The Heirs

Life

      Standing before the dressing mirror is a total made over princess having no other choice but to go ahead with this charade called marriage.
          I'm getting married to Adrian to help my parents at least they were always there for me while my birth mom left me at the orphanage gate,I have no other family but them so I'm trying to help them in the best way I can and that is by going ahead with this.
           My mom had wanted to groom me for today but I refused , I'm still finding it very hard to accept that they aren't my parents,it really hurts me.
       The long blue gown complemented my curves with my hair tied in a messy bun and the make up was natural .
         I can't do this,I can't do it.
  The sound of the door brought me out of my reverie as I adjusted my make up quickly since I had tears on my face.
       "You look beautiful", said Adrian staring at my reflection in the mirror.
     "You don't look too bad yourself", I said as I looked at him.
       "About last night, I'm sorry I came to your room dead drunk", said Adrian as he rubbed his neck nervously.
      "You don't want to get married to me and you want me to call off the engagement,you didn't have to get drunk to tell me that",I said as I sat down to wear my black heels.
      "I have no excuse , I'm sorry", said Adrian as he looked at me.
          "I'm not offended ,to be honest I'm willing to do anything to prevent you ending your relationship with Claire ,the last thing I ever want is to be the reason for your relationship ending", I said as I struggled to wear the heels .
         "Let me", said Adrian as he knelt in front of me and helped me put on the heels.
       I couldn't help but to look at his features  and this close proximity only gave me the perfect view of his Greek god face,he was effortlessly handsome.
       His hair was left messy and the blue suit he had worn gave much justice to his Adonis figure.
      I didn't realize how long I ogled at him till I heard him chuckled.
       Oh God,he caught me staring at him 🙈
      "I know I'm handsome", said Adrian as he stood before me while I couldn't help but to blush furiously.
       Oh this is infuriating
     "You can also take a picture,it lasts longer", said Adrian smiling while I kept on blushing .
     "Enough with your old fashioned pick up lines, Adrian",I said as I stood up looking anywhere else but him.
    Then he laughed,he actually laughed at me.
        "You looked so cute when you are blushing,I would love to make you blush every single day", said Adrian grinning from ear to ear.
       "Be careful what you wish for ,that means you plan on getting married to me", I asked as I turned to look at him.
       "Can we not talk about that tonight and actually enjoy this beautiful moment", said Adrian as he brought out his hand for me to hold.
        "I would actually love that, thanks",I said smiling as I held his hand.
       I ignored the weird feeling I had in my stomach as I looked up to having a great night with him.
         I'm sorry Adrian,I can't give you what you want,I can't call off this engagement because it's the only way I can help my family , it's my way of saying thank you for every single thing they have done for me,I can't choose my happiness over theirs not this time so Adrian I'm sorry, I think I will marry you eventhough you will get hurt, I'm selfish I know and I'm sorry

    Adrian's POV.
         Drinking in the bar with Philip left me defeated and as the coward I was,I found myself staggering towards Cinthia's room.
      Everyone was asleep as I opened the door to her room hoping she would still be awake and to my surprise I saw her in a black pyjamas sitting down in a corner of the room and from what I heard ,it was so clear that she was crying.
       It's because of me,this stupid engagement is the reason she is sad.
     On noticing there was someone in the room, she yelled.
       "Get out ,I don't want to speak to you m.. Adrian what are you doing here",she asked as she stood up and started to clean her face.
         "Hey ", I said as I staggered towards her and I wanted to be close enough to clean her tears.
       I don't know why but I hate to see her tears and I would give anything to make her stop crying.
       The moment I got closer, trying to reach her ,she moved back and I stumbled and fell on her.
      "I'm sorry,I just wanted to do this", I said as I tried to reach her face but she turned to look away and that rejection broke my heart.
       "You are drunk Adrian so get off me",she said a bit upset as she looked at me.
     "I'm sorry,I didn't want to get drunk it's just that..",
      "If you want to say something, you have to get off me before I can hear you out",she replied calmly
       Am I the only one who feels this way, Cinthia ,I feel like I don't want to move away from you and this feeling is so strange to me
    I stood up and I stretched out my hand to help her up but she ignored it as she stood up on her own and walked into the bathroom leaving me to reflect on what I didn't know I did wrong as I sat on her bed.
         I could remember visiting my dad and I couldn't argue with him after he told me he wanted me to marry Cinthia because I was scared what refusing him will do to his health so I just listened eventhough I was ready to do anything to stop this wedding.
      The closing of the bathroom door brought me out of reverie as I looked up to see her leaning on the wall looking at me.
     "So what do you want", she asked briskly.
   "I want you to call off the wedding,I don't want to marry any other lady but Claire,I love her and I don't wish to end my beautiful relationship with her ", I said as I looked at her.
