Chapter 51: Chapter 51

It had been two months since the kidnap incident. John had been released on bail and Mr Grumpy had been sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour, but he had committed suicide by stabbing himself with a rusted knife he picked up in the bushes when cutting the grass with his fellow inmates.

It turned out that my driver and bodyguards had been drunk that day because of the alcohol Mr Grumpy had sent to them, lying it was me who had sent it to commend them for their good job and had written in the note attached to the package the drinks contained that I really wanted them to drink it immediately they got it as I won't be going anywhere for the next one week so I won't be needing their services. It was a perfect opportunity for them to drink alcohol in so long and I couldn't blame them for being deceived.

As for Jordan, Amsey's brother, he hadn't died, but had stayed in the hospital for a month suffering from severe injuries after being shot in the back by John.

After pleading guilty to the offence of kidnap and attempted murder in court, the judge had sentenced him to ten years imprisonment.

His father, Mr Folorunsho Holland Ibitoye, had hung his head low as the judge pronounced his judgement. He later stepped down from the office of the Lagos State governor and had relocated to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State to start a fishery business, along with his wife.

Amsey was so sure his father will succeed in his business because he claimed he was a creative and strategic businessman.

Reverend Lawrence had created his own YouTube channel where he preached the word of God, after failing to get back his license to preach on the altar from the Catholic Church.

Cameron had been thrilled to hear he no longer had any trace of ulcer in his system and was no longer skipping his meals.

However, Cameron didn't get to fulfil his dreams of becoming a footballer as he hadn't gotten accepted into Moorland football academy but they had said he showed promise and should try again when next their admission forms were out. The message he had gotten from them made him happy though and he felt more determined to get in next year.

A week ago, Victoria's mother and Cameron's grandmother had shown up at my gate and I had gone downstairs to see her after the security called me.

She informed me that she had seen the video of the story of Cameron's birth when she was in California with her new husband who she was older than with twenty years.

It appeared that she had gotten divorced from Victoria's father who was also married to a younger woman.

After the death of Victoria, both of them wanted to enjoy the remaining time they had on earth with their young partners and didn't want to be saddled with the responsibility of taking care of a child.

However, she just came to inform me that she wasn't interested in taking Cameron with her and signed the documents that showed Cameron was fully in my custody and she wasn't going to interfere. She also told me that her ex-husband and herself were willing off their properties to Cameron and was thankful to me for taking care of Cameron even though he wasn't my biological child.

I had felt relieved that they weren't interested in taking my son although I was disgusted at the fact that they didn't even want to see Cameron at all nor spend the holidays with him.

I had however kept my mouth shut and thanked her for placing Cameron in my full custody then bid her bye as she stepped into her G-wagon with her sunglasses on and heeled shoes.

She really just wanted to enjoy her life from the look of things.

As for Amsey and I, I didn't know what we were even doing. Sure, we loved each other, but he wasn't even asking me out nor paying me that much attention which was pretty much annoying.

Whenever he came around, all he did was play video games with Cameron or go downstairs and have a football game with him.

I felt neglected. The only attention I was getting was from Mr Muffin who was trying to convince me to renew my contract that had expired with his agency. The terms of the contract were very favourable and I wasn't planning on leaving his agency, I just wanted him to beg me for a while.

Back to Amsey, he'd get me gifts and will always place a kiss on my lips every now and then, but I always craved his presence anyway.

I couldn't place my fingers on why he suddenly became distant. Maybe it was because he had just started his own real estate company and was busy, or it was probably because of the stern look my dad always flashed him whenever he came around that was pushing him away but I wasn't sure of that though.

Concerning my dad, today was actually his wedding day. Guess who he was marrying? Rita, of course.

My best friend was becoming my stepmother and I felt overwhelmed with happiness for both her and my dad.

Surely, he was old enough to be her father, but they really loved each other and love could find you anywhere. In my own opinion, age is just a number.

Right now, I was in her bedroom where the makeup artists were getting on her wedding look and I was actually bored and tired.

It had been over an hour since they started wearing her the makeup and I didn't know why they were taking so much time.

I was dressed in a pink armless ball gown as the Chief bridesmaid and the wedding ceremony was taking place in the garden which had been wonderfully decorated in the estate.

Rita and my dad had spent so much money on planning their honeymoon in a resort in Hawaii but didn't want to spend that much on the wedding itself.

Not only were they planning on spending their honeymoon in Hawaii, they were actually planning on living there.

My dad was opening a branch for his ministry there and Rita had been signed to a Hawaiian modelling agency where she had to model for various clothing, skincare and shoe brands over there.

The CEO had seen a commercial she was in for a skincare product and had immediately requested for her to be on his team.

My bestie and soon-to-be stepmother was going to be an international model and I was extremely proud of her.

