Chapter Two

Chapter two

Rachel stepped downstairs to hear her parents arguing.

"Why don't we give her a little more time, she is still very young and h..."

"Shut up! I will hear no more about it, she is going to get married and that is it !" Mr. William's voice cracked like a whip, he raised a stern index finger at his wife who had always been obedient to him, but now, she seemed to be proving stubborn.

"She's our only daughter, how can you be so heartless to give her away like that, especially to that ..."

Mr. William forcefully stood up, his backhand lashing across Amelia's face.

A cry escaped Rachael's mouth as she immediately slide the door open in fear.

"Don't lay your hands on her, you want me to marry right ?" 

Rachael stared at her mother who had tears in her eyes before reverting her attention to her father.

"I will marry him" she completed.

Mr. William appeared to be amazed and pleased at her new decision.

"Don't ever disgrace our family's reputation, go and  get yourself ready because they  are coming over this evening and by next week, everything about your marriage will be finalized."

Rachael stared continuously as he stormed out of the room, a lone tear escaped her eyes and she quickly swiped at it, she smiled shakily at her mother who wore a sad expression.

It wasn't her mother's fault, her father was just too heartless.

She has always done her very best never let him down in any way throughout her eighteen years of staying with him.

why was he so cruel to her and her mother? 

Her mother walked over to her then, enfolding her in a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, I'm too useless, I can't even help you, can you forgive me, child ?" 

Her mother's teary words served to break down the control Rachael had over herself, she burst into a fit of sobs while her mother comforted her. 

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"What! You are getting married!" Susan yelled aloud while Rachael stared at her numbly.

A soft concerned look passed across Susan's features as she stared at her best friend for years.

"I have a solution, you might not have to get married at all " 

Rachael stared at her hopelessly, what solution could her friend come up with? She had thought of every possible way she could escape her upcoming wedding but found none, the only thing she could think of was to run away from home, but she couldn't even do that, in anger, she knew her father would take everything out on her mother if that was what Susan was about to suggest, then she wouldn't be able to do it.

"Since your father didn't give you an option to refuse the proposal, why don't you make your future in-laws call it off by themselves ?" Susan spoke excitedly.

Racheal stared at her friend in confusion.

"What do you mean ?" she voiced.

Susan leaned to whisper in Rachael's ears and Racheal's eyes widened, she shook her head frantically against the Idea.

"I can't !" She exclaimed, what Susan had just said would not only put her in trouble, but her family might also suffer from it.

"Of course you can !" Susan interjected.

"You have to think of your dreams first, all you've hoped for, the only thing in life that can never be regained is lost youth, you have to think for yourself "

Rachel stared at her friend doubtfully, she was right, if this idea worked then her father would not necessarily blame her?

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