CHAPTER 5

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Friday- 11:30am - Courthouse

"Is this some kind of plan you've made to make it look as though we were the ones who backed out of these contract? We've been waiting for your daughter for the past hour now and she is nowhere to be found. Is this part of a retaliation scheme?!" Matthew Winfrey asked furiously, as his wife tries to pacify him.

It's been an hour and Livy is nowhere to be found.

"She'll be her soon, I guarantee it. She's just running a bit late that's all, you should know kids these days tend to spend hours in front of the mirror on a normal day, let alone a special day like this. Just give us 15 more minutes and I promise she'll be here." Judy affirmed.

She had no idea where that child could be or what she could be doing.

She had left Livy at home and rushed to the courthouse when she had realised her daughter was not ready yet, and the Winfrey's were almost at the courthouse.

Judy was never late for anything in her life and she was not going to let the Winfrey get to the courthouse before her, so she left Livy to come by herself and gave the driver instructions to bring her straight to the courthouse as soon as she was done.

The driver's number was now switched off and so was Livy's.

If Livy isn't at the courthouse in the next 15minutes, then the Winfrey's would have all rights to pull out of the contract and she could risk losing Castlehill for good.

Judy walked up to Heather who was fondling with her phone, to know if she had heard any word from Livy.

"You were with her all day yesterday, did she say something or was she acting strange in anyway?" Judy asked Heather inquisitively.

"No ma'am, she didn't say anything to me. In fact she didn't speak a word at all yesterday. I thought she was upset about her date with Markian the day before, because when I asked her how it went, she just gave me a weak smile and said 'it was exactly how I pictured it to be'. Do you think maybe she got cold feet?" Heather concluded with a question that left Judy more agitated.

"Have you tried calling her?" Judy asked.

"Yes, but her number is not going through." Heather replied.

Judy could not help but look at Markian, whatever was happening now had something to do with him.

He was perfectly relaxed in a situation as this, and even though he never agreed to this marriage, if he had nothing to do with her disappearance, he would have at lest been a little bit agitated and embarrassed that his bride is at the verge of standing him up on their wedding day.

But he was not. On the contrary, he was less concerned.

So she went up to him, "why can't I shake off this arduous feeling that you have a hand in this hubbub? Where is my daughter?" Judy asked threateningly.

"She is not my wife yet, so why would I know where she is or what she may be doing? Maybe she doesn't want to get married to me, did you ever think of that? Humph... you know, you should listen to your daughter more often Mrs Luthel," Markian confabulated.

"You kids think this is a joke? I would expect this from Livy, but you?... I expected more from you. You of all people should know that in other to run a company like ours, sometimes we have to put our feelings and emotions aside, and make decisions that would benefit everyone. We can't be selfish unless we want to lose all we've got. You don't have to love her, she would only be your wife and in return Castlehill and Luthel Inc. stocks skyrocket. But if you of all people can't understand the heights and lengths we have to go sometimes to make our companies a success, then your father made a huge mistake by putting a little kid incharge of a huge company. You think you've won? Bear one thing in mind, in the end, Castlehill will fall flat and you will come running back to me for help, I promise." Judy concluded and walked away.

Humph, was she being serious? Even if Castlehill crumbles, he would never marry Livy. He doesn't care about anything anymore, only how he feels right now matters.

Thanks to Livy, he can retain his sanity for a little while longer before some other problem forges.

Only 10minutes left and this whole madness will be over for good.

Friday-10:20am Luthel Mansion

"Why are you not ready yet? The Winfreys will beat us there and that is not good. I really do not know why you take important things so lightly, all the time." Judy spoke disappointed.

"I'm sorry mom, I just can't seem to fix my hair and makeup properly. How about you go on without me to the courthouse, I'll be right behind you." Livy spoke confidently.

"No way I'm leaving without you, forget it. I'll wait till you're done, then we can go together." Judy stated firmly.

