Chapter 5: Moving in

Everything was going according to plan for Mr. Adams, now that Kevin and Beatrice were no longer an item what could go wrong plus Angela was moving in with them today, with nowhere to hide or run off. "Angela, my darling do you want help with anything?", Mr. Turner asked calmly. "Can you leave me alone (smiles) just for an hour, l want to pack my stuff without the feeling of being rushed, and reminded that I was actually sold when l look at your face", Angela replied in a polite manner. "Okay anything for my daughter", he said and he left. After some hours, Angela was done with her packing and was ready to leave when a knock was heard on their doorstep. "l am coming, damn these people are impatient, it's not like l will run away plus staying with my father is not an option l will choose this time around", she mumbled. She walked towards the door, opened it, and saw someone she could not recognize, but something about her looked and felt like a distant cousin, relative, or maybe even friend. Who are we kidding? She knew exactly who she was, Megan Turner, her little sister who is not so little anymore. A smile rose, but she quickly stopped and pushed her out of her way. "What are you doing here?", Angela asked. "What? Can l not visit my sister anymore? Must l have a reason to see you?", Megan questioned, a frown on her face. "Well (sighs) l am busy right now, and you should probably go before Father sees you", she replied concerned for Megan, but Megan hated how her sister always puts others before herself. "Can you stop worrying for others for a minute, actually for a decade if possible (sighs) l am here to see you and if that animal sees me then so be it! I am big enough to protect you this time around", Megan argued. "Are you here to tell me how to live my life? You are too late for that (sighs) you can go, please leave Megan", Angela replied, her voice indicating exhaustion. "No, l am not leaving Angie (scoffs) so (pushes her off the way and walks inside the house) let's bond, shall we?", Megan said. When she entered her 'once their home' it looked nothing like she expected it was clean, neat, smelt great and the furniture looked new, and the fridge was new. "This house…" Megan finally said, but was stopped by Angela mid-way. "Not the same as before, right? (Smiles) l fixed it and turned hell into my home since it was my only option (exhales) it was hard, l am leaving today because of some circumstances, but l don't want to (looks at Meg) ironic right? A home filled with memories l wouldn't even think twice about erasing, but here l am still attached to it", Angela stated as she sat down on the couch, Megan sat down with her as well after analyzing the house with memories that still haunt her even when she's the one who suffered less, more like didn't at all. "Where are you going?", Megan asked. "l am getting married", she briefly said looking at Megan with a smile that looked like it hurt when she smiled. "Married? (Laughs) girl with whom? You married and l don't know the guy?", Megan questioned. "How would you know him? You weren't in my life for years Meg, of course, you wouldn't know him (laughs and stares at Megan who seemed hurt by what she just said as much as it was the truth), my bad (sighs) he is my arranged partner", Angela spoke waiting for Megan's reaction. "What? Why? How? Who is he? Plus, who arranges marriages these days? Aren't we pass that era?", Megan asked. "Father loaned some money from 'Arranged marriages' believers (laughs lightly) for mother's surgery, but could not pay it back, since they know about his daughter they told him to repay them with my life (exhales and looks at Megan with tears in her eyes) l am moving in with 'my partner's' family today, and after 1 month we are getting married! We were given just 2 weeks to get civil with each other", Angela spoke, her voice almost like a whisper. "Ange", Megan called her name as they cried together, but the real reason Angela was emotional wasn't just because she was married to a stranger, seeing Megan after such a long time made her realize just how lonely she had been, crying in someone's arms looked too unreal for her, remembering that her father wasn't her only family made her emotional, and mostly because after the end of the month they were currently in, her 30days will start moving towards death's door, for a second she finally wanted to live, but then she was stuck with the question 'for whom?' in her mind. "This man (wipes her tears and running nose) he will love you, l am sure of it! If he doesn't l will marry you myself!", Megan declared earning a chuckle from Angela. Their father had been waiting outside not wanting to disturb his daughters and ruin the mood they were in. Megan helped Angela with the packing and cooked the meal for their father to eat later when he was back from wherever he went. After they were done with cooking and cleaning, it was time for Angela to go to her new family who had come to fetch her and her luggage. Megan stood next to her sister's video, kissed her cheek goodbye and they parted ways since their destinations were not the same. "Take care Ange (sobs) this time please choose yourself", Megan mumbled in her car. "l hope you packed everything you need miss (smiles) from today onwards you will not be allowed to come back to your home", Lucas said, he was appointed as Angela's chauffeur. "l wasn't told about that (looks out the window) oh well it's not like l am told anything anyways, my name is Angela Turner, you are?", she asked. "Lucas Smith, but you can call me Lucca, Luke, Lue, or Lucas", Luke replied never dropping his smile. Their journey to the Adams' house wasn't so bad at all, Luke is a social person so it made things less awkward for Angela, not that she didn't like talking, but she was shy about making the first move. Laughs and smiles were exchanged, which