         "I also don't want to marry you Adrian so now leave the room,I can't stand you being in the same room with me since you are drunk",she said as she walked towards the door and opened it , signalling that I should leave the room.
       Why is she so against me being drunk.
     I have never felt so helpless in my life as I am at this moment .
         So what should I do,I can't marry someone I don't love, it's unhealthy for both of us .
    Getting to my bedroom,I found Claire sleeping on the couch.
     She must have been waiting up for me
       "I'm sorry Claire for not protecting what we have, I'm so sorry",I said silently as I picked her up and placed her gently on the bed.
          I can't wait for the heated argument we are going to have in the morning Claire.
            As I looked at the beautiful angel sleeping in front of me, I realized that I should not give up on us,even if I couldn't stop the wedding, Cinthia could so the first thing I will do tomorrow is tell Cinthia to reject me,I know she would.
         "Shall we", I asked Cinthia as she placed her hand in mine the next day.
      "Yes please", said Cinthia smiling.
    With the fake smile plastered on my face as we alighted the white limo with the flashlights of reporters almost blinding us ,we walked into the event Hall.
        "Mr Adrian,are you two together",asked a reporter.
     "Miss Harrison,are you with Mr Adrian", said another reporters.
     "Miss Harrison,did you know Me Adrian is dating Miss Jacob", said the reporter as he tried to find his way through the heavy bodyguards surrounding us as he wanted to get closer to us.
         The sound of another limo caught my attention as I watched Claire alighted from it.
       She looked breathtaking in the long sky-blue gown she wore and it did a justice to her body curves and I felt my body reacting to the beauty goddess walking on the red carpet with her hands linked with someone - my brother.
         I couldn't pay attention to anything else as I watched her smile so sweetly to him and that reminds me of the heated argument we had this morning and just a glimpse of her smiling to Richard boiled my blood so much that I couldn't help but to clench and unclench my fist.
       With the reporters around us still flashing their cameras and bombarding Cinthia with a whole lots of questions,I didn't realized how lost I was staring at my girlfriend until Cinthia's grip on my hand tightened .
       "Are you two dating",asked a stupid reporter practically forcing his way towards Cinthia as he shoved the camera in her face which left her scared for some reasons still unknown to me as she started hyperventilating.
      "Cinthia,are you alright", I asked as I touched her face looking at her.
    "Get me out of here please", Cinthia whimpered as she held my hand tightly.
       "Okay let's go in", I said as I took her with me.
       What happened out there
    "Hey there you are", said my mum smiling beside my dad  while we smiled back .
     Then I took a flute filled with water from a tray carried by a waiter "Here have some water",I said giving it to her.
   "Thanks", said Cinthia then she drank the water.
          Looking through the array of guest dressed in their finest and most expensive suits and gown,they are people from different works of life, princes of countries, mayors of cities, CEOs of companies around the world,this was lit and most definitely be the talk of public for months to come.
       "Hey,will you stop staring at her it's getting creepy", said Philip as we stood at the corner of the hall drinking wine.
       "The dress is slowly killing me,I mean look at her wait don't look at her,she is doing this on purpose ,look at her laughing and smiling with other men while I'm stuck here", I complained as I frowned.
     The only thing stopping me from having the neck of the man she's on the dance floor with is my dad,I couldn't embarrass him in public with my uncultured act that was some the eighteen year old Adrian would do not caring who it was that he was hurting.
        Oh what a good old days,I guess he got lucky.
       "Stop dreaming of ways to spill the man's blood instead think of ways to get back your girlfriend and convince your dad that you don't want to marry Cinthia", said Philip as he drank his wine .
      "I know just what to do", I said smiling confidently as I walked away towards the dance floor where my girlfriend was with this disgusting excuse of a man.
     "May I have this next dance with you",I said smiling as I looked at Claire who frowned on seeing me.
      "You can have the dance, Mr Adrian Anderson", said the man with an ugly English accent.
     I guess that's how power speak for one, Anderson.
      "What is going on Claire", I asked as I pulled her so close to me not caring about the rest of the people in the room.
          "Are you seriously asking me that",asked Claire trying to be free from me.
     "Do you know how much it hurts to see those men holding you,I felt so angry and hurt especially when I see you smiling with them while you kept frowning at me", I said putting so much anger in every word I say as I trailed her back with my finger slowly watching her go limp in my hand .
       "Did you just call me a whore",she asked trying to get free from me.
      "I never said that Claire,I just hate to see you with other men,I just want you to be with me always", I said as I held her close.
      "I could say the same to you after all I have been watching you two flirt so many times in front of me", said Claire as she looked me in the eye.
         Did I tell you that was sexy
  "Claire, I'm sorry okay, I just don't want to lose you because I love you and I don't think I can live without you", I confessed as I gently caressed her cheek with my hand.
