CHAPTER 100
Tere ordered Lady Nana to take to Vela's grave. Lady Nana had no choice than to take her even if she hated Tere. Tere arrived at Vela's grave and was astonished to find out that Vela's grave was cemented.
" Who did this?" Asked Tere filled with lots of curiosity as tears welled down her eyes.
" Martin did this. He did this claiming that vela was his daughter no matter what happened in the past. Since then he has been sending flowers to Vela's grave" said Lady Nana.
" What? That's great. I feel bad that I wasn't here for my daughters burial. Haggai choose that we should not come because he thinks that we both participated in killing our daughter" said Tere as tears welled down her eyes.
Tere fell on Vela's grave and began to cry till Martin raised her up and hugged her. Tere couldn't stop wondering how Martin arrived there and the main reason he was being too caring after all the crimes that Tere had committed against him in the past. This made Tere to push him away from her.
" There is no need for you to be too good to me. I just want you to tell me the main reason why you are doing all this. Of not then Haggai and I will leave this place" said Tere in a pellucid voice.
" I want you to help me bring Ruth back to the closer gates. She is now under the influence of Ryan who happens to be the leader of Mambo community" said Martin who seemed to be desperate about the whole situation.
" I cannot do that. Besides, Ruth and I are not in good terms. Do you think she would even listen to me? Oh! I remember that I have evidence against her. I am sure that she won't hesitate but listen to me. What will I get in return?" Asked Tere laughing annoyingly.
Martin was silent since she had not thought of giving something in return to Tere. He left the graveyard and went back to the mansion. He found Haggai swinging in the chair that Purist and Ruth always claimed that it belonged to Magdalene. He immediately pushed him away from there.
" Just because I allowed you to come back to the closer gates then it does not give you the right to sit on this chair. Learn to know your place in the closer gates or else you will be shattered and declined your rights once again" said Martin angrily.
He therefore left to his study. He felt bad that his planned had failed since he was not planning to make any deal with Tere. He assured himself that he would send Haggai and Tere out of the closer gates soon but changed his mind that he would chase then out once he got hold of the evidence that Tere was speaking about.
Ruth and Ryan assisted each other till they finished cooking. The set the table and sat on the dining table asking each other questions since they needed to know each other well.
" Why did you decide to get married to Martin at the age of sixteen?" Asked Ryan filled with lots of curiosity.
Ruth was astonished by Ryan's questions. Anyway, she felt that she needed to answer in order for Ryan to believe that she trusted her.
" I got married at the age of sixteen because my father wanted to. He wanted me to save my siblings from poverty and allow them to go to school. Later on, I realized that he did all this for money and not for my siblings as they way he persuaded me to. But my father and siblings were all killed by Martin's ex-wife and since then I have never seeked justice for them. The pain still pains in my heart" said Ruth as she cried out loud.
Ryan went towards her and tried to comfort her by making Ruth to lie on his chest. This made Ruth to feel his heart beating faster. Ruth therefore looked at Ryan filled with lots of worries.
" Why is your heart beating faster Ryan? Are you alright?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of curiosity.
" Nothing! I think Lawrence and Vivian have arrived" said Ryan who heard the sound of their car entering the mansion.
They started serving foods into various plates. Lawrence and Vivian entered the dining and were astonished that the food had already been cooked. It smelt delicious which made them to start eating without even washing their hands. On seeing this, Ruth began to laugh which angered Vivian.
" What is the problem with you? Were you not taught table etiquette? No wonder the people of Olam community do not take care of their marriages" said Vivian laughing annoyingly.
" Yes! That's true and I am really proud to come from that part of the community where women are allowed to do what they want. What about yours? You cannot even cook for your husband and prefer to buy food. It's such a shame that a guest has overtaken your position in the family" said Ruth laughing annoyingly too.
Vivian stoop up from her dining chair and went towards Ruth and slapped. Ruth got angry at her and slapped her too. They started fighting with each other and Ryan did not bother to stop them. Ruth was filled with lots of anger for Vivian and hit Vivian hard till Vivian fell on the floor. On seeing this, Lawrence went towards them and wanted to slap Ruth but Ruth stopped him by holding his arm tightly and pushing him towards Vivian till he fell on the floor.
" Women of Olam community might not be able to maintain their marriages but they cannot a man to hit them not especially somebody who is as slow witted as you" said Ruth pointing at Lawrence.
She immediately went back to her dining chair and remained silent since she felt that she had crossed her boundaries as a guest in the mansion. She felt that Ryan would chase her away from the mansion and was ready to suffer the consequences. Instead, Ruth was astonished on seeing Ryan clapping his hands while smiling.
" Why did you have to ruin our dinner like this Ruth? Why don't you assist them to get up and come back to eat? We cannot afford to let this delicious food get wasted" said Ryan who continued eating.
Ruth decided assist Vivian and Lawrence according to Ryan's request to get up who did not stop looking at her angrily. This made Ruth to fear since she could see the anger on their eyes. Lawrence and Vivian went back to the dining table and continued eating.
" Listen! I am sorry for what I have done. I will be leaving this house tomorrow morning and I promise I will never be a bother to all of you ever again. I do not have any idea of the wrongs I have done to all of you. I only plead for all of you to forgive me" said Ruth who seemed apologetic.
Ruth immediately left the dining table and went to her guest room. She started parking the clothes that Martin had bought for her in the suitcase. At that instant, Ruth heard a knock at the door. She went to open the door and was surprised to find out that it was Vivian.
" You! What do you want from me?" Asked Ruth in a pellucid voice.
" I have come to apologize to you. I can see in my eyes how much Ryan loves you and he has never look at a woman the same way that he looks at you. If you leave then he will be too much hurt. I am begging you to stay" said Vivian as she wanted to kneel down but Ruth stopped her.
" No Vivian. I understand that it is Ryan who has pursuaded you to come and tell me all this because he valued our friendship. My mother taught me that the first impression someone makes on you really means a lot. I not belong here and that is why I have to leave" said Ruth in a calm voice .
" I am begging you to stay and forgive me. Ryan has made me understand that you are really a good person. I even like you food and wish that you would cook for us everyday. Please forgive me" said Vivian as tears welled down her eyes as she knelt down.
" Alright! Please stand up. I am not going anywhere. I will be right here and I will cook the delicious food as always. Do you want me to prove to you that I am staying?" Asked Ruth since she felt that Vivian was not yet convinced by her decision.
She immediately held Vivian's arm and led her inside the guest room. She started unpacking the clothes from the suitcase and arranging them back to the closet.
' You do not know what awaits you. Ryan has threatened to get me out of this house if you leave but I will make you leave without Ryan's threats' Vivian though as she sat on top of the bed smiling.
This meant that Vivian made her decision to seek forgiveness through Ryan's threats.
MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.