"How about the Winfreys? Don't you think it will be disrespectful if they got there before us?...I'm just saying, if you leave now then you can at least beat them to the courthouse while I'll be just few minutes behind. This way you can handle things there before I arrive, especially double checking of the authenticity of the marriage documents." Livy commented.

"That's not the case... " Judy spoke but was interrupted by Livy. "Or you don't trust me. You really do not have any trace of faith in me, do you mom?" Livy questioned accusingly.

"Of course that's not true. I just...i know you would not do anything stupid or out of character today. I mean, you do know what I'm capable of, don't you? And I'm sure you also want to get to the truth about your sister's death, don't you?" Judy questioned, making Livy freeze.

She didn't want to tell her that her sister's death wasn't an accident but a murder.

But, Livy had been so quiet since her dinner date with Markian, and all of a sudden she is so bold and confident this morning, insisting her mother leave for the courthouse before her.

If Judy knows anything about her daughter, it's the fact that Livy would never -on a day like this- want to arrive at the venue alone.

She is only confident and bold when she is trying to pull a fast one.

If Livy thinks she would fall for such miniature lies and deceit, then she really doesn't know the woman who gave birth to her.

So, Judy had no choice but to give Livy another reason -incase her subtle threat to ruin Markian and Castlehill wasn't enough- to make sure she doesn't think of not showing up at her own wedding.

"What...did you just say, mom? How could Sophy's death be a murder? And why? Why...I'm I just knowing about this?...Mom!" Livy yelled.

"I didn't want to worry you about it, but it seems it's inevitable for you not to know the truth before you enter that household. Listen Livy, I didn't want to bother you with this truth, but it seems I have no other choice. You need to help me prove that your sister was murdered, she won't rest in peace until her murderer is punished. This is your sole purpose now as her twin sister."

With that, Judy kissed her daughter's forehead and left the room, knowing exactly the spark she just ignited and hoping it's enough to get Livy to go ahead with this marriage without any qualms.

Livy was left alone with goosebumps as the air of her mischief suddenly turn icy cold and freezing.

If Sophy was murdered, why didn't Markian say anything about it?

Was this the reason he wanted her to disappear? What had she promised him that day? Yes, she promised she was going to leave town and not get married to him.

Was that his plan all along, to emotionally blackmail her and make her agree with him to the very extent that she was willing to get her mother into trouble today if she fails to turn up at the courthouse?

What a fool she has been, her mother was right about her all along.

If he is trying to protect his family and himself, then why shouldn't she try to protect her mother's pride and respect as well?

Though she doubts he could have killed Sophy, but all the same she still needs to find out who in the Winfrey household did.

Friday- 11:35am- Courthouse

In the mist of the rumbling and tension, Markian pulled out his phone to dial Daniel's cellphone number.

He would feel a lot better if he knew were they were at the moment.

The call went through, but no response.

He dialed the number the second time- he could hear it ring as though the owner was in the room- but no response.

"I'm so sorry for being so late, I got held up on my way here. Please accept my apology."

'That sounded like Livy's voice' he thought, 'but how is that possible? Shouldn't she be on her way to the other side of the world by now? How is she here now? No, why is she here now?' he searched for answers but could not find any.

As he slowly turned to the direction the voice came from, he saw a dazzling Livy walking into the room.

She is wearing a beautiful strapless knee-length straight cut white gown, with a white blazer.

Her heels were not that high, but the sound of them hitting the tiled floor was enough to send everyone on mute display.

But to Markian, they were the most unbearable and deafening sound he had ever heard.

The only thing her presence attracted was a spiral of conjesting anger from him.

If his memory was retentive enough, he clearly remembered pleading with this lady to leave town today with his cousin.

'Yes, Daniel! Why was he here with her? Why did he bring her here?

We had a deal, and she gave her word that she would not be present here today, so why did she go back on her word?

I'm a fool to have trusted that she was being sincere when she told me that she would leave.

This was Livy after all, the same girl that didn't put up much of a fight when she was told to marry her late sister's husband.

How could i have put all my faith on her? Now i have no other plan, no backup plan, nothing.

