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Homecoming

Excerpt:

Angela's Pov

It has been over twenty minutes since I climbed the altar, yet the groom has not arrived.

The crowd was starting to get worried and impatient.

I couldn't find Anita, and I knew she was up to some mischief, so I quietly prayed for her safety while worrying about her safety.

"Call him! Call him!" Mother urged my father, but he angrily flared at her.

"Woman! I have already called him over fifty times, he has bluntly refused to pick up my calls! What do you want me to do? Do you want me to kill myself?!"

"Who cares if you die?" Mother screamed back at him, and the two shameless couples started another world war in the church.

Many prominent figures tried to separate them, but my father kept beating and punching my mom, and my mother also kept biting him on his arm.

A big fight broke out, and the church was disarrayed. I stood on the altar, watching my parents as they ridiculed themselves.

Really? Why does it have to be now? Don't they respect the holy church of God? Don't they respect the fact that I was getting married to a stranger?

Sometimes I wish they were not my biological parents, I wish I was born into a friendly home, a home where my mischievous twin sister would be by my side every time, but mine is far from that.

"Order, the groom is around!" A loud voice echoed from a distance and everyone quickly went back to their seats including my shameless parents.

A man walked in, two hefty men followed him as he entered.

Although they all wore masks, I was able to see their appearance, and they looked quite disarray, with ruffed haircut.

The man at the front, who I guessed to be the groom, was in a purple mask, but his clothes had red stains on them, stains like that of blood.

The stains caught my attention. And my heart immediately yearned out for my sister, wondering if she was okay.

I hope it is not her blood I muttered beneath my breath.

The groom climbed the altar hurriedly, and he nodded his head at the priest.

"Continue with the wedding vows," My father urged the priest, and the old priest nodded in agreement.

"Miss Angela Harrison, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, to love him, honor him, and submit to him, till death do you part?" The priest asked, although I found his question stupid, I also decided to accept my fate. I kept telling myself that I was born to be given to an old bald man as a wife and that I wasn't supposed to know my husband's name.

"Yes, I do," I replied and bowed my head soberly.

The crowd cheered, but I was bleeding inside.

I could see the sinister smile on my dad's face, and it told me how hopeless I was.

My father looked fulfilled, he knew that the moment I got married, he would become the owner of one of the biggest technology companies, and I guess he was already counting his victory.

"Is there anyone who has a reason why these two happy adults shouldn't be joined together as husband and wife? Such a person should speak now, or forever hold their peace," the priest said, and I scoffed,

"Who on earth would have an opposition to that? Who told him that I am happy?" I asked myself.

The hall was silent, and nobody talked.

"In that case, with the power invested in me, I….."

"I have an opposition to their union!" A lady's voice thundered in the room, and we all turned in the direction curiously.

The groom and his men looked more anxious than us, my BP nearly raised, and I looked at my hero, confusion written all over my face.

......

Chapter One

Anita's POV

I stood quietly by the roadside, expecting the Uber ride I ordered. My bags were beside me, but my heart kept pounding with anticipation.

Should I do this? Will I be able to survive? Many thoughts passed through my mind.

I couldn't help but notice the curious gazes of passing pedestrians. They were looking at me with confusion.

I can't blame them though, because I would also have stopped by the roadside to laugh if I saw a woman wearing the dress that I was wearing.

Yes, I admit it, my dress was a bit awkward, but it wasn't my fault, I just wanted to impress my parents and my beloved twin sister, Angela.

Angela was getting married tomorrow, and I couldn't afford to miss her wedding ceremony, not just because she would be disappointed in me, but because my parents might disown me. They have been looking for an opportunity, and they will surely make good use of it.

Also, I am not ready for their usual shouting and yelling, because my earlobes might not be able to survive it this time.

"Oh! That possessed girl is at it again! Crystal, you better warn your daughter, or else, I will make sure she regrets the day she was born!" That would be my Father's voice as he threatens my mom. And my Mom is also fond of replying to him carelessly.

"Anthony, are you calling her my daughter? So she has suddenly become my daughter, right?" Mother would reply angrily.

"Is she not your daughter? Aren't you her Mother, didn't you give birth to her?"

"Oh, oh! Have you forgotten that you were the one who released the spam? Useless man, releasing useless things! " Mother would then roar at him. Marking the beginning of World War Five.

My Father would compare me to Angela, and my Mother would call me a rotten spam.

Me, a rotten spam!

My parents hated me. To them, Angela was their precious golden apple, while I was the outcast. My Father once told me that he regretted the day I was born. He said he wished he had killed me when I was still a little child.