"How do I look?" I heard Rita ask.

I looked up and saw Rita standing before me in a white wedding dress with glitters and diamonds which was straight from her chest down to her knees, then flare to her ankles.

Her hair was packed in a bun and held with silver clips while her white veil was so long that it swept the floor.

Her makeup was nude and looked amazingly beautiful and her silver heels made her taller and added to her elegance and poise.

"I don't know what to say, Rita. You look stunning," I said, holding her shoulders.

"Thanks sweetie, for letting me get married to your father," Rita said.

"No, thank you, for agreeing to marry my father. You guys are the perfect couple and I pray your union lasts," I said.

Rita blushed and gave me a tight hug.

I let her go and saw she had started crying and Rita almost never cried.

"Careful now, you don't wanna ruin your makeup," I said.

She sniffed, "I'll miss you so much," I said.

"I'll miss you as well, but you'll have to go with your soon-to-be husband to Hawaii and live happily ever after there," I said.

"But will you come visiting?" She asked.

"I will, of course. You have to come see me as well and promise you'll keep in touch through the internet," I said.

"Definitely," She said, dabbing her tears with a napkin.

"Thankfully, your makeup isn't smeared," I said.

Cameron barged into the room, panting heavily.

"Whatever happened to knocking?" I asked.

"Grandfather is worried Aunt Rita isn't going to show up anymore, what are both of you still doing here?" Cameron asked.

"We're coming now. By the way, Cameron, how does your aunt look?" Rita asked with her ever warm smile.

He sized her up with his eyes, "You should have worn a longer dress but you don't look that bad," Cameron said.

"Ignore him, you look amazing," I said to her.

"Promise me that you'll have another baby that won't have the same character as Amsey," Rita said.

"And why is that?" Amsey asked, coming into view.

"Let's go, Cameron," Rita said and walked out of the room hurriedly with Cameron tagging along.

"Why doesn't she want you to have another child with my character?" Amsey asked again after they had left.

I shrugged, "Whatever her reason is, it still doesn't count cause we're not having a child together."

"Says who?" He retorted.

"One has to be married in order to have children," I said then stared at my ring finger, "As you can see, I'm still single."

Amsey smirked, "Do you want to marry me?" He asked.

"When will you ever be reasonable? How can you ask a girl if she wants to get married without kneeling on one knee with a ring?" I asked.

"Those things seem so unnecessary. You love me, I love you, we can get married when we're in the mood and have kids," He said.

"You're annoying," I said and stormed off.

The most annoying part of it all was that Amsey didn't even bother to call me back.

****

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," The pastor said.

My dad leaned over to kiss his beautiful bride, Rita as we sprinkled flowers on them after their wedding ceremony had just been concluded.

The wedding was held in the estate's garden and decorated with lovely flowers and beautiful curtains. Trust Rita to invite a large number of guests to her wedding. I was so happy that she really loved my father the way he was and didn't even care about the media publicising that she got married to a man twice her age.

True love was hard to find these days but it was glaring through the way they looked at each other that it was true love they both shared.

The ushers passed wine to everyone in preparation for a toast.

"Let's raise a toast to the latest couple in Nigeria," Amsey said.

Did I mention that Amsey was the groomsman? Not only did he look dazzling in his ash coloured tuxedo, I also noticed how some girls were hovering around him like butterflies.

"What are you doing here?" My dad asked as he spotted me just sitting alone, sipping wine.

"Nothing. Happy married life," I said.

"Thanks dear. Do you think you'll get married someday?" He asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know."

"What about Amsey?" I heard an oddly familiar voice ask.

I turned around and saw Mr Muffin standing there with a gift bag in his hand.

"Will you quit following me everywhere?" I asked.

"You're my star, Cassie. I need you in my agency, please," He said.

"Hi, Mr James. Happy married life," Mr Muffin said and handed him the gift bag he had been holding.

"Thank you," My dad said as he collected the bag from him.

"Could you talk to your daughter to give my agency another chance?" He asked.

"Cassandra is old enough to make her own decisions," My dad said.

"Thanks Dad," I said with a sly smile.

He smiled back at me and walked towards the direction of Rita who was busy with some of her friends I didn't get along with.

Mr Muffin sat opposite me wearing a puppy face.

"You look ridiculous, stop that," I said.

"A few years ago, you were so eager to sign a contract with me. Your father's right, you're all grown up and I can't force you to make any decision. Cassie, when I saw you, I knew you were born to be a star, and although you may not be in my agency anymore, I want you to be that fierce innocent girl and give other female singers a run for their money," Mr Muffin said.

I chuckled, "No one even remembers Adia or other female artists these days. It's mostly Cassie P blah blah blah and I wonder what's so special about me."

