CHAPTER 54

Everybody had a motive to do that but only one person was guilty. 

Martin went to check on the wedding outfit. They were all wondering who had bought it. Surprisingly, a slim , light skin and a bit tall girl came after. She had googles in her eyes and therefore it was hard for anybody to describe her. She was also carrying clothes luggage in her arm. She immediately dropped them as soon as she saw Martin and ran as fast as she could to hug him.

Ruth looked at the both of them devastated. They seemed happy more than they have ever felt .

" Why did you not tell me that you are coming back to the closer gates? Why did you not tell me that you are graduating?" Said Martin who seemed to be surprised. 

" I sent it to Tere. I thought Tere had actually told you everything. Where is Tere? Don't tell me that Tere has gone into hiding as soon as she saw me. I know it's been many years Martin" said Faith smiling. 

Martin was silent. 

It had been many years since Faith left the closer gates and had no any fact that she wanted to come back home. Faith was Martin's younger sister. She had brought the wedding dress since she had promised Tere that she would bring it as a gift for her wedding. 

Martin asked Lady Ruby and Lady Nana to take the luggages to the guest room. Lady Akeshia went to the dining to prepare sumptuous meal for the family and the guest. 

Faith was escorted by the family to the garden. 

" Where is Tere? It's very surprising that I have not heard from her for a very long time. And who are these people? This young girl and the old granny" asked Faith filled with lots of curiosity. 

" The young girl is my new wife Ruth. The surprising news is that Tere and I are no longer together but we have a daughter Purist who is still in her room and has no idea that you are around"

" Yeah I do remember. I left when she was only two months old . I am sure that she is indeed grown up my beloved brother. I just wonder how things changed here at the mansion. Tell me where Tere is Martin, she and I have so many things to talk about. It has been long since we met each other . My sister-in-law must really be jovial more than usual. What is this? Did you just tell me that this young girl Ruth is your wife?" Everybody looked at her astonished..

Magdalene kept listening to them as she nodded her head in disbelief. Yet she knew the truth about what had really happened, she wanted to explain to Faith but knew that she was not in the right position to do so..

" Tere committed adultery and got punished into the cell of hell. Out of frustruation, I married Ruth a minor and fell in love with her. When Tere came out of the cell of hell, she found out that I was married. She tried to kill Ruth by throwing her away from the balcony. And I believe that you know what the rules of the land state. She had to go and live like a beggar for the rest of her life till the day she'd die. She has choosen her life and has the worst life for her son" said Martin.

Faith widened her eyes in disbelief. It was as if she doubted what she was told. 

" I need to see Tere right away. I know Purist knows where she is and she can take me there" said Faith in a pellucid voice. 

" Not my Purist. You can go into the beggars sanctuary with anybody else but not my daughter Purist. She only belongs to me and that is my final decision" said Martin who angrily left to Purist's room since he was afraid that Faith might sneak her any time and take her to Tere. 

On the other hand, Ruth offered to escort Faith to the to the beggars corner. Faith gladly accepted the offer since she wanted to desperately have a conversation with Tere. They both arrived there and looked for Tere but Tere was nowhere to be found. They asked the beggars around who told them that they had not seen her and even the maiden who had brought food for her did not see them too. 

Ruth and Faith widened their eyes in disbelief. It was as if Faith was blaming for everything that had happened. Ruth did not seem to blame herself or see the change in Faith's face. She instead insisted that they should go back home. 

They decided to go back home but on arrival they were surprised to find Tere at the mansion with her son. Haggai was holding a machete on Tere but he seemed to be hesitant. Martin was insisting that Tere should now be thrown out of the closer gates . He claimed that was his last judgement. 

Faith tried to change his mind but Martin could not listen to her. She still liked Tere and still wanted Tere to be her sister-in-law like she used to be. 

Faith was escorted by Lady Nana into the guest room where her luggages were kept like the way Lady Nana was instructed by Martin. Tere was escorted by Haggai out of the closer gates who helped her with some money in order for her to sustain herself for a little while. 

" Thank you so much Haggai. I am truly glad for everything that you have done for me......and for.....our....son. I promise to take good care of him as we await your arrival in our village" said Tere who boardered a taxi and left. 

He went back to the mansion and found everyone was quiet. He found Faith soul searching at the garden and wanted to have a conversation with her but changed his mind immediately he saw Ruth approaching Faith. 

" Faith! Faith! Faith! Please talk to me" Ruth pleaded with Faith who pretended not to be listening to her. 

On seeing this , Ruth decided to leave but Faith held her arm and urged her to sit beside her. 

" When I brought the wedding dress, I thought that Tere would be the one to wear it. When we first came into the closer gates, my brother and I used to be beggars. We had apsalutely not until we met Tere who brought all this treasures to my brother. She insisted that I should go and study in states. And now I come back and find that you are married to my brother and that only woman whom I take as my only mother is gone and is chased out of her own land" said Faith angrily. 

She took a knife from her pocket and placed it on Ruth's neck. She then changed it and placed it on her chest and stabbed her. Rith staggered and fell on the ground. 

" J...u..st love....me" those were the last words that Ruth said before she fell on the ground. 

Faith immediately got back to her senses, she had already stabbed that poor girl. That little girl whom Martin treasured so much. 

She ran as fast as she could to her room and washed the knife. She therefore hid the knife under the mattress on her bed. She changed her clothes and dressed on her sleeping gown. She therefore went to the kitchen to help Lady Akeshia to prepare the next day's breakfast. 

Martin looked around the house for Martin but did not find her anywhere. He went to the garden and out of frustruation Faith followed him to help him look for Ruth but they did not find Ruth at the garden. 

Faith seemed a little bit hesitant but showed a lot of confidence immediately Martin looked at her .

" I know of how much you do love her brother. We will try to find out the whole truth and at least come to the bottom of something. I do believe she has not left the closer gates. I saw it in her eyes of how much she indeed loved you" said Faith giving Martin alot of hopes that everything was going to be alright. 

" Thank you Faith but I will not sleep till I find my wife. I am sure that I will find my wife as soon as possible. She has never left the closer gates without my permission. I am sure that everything will alright soon. I can do without her faith" said Martin who sat on the ground. 

Faith tried to hug him but Martin resisted. Martin did not want anything to continue straining him. 

He asked Faith to leave the place. Faith left since she knew that her brother did not want to be worried more and to be disturbed for anything. 

" I just hope you will be okay brother. I just hope so" said Faith who left. 

She could not stop crying after she saw how much much Martin loved Ruth and yet she had stabbed her. 

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.