Chapter 14: Marriage

"What is this grandma? My wedding with Zion? How could you do this to me? Mira asked glaring at her grandmother angrily.

"This is the best decision for you," Her grandma reassured her while patting her back gently. Mira frowned her eyebrows in confusion at her grandmother's words.

"But how can this be the best decision grandma? You want me to marry someone who is actually in love with another woman?" ridiculous!" Mira shouted as she threw her hands in the air with frustration.

"I refuse to go through this either you cancel or I will," Mira threatened her grandmother as she folded her arms across her chest.

"My dear, we will talk about this at home," Grandma said calmly as she caressed her cheeks gently.

"Grandma you aren't understanding me," Mira exclaimed annoyedly as tears began filling her eyes. She had never felt this wronged before. She felt like her opinion doesn't even matter now. The person whom she trusted more than her life was telling her to jump in the river without a second thought.

"You know better than anyone the devastation of forced relationships. My mother's experience wasn't enough to deter you from condemning me to the same fate?"Mira said furiously, trying her best to keep her tears from falling.

"Mira!" her grandmother yelled while raising her voice as well. Her grandmother was glaring at her as she tried her best to maintain her composure despite the pain and anger she was feeling inside.

"Listen, honey this marriage has been arranged. No one can annul it. You better start adjusting to it because it is irreversible. You must accept it,"

Mira didn't say anything to her grandma. She just sighed heavily as she walked past her grandma and headed towards the exit of the venue.

On the other hand Zion went to his grandpa to have a word with him.

"What is this grandpa? A marriage between me and Mira? We don't like each other, we can't stand each other's presence and you want us to get married? Grandpa please tell me this isn't true. You are kidding with me," Zion demanded as he looked straight in his grandpa's eyes.

"It is true son," his grandpa answered calmly as he poured himself another glass of Scotch. He was calmly sitting on the couch and having a drink while Zion furiously ran his finger through his hair trying to process everything that he just heard from his grandpa.

"You clearly know I like jane. Instead of taking her hand for marriage you want me to marry her," Zion said pointing his finger accusingly at his grandfather. He was completely lost now.

"Love isn't necessary for marriage, son. Mira is a very pretty, intelligent, assertive and nice girl. You will eventually fall for her. As for your love for Jane, it's just an infatuation which you will eventually overcome," Harlod Martson explained, sipping his drink calmly.

"For God sake grandpa, you're dismissing my feelings for Jane as mere infatuation?" Zion exclaimed with exasperation.

"Son," Harlod warned him in a stern tone. "This marriage is non-negotiable. Defy me, and you'll face consequences," Grandpa said angrily glaring daggers at him with cold and distant eyes.

"Grandpa!" Zion protested looking frustrated at his grandpa who refused to listen to him.

....

"I am mad right now. I feel like my head is going to explode," Mira exclaimed with anger, clenching cola tightly in her grip as she looked at her friends who were sitting next to her.

"Would you be mad at me if I say that I pictured you two together," Helia asked cautiously as she opened a sheet mask and carefully applied it on her face.

"No, I will choke you to death," Mira replied angrily, glaring at Helia who was still applying the mask on her face.

"What are you going to do now? Your grandma seems serious about this marriage," Lianna intervened, grasping a cushion on her lap as she sat cross legged on the couch next to Mira.

"I don't know but I am not going to marry someone who is already in love with someone else," Mira said, opening a lid of another cola can to chug down its contents. She needed something to calm her nerves.

"If he wasn't involved with Jane, would you have considered this marriage?" Helia asked, squeezing remaining serum from the packet and applying it on her neck and arms.

"Helia!" Mira snapped angrily at her as she threw a cushion on her friend's forearm playfully causing her to wince slightly.

"Why are you hitting me?" Helia muttered, tapping her hair mask lightly.

"You deserve it," Lianna said as she also threw a cushion on Helia's arm playfully.

"Okay okay let's be serious. What is your plan Mira?" Helia asked curiously, continuing rubbing serum on her arm.

"I don't know but I am telling you, I will eat poison first before marrying him," Mira said angrily as she threw the empty cola can on the coffee table.

....

Zion walked into his mother's bedroom where she was sitting in front of vanity removing her jewelry.

"Mom, Dad what is this? Are you guys planning to force me to get married to Mira? Why? " Zion asked as he looked at his parents angrily.

His father who sat on the couch scrolling through his phone. looked up from his phone and gave his son a cold stare.

"It's your grandpa's decision and no one can dare to go against him. Me neither," His father replied simply, as he continued to scroll his phone. Not even being bothered, It look like that everything was preplanned, everyone knew about this only Zion knew nothing about this so-called marriage.

"We don't like each other. I can't even stand her presence at the office. Do you want me to spend my rest of life with her?" Zion asked irritatedly.

"Why haven't I spent 35 years with your father," his mother asked as she stood up, suddenly closing the jewelry box that was placed on the vanity. She turned to look at her son.

"Once grandpa has decided no one can back off. Even we couldn't annualize our wedding without your grandparents' permission," His mother replied firmly with a stern look on her face.

"If you want your position then accept this wedding," his mother added the last sentence before walking to the bathroom to get rid of the party gown and wear her comfortable nightgown.