"Your story makes you stand out. Breaking free from all your struggles and becoming an amazing singer who can touch lives with music is hard to come by. You're different and that's why even Laura Nutshell could ask to sing with you," Mr Muffin said.

"You're the one who first saw what I had to offer. I was just a clueless teenager with no idea on what to do with my life. You looked beyond that weak pregnant 18-year old and saw my potential. You may have helped me out because you wanted to make money, but still, without your help, my son and I with Rita may have died in the hands of Amsey's father. I'd have still been that girl who felt useless without her mother and who resented her father, I'd have probably been working in a brothel and my son will have grown up in the streets while Rita may have still been in her aunt's house suffering for no good reason. You saved our lives and you moulded us into better people," I said.

"It's enough, Cassie, you'll make me start crying," Mr Muffin said.

"You're such a softie who keeps on pretending to be fine. Thank you for everything. I hope you brought that damned contract with you," I said, changing my tone to a harsh one.

"Wait! Are you gonna sign the papers?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Of course, dummy."

"Jeez! I didn't bring the documents with me," He said.

"I'll be in the agency by next week to show you all the songs I've written for my upcoming album. Is it okay if I renew the contract by then?" I asked.

"Definitely. Thanks, Cassie. You've made my dreams come true," He said.

"You're just exaggerating," I said.

He laughed out loud.

"Thanks again," He said.

"You're welcome."

"Attention, please," Amsey's voice rang over the microphone.

We turned to look at him with me wondering what he was up to.

"There's a beautiful girl in this garden today and for the last six years, it's only her I've been dreaming about and I want you all to meet her today. Cas, could you come forward, please?" He asked, smiling at me.

"You should go instead of smiling there like a potato," Mr Muffin said in a low tone.

I felt nervous and there were butterflies in my stomach as I stood and walked to the stage that had been set up with flowers and shining lights.

"It's time for the couple dance," He announced.

He stretched forward his left hand and I took it in mine and we glided to Shania Twain's "You're still the one."

His hands were wrapped around my waist and my hands were placed around his neck.

"You look beautiful," He said.

"You look handsome," I said back.

"I'm sorry for being distant lately. Your dad keeps staring at me sternly. He's treating you like a 16-year old," He said.

"And you're running from him like a 17-year old," I said.

He chuckled, "Thankfully, he's leaving Nigeria and we'll have all the time in the world to ourselves," He said.

I sighed, "I'm too old for all those hide-and-seek games, I can't be playing boyfriend and girlfriend at my age," I said.

"You're just 25. What's old about that?" He asked, staring into my eyes.

"Whatever. All I know is I'm not doing those teenage dating stuff at my age," I said.

"Did I ask you to be my girlfriend?" He asked.

"No. That's the problem, Amsey. I don't even know what we're doing anymore. What sort of relationship is this?" I asked.

"I don't know, but we love each other, I'm sure of that," He said.

I removed his hands from my waist and turned my back on him.

"When you know what you want, you know where to find me," I said.

I proceeded to walk off when I saw people screaming,  "Awwn. Oh my Gosh! Say yes."

I wondered what was going on and turned around.

There and then, I saw Amsey kneeling on one knee with a diamond engagement ring in his hand.

I covered my mouth with my hands as I stared at him in bewilderment.

"When I first saw you, I was scared you were gonna die. I didn't know how I could take it even though I didn't know who you were at the time. I took you home with a cab, laid you in my bed and stared at your beautiful face till I slept off. I'm a very handsome guy, Cas, and there have been many women who liked me but I've always wanted you alone.

"You're the first lady to break my heart and you're the first to give me a reason to do things I'd never done before. All those times I said you looked ugly, I was only trying to mask my true feelings. I don't know why, Cas, but I love you, I swear. I promise to make you happy for the rest of our lives and I'd never make you shed tears of heartbreak or pain because it really hurts me when you cry.

"I've had this ring for a while now but I just didn't know how to give it to you cause you seem too good for me. I know I'm not the superstar that you are but I'd support you in your career, I'll be a good father to Cameron and any other children we have, I'll always tell you you're beautiful, I'll cook all the time for you, I'll do the dishes, I'll buy you any designer stuff you want, I'll take you on any trip, I'll love you now and forever," He said.

Tears streamed down my eyes as camera lights flashed all over the place.

"Miss Cassandra Msheila Peters, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" I asked.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" I screamed, stretching out my left hand.

He slipped the ring unto my finger and I took his hands and helped him up.

I hugged him tightly.

"I love you," He said.

"You know I love you more," I told him.

"Kiss already!" Cameron yelled.

Amsey cupped my chin and placed his lips on mine.

Flowers rained on us as we stayed in that beautiful moment, savouring that kiss together, with bright hopes of being in each other's future.