CHAPTER 167

Martin felt frustruated about Tere's sudden dissapearance. Yet he remembered that there was only one place which he had not searched for Tere, the study where the only people who had the spare keys to the study were Tere, Ruth and him.

Martin immediately ran to the study to search for Tere and was astonished to see Tere searching through his files and documents. Filled with lots of anger, Martin entered the room and held Tere's arm tightly pushing her away from his files.

The thought of the fact that Tere was trying to betray him once again made him to be filled with lots of anger.

" How dare you try to betray me again Tere? After accepting you back in my life? Is this how you decide to betray a dying man? An old man like me" shouted Martin at Tere angrily.

" Are you an old man now Martin? I wasn't even checking through your documents to betray you. I was looking for the signification between my marriage and Haggai's marriage so that I can finally seek a divorce from him. I cannot stand one more time married to  that man Haggai. Please help me divorce him Martin. Otherwise, he will have the right to claim me as his wife and you will be arrested Martin. You don't know to what extents Haggai will be willing to take me back to his arms as soon as he recovers. We both know the rules of Olam town and the fact that a man is not supposed to seduce a married woman" said Tere feeling a little bit worried.

" It means I did not have to doubt you Tere. I am deeply sorry for the little mistrust. You have betrayed me way too many times that I find it hard to trust you even now" said Martin as he assisted Tere to stand.

" What should I do to gain your trust back Martin?" Asked Tere as she caressed Martin on his cheeks.

" I want you to bring my daughter Purist back into my arms. I want her marriage to be considered as null and void. I want my Purist to finally go back to school. That is the only way which you are going to gain my trust my lovely Tere. Now you tell me! Are you willing to bring our daughter back to the closer gates?" Asked Martin.

" Yes Martin. I am ready to bring Purist back to the closer gates" said Tere as she giggled.

" I must say that I am impressed by your answer. The countdown starts now my dear but not too soon. You and I have to go and take the special meal that I asked Lady Ruby to prepare for us " said Martin as he held Tere's arm and led her to the dining.

As soon as they both arrived at the dining table, Martin was astonished to find out that the food had not yet been cooked. He went to the kitchen but did not find Lady Ruby there. The food was still heating in the oven. This made Martin to be filled with lots of anger since he knew the fact that Tere would use the chance to render him useless since it proved that he was not in a position to control his maidens. 

Martin sneaked out of the house to the servant quarters since he did not want Tere to see him. On arrival, he immediately went to Lady Ruby's block and was astonished to find Lady Ruby drinking wine accompanied by Lady Nana.

" I ....I can explain" said Lady Ruby a bit hesitant.

" There is nothing to explain Lady Ruby. Now you will pay dearly for being extremely rude towards me. Lady Nana! Please go and check the food in the oven. If the food is ready, serve Tere and serve me as soon as I come back. Lady Ruby! I am going to teach you the kind of lesson that I am sure you have not been taught in your life for a while now" shouted Martin at Lady Ruby angrily.

Martin immediately held Lady Ruby's arm and led her out of the servant quarters. He signalled his guards to who were guarding at the mansion to come towards him. He therefore ordered them to take Lady Ruby to the beggars corner and ensure that her face was filed with sand.

" Is there no other punishment sir? Why the beggars corner? Nooo...no" shouted lady Ruby as the guards took her to the beggars corner. 

This was a place that lady Ruby hated the most since the man he once loved was taken there and came back as bereaved. He could not stand the harsh conditions at the beggars corner since none of the beggars allowed him to beg yet they wanted him to bring food on the table .

From then onwards, Lady swore that she would never allow anybody to suffer at the beggars corner. She therefore felt that what she swore she would never allow happen to anybody was now happening to her.

Martin on the other hand went back to the dining table and was happy as lark to find out that Tere had began to eat. He immediately ordered for Lady Nana to bring his own share of the meal. 

Lady Nana was truly drink after taking alot sips of wine. Yet she promised herself that she was going to try her level best to so that she would not end up like lady Nana.

She felt that Martin was unfair by his actions. Often, the people who were taken to the beggars corner were people who had committed dangerous crimes such as murder or attempted murder. Many of such criminals did not last there even for a whole week. They ended up dead and no wake was done for them since they had committed a crime. They were thrown at the cell of hell where some of them became ghosts since they wanted revenge. 

On the other hand, those who were sent to the cell of hell also felt like outcasts. Staying in the same place as dead decaying bodies was not was one of the most unique memories that none of them wanted in their life. 

They all considered themselves dead when they were taken there. 

Lady Nana immediately went to the kitchen and brought Martin's food as ordered by Martin. She therefore stood beside them as they ate Incase they needed anything. After all, that was the work of a maiden in Olam town when it came to serving people in royalty and rich people. Such pleasures were the ones Tere had missed that made her to run away from the abandoned house. She was glad that Martin accepted to take her in immediately. Otherwise, she would have already been at the verge of collapsing.

" Thank you. Thank you so much Martin for this and everything. Thank you for trusting me too" said Tere as she held Martin's arm at the dining table.

" I was lonely and had no one to share my sorrows after my mama left to Mambo town. She promised me that she was going to help me get Ruth back but then I found out that she had lied to me. Ruth's engagement party to Ryan is supposed to happen this evening. That means that I have lost her and my mama did not do anything about it" said Martin a bit frustruated.

" But you have not lost me Martin. You and I can curiously attend that engagement party I am sure that Ruth will be too much excited to allow us to be part of her party" said Tere smiling.

" What about the costume colour of the party?" Asked Martin filled with lots of curiosity.

In their towns, in such occasions, those who were invited in such special parties were identified by the costunes they wore which were supposed to be identified by the colour of the party. Therefore, Martin felt that it would be an embarrassment to be chased away from a party yet he took a long time trying to prove to himself that he was fine by the party and the fact that Ruth was getting engaged by Martin. Luckily, a guest from Mambo town arrived at that instant. It was one of the guards who always guarded at the boundaries of mambo town. He was accompanied by one of the guards of the closer gates.

" I have been sent by Ruth Bora. He has told me to invite you for the party and inform you that the costume for the party is purple white. May I now take my leave sir?" Said the guard in a pellucid voice. 

" You may now go Ruth's humble servant or else you might be late for the engagement party if you will be walking back home" said Martin trying to tease the guard.

" I am not walking back home. Ruth and Ryan are waiting for me outside the closer gates to take me back home. I think I may now take my leave" said the guard of mambo town who immediately left and did not dare to give Martin a chance to utter any word.

That was the least of the favours that Ruth felt she could do for Faith in order to maintain her sisterhood with her.  The only thing that Ruth hoped was that Martin would not dare do anything to ruin the engagement party as well as Tere whom she knew hated her the most.

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.