CHAPTER 8: MARRIAGE INITIATION CEREMONY
Two days later, early in the morning before dawn, Briar left the village without looking back. She didn't even bother to let anyone know that she was there and just left.
There were a few bags which Mammy Adonai had prepared for her. And they were filled with medicines and charms, which Mammy Adonai greatly emphasized its uses.
When it comes to these things, it was crucial to use them as it was directed. Otherwise, with a single slip, the consequences would be dire.
What she went back home to get was done, so now she was all at ease and could only hope that her brother's surgery would go well.
After driving for a few hours, she arrived at the hospital in time before her brother was taken to the theatre.
When she arrived, the first thing that she did was to check into a hotel and leave her luggage there. She didn't trust to leave all the important things in the car. What if something happens?
When that was done, she drove to the hospital where she found her mother, father and little sister Belinda waiting inside her brother's ward.
"What the heck did you do?"
When she stepped into the ward, Mother Grace's loud exclaim filled the room, earning her scolding from the patients and their guardians.
Briar mockingly looked at her mother, who was once again acting hysterically. Seeing that dumbfounded expression on her face, Briar felt that it was worth it.
She stepped toward her parents while Belinda cowered, moving far away from her.
In the family, she was only close to Benjamin, and the other three siblings, they were like strangers and she barely felt anything for them.
It was better for Belinda to stay far away from her. She got to enjoy what she couldn't enjoy in her time. How could she like this little sister of hers?
As for her father, he wasn't that talkative. He was more led by her mother, though she knew that he was shrewd but simply too lazy to act.
She could see how his eyes were narrowed as he looked at her. He wasn't satisfied. In fact, he was currently very pissed off. However, just like her, he had crafted this perfect image in front of people. So, he would never lash out in public. That would ruin him.
As for Mother Grace, she was something else.
Despite the scolding from the other, she bravely marched towards her and before Briar could say a thing, Mother Grace lifted her blouse, exposing the string of quality thin waist beads, a very familiar ornament from the village.
Seeing the waist beads around her waist, her father hadn't reacted much before, however, this time his eyes nearly popped out as he bellowed angrily at Briar, "What did you do?" as he pointed at her with his finger.
Belinda, on the other side, dazedly looked at Briar while Benjamin stifled a smile as he watched the whole drama with relish.
As for the other people in the ward, they were just confused as to why these parents were overreacting. However, the few of them who saw the waist beads had an inkling of what was happening. But was it that bad?
Briar didn't panic when her mother exposed something that she wasn't even planning on hiding from the family in the first place. Since she had been found out, she might as well infuriate them and pump their blood pressure up.
With a smirk rising at the corner of her lips, Briar pushed her mother's hand away from her waist before straightening the blouse, her gaze fixated on the other.
"Mother, are you sure that you want us to discuss this issue here?" she asked mockingly as she glanced around, seeing the people who were ready to eat some melons before shifting back to her mother, "If you don't mind, I can start spilling the beans right now!" her words very taunting as she said so.
Mother Grace, hearing her daughter's tone, knew that the other truly came to cause trouble for her. She couldn't lose face in front of these people. What if she spills the beans and reveals some information that would make her lose face?
They were living in Ascot City now, and if any, rumors spread. How would her son fare in school? She couldn't risk it.
Thinking like that, she harrumphed at Briar before dragging the other out of the ward without asking Briar.
Briar snickered as she followed her mother and sneered inwardly as she saw her father and Belinda tagging behind as well.
They had the guts to leave her brother alone in the ward. Were they that desperate?
Once again, she was taken to the staircase where she had the previous altercation with Mother Grace on the day she arrived. It seemed that Mother Grace felt at ease having fights there. Didn't she know that other people also love hanging around in places like these?
At least, if anyone ever loses face, if anything gets revealed, it won't be her.
In the staircase, her mother glared at her as Briar leaned against the wall, in her view seeing the three people who shared the same blood as her.
"Tell me now. What is happening with you? When did you get married? How come we don't know about this? And why would you complete the initiation ceremony without your female relatives? What do you take me, your mother, as?" the more Mother Grace thought of this issue, the angrier she became.
To think that her daughter came back as a maiden and, after two days, returned with the identity of a married woman. Who did she get married to without the ceremony?
As the family, they didn't even receive any news or receive a dowry. So how come Briar was wearing the beads and her ears pierced as well?
Just what was happening?
Briar's lips curled upwards, seeing her mother so angry like that. She wished she could have done this sooner. She might have infuriated her to the point of getting her hospitalized. That scene would be very interesting to watch.
Unfortunately, she could only deal with what she had now. And as long as she could give her parents a blow, it was enough.
"Mother, Haha, why should I tell you what I do?" Briar asked suddenly, her tone very icy as she looked at the three with a detached expression.
"You …."
"Haha. When did I get married? Seriously," she couldn't help but laugh as she clapped her hands, finding this question funny. "Where do you think I got so much money for the surgery? Do you think that money falls from the sky nowadays that in a day I will just scoop it?" she added, her teeth gritted as she glared fiercely at the three.
When that was asked, the couple looked at each other as several thoughts ran through their minds.
'It can't be that she ….?' They didn't dare finish their thoughts.
Briar's eyes narrowed as she looked at these cowards who bully the weak but fear the strong and added, "I sold myself. Are you happy now? Since you sucked me dry like leeches and refused to take out the portion of the money that you have been saving for your beloved son, I sold myself. Haha," she laughed hysterically as she looked at these two who were so unfit to be called parents.
"This is the second time that I am selling myself for you. You didn't hesitate to receive that money over a decade ago. You watched mercilessly as I was taken away, but I didn't mind. After all, somehow it was for my best. At least by going there, I loved much better compared to how I would have lived if I remained with you!" with a snicker, Briar said. "This time, I sold myself for a half a million to treat brother. Let me see anyone who dares call me unfilial. You will spit out every single cent of mine that you have eaten.
The child is yours, and yet you dare call me to deal with the fees. And yet you dare ask me such ridiculous questions? I sold my chastity for the hospital bills. If this doesn't make me married, then what else does?"
In her village, a girl could only lose her chastity to her husband. If you lose it before then and the adults know it, you will be treated as a married girl. If someone asks for your hand in marriage in the future, the dowry would be reduced.
They were very strict when it came to these things and yet they forgot that most of the girls who lost their chastity at a young age weren't because they wanted to do so, but they were forced due to circumstances. But in a society where women would always be wrong, how could they have a voice?
Mother Grace never expected that her daughter would go to such great lengths to gather money for Benjamin.
When Briar arrived a few days ago, she was so angry thinking that she had been keeping money from them. The thought of so much money in her hands made her head dizzy and her heart ache. But who would have known that the reality was this cruel?