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Cross woke up to find Meredith snuggling in his arms. A happy look on her sleepy face and he felt at peace just looking at her. Then a loud ringing of the door jolted him out of his dreamy state and he rushed to the door to find out who it was since the housekeepers had all gone home.
If it was Marc, he would give him the dirtiest blow of his life, he swore as he marched out, clenching his fist. But when the door swung open, he saw his father's face instead. A haughty look marred his wealthy, well-defined face while he stood at the same height as Cross. He may have been in his early 50s but he looked athletic and fit and Cross knew it would be hard to defeat his father in a fight.
Why was he even thinking of a fight? Because that's how he felt each time he saw his mother's murderer.
"What do you want here?"
"Hmmm, really? You can keep your own father outside the door and question him. I trained you better than that"
"With all due respect, what do you want? You are not welcome here!"
"Really? The last time I checked this used to belong to me."
"But it is mine now right and you are not welcome"
"Let me in!" He said, pushing his way into the house while Cross reluctantly gave way. It was his father after all even if they were not on talking terms.
His father ran his hand over the rich material of Cross's sofa, staring around like he was in search of a fault.
"Your cleaners are doing a poor job. They should be fired" he said, taking off his fitted blazer and placing it on a hanger by the door. He sat on the chair and crossed his legs like he owned it. Cross stood by the side, watching his fury. His father was the worst of them all! He had no remorse and no regard for others and yet he was his father.
"Have your seat!" His father sounded angry and Cross was curious to know why and the reason behind his sudden visit. Was it Marc? He sat down just to hear what his father was looking for in his home.
"Good… I heard you have a guest in your home."
"Yes and so…?
"Do you realize whose son you are?"
"Of course, a son of a shady businessman who killed his own wife!"
"Don't do that now! This is not the time. Don't! You have brought a girl of ill repute into my family and you want me to be okay with that? She has to go!"
"So, Marc has tried several ways and couldn't get her out and he thought you could make me push her away? You have no right! And I want you to leave my home!"
"Cross! I am your father and I demand that she is sent out this minute!"
"Or what? You will cut me off?" Cross laughs "You already did that! You already ruined my life and yet here I am standing on my own"
Meredith had no desire to come down the stairs or even see any of Cross's visitors. But the angry voices and arguments drew her down the stairs where she tried to get a peek at the visitor. In an attempt to find the perfect position to see the strange, she unknowingly hit a piece of ornament lying close to the entrance, alerting Cross and his father of her presence.
"Is that her? No morals at all. She couldn't even come down to greet a guest!"
"Come Meredith!" Cross called out to her and she descended from the stairs. She walked slowly like she was stepping on shards of glass because the guest pinned her with an icy stare. Cross gestured for her to come to him and sit beside him.
Mr. Machi was upset. How could the nun have allowed such a thing to happen? His own child with a slutty girl from his home!
"Now, that you are here! I think you should know what you have with Cross won't work and I need you out of his home!"
Cross laughed long and hard.
"You have no right to send my wife out of my home!"
"Your wife?"
"Yes! I intend to marry her soon. In fact, you are invited to our wedding next week. Now, when next you come to my home, treat my wife with respect, Father"
Father! Meredith questioned herself. This was Cross's father and they spoke like they were enemies . And why did he already hate her when she hadn't even met him before? And why was Cross about to marry her? She had all these questions but she kept a plain face, pretending not to notice the charged atmosphere between the son and father.
"You must be joking if you think I will let you marry her from nowhere! How did you find her?"
Meredith's heart cut because she knew her history would always be a problem no matter how far she ran from home.
"None of your business! She's to be married to me. And tell Marc never to show his face here ever again!"
"You are making a mistake!"
"No, this is the best decision I have ever made" he took Meredith's little palms and kissed them in front of his father. It was obvious he was doing everything to make his father angry and it was working.
Mr.Machi could barely hold his anger as he marched out of his son's home. He thought he could succeed where Marc had failed, but it was clear Cross was too stubborn, or perhaps he was in love. Whatever it was, it was not good for him. And he knew who to blame for all this- the Nun! It was time to have a chat with her!
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Mr. Machi barely came to the Siren Home but any day he was there, that means there was trouble or some other serious issue. The Nun observed him from the CCTV as he bounced into the establishment looking as devilish and charming as he always did.
WWhat had brought him here this time? Was he here to issue more threats? What had she possibly done now? The last time he had shown up, he had made it abundantly clear that she belonged to him for as long as she lived. Her role was to serve at the Siren Home and provide her body to him whenever he desired, or else he would wreak havoc in the lives of her sister and niece. It wasn't just that she didn't find her job enjoyable; at times, she grew weary and resentful of it.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to her office swung open, revealing Mr. Machi.
"Welcome Sir. This is quite a surprise visit"
"Really?Is that how to greet your superior?" He asked.
She stood from her seat to meet him but he ignored her, walking towards her vacant seat and sinking into it.
"I see you are enjoying your new role all too well and you seem to have forgotten your place?" He said, placing his tobacco in his lips.
"Of course not… I haven't…"
"Then why aren't you greeting me properly?" He barked "who do you think you are? I made you Margaret and I deserve every form of respect!"
The Nun hurried to his side and knelt down, looking away from him.
"That's more like it!" He said placing his expensive shoes on her shoulder. He stared at her for a while waiting to see if she would protest but she remained meek.
"Don't ever forget yourself!"
