Chapter 4

 HER DECISION 

STILL ON FLASHBACK

" Why don't you call her up and ask her about it? I would have loved to stay to chat with you but I have something to do " Peter said as he walked while leaving Marie there.

Still reeling from the whole thing, Marie went into the restroom and immediately pulled out her phone to call Develene but there was no response.

She can't believe that she's been lied to, Develene couldn't have been cruel to have allowed her to come in her place only for her to do that.

She was still shaking when she heard the restroom door being knocked on. 

"Develene are you in there? You are taking too long " she heard Romeo calling her and she tried to calm herself not wanting him to notice a thing.

Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the restroom and stared at the man Develene was meant to marry.

"You were taking too long in there," he told her crisply.

"Can you do me a favour?" She asked.

"If it's within my power" he replied.

"Can you take me home?" she said to him.

"Why? Are you bored with me?" He asked.

"Just take me home, please," she told him and seeing the urgency in her eyes, he decided to do that.

Marie sat in the car while her thoughts drifted away, she didn't even notice Romeo who kept staring at her through the whole ride.

As soon as the car stopped in front of Develene parent's home, she tried to leave only for him to take hold of her hand.

"What's wrong? You've been like that ever since you left the rest room" he said.

"You don't have to concern yourself about what happens to me. Am just a fake afterl" she said and not waiting to see Romeo's reaction to her words, she left the car heading straight to her room.

"A fake? What does mean?" Romeo muttered and stared at the mansion before driving off still wondering what she meant by fake.

As soon as she got to her room, she called Develene again and still there was no reply.

Remembering something Peter told her, she decided to call her boss who owned the restaurant she used to work in in Texas.

"Marie? Marie quit her job and left the restaurant" she heard her boss say.

"And since how long has Marie quit her job?" She asked.

"Days ago. Look I have to get back to work, I suggest you call Marie yourself and ask " her boss said before ending the call.

Develene had lied to her, she had told her to come here pretending to be her while she would be pretending to be Marie.

And while she had tried her best to help Develene, Develene had only created a mess for her back in Texas.

Marie lay on the bed crying and feeling hurt. She had trusted a friend only to be betrayed.

***********

A WEEK LATER~ ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT

Marie sat on the bed dialling Develene number for the last time and when she received no answer as always. She ended the call and carried her suitcase which was now filled only with the clothing she bought.

It's been a week since she found out about Develene's lies and though she knew that she owed no loyalty to Develene and should have left on the same day she learnt the truth, she still stayed.

She hoped that somehow Develene would call her or perhaps try to reach her in some way but there was nothing and now a week has gone by and so it's time for her to go home.

Taking her luggage she got downstairs only to see Develene parents staring at her.

"What's going on?" Hannah asked.

"Am sorry but all this has been a farce" she said softly.

"What do you mean by farce?" Develene father asked.

"Am not Develene, my real name is Marie Raymond, am just a friend who was sent here by Develene to pretend to be her" Marie confessed while the two people standing in front of her stared at her with shock.

"Say that again" A voice demanded suddenly and they all turned to stare at Romeo who stood by the doorway staring at them.

"What did you just say?" He asked as he walked further into the room.

Ever since the day she found out the truth, she hadn't seen Romeo since then and that's because he had an important meeting he was attending in another country.

"Am glad that you are here. It's time that you all know the truth" she said and a while later Develene parents sat on the sofa shocked while Romeo stood by the window, gazing out into the night without saying a thing.

"What about our daughter? Where is she?" Hannah asked.

"I have no idea. After finding out about her deceit, I called and up till this moment, she hasn't picked up" Marie told her.

"You should have told us sooner! You lied your way here and pretended to be our child when you are nothing but an imposter" Hannah said to her harshly.

"Yes, I am an imposter. An imposter who only wanted to help your daughter but am glad that you know the truth now. It's time I get going" she said as she stood up to leave.

She was almost at the door when someone took hold of her hand, she turned to see that it was Romeo.

"You aren't going anywhere," he told her softly.

"Haven't you been listening to me at all? Am not the real Develene" she told him.

"And? The real Develene isn't here and you are here and therefore you will stay and keep on being Develene until we find her" he said harshly.

"I can't stay here. I have my own life to live and....."

"You should have thought of that before taking someone else identity" He cut into her words roughly.

"You can't make me stay," she told him fiercely 

"Really? Watch me then" he said as he moved away from her to dial Willow's number.

"Bring some of your men to my fiancee's house. The reason is that there is someone here I need you to guard" he said staring at Marie.

Knowing that if Willow arrives with the guard there would be no way for her to leave, she thought of an escape.

She saw his car keys on the table where he left them earlier moving towards them, she picked them up and dashed out of the house not bothering to take her suitcase.

Her bag had all she needed and it was right on her arm, she could hear them calling after her and immediately she got into the car, she saw Romeo running out of the house but she quickly drove off.

She was still driving when she got busy with her thoughts, If she made it to the airport on time, she would be able to leave without them stopping her.

She was still driving fast when the rain began to pour and getting sidetracked, she found herself driving straight into the front of a lorry and then it was darkness.

**************

~BACK TO THE PRESENT MOMENT~

On hearing the things Romeo told her, Marie still in her wedding gown sighed out softly.

"The rest you know. You woke up and I don't know if it's luck on your side cause you forget the whole thing or you might probably be lying like you did" Romeo said also dressed in his suit and all ready for their wedding which would be taking place that day.

"Am not lying. I can't remember a thing and even when you've explained now, I still don't remember but am sorry, on behalf of Develene and myself, am sorry" she apologised.

"Your apology won't fix a thing. It's your action that will do" he told her suddenly.

"What do you mean by my action?"

"For now you are Develene 'cause the real Develene is still nowhere to be found, you have to play her role and continue to act like her. So our wedding will be taking place today" he said harshly.

"What? Even after everything you still want to marry me?" Marie asked looking stricken.

"I do and don't think that it's because I love you or all that shit! It's because you owe me. You and Develene lied to me and one thing I hate most is lies. You will be the one taking Develene's blame and that is through marriage to me" she told him.

"This is crazy! I don't want to marry you" she said as she pulled off her veil.

"You will be marrying me, Marie. I won't let you make a fool of me and stand me up on the altar, my mother and grandmother are out there waiting.

Even though my marriage to you is a bit of a secret, I won't let you make me look like a fool" he replied as he moved towards her putting the veil back on her hair.

The two of them stood gazing at each other.

"Don't worry! I told you once that I desire you right? Well, I don't anymore and you are quite safe after the wedding. I wouldn't want to sleep with someone who lies" he told her as he moved away from her.

"Make yourself look good, Develene father will come take you to the altar where I will be waiting for you. Don't try to act smart cause I won't take it from you" he told her before walking out of the room.

Marie sat down back still reeling from everything Romeo told her.

She can't believe everything he told her and though she's been trying to remember, she just can't remember.

The door opened and Develene's father walked into the room.

"Are you ready?" He asked softly and she nodded.

"Am sorry. If I had my way, you wouldn't be marrying him" he told her softly.

"It's okay. This was destined to happen ever since I decided to help your daughter" she thought as she forced a smile on her face.

Of all the things that happened. Develene father has been a true father to her, he made her feel safe and also getting to know Romeo's mother and grandmother has been the best time of her life.

They've been nothing but kind to her and she just couldn't let them down by deciding to leave and even though she tries to leave, Romeo wouldn't allow that to happen, she thought.

She's made her decision, she will marry Romeo.