CHAPTER 12: Jealousy

Natalie slowly opened her eyes, sensing a presence in the room. She sat up straight, rubbing her swollen eyes. How had she fallen asleep? She had waited for Victor to come home, but he never did.

Memories of her tearful phone call with her mother flooded back. Her mother's words still lingered in her mind. "Be patient with him, Natalie." But how long was she supposed to be patient? They were married, after all. It might have been an arranged marriage, but couldn't they at least try to make it work? She had been forced into this marriage, just like Victor.

"Morning," Natalie said softly, still sitting on the bed. Victor glanced at her briefly, then ignored her. He quietly put on his watch, the silence between them thick and heavy.

"Can we talk, please." She said tearfully. Her heart was heavy. The rejection she was getting from him was tearing her apart.

"About what?"

She took a deep breath. "About us." She said. "About this marriage. "

He paused then turned to her, his eyes cold. "There is nothing to talk about. We are married, aren't we?" He raised an eyebrow. He was already getting bored. Now that the night was over, he wanted to get back to searching for Mercy. Her kidnappers hadn't made any contact or any demands and that worried him even more.

Natalie felt a lump form on her throat. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him. She took a deep breath, holding them back. She had hoped for more but she wasn't going to push him. She would only hurt herself further.

She took a deep breath. "I see. I will have my things moved out." She walked to the bathroom, loneliness creeping in. She missed her room, she missed her home. This was supposed to be her new home but it felt nothing like a home.

**

Victor stared at the bathroom door a while after Natalie had disappeared through it. He shouldn't feel bad for telling her how he felt. He had made it clear from the get go that he wanted nothing to do with her or this sham of a marriage, but he couldn't help but feel bad for the way he spoke to her. Maybe he should have told her in a nicer way, without hurting her feelings. He sighed frustrated. Why did he care about her feelings anyway? He never cared about anyone's feelings before.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him back to reality. He fished it out and quickly answered.

"Yes.."

"There is a girl claiming you raped her."

Victor chuckled darkly then raised a brow. "Is that so?"

"She claims to have evidence and....she was in a pretty bad shape when she arrived. She was hysterical. They have just taken her to a doctor for further examination. The police are on their way to your house right to arrest

Victor sat on the bed, the phone still pressed against his ear.

"I was just giving you a heads up since i can't do anything about it. If it was any other case i would have helped, not this one. Rape is a big deal and you know how the police have been waiting for you to slip up so they can lock you in while gathering for more evidence. This is big for them and they have already made it public. I'm afraid it's beyond me now."

Vic hung up the phone and sighed. He wasn't worried about being arrested. He knew Elijah would be furious and he lived to piss him off, but the timing was bad. Mercy was still out there and he needed to find her.

He chuckled again, still in disbelief. He never thought she would stoop that low. He knew she had caught feelings but he chose to ignore it. She felt betrayed and she felt the need to retaliate. He had to give it to her, she really caught him by surprise, something that rarely happens to him but that was the stupidiest mistake she had ever made her whole life. He was going hunt her down, if Eliah doesn't get to her first.

*

A while later, he heard the police sirene wailing from a distance. Great! They just had to make a scene and attract unnecessary attention. Natalie walked in the bedroom, her body wrapped with a white towel.

"What's going on?" She asked, her voice laced with concern.

He sighed. "Its nothing you should be worried about, sweetheart."

"We are married, Victor." She snapped. "You might not consider me as your wife but that doesn't change the fact that you are my husband and i am your wife by law. You don't love me and that's fine but if the police came here knocking at our door, i want to know what they want and who they are looking for because it affects both of us."

Victor rubbed his face frustrated. She was right though he was not going to admit. "They want to take me in for questioning."

"What did you do?"

"Apparently, i raped someone."

Natalie gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Rape?

"You forced yourself on someone? On your wedding night?" To say she was shocked would be an understatement. She never thought he would...she couldn't even bring herself to say it. Was this the monster she was married to?

Victor quietly studied her expression. He chuckled shaking his head then stood up and walked out. He didn't have time to explain himself, especially to her.

With his hands buried inside his pockets, he magestically walked to the gate, wanting to meet the police there. He almost rolled his eyes. They just had to be dramatic. What was the need for three vans? Its not like he was going to run or try to fight them. He smirked as they jumped off the vans, armed with their guns.

One of them walked forward, handcuffs dangling in his hands and his face stern. "Victor, you are under arrest for the alleged rape of Tariro Mashona. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cant afford one the state will provide one for you." He walked behind Victor, wanting to cuff him but his hands remained in his pockets.

"If dare put you fucking filth hands on me, i will skin you alive." He said, his voice low and cold.

"Are you threatening an officer of the law?"

Vic chuckled. "No. I'm merely making a promise." At the corner of his eyes, he noticed a few people with their phones out, taking pictures and videos. He shook his head. Elijah was going to give him an earful.

He pushed the officer with the handcuffs to the side and jumped into the back of the police van. Within minutes they took off, the annoying sirene still wailing.