made Angela slightly forget about what she was about to do with her life. "Angela, no matter what happens you can talk to me about it, he not a bad guy, but these past days were rough on him (turns and looks at Angela) it is unfair, l know that (pauses) everyone does, but please just for now act like you understand where he comes from, l don't want to send any more women back to their homes after pledging they will never fall in love again or with their marriage finger cut off", Luke voiced out. He had seen a lot of women get their hearts broken making it hard for them to continue with their lives after staying with the Adams for less than a year. "l am prepared for worse actually (pauses) l don't know anything about marriage and have seen examples of them ending badly (looks up) l don't know how to do this (sobs) because this time l want to live my life without any restrictions and fear (cries) l don't know what to do Luke, l don't have the luxury to think about someone else this time around, l want to put 'me' first (sniffs) this is all new to me so please expect some mistakes here and there okay!", Angela stated while grasping on the car sit. "I don't think you have that luxury of thinking about yourself at all Angela, (sighs) l might sound rude, but l don't want you to get your hopes up if he pumpers you up when his parents are around and then later turns into something else okay (smiles lightly) l lost my little sister to this family (scoffs) l tried my best to act like l was over it, but seeing another woman go through the same first steps my sister went through makes me sick", Luke said resting his head on his sit. "l am sorry about your sister, but why are you still here if they killed your sister? Revenge?", Angela asked. "(Laughs) she's not dead (pauses) just mentally ill and l don't have anyone to lean on, we are orphans after all, so l work for them for my sister's recovery (tightens his jaw) at the end of the day, they caused my sister to be ill and here l am still in the same environment (sighs) depending on them to pay for my sister's hospital bills", Lucas said. Angela was quiet for some time before getting out of the car, getting her luggage, and walking around the car to the driver's window. "You are the best brother any sibling could ever ask for, l am sure your sister is fighting for her sanity back just for you to leave this environment and have a normal life (coughs) l can be your little sister while she's fighting for her life!", Angela replied hoping he wouldn't bear the burden alone. She needed that brotherly love she was robbed of off when she was young. "Sure (chuckles) l don't see why not", Lucas agreed, and Angela left to her new 'home'. When she got in, she was welcomed by a tall man wearing a black suit, black shoes, a black tie, and a black belt, everything he had on was black. He took her to their new room that she and Kevin would be sharing and informed her, that she was requested by Mr. Adams as soon as she arrived. "Thank you, Sir, but can l bath first?", Angela asked and the man nodded and went away. After a couple of minutes, the man in black returned, knocked, told her to hurry, and informed her that her soon-to-be husband had arrived. "Okay, since everyone is dressed in black, l should wear white, right?", she asked the tall man. "l think red is best, plus l think it will compliment your pale skin", the tall man added and Angela did just that. The red dress clung to her curves, accentuating every graceful sway as she moved. It's fabric, a rich crimson which seemed to catch the very essence of passion and vitality. The neckline plunged modestly, revealing just enough skin to hint at allure without crossing into immodesty. The bodice hugged her waist, cinched by a belt that emphasized her hourglass figure and the fabric of her dress stretched ever so slightly, embracing the gentle roundness of her belly. The dress whispered of confidence, sensuality, and a fierce elegance that demanded attention. "Well aren't you dressed to impress", Kevin spoke after he took a glance at his wife-to-be. "l was instructed to dress elegantly (scoffs) l see you're having difficulties with differentiating casual and elegant (looks at the tall man behind her) is my husband an idiot? Is he dumb? I can handle dumb and nice, but not dumb and rude", Angela replied. Mr and Mrs Adams joined them after. "You look amazing Angela", Mr. Adams voiced. "Let's get to know each other (smirks) Angela (she looks at Mr. Adams) we are not good people (looks at Kevin) nor is my son, we kill for a living, to survive, to stay on top, and to be feared (holds his glass of wine and sways it) we sell a lot of things, but it's not clothing or a pack of normal booze (pauses) we sell powdered stuff, but not like sugary or sweet (grins) l hope you know what l mean (Angela nods). Great! I thought l had to explain further (chuckles) you must know that you are the future woman of the Adams family (points at her) which means your help will be needed (thinks about something) probably never, either way, you are part of the family", Mr. Adams announced while applauding, and left the room with his wife. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with tension. Kevin's eyes bore into Angela's, his lips twisted in a cruel smile. "You're utterly useless l can tell just by looking at you," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "How do you know that? We just met dear! You are a heartless man!", she replied acting like she was hurt and Kevin wasn't so fond of how she spoke with him. "If it helps you sleep at night you can call me heartless", Kevin said standing up to leave. "l was joking (smiles) can't take a joke?", Angela asked following him to their room. "l will sleep on the floor you can take the bed", he added. "We are grown adults (chuckles) we can share a bed plus it's big", she replied. "Okay", he said.