       "You aren't going to leave me,are you ",asked Claire holding my hand which was resting on her face.
        "I won't,I really won't",I said as I pulled her into an embrace smiling.
     "I love you Adrian", said Claire softly
    Her voice was like music to my ears as I never want for her to leave me.
    "I love you too Claire, I love you", I repeated hoping the world would listen to me and agree with me.
       I just need to make sure Cinthia cancels the engagement tonight before dad announces it.
     Cinthia's POV
     The anxiety attack I almost had due to the reporters weakened me and spoilt my mood for the day.
         "Cinthia", said my dad oh wait my adopted dad with his wife as they stood in front of me.
     "How long will you continue to ignore us my darling", said my adopted mum as she  reached out to hold my hand then I stepped back immediately.
       "I have nothing to say to you so if you excuse me, I have to go",I said as I plastered a fake smile on my face since I saw Adrian's mom approaching us .
       "Cinthia",my adopted dad called out while I quicken my pace not bothering to glance back.
        Oh I will never get used to this.
     "There you are", said Philip as he passed me a flute of red wine.
    "Thank you,I really needed that",I said smiling as I gulped it down
     Okay so maybe that wasn't ladylike.
   "Are you alright Cinthia,I noticed you have hardly smiled today", said Philip.
      "Isn't that creepy, Philip watching me to know I haven't smiled all day", I said picking up another flute of wine from a waiter gulping it down.
      "Do you really hate to get married to Adrian this bad", said Philip.
     "If that's something to feel sad about compared to how badly my life sucks, no one cares to find out what I feel or what I want,I should just continue to live my life pleasing others, and now everyone believes I'm a whore who has seduced Adrian ,look at how happy they are together", looking at Adrian and Claire who were dancing together on the dance floor, I sighed heavily blinking away the tears forming in my eyes as I looked at Philip," I'm literally the reason they are being separated despite loving each other so much",I said as I cleaned my tears hurriedly before running out of the hall towards the garden where I found Richard talking on the phone.
       "I will get him to sign the d*mn property papers ", said Richard as he stood with one of his hands in his pocket.
    The white suit really brought out his lean tall figure as I could practically feel his solid back with my fingers .
       I didn't know how long I stood there daydreaming about him until I heard something I couldn't comprehend .
     "I won't allow Adrian to have what I want , the property is mine", said Richard then he disconnected the call immediately muttering some cuss words under his breath then he threw his phone into the air angrily and I gasped which made him turn back to look at me.
     I don't know who was more shocked to see who as Richard roughly grabbed my arm.
      "How much did you hear", said Richard as he shoved me against the wall angrily with his hands preventing me from breaking free.
      "Answer me , Cinthia ",He yelled as he shook me roughly while I couldn't help but to whimper as tears roll down my face.
     "Damnit,answer me woman", said Richard as his fist made contact with the wall and that scared me leaving me to fall down on the ground slowly as I shook in fear.
       Vivid memories of that terrible night flashed through mind ,his kicks,punches any scream formed a music of sorrow and agony .
     I didn't realize how long I sat down against the wall in tears until I looked up to see Joe.
      "Oh my goodness, Cinthia", she said rushing to me as she hugged me while I couldn't help but to cry harder releasing all my emotions into it as I buried my head in her chest seeking some comfort.
    "Oh my baby, please tell me what's wrong", said Joe.
     Oh I never told you that Joe and I had gotten so close that I didn't mind it when she calls me dear,baby, sweetie or darling,this endearment words made felt special.
       "I don't want to get married,I don't want to", I said crying as I hugged her.
    "It's okay, it's okay my dear, does your parents know that you don't want to get married", she asked me.
         Cinthia what are you doing,you can't tell her about your parents problem,I can't tell you anything,I have no choice.
      "They are willing to call off the wedding if I don't want it, it's just that I feel guilty for breaking Adrian's relationship with girlfriend Claire",I said as I cleaned my tears.
       She didn't say anything after instead she hugged me.
      "If you ever feel the need to talk to someone I'm always here for you okay Cinthia, I'm just a call away, okay", said Joe looking so worried about me.
      "I will thank you for being here, now I feel so much better", I smiled genuinely for the first time today.
      There's nothing I could ever compare to how happy and safe I feel whenever Joe was around me,I always feel like I'm treated like a princess.
      The feeling is so nice
   Richard's POV
         After watching Cinthia practically broke  down before me,I felt so scared.
     What if she tells dad,oh no what should I do now.
   I need to get this signed now or never.
       Getting through so many guest who couldn't see how busy I was trying to get to my dad instead they continued to greet me hoping to exchange few words with me delaying me.
        "Hey Dad", I said smiling finally found him.
       "Son, how can I help you,by the way good job with the organization of this event you did a great job", said my dad smiling.
