A Marriage Of Reprisal

FIVE HOURS EARLIER BEFORE THE FIRE INCIDENT

As soon as Norah walked out on him and headed to her car. Liam followed her with his gaze, and stood there for the next ten minutes until she was out of sight. He then entered his car and asked his assistant to follow her to the company.

While his assistant followed her, heading towards the company, they eventually arrived, and at that moment, Liam spotted her father exiting the parking lot.

“Wait, isn't that Ms. Norah's father?” He inquired, watching him drive his way out.

“I believe so; that's one of his frequently used cars,” Jerry responded with a nod.

“I should introduce myself and express my intentions regarding his daughter.” He sounded like this is the first time he is meeting her father. They have met a couple of times at events and even exchanged pleasantries.

“He must be heading home; should I go after him?” Jerry was sure he wouldn't decline. He has been wanting to meet Mr. Anthony, but because Norah has refused to accept him, after the kiss, he kept postponing it.

“I don't think…” He paused momentarily and continued. “Be cautious.” He added, and the figure followed him home.

Fifteen minutes into their journey, they arrived at his mansion, but Liam instructed his assistant not to park closer to his gate.

As soon as her father drove into the house, it didn't take long; they drove to the gate, and his assistant honked. The security guard emerged, looking at the tinted car. He walked to the driver's seat and locked eyes with Jerry.

“Whom do you seek, sir?” He inquired.

“Please inform your employer Mr. Liam is here to see him. We don't have an appointment with him, but convey that it's vital.”

The security guard hesitated at first, but then spun around to leave, presuming whoever is in the car must be someone prominent.

“Boss what if he doesn't return?” Jerry questioned, receiving no immediate response.

Liam was convinced he would return, and just then the gate to the mansion flung open, inviting them inside.

The security figure guided Liam to the living room and offered him a seat in the room. He took a moment to admire the opulence, observing the picture frames on the wall.

“Good day, Mr. Liam.” He heard a lady's voice and turned to behold a beautiful woman in her mid-forties. She looks exactly like Norah, from her long brownish hair to her full, plump lips and hazel eyes. This marks the first time he is seeing her.

“Hello! Good day, ma'am!” He greeted politely, rising from the couch. Just then, Norah's father marched into the living room.

“Mr. Liam, good day. Please have a seat.” Norah's father, who's familiar with him, acted like they hadn't crossed paths before.

“Thank you, Mr. Anthony.” They shook hands and proceeded to take a seat.

“I will go get you something to drink.” She offered, and excused herself out of the room.

“To what do I owe this visit? The security man said it was something urgent, and I know it's not business-related.” Anthony sounded stern, but that didn't move Liam. Though, he was certain things wouldn't end well.

“Yes. I came regarding your daughter, Norah. I'm in love with her, and I want to make her my wife.” Anthony instantly stared at him in disbelief; that wasn't what he was expecting to hear. He doubted it was business, but still anticipated it could be business-related.

“Norah?” He queried with raised brows and continued. “Are you saying you want my consent before you go ahead and date my daughter?”

“She's aware I'm coming over to the house. I spoke to her first before coming over.”

Anthony stayed quiet at first; he was at the office, and Norah did not tell him they would be having a guest, and besides, she had a boyfriend.

'Is there a reason behind why he wants to make her his wife? Is he here to marry her, just to maltreat her? We all know what happened to his wife in Spain' Anthony thought inwardly.

“Mr. Liam, my daughter must have told you she has a boyfriend. There's no way she would ask you to come see me unless she's in love with you.”

“She never agreed to it..." He was cut off even before he finished.

“Then I'm sorry, I can't consent to you coming to see her. We should respects the decision she's made. I want my daughters to be happy, even when I'm not here.”

“Your daughter never said she.....” He was swiftly interrupted again.

“Mr. Liam, please, you should leave; I wouldn't want her to come home and find you here.”

Liam rose as soon as he said the word leave. He is the type of man that respects people's decisions.

“I will take my leave, but I promise I will be back. Have a wonderful evening.” He turned on his heels, exiting the room.

Norah's mother walked into the room, and frozen, her eyes widened. She looked from left to right but didn't see him.

“Where is he? And why is your face like that?”

“It's nothing serious; I will take my bath and come downstairs.” He responded and turned on his heels.

“It's nothing? You expect me to believe that?” He didn't respond to her, and just walked off.

PRESENT

Liam arrived home and stormed into the living room. He discarded his car keys, not caring where they fell, and began to pace profusely, staring at the screen in front of him.

He struggled to comprehend the event that transpired an hour earlier on his way back home. Liam had remained at the office to finalize his tasks. He had a lot of papers to review and needed to get them done before the new day.

After taking his time to finish up, he left the office heading home when he got a message from an unknown number, and he thought it must have been her father since they never exchanged contact.

He was perplexed because the text asked him to come over to the mansion, stating he changed his mind and needs to talk about his intentions towards his daughter.

It was strange that her father told him, but instead of pondering, his determination to make her his didn't make him think much about it.

Upon arriving at the mansion, he found it ablaze. He was in the middle of his thoughts when his stepmother strode into the living room with a questioning look on her face. He seems to be devastated, and it made her ponder if something had happened.

“Did something happen? Why are you pacing profusely?” She queried but got no response.

She looked at the screen, his eyes were glued to it, and back to his disheveled state.

“Liam, I'm talking to you. What happened? Why are you pacing in such a state?” She thundered.

He snapped back to reality and turned to look at her. She knitted her brows while staring at him, waiting to hear why he's agitated.

“I told you about the girl from the party, the lady who mistook me for her boyfriend.”

“Yes, the lady who turned you down months back. I thought you said you were meeting her parents. Have you?”

“Yes I did earlier today, but her father was pissed about it and asked me to leave. And just this evening on my way back home, I got a message from him asking me to come, only for me to get there, and the house was on fire.”

“What? Someone wants to defraud you. I will advise you forget about her and get someone else. You know what happened in Spain.”

“That's in the past mother. I want her, and I will stop at nothing to have her, even if I have.....”

She looked at him, knowing his determination; she realized he would pursue his objectives regardless. He had wanted her before, and despite her rejection, Liam would stop at nothing to claim her. He doesn't take no for an answer.

“Excuse me, mother.” He said, and marched out of the room. As soon as he stepped outside, he called his assistant and placed it to his ear.

“Where are you? Come over to the house; there's something you have to do.”

“I'm almost at the house; I will be there in the next five minutes.” He responded, and Liam hung up.

'Was I not careful? With all this discretion, what happened this time?' He mumbled.

Liam has always been secretive about his move, but this time, they caught him using the girl he was determined to make his.