WARIDI ✔️

Chapter Forty Three

RIVER'S POV

Darkness. My bestest fiend in the whole wide world. After Demi that is and Evan and Dean. Oh Dean. My Dean, my husband, my love. He was the reason for me wanting to stay in the darkness. But it was not his fault, that was all on my father. That cussed man who kept me locked up in my own room like a criminal. He had locked me up once before but this time it was different, the ankle monitor never left my leg, I had four guards at my door twenty-four-seven, my windows had been reinforced and my door stayed locked. Only three people had the key to the new lock, my father obviously, Claudia since she needed to bring me food, get my laundry and clean my room and my new lead bodyguard, freaking stupid, dumb, too many muscles Nico.

That smug bastard enjoyed seeing me locked in and all my attempts at running away had been stopped by him. My father's one mercy is that I was allowed one hour outside not that it mattered because I did not go. What was the point? Dean had been gone for three weeks and in all that time I had not been able to contact him. I did not have a phone or laptop and the landline in my bedroom had been disconnected. It's like I was in prison in my own fucking home. Actually no, it was not my home anymore. My home was back in Kenya with Dean as it always would be.

My bedroom door opened and Claudia walked in carrying my lunch tray. The food look and smelled delicious but I was in no mood to eat. She placed it on my bedside table next to my untouched breakfast.

"Mija for how long will you keep doing this to yourself?" Claudia asked.

I pulled the blankets lower so I could see her better but didn't lower them past my shoulders.

"What's the point? There is nothing to live for anymore." I retorted.

"Yes there is mija, you are so young. I know you love Dean but your heart is big enough to love another. I'm not saying that you should forget him, we never forget our first love, all I am asking is that you try to live your life." She advised.

Her words hurt because of all people I thought that Claudia had my back and that she understood me. Apparently, I was wrong.

"Dean is my life and he is also my first and only love. You people just don't get it do you? You think that I am just throwing a temper tantrum because my daddy chased away the boy I have a crush on. Well let me tell you something Claudia, I will die before I give myself to another man. Now please leave my room and take all that food with you. I have lost my appetite." I demanded.

"Mija please." Claudia cajoled.

"Claudia, I already hate my father, don't make me hate you too." I pleaded and with that I covered myself with my blanket and turned my back to her.

Claudia sighed heavily followed by the clanging of plates and spoons. A minute later I was left alone to my darkness. Peace at last.

I knew that sleeping all day, not eating or leaving the house to get some fresh air and vitamin D was bad for my body but I did not care. Dean had given me a reason to live and without him there was just no point anymore.

My mind kept wandering as I thought about how he was doing in Kenya. Did he miss me? Of course, he did, I knew Dean loved me as much as I loved him. Was he okay? How was his family doing? Had he told them about what happened and if yes how had they taken it? His mother probably knew, Dean would have had to tell her to explain my absence. She probably hated me now. I had put her sons life in danger but it was not my intention.

Negative scenarios about Dean moving on and bringing a new woman to the home we had bought together made my heart hurt. I knew it was wrong to doubt my husband but nobody could wait forever. He loved me, yes, there was no doubt of that but even the strongest kind of love had its limits when tested.