Elena’s Confusion
His tone had grown increasingly stern, and the tension in the room was palpable. Mr. Johnson faltered, struggling to form a coherent response under the weight of Mr. Lugard's pointed accusations, while Jane's face flushed with frustration, her mother nervously gripping her arm.
Ford remained silent, his mind lingering on Elena's reaction. No matter what was happening around him, one thing was certain—this situation was far from this.
Ford couldn't help but notice the layers of tension and complexity in Elena's family. His sharp eyes caught the way she trembled when her gaze briefly met her mother's. Something was clearly amiss, and it only deepened his curiosity.
"Yes, Mr. Johnson, what exactly do you mean by saying she isn't befitting for me?" Ford asked, his tone calm but probing, trying to understand why a father would choose one daughter over the other so openly.
Mr. Johnson stood speechless, his discomfort evident in his expression. Before he could respond, his wife interjected, her voice calm and measured in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "Please, Mr. Lugard, don't misunderstand my husband. All he meant was that my daughter here, Jane, has always admired Mr. Ford and the dedication he shows in his work."
"Oh, really?" Mr. Lugard replied with a faint smile, though his tone hinted at skepticism. Jane's mother's explanation wasn't entirely convincing, and the tension lingered in the air.
At that moment, Fredrick, how other son approached the group. "Dad, who are they?" Fredrick asked, joining the conversation with a curious expression.
"Oh, yes! This is my other son, Fredrick," Mr. Lugard said, gesturing toward him proudly. "Fredrick, these are the Johnsons. And this young lady here is their daughter, Jane. You just missed their other daughter," he added with a knowing smile.
Fredrick turned to Jane with a warm grin. "Nice to meet you, pretty damsel," he said, his voice light and charming.
He didn't care whether he liked them all not. All he needed to do was to please his father.
However, Jane's face betrayed her true feelings. Her polite smile was thin, and her eyes clearly showed she wasn't pleased. Her attention remained locked on Ford, who didn't so much as glance in her direction.
"Dad, I'm heading out," Ford announced suddenly, taking a step back from the group. "We'll have a serious talk tomorrow. I'll stop by then," he added, ready to take his leave.
But just as he turned to go, Jane reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him mid-step. "You didn't say goodbye to your fiancée," she said softly, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. She added a playful pout, her attempt at a sweet, endearing expression.
Ford paused, then gently removed her hand from his, laughing lightly. "Looks like you got the wrong memo," he said, his voice firm yet teasing. "I belong to your sister already."
Jane's face froze, her composure cracking for a brief moment as his words sank in. Meanwhile, Fredrick observed the exchange, raising an eyebrow at what just happened.
Everyone was confused by what Ford had just said. "What do you mean?" Fredrick asked, giving Ford a puzzled look. Smiling slyly, Ford replied, "Like I said, an announcement will be made soon. Dad will see you later." With that, Ford walked away, leaving them all bewildered.
"What does he mean by that, sir?" Mr. Johnson asked, unable to hide his curiosity. Jane nodded in agreement with her stepfather's question.
"Honestly speaking, I'm just as lost as you are. But I'll get back to you on that, Mr. Johnson. Enjoy your night," Mr. Luggard responded, smiling as he walked away with Fred, who couldn't shake the growing frustration he felt. It was clear Ford was up to something big, and he hated not knowing what it was.
Meanwhile, Elena locked her door and took several deep breaths. Slowly, she let her body slide down until she was leaning against the door. "What is happening? How is he even at the party? How does he know?" she muttered to herself. Questions swirled in her mind, overwhelming her with their weight. Elena held her head, feeling as though the flood of unanswered questions was too heavy for her to bear.
"How did I get into this mess?" she whispered as tears began streaming down her face. "I pray he doesn't tell them about our marriage," Elena sobbed, recalling the hateful and angry looks her father, his wife, and Jane had given her. She didn't need anyone to tell her she was in serious trouble. The realization sank in—she had a lot of explaining to do, and she didn't know where to start.
But none of it was her fault. She had no idea Ford was one of the suitors. From the looks of it, he was clearly the one Jane hoped to be with. "That means he's the first son and the most influential," Elena murmured to herself, the weight of the revelation pressing on her mind.
She was still lost in her thoughts when her phone began to ring. Fear crept into her as she hesitated to check who was calling. The ringing persisted, refusing to be ignored. After much deliberation, she finally glanced at the screen and saw it was Ford.
Her instincts screamed to distance herself from him. She wanted nothing to do with him. Yet, deep down, she knew she needed answers. What was happening? Was this all a coincidence, or had Ford orchestrated everything? The questions gnawed at her, demanding an explanation.
Answering the call, Elena's voice trembled as she demanded, "What do you want from me? Haven't you ruined my life enough?"
Ford, sounding genuinely confused, responded, "What do you mean? Let's meet up and talk."
"Please, Mr. Ford," Elena snapped, her frustration spilling over. "Leave me the heck alone! Stay far away from me!"
"You actually need to calm down," Ford replied, his tone firm yet calm. "If you won't come to me, I'll come to you. In fact, I'm already outside your father's compound."
"What? Outside my father's house?" Elena shot to her feet, her heart racing as if it might leap out of her chest. The sheer shock of his words made her feel like her soul had momentarily left her body.
What would happen if her parents were to meet him at the gate?