CHAPTER 168

As much as Ruth decided to invite Martin at her engagement party, she was still afraid by the fact that Martin might do something to destroy the engagement party as well as Tere.

Both Ryan and Martin decided to go to Ruth's home where Magdalene was burried. Ruth wanted to give her the good news that she was finally getting engaged and soon married.

Yet she felt bad going back home once again. A lot of memories still ran through her mind. Both worst and good memories.

She remembered how bad she spoke to Purist and Akeshia when they came to seek for help from her in order not allow Purist to get married at the age of sixteen. Since then, she kept blaming herself for not helping Purist. Maybe if she could have acted earlier, she could have prevented that marriage to take place. 

As soon as they arrived at Ruth's home, Ruth immediately went to Magdalene's grave accompanied by Ryan. She was happy as a lark to find out that no one had tampered with Magdalene's grave. This made her to be proud of herself but at the same time sad. She never thought that she could loose her own family in the middle of the war for love that she knew she didn't have to fight for. If she could had choosen to walk away from the war and come back to Olam town that day, maybe Magdalene would have been alive and healthy.

" I miss her. I really miss my grandma. She was my confidence and my only hope for living apart from mama. I will make sure that I avenge her death. Blood will only be avenged by blood the same way they usually say that those who live by the sword die by the sword" said Ruth in a pellucid voice. 

" You are soon becoming my wife and whichever war you will have to fight, I will have no choice than to fight beside you. Magdalene must be avenged and I will make sure that it happens as soon as we get married. The vengeance of her death will be my wedding gift to you Ruth" said Ryan.

" What if it happens to be somebody from your family? Will you still avenge my grandma's death? I know how much you love your family and the fact that you would never want anything to ruin that love" said Ruth as she looked at Ryan filled with lots of curiosity. 

" This is a matter of killing someone and not any other matter. Such matters are delicate in such a way that murderers should be made to pay immediately. I have already promised you that that will be my wedding gift and that gift is what you will get without any hesitations" said Ryan smiling.

" Thank you so much Ryan. I don't know what I did in this world to deserve a man such as you. I am a priviledged woman and today you have proved to me that I am a priviledged woman indeed" said Ruth as she hugged Ryan as tears of joy welled down her eyes but were suddenly stopped by Haggai who came in between them.

Haggai forcefully held Ruth's arm tightly and pushed her towards him which made her to be filled with lots of fear despite always being confident all the time. This was simply because Haggai was strong and that was the main reason why he was declared as a strong at the closer gates. Till now, people still fear him because of his fighting skills. Haggai had escaped from the hospital even after being told that he was still weak.

He knew that the only thing he needed to do was to get Tere back at any lengths. That was when he came back to the closer gates and saw Ruth driving out  after inviting Martin to her engagement party then followed her to her grandma's house inorder to be able to kidnap her and use her as a tool of getting Tere back since he knew that Martin still loved Ruth.

" What do you want from me Haggai?" said Ruth a bit hesitant as she tried to defend herself from Haggai by removing her arms yet it made Haggai to hold her even more tighter. 

" You are the one I want and it is simply because you are going to help me achieve something in my life. You are going to help me get my Tere back. She can't leave me because she wants to get back to the rich kind of life she was living at the closer gates before. I know that Martin still loves and can do anything for you. That is the main reason why you are going to trade with Tere today. They threw outside the hospital today but as soon as I get Tere back, I will throw Martin at the abandoned house as a sign of revenge and live at the closer gates like a complete family with my Tere. That's why only you will have too....." Said Haggai but Ryan suddenly interrupted.

" My wife is not going anywhere. We are supposed to have an engagement party at mambo town and I won't let you ruin that for me. I have worked so hard to make sure that she becomes my wife and that is the main reason why I am not going to let you ruin that for me. Do you understand me?" Asked Ryan filled with lots of anger. 

" That is if you can defeat me in one on one war. If I win, I take Ruth a long with and give her away to Martin. If you win, you take Ruth a long with you and enjoy the engagement party. Are you in for the race?" Asked Haggai as Ryan nodded his head in agreement.

Ryan's decision made Ruth to be filled with lots of fear. Ruth knew that it was not easy to defeat somebody like Haggai. He was a skilled warrior who won many of Olam town wars whereas Ryan was not a perfect skilled warrior. 

" Please don't do it Ryan. Let me go with him as you go back to Mambo town. I promise that I will follow you there even before our engagement party starts and you will put on my engagement dress just like I promised you. I really don't want a bridegroom to be with bruises all over his body and face" Ruth pleaded with Ryan in a pellucid voice. 

" Okay! I want to give you a benefit of doubt but I promise to come back and fight for you if you delay for the engagement party. Do you clearly understand what I am saying?" Asked Ryan in a serious tone.

" Yes I do Martin and I promise to keep my promise" said Ruth. 

Haggai immediately left Ruth's house accompanied by Ruth. Ryan on the other hand was left with no choice than to go back to Mambo town. 

Haggai boardered a taxi to the closer gates still holding Ruth's arm tightly preventing her from escaping. As soon as they entered, Ruth immediately sat and finally managed to remove her arms from Haggai.

" I thought you are the strongest warrior at the closer gates. Why then do you have to use me to fight your battles got me? Am I really necessary in this game of yours? Let me dissapoint you a little. Martin no longer loves me because he feels that I am the one who made Faith leave and now aunt Akeshia has left too. They both live with me at the mansion at mambo town" said Ruth in a pellucid voice.

" Would you please stop manipulating me to let you go? I know for a fact that Martin does not care about you at all but I know that his heart can never bear to see you hurt at all. Drive faster . We have to reach at the closer gates before those two fools leave the closer gates" said Haggai.

The taxi driver immediately drove faster and arrived at the closer gates in less than ten minutes. Both Ruth and Haggai highlighted the taxi and immediately entered the closer gates without any denial from the guards guarding outside the closer gates. Haggai decided to take Ruth to the mansion. 

As soon as they arrived at the mansion, they found Tere and Haggai still seated at the dining. They had already finished taking their meals. Both Martin and Tere were tickling each other as they kept laughing.

" Tere! Tere! The love if my life. Are you going to come with me?" Asked Haggai as he went towards both Martin and Tere as he held a knife at Ruth holding her hand tightly. 

" Why are you touching my Ruth? Leave Ruth alone or else....." Said Martin but Haggai suddenly interrupted.

" Or else what Martin. You are the one who has started this war. You are now holding my own wife in your arms and I can sue you for that. Do you know I can really do that? Now give me the woman I love and I am going to hand over to you the woman that you love" said Haggai in a commanding voice.

Both Martin and Tere widened their eyes in disbelief. Martin was worried that Ruth would be hurt if he chose Tere on the other hand Tere was worried that Martin would choose Ruth and surrender her off to Haggai. 

Ruth seemed confident. It was as if she did not feel that her life was in danger. All she did was to smile waiting for Martin's decision. 

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.