      Has someone impersonated my dad,first he is smiling at me, secondly he praised me wow. Am I in the opposite universe.
    This isn't my dad something is definitely wrong.
      "Son,are you alright,you look stressed , don't worry once I make Adrian the CEO you will finally get a break from all this , maybe we could visit Italy together and have some father and son time, probably catch up with things cos I have missed a lot of things in your life, I'm sorry Richard", said my dad
     No dad,you aren't supposed to change,you are supposed to be the dictator,dad you can't be sorry
        How can I do this to my dad if he's like this ,he doesn't deserve all my lies ,how can I do this to him but that man will tell everyone about me of I don't,I can't let dad die because of something I did, me being the CEO isn't going to harm anyone after all.
     "Dad let's definitely do that, here's a document I would need your signatures on",I  said with so much difficulty as I hope that everything would go according to plan.
     "Okay let me sign it", said my dad smiling.
     I have hardly seen him smile
   As soon as his pen touched the papers , someone came to pull him to the stage.
    "Dad it's just a signature", I said immediately.
    "I will sign it once I get back", said my dad as he went up to the stage as he held the mic repeating the same sentence I hated to hear , everything felt like a deja Vu as I stood there drinking forcefully calming down all the anger filled nerves waiting to break lose and cause a war.
     The only difference with the last was he fiancee,it wasn't Ava but Cinthia.
     "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy we were all able to make time to attend the 100th year anniversary of the Anderson group of company, my greatgreat grandfather,Virchow Anderson founded this empire which has greatly developed and accomplish so much and not to forget our recognition in different cities all over the world, this success is only because of all of you standing in this hall most especially my son ", said my dad
    Then a stupid reporter asked which of his son.
      "Richard of course, I'm really lucky to have a son like you Richard,He was the one working behind scenes to bring this company to where it is today so with this said I would like to confirm how serious my illness is as most of you had heard, I'm in the last stage of a chronic brain cancer,I have less than a year to live but the Anderson group of company still has a legacy to build and that is why I'm stepping down as the CEO of the company and by the power and authority bestowed upon me by the boards of directors,the new CEO of the Anderson group of company is none other than my second son Adrian Anderson", said my dad and the loud murmuring of the guest was all I could hear as i continued to drown myself in alcohol.
      "Why is he younger son placed above the elder", said a woman beside me not knowing who I was because I also don't know who I am as I kept drinking.
     I didn't bother to listen to the rest as I watched Adrian go up the stage with Cinthia in his arms .
       Stupid games
  "Hey Richard,are you really going to sit back and watch your brother take over your empire", said a familiar voice from behind which I turned my head immediately to look at the person.
       "Surprised to see your favorite uncle", said Raymond smiling as he sat beside me.
     "What is it uncle",I asked feeling uneasy due to him.
      "Will you remain dumb forever, Richard", said Raymond looking at me.
    "What are you talking about Uncle,I don't understand you",I  said but the next thing I saw was a video on his phone containing my deepest and most painful secret.
        "Now here is the deal son,you get those property transfer document signed by your stupid father then you give it to me or I could just go right now to your dad and show this video to him,what do you think", said Raymond with his eyes telling me this wasn't a shit show but a sad reality .
     This man before me was someone I considered a role model,he was like a father to me .
    "Oh Richard did you manage to think about how I  felt watching my daughter die in my hands,Ava is only dead because of you, while she was alive you treated her poorly and now you managed to kill my daughter, because you stood back and watched her body burn", said Raymond as he looked at me.
    Everything he said was the truth, I'm a terrible person,this was all my fault.
     "You better do as I have instructed you or else you will suffer the consequences oh and your father too", said Raymond patting my back before he turned to leave me.
        I guess it's time to save your skin, Richard.
          Watching them all celebrate the alliance between the Anderson and Harrison made me want to vomit as I couldn't help but to feel like I didn't belong here.
       Stepping out of the hall ,the cold air left me shivering and scared as I was so afraid of what to do.
       If I confess now,will I be forgiven,and if I go on with this ,who will benefit except from Raymond,I wonder why he's doing this apart from his dead daughter.
      A phone call brought me out of my reverie as I unlocked my car.
      The caller's identity was enough to cause me to faint as my hand holding the phone started shaking heavily.
             Dad.

*******
Hey readers in the house,I wish us all a happy month. This month of April will be your month of happiness,victory and peace in Jesus name, whatever it is you do this month,you shall be successful in it in Jesus name. You will encounter God in so many ways this month in Jesus name. Happy New month 😇😇😇.
    I call the month of April,my month with God,my month of knowing God ,I want to build a better relationship with God and that's why I have dedicated the whole of this month with studying the word of God in order to know more of Him.
   So you should build your relationship with God because only God can make your life be a blessing to others around you.