CHAPTER 22 – SECRET ENGAGEMENT

Wright does not need to be told of what was happening amongst the ladies. He could feel the tension

that filled the whole room. It was as loud as the wave that swept across the ocean.

No one was saying anything to him. They all looked at him with their eyes begging for answers. An

answer only he can provide.

For the first time, he felt disappointed with himself. He had played on the intelligence of every single

one of the people in this room and he does not know what had been on his mind all along. He doesn’t

even know what he was thinking when he did what he did.

But now is not the time for regrets and he knew that. He cannot make things right, but he felt he could

at least patch things up, at least in the meantime. He does not know how he was going to do it, but he

prays that he is able to maneuver through this right now and at least ease the already built tension

between the ladies before it would explode.

Thinking of what to do, he figured that Riona was the real contention in this case and that it was better

to try to appease her first. Maeve and Riley are issues that he can handle some other time.

“Rio, why don’t you come down and say hello to your new mummy” he forced some smile.

Riona was dazed and with her eyes wide open she could only bring herself to whisper “Mummy?”

Riona was not only flabbergasted as saying this would be an understatement. She was completely lost

and confused. It was as if her whole world came to a standstill and her life was crumbling right before

her. What does her dad mean by referring to Maeve as her new mummy, was there any wedding yet?

These and many more thought roved in her head.

Wright tried to pull himself together and acted as comported as he could “Come on honey, the wedding

yesterday went on well and I am glad to see that you are better now”.

When Maeve had insisted that Riona must give her consent before she would go on with the marriage,

Wright knew that was going to be impossible and without getting the requisite consent from Riona,

Wright had told Maeve that Riona had consented and Maeve having to reason to doubt his integrity,

had believed him.

However, when it was a few days to the wedding, Wright had informed Maeve that Riona would not be

coming to their wedding. This had made Maeve curious and worried at the same time as she could not

understand why Riona would not want to be present on her dad’s special and she had insisted on

knowing the reason for such a decision and Wright had lied that Riona’s absence was as a result of her

having fallen ill suddenly.

On receiving the news of Riona’s illness, Maeve had insisted on paying a visit to her, but Wright had

discouraged her from doing that and since the preparation of the wedding was taking a lot of her time,

Maeve had to succumb to his will.

“Better? Riona asked in confusion.

Riona was becoming even more confused. Had her father gone behind her to wed Maeve and had told

everyone her sickness was the reason for her absence at his wedding?

Riona felt that Maeve was capable of just anything, but she had never suspected that she was also a

crook who goes sneaking around to get married to a widower with a kid just so as to sneak her way into

his house. By this singular act that she had witnessed, her hatred for Maeve had skyrocketed, and all

she could wish for was how she would strangle her right now with her bare hands or better still, test the

effectiveness of her pistol on her.

Angrily, Riona reached for her back pockets. Her hand touched the pistol and started to pull it out.

“Come on everyone, can you go drop your luggages, I would like to have a chat with Riona alone. You

know coming out of an ill-health can be something else” Wright instructed.

Her dad’s words made her have a rethink her intention. She could see how hard he was struggling to

get her to cover up for him and she knows just how difficult this must be for him. He had betrayed her

and she was not supposed to care about his feeling. But for the love that they both share, she would

not hurt him.

So she slowly withdrew her hand from her pocket. He was in many difficulties already and she was not

ready to make this harder for him. She vows that she was going to devise another strategy, one that

would only affect Maeve and Riley and get them to leave her house, one that would have nothing to do

with her dad.

“That won’t be necessary Wright, whatever you’ve got to say should be said right here, before me”

Maeve objected.

Maeve felt she has to discuss this together with Wright and Riona right now because she does not

understand what was happening. She wanted to know what would have necessitated Riona referring to

her as a bitch. She has to get this over with now to forestall future occurrences.

Riona was angry at Maeve’s audacity. With who does she wants to discuss with? Riona thought. Riona

does not care what had happened, this woman would have to leave this house this very minute. She

resolved within herself.

“Maeve” Wright called.

Wright wanted Maeve to leave him to his daughter, Riona. He knew how pompous Riona could be, and

he does not want any of that for Maeve just yet.

“She has to leave, dad,” Riona said.

“You said what?” they all chorused.

“Maeve and Riley have to leave this house, I don’t want them and they are not welcomed here. I don’t

recognize whatever happened between you two, I can’t stay in the same space with these imposters”

Riona screamed.

“Point of correction Riona, just so you know, this is their house too, Maeve here is my wife, and she is

your stepmother”. Wright screamed.

“And I must say that you have to accord her respect as such” he added.

“That is not happening dad” Riona countered.

“Not under my roof girl, over here, I call the shot” Wright replied.

“You have been doing it the way you like all along, now it’s time for me to have it my way too” Riona

challenged.

“Whether you like it or not Riona, you have a new step mum now and the earlier you realized that and

start getting used to it, the better for you” Wright insisted.

“Really? That was without my consent dad” Riona rebutted.

Wright and Riona were both screaming at the top of their voices to the utter dismay of Maeve and Riley

who just stood and watched the altercation between father and daughter.

“I don’t need your consent anymore Riona, what is it that you even want?” Wright asked.

Maeve who has been silent and watching all this while decided that it was time for her to speak up. She

just can’t stand by and watch this continue.

“Can you please explain all that is happening here Wright, I am slowly losing my mind seeing you two

go gaga?” Maeve said.

Wright ignored her and continued in his batter with Riona. But Maeve was not dissuaded by this as she

continued with her question. “I least expected this from you, Wright, how could you…?”

Maeve was still talking when Wright interrupted.

“Can you please keep quiet, Maeve? This must not be talked about now”. Wright screamed.

“You...” Maeve stuttered.

Wright’s reaction startled Maeve, she never expected him to react to her that way. She was going to

speak again when Wright interrupted yet once again.

“Not now Maeve, I said not now” Wright screamed.

The fact that her father was giving some attention to Maeve greatly upset Riona. She was disgusted

with that and she felt she could not continue to watch them so she rolled her eyes and decided that it

was time to leave.

As Wright noticed that Riona was walking out on him, he decided to stop her.

“What are you doing, Riona, can’t you see that I am still talking to you?” Wright asked.

Riona turned and looked at her dad and smiled mischievously.

“I think some bitch here needs your attention” she grinned.

At this moment, Wright was not bothered on how Riona had just addressed his wife, Maeve as all he

wanted was for her to obey his instruction.

“You dare not step one more feet outside this house or…” he said

“Or what will happen, daddy?” Riona challenged.

Riona knew just how powerless her dad was when it comes to her, so without giving it a second

thought, she opened the door and left. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Maeve placed both of her hands on her hips and had her gaze fixed on Wright. Riley who never uttered

a word during all of these stood looking at her mum and her new dad. And with the attitude that Riona

had just put up, she wondered how she was expected to cohabit with her.

Having been exhausted from the exchange of words, Wright turned to Maeve and sighed.