**

Tariro sat on the bed, her phone in her hands as she went through her Facebook time line. She came across a shared article with a picture of Victor sitting in a police van attached to it. Her heart skipped a bit as her hands shook so much she almost dropped her phone.

"SHOCKING TWIST: Son of a billionaire businessman arrested for rape just hours after the wedding." She read the headline.

What had she done? She allowed her jealousy to cloud her judgement and now she was sending an innocent man to jail. Why couldn't she just take the money and leave? Why couldn't she say no to him when he came over? Tears filled her eyes as her eyes got stuck on the picture. She scrolled through the comments.

Comment 1: That girl is lying. Victor is a lot of things but rapist isn't one of them.

Comment 2: Who is this girl? I bet she was a side thing and she got jealous because he married someone else.

Comment 3: You all are defending him but he might have done it. People are evil out there🤷‍♀️.

Comment 4: Girl, have you seen the guy? Have you seen how many girls throw themselves at him everyday? There are girls who would do anything just to have a one night with him.

Comment 5: I admit that maybe his sex style is not normal but rape? That's a big no.

Comment 6: Victor should see how you are all defending him 😂😂.

Comment 7: I wonder how his wife must be feeling. They just got married and this happens.

Tariro closed the comment section, tears rolling down her face. They were right. She got jealous because he married someone else then came to fuck her like she was a whore and had the nerve to tell her that his personal life had nothing to do with her. She should have taken the rejection like a big girl but instead she chose to be bitter. He never even once showed her that he loved her or cared for her.

Her heart pounded even further as she thought of Elijah. He was going to come after her and kill her. She wasn't safe. She should have thought things through. She needed to leave. She quickly went to her closet and took out her back, the one she got from Elijah. She unzipped it and shoved her important documents inside then zipped it. She changed her clothes just her door bursted open. She froze as the hairs of her back stood.

"Tariro, did you see the news?" Anashe said.

Tariro released a sigh of relief. For a moment there she thought Elijah had already came for her.

"Don't scare me like that ever again. "

"Sorry. This just couldn't wait. Victor was arrested for rape 30 minutes ago. He is in police custody as we speak."

"I saw it on Facebook." She said putting on her sneakers.

Anashe's eyes caught a glimpse of the sports bag on the bed and her eyes widened as realization hit her.

"You are the reason he was arrested aren't you? Please tell me its not you."

Tears filled Tariro's eyes. "You don't understand..."

"Understand what Tariro. " she snapped. "That you caught feelings for a married man? You knew all along that he was engaged and now you are angry because he is married? Do you realise what you have done? Do you know who Victor is? How could you be so stupid. Oh god you are so dead. He will be out before the end of today and he going to come after you with everything he has if his father doesn't get to you first. You messed with the wrong family sweetheart and you are on your own." She walked out and banged the door behind her.

Tariro broke down crying. How did she complicate her life like this? She quickly wiped away her tears. There was no time for tears, she was going to cry later. She needed to be out of Zimbabwe as soon as possible. She picked the bag and walked out.

**

Elijah's phone buzzed and he hesitantly picked it up. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Murau.."

"What is this i'm hearing, Dube? I married my daughter off to your son just yesterday. You promised me that she would be well taken care of. Do you realize that my reputation is on the line here?"

Elijah rubbed his nose, anger building inside him. Victor always knew how to piss him off. If it were up to him, he would let him rot in that prison but there were a lot of things on the line and he had to get him out, as soon as possible.

"I understand how this looks like-"

"You don't understand anything, Dube. Your son was out there doing god knows what on the night he was supposed to be home with his wife, my daughter! And now he is going to ruin my reputation because of his stupid decisions. Did i make a mistake by trusting you with my baby girl."

"I'm going to handle it, Murau. I swear this will be the last time something like this happens."

"You better. I don't need this ruining things for me.. The elections a few months away. Make this go away , Dube." The call cut.

Elijah cussed under his breath, making a call.

**

Victor sat crossedlegged on the chair. An officer made his way in, a small kit in his hands. He wore his gloves, stealing glances at Vic who sat like he owned the place.

"I'm going to swab you. Can you please open your mouth."

Victor cocked his head to the side. "No." He said.

The officer looked at him surprised. "Refusing will be withholding the evidence and it can be used against you in court." He didn't know why he was explaining it to him, he was just doing his job and this man was making it difficult for him.

Victor shrugged. "Okay."

He huffed in frustration. He knew there was no way of getting to him and ge didn't want to be on the wrong side of this guy so he took his things and walked out.

A while later a detective who had been trying to build a case against him walked in. He sat on the desk, his eyes on Victor. Victor could feel the hate from his intense gaze but he simply did not care.

"I hear you are refusing to co-operate."

Victor remained quiet, his eyes locked on the detective's.

"By the way, i am detective Chadoka."

Silence.

"You know keeping quiet will not get you out of this right? Its best you answer our questions so we can get this over and done with. Where were you last night?" Chadoka fired a question but Vic remained silent which was getting on his nerves.

"I asked you a question! Where were you last night!"

Victor smirked then leaned back on the chair. Getting under people's skin was his speciality and he had the whole day....well at least until Elijah could get him out