Jessica and Andy’s faces vanished when Sonia surfaced.
"Come up here, my dear."
"Oh my God," Lizzy gasped as she stared at Sonia.
"This girl here has something to tell everyone about the couple," Mr. Williams announced. He handed over the microphone to Sonia, who took it with a smile. Jessica felt like she could not breathe. The air seemed to have oozed out of the hall, leaving her feeling faint and breathless. Andy was just glued to the ground, staring in horror.
"Hello everyone."
"What are you doing, Sonia?" Lizzy yelled.
Sonia ignored him. "Hello everyone, I am sorry to inform you that Jessica is a fraud." Gasps of surprise followed the announcement. "She pressured Andy into marrying her so that she could make away with most of his money. She planned to penetrate the company in order to escape with 20 million naira. Everyone had horrified looks on their faces as they turned to stare at Jessica. "I heard Jessica telling Lizzy this." She planned to divorce Andy once she got the money. Her eyes searched out Jessie’s in the crowd until she found her. She looked straight at Jessica. "Am I lying, Jessie?"
*****
Jessica concentrated on taking in air and releasing it, but even at that, her breathing was terribly fast and her chest was heaving. No!This is not happening! She tried to shake herself to see if she would awaken from this horrible nightmare, but she could not even muster enough energy to move a muscle. Her horrible life of constant nightmares and disasters seems to be adding another event to the pent-up list.
"Can you tell me, Jessica, if this information is true or false?"Sonia screamed.
Andy, who had been glued to the spot, too stupefied to do anything, suddenly charged to the front, marching to the podium. All he could see was Sonia, and he would not stop till he got to her. A viselike grip dragged him back and he struggled, succeeding, due to his great strength. He did not even have the time to check the face of the person that stopped him as he charged forward. His dad blocked his way, and Andy almost collided with him. The place was like a backstage entrance to the podium, so people could not really see them.
"Dad, please leave the way" He growled.
"What do you want to do?"
"What sort of rubbish is this, dad? What kind of stunt is this? Why are you doing this? " Andy’s hands were fisted and ready to charge. The only problem is that he could not punch his own father.
"I am saving your sorry ass." Don’t think I don’t know what really went on, but I am obliged to think that this Jessica of a girl bewitched you. "I would not let the name of this family fall into the stinking mud because of your senselessness," Mr. Williams said calmly.
"How did you even find out?" I bet that stinking thing out there spilled everything. " Andy wished he could be left alone with Sonia so he could teach her a lesson she would live to remember. His dad smiled. "I knew something was fishing when I heard you got married. When I got to your house, I planted a camera in the sitting room when everyone was asleep. I did not expect to find anything suspicious though, because you and your so-called wife seemed so intimate. "
Andy stared, not believing his own ears. His father had invaded his own privacy. What on earth had given him the right?
I felt guilty about the camera and went back to the house to get the camera. I played what I saw on it just in case and saw some love scenes. Just as I was about to stop it, I stumbled on the very interesting scene where Sonia came to your house. I heard all the drama that ensued and went looking for Sonia. "
"Who gave you the right dad?" What makes you think you can meddle with my life? "I am a grown man, dad, perfectly capable of making my own decisions and choices," Andy yelled.
Even stupid decisions like a contract wedding? What happened to a normal wedding? "
"You are pushing it, dad. It is my life. How dare you do this to her? "You may want to destroy someone’s life, but the person involved here is the woman I love; my wife," Andy emphasized.
"Contract wife," you mean. "Son, that girl is only after the money. She has no dignity and don’t even think of loving her."
Andy gritted his teeth painfully. "It is a bit late for that." How could you do this? I have great respect for you, but what did you do? You violated my privacy and now you are bringing down the reputation of a poor innocent girl just to save my name. How could you? " His face was as hard as granite. "Dad, tell that demented thing to get off the stage, or so help me God, I will cause a scene that even your almighty self would not be able to control."
Jessica, who was still standing where Andy left her, could not respond to the challenge that was being tossed her way by the very person she called her best friend. But Lizzy and Paulina went to stand with Jessie, but she almost could not notice them. The only thing that clouded her senses were the murmurings she heard and the loud accusations. "Let’s get out of here, Jessie." Lizzy and Paulina tried to drag her away, but her feet were glued to the ground.
Her uncle suddenly appeared in front of her, his face as hard as a rock. He seized her hand roughly and started pulling her out of the hall. She staggered behind him, but he did not slow. When they got outside, her hand came free, but pain shot through her like lightning as her uncle’s hand connected with her cheek. She winced and moaned in pain as tears that had been held in her eye socket rushed out.
