Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Devyn dropped the magazine on the couch then gazed at Richard at once. He was positively apoplectic with rage after hearing what he intended to do. Richard could see the fury in his eyes however he chose to ignore apathetically. Jeremy didn't bother to utter a word, he knew there was nothing he'd say to change his mind.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Richard?” He snapped irksomely.

“Just let it go, Dev. Richard won't change his mind.” Jeremy eventually said, despite the tension in the room he was calm and relaxed.

Devyn huffed with annoyance. “You're not stopping the wedding, are you?”

Richard scrolled down his contact list, scanning for Charlene's digits. Finally he hesitated before clicking on it. “I have the right to stop the wedding if I want to. It's not like I'm stopping it forever, I have to handle the emergency immediately. I can't avoid losing a project I've been working on for two months.”

“Your personal assistant didn't tell you the whole factory burned out, it was only a building that's close to the factory. Why are you doing this as if you desperately would do anything to stop the wedding? What about the invitations and magazines?”

“Why are you getting sulky over this, Devyn? It isn't like I'm getting married to your sister.”

“That's the reason you're still breathing, I won't let you off easily. Leave the emergency for me to handle and call Charlene now to inform her that the wedding is going to be held tomorrow.”

“I'm suspecting you, Dev. What's your damn problem?” Richard's eyes darkened with suspicion, he looked at him squarely then glanced at Jeremy.

“She's a friend.” Jeremy replied to his thoughts.

“Oh!” He uttered a feeble response. “I knew it.”

“Mr Sullivan would literally kill you, I'm damn sure.”

Richard rose after getting his car key on the table. “I can't trust you with it. I'll sort it out myself.” Richard said determinedly.

“Asshole,” Devyn seethed infuriatingly.

Richard shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly then left the room. His phone rang, checked the call ID and picked up instantly.

“Come to the mansion immediately!” Bryant commanded imperatively.

Richard rolled his eyes and hopped in his car, he drove to the mansion as it was a twenty minutes ride to Sullivan's residence. By stopping the car in the parking lot, he alighted from the car and made his way inside. As he arrived in the living room, Bryant, Rowan and Luciana were waiting for him. Bryant walked up to him and stood in front of him.

“Dad…”

Bryant slapped him across the face, he was agitated after receiving the news from Rowan about stopping the wedding from holding. “Why did you choose to be irresponsible and shameless, Richard?”

He put a hand on his face.

“Honey,” Luciana's eyes popped up bewilderingly, she leaped up from the sofa and looked at Richard.

“Whatever you're planning, don't you dare try to stop the wedding. You're not going on a business trip tomorrow, you're not going to leave this country tomorrow.”

“Stop forcing me to do what I don't want to do! I don't love that woman and I can't guarantee you that I will in the future. Don't give her much hope in this marriage.”

“Richard?” Bryant covered his mouth disappointedly.

“I have a project I'm working on before you brought the marriage proposal and I strongly disapprove . You threatened me, dad. Aren't you supposed to support me?”

“Since you choose to be irresponsible, leave my mansion now and never return to me. From today, I don't have a child.” He seethed emotionally.

“Dad?” His voice failed him, he couldn't believe what he heard his father say.

Luciana walked up to them, her eyes were teary while looking at Richard. “What are you planning, Richard?”

“Go now. Get out of the house and never come back. I'll make an announcement tomorrow, you're no more my heir, you're not my son, you're not related to me.”

“Bryant, please. You're not going to do that to our son right?” Luciana became restless, she put a hand on his arm and made him look at her.

“Bryant, wait. I think both parents are to blame here. We're at fault.” Rowan interrupted politely, he strolled up to them.

“What do you mean?”

“We didn't seek their consent before making an arranged marriage between our children, we're to blame for that.”

“No, I won't blame myself. I'm doing what a father should do. I made the proposal and I persuaded you to give in, I'm to blame for that but I won't blame myself.”

“It's simple, Richard. You can't go ahead with your plans tomorrow, the ceremony will be held at night. Use the time you have perfectly, nothing is stopping the wedding tomorrow.” Rowan said solemnly.

Bryant was relieved when he noticed Rowan wasn't infuriated. He had begun to regret his decision when Richard chose not to see his plans for him. He sighed softly, he gazed at him steadily. “Do you have anything to say, son?” He enquired calmly.

Richard gulped down hard. If there was anyone he was afraid of that was his father, he'd always avoid his other side but sometimes it was unavoidable. He contemplated for a while, when an idea popped in his mind he stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. “Nothing is changing tomorrow. I'll leave for the emergency the day after tomorrow.” He said firmly. He pivoted to Rowan calmly. “Tell Charlene that I'm sorry about everything. I was selfish without thinking I actually hurt her feelings. I'm sorry.”

A bright smile shrouded Bryant's lips. He pulled Richard into a hug and patted his back. “Don't you ever make me mad again.” He said nothing. “Since he has agreed, what's next?”

