Ashley.
I prayed silently that he would accept my proposal. He stared at me for a while and a sudden look of surprise passed across his handsome face.
I waited eagerly for him to say something but nothing came out of his mouth till he took hold of my right hand.
He smiled down at me, saying, "Yes, let's get married then." my heart raced with excitement as I yearned to be in his arms, but I had to control myself.
"Thank you so much Tyler." I appreciated him.
"Hope you are with your necessary documents?" He inquired, a cute smile clung to his lips.
"Yes, I'm with them." I replied affably.
We went to the registry and the registrar conducted the ceremony with no one in attendance left for some persons who had one thing or the other to do at the registrar.
Tyler and I signed the documents and we were issued our marriage certificate. We took selfies together and created a little memory.
Finally, I'm a married woman. This marriage would be an avenue for me to escape the arranged marriage to old Fathom.
I arrived home and my mother was raging with anger. My Dad and my brother were playing some cards and didn't give a damn about my presence.
"Where are you coming from, you fool?" My mother barked, venom dripping from every word.
I was speechless and didn't even know what to say. I stood there looking at her and she gripped my handbag away from me.
"Where is your birth certificate?" She asked, agitated. I can't find it. Where is it?
She turned my bag upside down and emptied everything that was inside. My mother picked up the marriage certificate on the floor, "what is this? So you got hitched with Robinson?"
At the mention of that, my dad paused the card he was playing and came closer to my mum to see for himself.
"Oh, it's not Robinson but Tyler!" They exclaimed.
"Wow. Tyler Williams, the billionaire Ceo of a byte and byte company that just returned." My brother Tom added.
My parents giggled when they heard that. These people don't even care about me nor my wellbeing.
They only care about the financial stability of the person that I'm married to. They haven't even ask me what he does for a living and they are here jubilating. I thought to myself.
"So when is he coming to see us?" My Dad asked, beaming with smiles. "Hope he is coming with a lot of money."
I tilted my head sideways and responded, "Tyler and his mum sell tasty food in the next town."
"What!" They exclaimed in unison.
My Dad, feeling conned, bellowed "You chose to get married to this poor brat over old Fathom?"
"Yes, my happiness matters to me and so I went for who I want to spend the rest of my life with." I lashed out.
"We all know that Old Fathom is old enough to be your father. But he is rich and can give us anything we want." My mother said with an air of condescension.
"After seeing you through school, this is what you paid us with huh." My Dad added.
"You are going to get a divorce now." My Mum roared, feeling bossy.
"And why will I do that?" I asked, surprised.
"Old Fathom gave us a million dollars." She shrieked. "What are we gonna tell him when he comes here seeking for you?"
"Then return the money to him." I mumbled.
"The money isn't here anymore. Your brother will be needing them for a business." My mother bawled.
"You guys can do whatever you want. All I know is that I'm not getting a divorce for whatever reason." I cried out.
I felt something land heavily on my face and my eyes became blurry. "How dare you say a thing like that." I could hear my Dad's faint voice.
The next thing I knew, I was being held by the neck and suffocated with a handkerchief which left me unconscious.
They took me to my room and dumped me on the bed. I stirred awake, wincing in pains, and struggled to stand up, but felt too weak.
I overheard my parents calling Old Fathom to come over the house and take advantage of me. They left the room and locked me inside.
I reached for my bag and quickly grabbed my phone. I dialled Tyler's digits and he picked up on the first ring, "Hello Tyler, please come over to my house. I'm in danger."
"Okay, I will be there shortly." He replied over the phone.
I was still trying to get myself to stand up from the bed when I heard Tyler's voice. I stood up with the last strength left in me, and shouted so that he could hear me since the door was locked from outside.
"Tyler, is that you?" I asked, sniffing in the tears that were almost coming out.
Thank Goodness he came in right on time. He opened the door and rushed to my side
"I'm here with you okay. And I will be taking you home right now. You are not fit to be here." He said, caressing the side of my face.
"Thank you for taking your time out of your busy schedule to come to my aid." I pouted.
"You are always welcome dear." He replied curtly.
And with that, he carried me off from the bed in a bridal style and I was overwhelmed. His embrace was where I needed to be and the comfort that I sought.
Old Fathom can go to hell for all I care.