"Yes sir"
"So tell me…" he said, taking his legs off her shoulder and drawing very close to her face. "Tell me, why one of my girls is living in my son's house?"
"I am sorry but I am confused. I had no idea you had a son or that he came her…"
"Are you not required to do a background check on the clients you give my girls to? Tell me!" He yelled in her face, grabbing her jaw roughly.
"I did… I … you must be talking about the young man who stormed in here looking for M. I couldn't stop him. He was insistent and I didn't have the time!"
"Yes, that's my son, stubborn like his father. You've messed things up . He plans to marry her! And I can't let that happen because one day it will come to haunt me. He's in love with her, can you imagine!"
"And once she has her freedom, who knows what would happen? But he signed a contract never to let her be free!"
"I don't care! I don't want her in my home. It's too close to home and one day she may figure it all out or maybe son will. I am not going to let the marriage happen. You should know better about our clientele. My son isn't it! And he will ruin everything I have built. We have to do something about this. It's time to put Niki to work!"
"Of course! I will amend my msistakes!"
"That you will do but you have to be smart about it. You cannot get to her without going through my son. So you have to do this smartly. If he as much as suspects that I have a hand in what will happen to her, my life will be over. He already blames me for his mother's death. So, Margaret this has to be a smooth work. Make Niki understand that!"
"Niki can't be controlled, maybe we should…"
"Shut your mouth!" He grabs her by the neck "no more excuses! Control Niki. Find a way to infiltrate my son's home and get that girl back here or eliminate her completely. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" The nun manages to say after Mr. Machi lets her go.
"Good! That marriage will never happen!" He vows, squinting his eyes in determination.
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Just two weeks after Cross had promised her father that he would marry Meredith, he followed through with it. Meredith couldn't quite comprehend why, and whenever she questioned the haste of his decision, he would remind her of her belonging to him and his current desire to marry her.
With little time for wedding preparations, they opted for an intimate ceremony. Cross procured a lovely white gown for Meredith, while he himself donned a designer shirt and plain trousers. It wasn't the grand wedding she had imagined; instead, it was just the two of them standing on the beach, with a reverend father pronouncing them husband and wife. It felt surreal, but they weren't entirely alone.
She noticed Cross's father watching from behind them, a frown on his face. After the wedding, father and son spoke and Cross came to inform that there was going to be a family dinner celebration for their wedding a week later.
And now, she was standing at the kitchen counter, directing the house helps on what to do like the mistress of a house she was supposed to be a slave in. It wasn't really necessary for her to tell the helps what to do but she was just too nervous to meet Cross's family. What will she say to them? She was way below their class and her relationship with Cross was not a real thing. She felt so sick that she was about to gulp a glass of alcohol when Cross stepped in and stopped her.
"You shouldn't be hiding out here. You are my wife now and belong right beside me."
"Like I had a choice" she rolled her eyes while Cross gestured for her to follow him.
When she got to the outdoor setting for their party, she was shocked to find Marc sitting on the large dinner table like he owned the house and there beside was Valerie.
"Marc…" she questioned
"He apologized but I let him stay only because it's a celebration and I just wanted to show my father that this would happen whether or not he likes it!"
"You are doing all this to prove a point of your father? Did you consider my feelings at all?"
"This is not the time!" He groaned
"My family is waiting. They will try to intimidate you, don't let it get to you. Especially my aunt." He said, placing a hand on her back.
Meredith entered the outdoor setup for their wedding celebration, her legs unsteady beneath her. The guests seated at the table watched her with disdain, and she felt a creeping fear that she might stumble due to their judgmental gazes.
"Is this your wife? This?" remarked an older woman, her eyes fixed on Meredith's presence.
"Aunt, yes, she's my wife! As you can see, we are married!"
"What? I was expecting to see a more refined lady, but this isn't it. What's her name, and who is she?" the woman inquired as Meredith took her seat, attempting to conceal her embarrassment.
"She's my wife! That's all you need to know!" Cross responded, gripping her hand firmly.
"Who is she, then? Who is her father? You married a nobody? How could you allow this?" She turned to Cross's father, who continued eating his shrimp, ignoring his sister.
A striking young woman entered the scene, and Cross found himself captivated by her.
"Oh, Beauty, you came!" the aunt exclaimed with excitement as she hugged the beautiful newcomer.
"Cross, how could you leave this beautiful young woman for that? For someone we know nothing about. Can you imagine that?"
"Aunt, please! I won't accept that!"
"It's the truth!" She condescendingly glared at Meredith, who lowered her face in shame.
Cross struggled to regain his composure, knowing that his father had invited Beauty. His father would have delighted in seeing him make a fool of himself in front of his wife, but he couldn't, because he felt nothing for Beauty. Or did he? He realized he had conflicting emotions – hatred and desire – as he watched her take a seat beside him.
Meredith noticed Cross's sudden change in behavior, sensing a history between him and the new lady. Jealousy and anger surged within her as she felt she didn't belong in this situation. It wasn't her life; Cross had forced her into it. And now, he was gazing longingly at another woman. She contemplated walking away, but her attention was drawn to Valerie and Marc, who were staring at her with sinister intent. Their malevolent glares, coupled with Cross's indifference, made her want to flee. At any moment, she might retreat into the house, away from this unsettling gathering. Valerie's continued with her eerie stare confirmed suggesting that she had a sinister motive for being there with Marc. And Meredith promised not to let her guards down with both of them around. But she had no idea Cross's father was the mastermind.