CHAPTER 234

" I understand how you feel Nelly. The fact that mama is dead does not really mean that you must hand over the power she gave you to be the case manager to that good for nothing Evil Vivian. A murderer like her will always rule our town, the mambo town with so much evilness" said Ryan who was very sad.

" I don't want to be the case manager. All I want is to see my mama back on her feet and smiling with me like before. Being the case manager will not bring my mama back to me. Do you understand that? If you have nothing else to say to me except for the fact that I should be the case manager, you must as well leave my room. I don't have tone to compare myself to Vivian's ruling" said Vivian who signalled to Ryan to leave. 

Ryan on the other hand looked at Nelly feeling a bit worried about Nelly. He therefore decided that he was not going to leave Nelly alone as he had known his little sister and what she is capable of a long time ago.

Nelly decided to leave in a hurry as Ryan followed her to the living room. Astonishingly, Nelly went and stood in front of Vivian and then slapped her. This made Vivian to want to slap Nelly back but Ryan immediately stopped her.

" Just because my mama is gone does not really mean that we have lost the pillar of this house. I will protect my sister against anyone who will want to harm her. This is my promise to you and your husband who brought you forcefully into our home" said Ryan who pushed Nelly angry behind him. 

" And I will protect my wife against anything. Tomorrow morning, my wife Vivian is going to be sworn in as the new case manager. My mama is going to be buried this night. We must forget her as soon as possible" said Lawrence. 

" What are you saying? Huh! Has your wife's quench for power overcomed you too? My mama is not going to be buried this night. This town will moyrn my mama for the next four days as per the customs of this land before she is hurried. She might have died but her son has not died just yet" shouted Ryan at Lawrence angrily.

" Same here! My mama might have died but her daughter had no died as well. I agree that my mama was not a good leader. She was fond of looking down upon people but that does not give anyone any right to look down upon my mama. The four days mourning as per the customs will take place. As the new case manager, this is my verdict regarding my mama's case. As from tomorrow, everybody will converge in this house and the case square just to mourn my mama. Oh! I wonder why Vivian and her lovely husband are looking at me like that. Isn't it obvious? I am the daughter of this house it is my right to be the case manager toll Vivian gives birth to a daughter. That is if it ever happens " said Nelly who held Ryan's arm and led her out of the living room. 

Before, Nelly had refused that she did not want to fight for the position of the case manager but now, she was energetically fighting for the post which was definitely hers. This truly proved that she would do anything for her mama. 

Vivian sat on the couch very dissapointed. She did not expect the fact that Nelly would change her mind regarding being the case manager. Vivian felt that Lawrence was the one who had ruined anything. Therefore, she felt that she needed to do something that would make Lawrence to fear him and not utter words carelessly for a lifetime. 

Since Vivian was a secret witch, she used her spell to make Lawrence be softhearted towards her and get angry at anybody who hurts Vivian. Therefore, as much as Nelly had made the verdict that Ivy's mourning ceremony would be made, Vivian decided to let them mourn but assured herself that she was never going to allow Nelly to be sworn in as the case manager.

The next day, Nelly made the arrangements for her mama's mourning ceremony. She informed all the workers at Mambo town that they were not going to work for the next four days but mourn her mama's death. 

Everybody at Mambo town agreed to her terms as they loved Ivy as a ruler even though she was harsh at times. This harshness of hers made her to rule in wisdom and punish all the wrong doers that is why everybody were fond of loving her.

They all mourned Ivy for four days and burried her in at the Mariana mansion in her room. 

The fifth day, Nelly decided to prepare herself for the vowing ceremony at the case square as the next case manager but things changed that day. She remembers that Vivian came and gave her a drink claiming that she was congratulating her. 

After that drink, Nelly fell unconscious. Ryan on the other hand had to go to Mr. One to have a conversation about some social issues and political issues about his town. He really wanted alot of advice before beginning to rule the town. 

By the time he came back, he found out that Vivian had already been crowned the new case manager. After the hearing of this news, Ryan knew that maybe Vivian had done something to Nelly. 

Luckily, as soon as he arrived at the Mariana mansion, he went to Nelly's room and found Nelly still lying unconscious. This made him to regret his decision for going to town One but yet there is nothing that could be done about it. Vivian had already been crowned as the case manager. 

It was then that she came home that night after her celebration seeking for Lawrence to get her pregnant for a baby girl who would succeed her as the case manager when she got old or died. Lawrebce refused to bid to her plea and left the house the came the next day in the morning.

" A child is what you will never get from me. I can't bear to give birth to children who look like you or bear the same character as you" said Lawrence to Vivian when he came back the next morning. 

***************************************************

On remembering all these, Vivian immediately went and looked at herself in the mirror while she began to slap herself till Lawrence finally came back to the room. On seeing him, Vivian immediately went towards him and forcefully wanted to kiss him but Lawrence pushed her away. 

" Why? I want a baby girl. Am I not your wife?" Asked Vivian whose eyes had already turned to red. 

" This is not the time to make babies. I am looking for my sister and until then, I will not think of anybody else or do anything else but think of my sister's welfare. Tomorrow I shall journey to Olam town. I shall look of where she might had gone to. The only place that I have in mind is the closer gates" said Lawrence. 

" Why have you changed so much Lawrence?" Asked Vivian a little bit worried. 

" My sister has always been with me and has never missed from home. She always told me every place she went to but this time she left without a word. It's at time this time that I have realized how much she means to me. My decision for leaving tomorrow is final. And while I am away, I will handover my power of leadership to my brother Ryan" said Lawrence who seemed clear with his words. 

" You mean to tell me that you will hand over the leadership power to Ryan. That sick bedridden man and not your loyal wife? What is happening to our bond and our marriage Lawrence?" Asked Vivian filled with lots of anger. 

" There is nothing happening to our marriage. There are women who can rule the land with alot of strength and fairness but that woman is definitely not you. You are not like my mama Ivy Mariana whom you killed in cold blood but still I chose to love you and defend you. You made sure that you became the case manager, I chose to accept your decision and not defend my little sister Nelly who deserved that position. I have always been by your side but there is no single day that you've proved to me that you can rule this land the same way like my mama Ivy Mariana, grandma Mariana, grandma Magdalene and her granddaughter Ruth of closer gates. So my decision is final. Ryan is the one who is going to take after me while I am gone" said Lawrence who left the room. 

Lawrence did not want to engage into more quarrels with Vivian. He was already tired of it but the innocence in his eyes proved that he loved Vivian with all his heart. He felt hurt when he saw the sadness in Vivian's eyes. What she has always wanted was to become a leader and the most powerful woman just like Ivy Mariana.

MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.