The messages

"Marry me for two million dollars" my eyes crossed it ways to the owner of the voice, arching my brows at the sound of the booklet slapping the square table, bringing my sense to the man in grey with tall dark guards by his sides. Lending the legs weight on the knees, my fingers run through the soft smooth texture of the front cover.

The dyed ink on it which read 'Marriage Contract' rose the stench of vanilla and traditional smoked fish. "A year is all I desire, you're mine till the contract comes to an end". My pores raised in magnet of his husky tone and creepy statements, the legs slowly released the knees off it weight, grading my feet back

"Are you insane?"

His blue eyes met mine with determination, grazing a smirk on his lips he benched his limbs on the cold tall sofa that highlighted a crown jewel on it head. "Sign it and I guarantee to vanquish all your troubles, your life will be set " I urgently needed to hear those words but not in that manner ,specially not from a guy like I'd met in circumstances. I was curious towards his intentions, how fun he came about such weird idea and most why me of all his choices?.

He couldn't have fallen for me?, no that would be so soon

Or perhaps he was messing with me the mind wondered while the eyes scanned the zeros on the contract list. If it was a prank I swear his head was going to be served in the toilet pit.

HOURS EARLIER

"Just once Steven, just once move a finger, anything just show me that you are there. I can't do this without you, I need you. I can lose everything but you, you know I've never been the brave type...so please.. wake up, if not for us then do for our kids ,our family.

When you proposed that year you promised to stay with me forever, you swear to be there when I need you then why ain't you here when I need you the most?".

I witnessed her heart plead out its hurts through the transparent door, her hands folded on dad's right hand with her head laid on it.

"I've never question your decisions, I've always gone with everything you said. We've lost everything Steven, our family is nothing but a laughing stock ..you are a proud man ain't you?, then wake up, get up and clean this mess. Please I need you." With her head shoved on his chest, she let out little groans.

"Mom" her hands quickly vanished the tears, leaving no evidence. "What did the doctor say?" the left over tears cane cracking with her voice. I took in consideration towards her plight , she did not want to appear weak as it was her after dad.

We transferred dad to a public hospital that was much affordable to my current earnings, the daily expenses grew day after day.

"Dad's going to be fine. The doctor said there's nothing to worry about" I dressed the doctor's words. He told dad condition was getting worse and feared he could get worst if care wasn't taken. At best he advised to have him transferred to a more advanced hospital.

Falling my eyes on him on the one side bed that barely accommodated his height, his skin dimmed from its original tone, secured home for blemishes. Those unwanted beards were again on his face with gray strings attached on every inch.

The lips voluntarily spread aparts in call to mind of his joke that the beard exposes his age so he trimmed its off. There wasn't much about it, most had said for a man of his age he looked good with steady feet. And as he replied to them ' moving the body against comfort helps design it to resistance. For the nourishment of the body, it first gas to work.'

"I know him, I've lived with forty years I know what he's like, he isn't the man they pictured him to be. He would never take what isn't his." She held not anymore, the salty water came racing to her chin, greasing her head on his body. I pushed my feet out handing her the privacy she needed, more than anything I knew she needed to let out, to trash what was hiding in her heart.

"Grace" I called sending the phone to the other ear.

"Where're you?" the mild voice sang out. "I came with mom to check on dad, is everything alright?" even without saying I could tell she was disturbed from the tone of her voice. She had a calmed voice which one had to listen careful to hear.

The thing that was special about her was her politeness, an instant ability to charm those around her in liking her.

"I'm at your work place, could... you please come over" a hint of shake formed with her words.

I dared not delay a minute to reach to her, with constant urge to the cab driver's ears to speed his wheels I was at the door knot.

That angelic face, the snow skin matched the glimmering eyes. Grace, my elder sister was the perfect of all, inheriting both of the two worlds of our parents. Yet stood out among us siblings, her skin copied that of mom and eyes that of dad, picking the personalities of mom.

I approached the stool she leaned on, with her tight pony dancing it edge on the stool.

"Grace" the fresh morning sunflower fragrance apprehend my smelling sense, hooking her warmth body to mine. Her lips touched my forehead guiding me to the stool. It bring weeks since we last exchanged conversation or met in person, most was contributed from our busy schedules. She had a family to take care of and I work.