Rowan shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, he embraced Bryant briefly before exiting the room.

“Although I'm not in support of the marriage but I'm also not in support of your stupid decision. What were you thinking, Richard? Your god-damned business can wait later.” Luciana said inimically.

Richard huffed insolently.

“Were you faking it again?” Bryant lifted a brow.

“It's not like I have a choice.” He replied nonchalantly and sauntered causally to the staircase. He gripped the railings and started ascending the stairs.

Bryant slumped onto the sofa heavily.

“Henrietta is back to her senses, I told you that.”

“I never wanted that model for my son. I don't care about what he's thinking or you're thinking, my decision is final.” He said grimly.

CHARLENE NEVER FELT until he called her and informed her about the wedding. She became despondent but Charles never gave her a chance to think about it. When Rowan arrived, he informed his family about Sullivan's decision about the wedding. Kathleen was a bit relieved, she was still thinking that Richard might do something despicable tomorrow. She wouldn't wish for anything that would break her daughter's heart on her wedding day.

Charles scanned her wedding gown that was planted at the center of the room. He admired all the gemstone attached to the gown making it glittered.

“I don't like him.” Charles said eventually. He was able to walk to a chair without limping, he straddled on it and stared at Charlene intently.

“But I love him.” She turned over the next page of the novel she was reading.

“You want to marry him, don't you?”

“After meeting his ex wife I want him. I can't justify him yet I need more time to study him.”

“What if he ends up breaking your heart?” There was reality in his words, maybe Charlene didn't see what he was seeing but he feared for her. He hated to see his sister being hurt by anyone.

Charlene chortled, she put the novel down and picked up their magazine beside her. The way Richard held her waist and how he stared at her in the magazine would make her think otherwise. “Look at this. In his eyes I think I still have a chance to win his heart over.”

“You're an irresistible lady.” He said teasingly.

“Am I? Of course I am. Seriously Charles, my world crushed when he told me he was going to call off the marriage. For a minute I wanted to cry my eyes out, what has he done to me? I just can't hate him even if he keeps pushing me away.”

“He's an asshole and I'll make him pay for almost breaking your heart.” He said threateningly. “Oh my goodness! Charlene, I still can't believe you're getting married tomorrow. You'll be living with a stranger now.” He pouted cutely, he blinked his eyes leisurely and played with his fingers.

“A stranger?”

“Of course he's a stranger that'll soon become your family. Oh! My heart is aching.”

Charlene rolled her eyes cheerfully, she grabbed a pillow on the bed and threw it at him but he dodged it. “Dimwit.”

“I bought you a honeymoon ticket.”

Charlene narrowed her eyes at him. “No honeymoon. Dad said that.”

Charles grunted softly while stifling the desire to roll his eyes. “Who the hell did he think he was?” He clenched his fist furiously.

“Stop, Charles.”

“No. I'm getting bored of this already.” He stood up and kicked the chair away out of anger. “First, he was trying to stop the marriage and now there won't be any honeymoon.”

“Charles, enough!”

“No. This is about you, your dreams. You want to wake up to see roses on the bed with candles lit up in the room. You want a man to confess his love to you every morning, you want gifts from the man you love. If he's going to treat you like you're nothing then I'm going to stop the wedding.”

“You're not doing anything stupid right? This is about me, not you. I didn't complain.”

“If you don't, I see it in your eyes. I'm going to talk to dad.” Charles was about to leave the room but she spoke, making him stop halfway.

“What if you're him? I'm pretty sure you'll do exactly what he's doing. Getting married to Veronica tomorrow, won't you do anything to stop the marriage?” She steered the conversation.

“Never would I marry that castigator.” He snapped and threw Charlene a grimace.

“You coward, I knew it. You don't expect the man to start loving me because I'm your sister. I'm to make him love me and notice me.” Charlene said serenely.

He hissed loudly then hit his forehead gently. “Is that the reason you're reading how to make a man fall in love with you?”

A frown shrouded her lips. If not she was tired she would have walked up to him and gave him a knock on his head. She supported her chin in her palm and focused her gaze on him steadily. “Whatever, it isn't like you never read a book on how to get rid of your nemesis in a peaceful way.”

“Charlene knight!” He hollered while frowning.

“I didn't trespass.” She threw her hands in the air, surrendering.

A gentle knock on the door made them stop arguing. Both of them gazed at the door forwardly, Flavia peeked through the opened door. She scanned the room before stepping inside. “May I come in?”

“You're already in.” Charles hissed.

“What's the matter?”

“It's time.” She announced, as she focused only on Charlene.

“Time for what?” Charles arched his brow.

“Ladies secret. Leave my room, Charles.”

“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes and exited the room.

“They'll be here in a minute. Do you need anything?”

“No. I want to see mom, I'll be right back.” Charlene climbed down the bed, she left the room for Kathleen's.