"How dare you, Jessica!" he roared. "How dare you shame our family like this?" How can you stoop so low? "Tell me," he growled.
"No..." Jessica sobbed. "Dad, I."
Don’t call me Dad; don’t you dare. We are not rich, but then again, we are not hungry. Were you so discontented? "
Jessica's uncle’s wife pushed through the crowd that Jessica was just noticing. "Funsho! "Stop this," she tried to calm him down. "We have not heard her side of the story." "How can you be so quick to believe another person’s word over your own?" she chastised her husband.
"What does she have to say?" She does not look ready to protest. " What could Jessica say? That she had actually married Andy for 20 million Naira, but not the way Sonia had put it? that she had decided to forfeit the money. That all their declarations of love during the wedding had been a perfectly rehearsed drama? No!She could not say anything. In fact, it might just make things worse. She looked at the faces of people who had gathered, seeing so many friends of hers, seeing so many people who had attended their wedding, seeing their best man, who was Andy’s best friend, and some of Andy’s friends and family members. They all had the look of hatred and disgust on their faces. Some were stunned, and many murmured continuously. She took to her heels and started running as fast as her legs could carry her, even though she wore high-heeled shoes.
Andy charged through the door. "Where is Jessica?" he yelled.
No one was ready to give a reply, but as he saw a familiar figure running ceaselessly, he ran after her. As he ran, he yelled her name, but she did not slow down. Andy didn't know whether he was angry, worried, or confused; all he knew was that he wanted Jessica to be okay.
The heels were really affecting Jessica, but she continued running. She just wanted to run. She could still hear all the voices in her head as she cried. She stopped abruptly and started tugging off her shoes. She did not care if her bare feet got severe injuries from running without her shoes. She felt she would be glad if physical pain could take her mind off the incident that just occurred. She continued to sob furiously as she gathered the shoes in her hands and started running again.
Andy’s arms closed around Jessica immediately, dragging her against him forcefully. She did not know that she was being followed, but even as the familiar hands wrapped around her, she started struggling.
"Please Jessica, sweetheart, please calm down."
Jessica struggled and shook in his arms. "Leave me..." she cried.
"Let me go, Drew."
"No... no love. Let me hold you. "
Jessica had no more struggles. She buried her head against his chest and cried. Andy’s heart was shattered into pieces. It took all his willpower to stop him from crying. Seeing Jessica so heartbroken and shattered because of him was more than he could handle. It filled him with raw, undiluted rage.
"I am ruined, Andy." Jessica wailed. "Why can’t I just die? Tell me, Drew. "Why does God hate me so much?" she cried.
Andy was not sure he had answers to any of the questions she asked. He hugged her tightly. It is going to be alright, Jess. I love you. Nothing can change that. We would get through this. "He kissed her head and held her close." He called the driver that brought them to the party, and within minutes, the driver arrived. Andy was happy that the driver had not witnessed all that took place because the driver looked shocked when he saw Jessica crying.
"Is everything OK, ma’am?" he asked with concern.
Jessica could not answer.
"She would be fine," Andy replied, and took Jessica to the backseat, sitting beside her also. The driver picked up Jessica’s shoes and purse, which were scattered on the road, and put them in the car as he got behind the wheels. Andy pulled Jessica back into his arms, and she rested her head on his chest. Jessica sniffed and swallowed as her tears stopped. Andy stroked her head slowly and kissed the top of her head. He felt responsible for this occurrence. He never accepted the idea of a party, especially one which was being organized by his father. His father had always been mischievous and spontaneous when it came to the family name. To his father, nothing was more important and anything should be done when something untoward surfaces, even if it meant having a sacrificial lamb.
He was greatly relieved that Jessica was already asleep when they arrived home. He carried her inside the house and straight to the bed. When he placed her on the bed, she sniffed like a baby that had just finished crying and folded her knees towards her chest. Andy swallowed and kissed her cheek as he ran his fingers through her hair. His temples throbbed. He had promised to protect her and make her happy, but no, all he had been able to give her was more and more pain.
He felt devastated. He wanted to remove Jessica’s clothes and jewelry so that she would sleep more comfortably, but he remembered that she did not get anything to eat at the party before it crumbled. He covered Jessica with a blanket and turned on the air conditioner. He went to the kitchen but did not see any food there. Cooking seemed to be out of it because he did not feel up to it, so he picked up the car keys and wallet and left the house to get food at a nearby eatery.
He wished he had not relieved the driver. He would have sent him to get the food while he held Jessica as she slept. He reflected on how small she appeared as she slept, like a little girl afraid of a stormy night. After he got the food, he got back into the car and drove home. He locked up the doors and went inside the room, but received a very big shock when he found the bed empty.