"You sounded worried, is everything alright,?" Her hands pulled away from my grasp ,pacing her steps in forth and back. Strolling two fingers on her nose she steady her legs to the stool. " Liam isn't pleased with the idea of Beth staying with us, he asked I return her" with much hesitant she told me. Swimming in embarrassment, the fact she couldn't help her family in need made her feel awful and being compelled by her husband to ask her younger sister out made compelled her heart in dark. As said her husband Liam was a demanding person with high personality fraction.

"I tried reasoning with him but he got mad and" the pause of her lips detailed there was more than just got mad, it felt like she was carrying a bondage of burden. Knowing her way she wouldn't say a word if she was being ill treated. Dad married her off at age twenty-one to a business tycoon son.

"I also got a mail saying I should pay my fees or would be ask d out of lectures" Beth informed while coming from the back of the counter "I get it your husband doesn't fancy my stay in his house, but he had no rights to insult my father. And you stood there with nothing to say" the disappointment on both faces imprinted, Beth felt wronged that Grace could not defend dad while Grace felt guilty towards her silence but I understood her actions.

"Beth, am sure Grace had her reasons"

"Oh please, you're no better. The one true love you claimed is now someone else husband and what did you gained?" My face soaked in bitter memory of his lips falling on hers as they announced them a man and a woman.

"You have no idea what it like to be taunt by your friends and class mates, rubbed in the face of your father's deeds. Whenever they sees me , they laugh" she scoffed " and the teachers, they are no better. Without saying a word they're saying a lot with their looks and actions, clearly am like a stain that won't get off".

How could I ignore that, I wasn't aware she was going through that much at school. I thought the safest place would be the school.

"Beth" Grace hands were pushed off from the embrace she wanted to attach on her. I never expected the family problems to affect her that much, the reason why I sent her away was to protect her.

"I'm sorry, you know how much I love you" Grace tried to comfort her but the bitterness was much for the love to overcome. In short sight she flee the scene .

"It all my fault" she said guilting herself in ocean of tears. I framed my arms around her " this isn't your fault, you tried your best. None of us wished for this, it happened so let get over it as a family"

" Great speech. How do you intend to snap through this?" her body clapped to the door, eyeing out to us with silly and unsure, those eyes a mother gives to her overconfident kids. "So?" She walked her way to us and picked a seat to her comfort.

"Violet" Grace greet with warm smile earning nothing in return.

"It good to be optimistic but check reality first, I hate to be the bad guy but someone has to pull you two out of fantasy land. The family debts is far beyond your capacity, even with all the assets sold the debts are yet to paid. What of the court fines?" She slipped her tongue to her down lip "your husband could help but like her ex fiance, yours only cared when the family was in fame. Must acknowledge your father's choice of partners for his kids, they only care about the family wealth now it gone the masks are out". Her words sliced the ears, she possessed a harsh tongue with little considerate mind, she wasn't the type to consider emotions, she was a plain speaker with nothing to lose.

"You came all the way to tell us s this?" I asked getting a glare from her " you know you could also help by replacing your poisonous words with nice ones" I taunt while strolling to her side. Her shoulders shrugged in reject to my words "I'm only here to watch the show".

Her words were far from the truth, she might not have accepted the it but I knew she cared as much as we did, and like us she would do her best to clean the Black name. She was the type that act tough but fragile within more like a coconut.

" I have to go" Grace interrupted our argument, " Liam just messaged. I have to go" she rushed her way out, skipping steps like that of a child running to reach before her parents. I asked many times but never said a thing. I could tell her marriage wasn't all glamour as it presented, something else was existing in her marriage.

"That was quick" Violet hinted dryly.

"Some thing must have come up" I said convincing myself not to put much thoughts into it. They were married couple argument of such couldn't be avoided. "Are you telling me or convincing yourself?" She booked a smile off my facial expression.

"I have no time for you, I have work" I evade any further ignite from her and sprinted to the kitchen and grabbed an apron to do my job.

"Have a meet with me if you want to save your family" the message popped in for the second time.