I was so confident she wouldn't go back on her word, and among all the bad decisions i've ever made, trusting Livy was the worst of them all,' Markian mentally slapped and cursed himself.

It was evident he was furious as he walked down and headed towards Livy, only to get to her and passed by her in a swift manner, making her feel invisible.

She have never been as scared as she was right this moment, she really thought her was coming to hit her or pull her by the shoulder and ask her what she was doing here.

Instead he passed by her and went straight to Daniel who was few feet behind her.

He grabbed his cousin by the tie and dragged him outside the room.

Daniel have never seen his cousin so angry before and he knew exactly the reason why he was furious.

"Explain yourself!" Markian ordered.

"I did as you told me, I waited for her outside the Luthel mansion. When Mrs Luthel left, I made sure Livy wasn't with her. Few minutes later, Livy came out of the mansion and got into my car, but she was in tears," Daniel explained.

In a fit rage, Markian hit the wall behind Daniel where he was being interrogated, making a loud noise which startled Daniel a bit.

"And you fell for her? Are you a fool or just plain stupid not to recognise the trap-tears of a drab when you see one?" Markian profusely questioned.

"She is not a drab. On the contrary, she is here today for your sake. She told me that.... " Daniel spoke but was interrupted by another voice he recognized firmly.

"You tried to stop her from coming to her wedding?" Heather questioned disappointedly.

The guys were a bit surprised as to how she appeared there, and to what exactly she had over heard them say.

But they were too preoccupied to be bothered by her presence either.

"Markian, did you ask her not to go ahead with this marriage?" she questioned again when she didn't get a reply to her first question.

She noticed something was off with Livy since the dinner date she had with Markian.

Livy was not so talkative, but on their first outing, even she let lose and had a great time.

But yesterday, there was something different and cold about her.

She barely smiled, not even once and it was just disheartening.

Now she knew why the poor girl was in a sour mood. Markian had told her to leave town on her wedding day.

It wasn't enough she had to go through an arranged marriage, but she also have to face emotional blackmail from the man who is to become her life partner?

How could he be so insensitive and selfish?

"And if I did, what is it to you?" Markian asked rudely.

"If your brother wasn't so stupid and incompetent, she would not have been here now. It's all his fault, and now...now I have to go in there and marry that despicable woman" he concluded distastefully.

"If you weren't my family, I would have exposed you in front of everyone. How could you think of such a vile thing? That innocent sweet girl have been through so much, the lest she expects from you is your assistance and cooperation. You were not the only one who lost a dear one, you know. She lost her twin sister too, and on top of that was forced to marry a lousy, self-conceited man like you. You should be grateful and not trouble her because you don't deserve her one bit" Heather reprimanded.

"And next time you are plotting such shenanigan, keep my brother out of it. I know you really don't care about anyone except yourself, but I do care about my family, you inclusive. So listen carefully, do not try to cross Mrs Luthel, she is not as subtle as you think she is. Better thank Livy she made it here on time, if not, your head would have been on a platter faster than you could say the words; 'I'm made a mistake'. Let's go in Daniel," and with that, she gently dragged her brother back inside the room.

'Innocent? Sweet? What does she know? If only she knew how deceitful Livy was as a human, then I won't be seen as the bad guy here' Markian thought.

He really wants to go in there and put an end to this whole madness, but he can't.

Now that that selfish wench was here, if he makes any wrong move now his family would suffer it.

For the first time in forever, he wish he could just disappear.

He was feeling very heavy with anger, and his chest was hurting from the constriction he was felt since he set his eyes on his soon to be nightmare of a wife.

If a marriage with him is what she wants so badly, then that is what he would give her.

And like he promised her, his last name is the only thing she would get from him, but she would wake up everyday wishing she had never forced him to do this.

Thanks for reading, sorry for the late update. I've been writing exams and just rounded up with them this week. I truly appreciate your patience with my book. I hope to hear your remarks from the comment. ♥ You're the best.

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