Back then his words usually hurt me, and I used to spend hours crying and wishing for death to come. But now, I have gotten used to it, and I have become the bad egg he wanted me to become. If they were given the chance, I am sure they would have disowned me without thinking twice; and if I was also given the chance, I would kill them both, without blinking an eyelash.

Yes, that's how far our hatred is. They hate me, and I also detest them.

Somehow, I was also feeling scared. What if my parents had seen my letter? What if they are still planning their revenge? That would be an awful catastrophe!" Many thoughts ran across my mind, and I had to calm myself down because I was nearly losing my senses.

Don't get me wrong, I am not scared of my parents, I am just scared because I ran away from home five months ago, and I am suddenly returning like the prodigal son.

The only difference is that I wasn't here for forgiveness, instead, I came to honor my better half, my darling twin sister, Angela.

A few minutes later, the Uber pulled up, and I nervously took a deep breath, before I entered. The atmosphere in the car turned awkwardly silent, as both the driver and I were in a world of our thoughts.

.....

Meanwhile, at Harrison's home.

Angela's Pov

I quietly entered my parents' room, hoping that I could talk to them, to tell them my mind.

But it didn't take long before our conversation became heated.

"Father, Mother," I bowed to my parents, and unfortunately, my voice began to tremble with anxiety, but still I managed to speak my mind.

"I need to talk to you about something important," I said politely and bowed my face to the floor.

Mr. Anthoy Harrison raised his eyebrows and shot me a stern look. "What is it, Angela? As you can see, we are very busy at the moment."

I gathered courage and stuttered with difficulty.

"I... I don't want to get married to your business associate, I don't want to become a Mother now!"

Mrs. Crystal Harrison frowned, arms crossed. "Angela, you're only nineteen. You have your entire life ahead of you, so why wouldn't you want to get married? Why don't you want to be a Mother? I know how much you like little children!" She asked with a strong face.

Slowly, my hopes faltered as my parents seemed unable to comprehend my everyday struggle. But still, I continued to voice out my pains. "Mother, I don't love the man you've chosen for me. I don't even know his name, neither have I seen his face! How can I spend my life with a stranger?" I asked raising my voice in anger.

Father wasn't pleased by my disrespectful behavior, and his face reddened with anger. "Angela, this decision is for the betterment of our family and life: Love can always come later," he said with his hoarse voice.

Tears welled up in my eyes, "But can't you see? This isn't what I want. I want a marriage built on love, not convenience!" I said and tried convincing him, trying to convince him to see reason from my side, but it didn't work, instead,

Mother grew impatient, and barked at me. "Enough of this nonsense, Angela. You will marry as planned, and that's final. Learn to live with your destiny, we have predicted your fate for you!"

Feeling helpless and defeated, I made one final plea, "Please, Father, Mother, try to understand. I don't want to go through with this marriage. Please, Anita would have never allowed this!"

Mr. Harrison sighed. "We've heard enough of your complaints, Angela. By the way, who permitted you to invite that trash to your wedding? What say does she have in this family!"

"What trash?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Anita, of course, " Father replied curtly.

"Well, she is my....."

"Get out of this room, now! " Father barked at me even before I could complete my sentence, and I hurriedly ran out of the room.

Anita's POV

As the Uber approached my childhood home, I kept praying to see my sister's face. I have missed her so much.

When we got to the front of our house, I was shocked beyond words. Our little bungalow has turned into a huge mansion. It has been renovated significantly. I had only been away for five months, and I wondered where my Father, who had been struggling financially at the time, had amassed a fortune.

I couldn't help but suspect him, but then I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on my reality.

Upon entering the house, my cousin Melody jumped into my arms, exclaiming in excitement. Melody had always been close to me, and after her parents' mysterious death, my Father adopted her, and she became a member of our family.

Angela's POV

I was in my room, thinking about my next step of action, when I suddenly heard Melody's cry. I thought she was fooling around at first, but when her cry died down, and the house became unusually quiet, I knew that something was wrong, so I quickly stood up and ran to the living room.

I was shocked to see Anita, but my excitement got the better part of me, and I screamed with joy.

"Anita! My Nita!" I addressed her by her childhood nickname.

I was so happy, because my cold and fearless sister was back, and she would save me from the contract marriage.

I jumped into her arms, and we both burst into tears.

"What is the commotion all about?" I heard my Father's voice, as he entered the living room. I thought that he was alone, so I swiftly turned to face him, but to my greatest shock, my Father was not alone. Beside him stood the devil herself. My heart sank, and my blood suddenly ran cold.

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