Married To My Sister's Husband

Chapter 5 Wedded or Runaway Bride

Friday- 11:30am - Courthouse

"Is this some kind of plan to make us look bad? We've been waiting for your daughter for the past hour

but she's nowhere to be found. Is this part of your retaliation scheme?!" Matthew Winfrey asked

furiously, as his wife tries to pacify him.

It's been an hour and Livy was nowhere to be found.

"She'll be her soon, I guarantee it. She's just running a bit late that's all. You know kids these days tend

to spend hours on their looks for a normal day, let alone a special day like this. Be patient for just 15

more minutes and I promise she'll be here." Judy affirmed strongly.

She had no idea where that child might be or what she might be doing.

Judy had left Livy at home and rushed to the courthouse when she realised her daughter was not yet

ready, but the Winfrey's were almost at the courthouse.

Judy was never late for anything in her life and she was not going to let the Winfrey get to the

courthouse before her. So she left Livy to come by herself, but gave strict instructions to the driver to

bring Livy straight to the courthouse once she was done.

But now, even the driver's number is switched off and so was Livy's.

If Livy isn't at the courthouse in the next 15minutes, then the Winfrey's would have an excuse to pull

out of the contract. Livy's recklessness is about to cause her Castlehill and she hates where all these

was heading.

So, she walked up to Heather- who was fondling with her phone, to know if she has heard any word

from Livy.

"You were with her all day yesterday, did she say anything to you or was she acting strange in

anyway?" Judy asked Heather inquisitively.

"No ma'am, she didn't say anything to me. In fact she hardly spoke a word at all yesterday. I thought

she was upset about her date with Markian the day before. She only gave a weak smile and said 'it

was exactly how I pictured it to be' when I asked her about the date. Do you think maybe she got cold

feet?" Heather concluded with a question that made Judy more agitated.

"Have you tried calling her?" Judy asked.

"Yes, but her number is not going through." Heather replied.

Judy could not help but turn her eyes to Markian. Ever since Livy returned from that 'date', Livy have

been more depressed than she was before the engagement.

Whatever is happening now must have had something to do with Markian. He is perfectly relaxed in a

chaotic situation as this. He never wanted these marriage, but the Markian I know would be more

agitated and embarrassed than anyone else because his bride was at the verge of standing him up on

their wedding day.

He seemed too relaxed and less concerned, so she went up to him.

"why can't I shake off this arduous feeling that you have a hand in this hubbub? Where is my

daughter?" Judy asked threateningly.

"She is not my wife yet, but she is your daughter. You are the only one in the position to answer that

question, ma'am. But I'm guessing, she may not want this wedding also. You know, you should really

learn to listen to your daughter more often Mrs Luthel," Markian confabulated.

"You kids think this is a joke? I would expect this from Livy, but from you?... I expected more. You of all

people should know that in other to run a company like ours, sometimes we have to put our emotions

aside in order to make decisions that would affect the company. We can't be selfish, we don't have

such luxuries. Castlehill and Luthel Inc. stocks skyrocketing depends on this alliance, but it's surprising

to see that you of all people don't understand it. Then your father was a fool for putting a little kid

incharge of running a huge company like Castlehill." She spoke with gritted teeth but continued.

"You think you've won? Bear one thing in mind boy, if these goes the way you want it, Castlehill will fall

and you'll come running back to me for help. I promise you." Judy concluded and walked away.

Scoffs... Is she being serious? Her threatens might have worked with his father, but he doesn't care

about anything anymore.

Thanks to Livy, he can retain his sanity for a little while longer before some other problem forges.

Only 10minutes left and this whole madness will be over for good.

Friday-10:20am Luthel Mansion

"Why aren't you ready yet? The Winfreys are on their way to the courthouse and that is not good. I

can't understand why you can't take important things seriously." Judy rebuked disappointed.

"I'm sorry mom, I can't seem to fix my hair and makeup properly. How about you go on to the

courthouse without me, and I'll follow after." Livy suggested.

"No way I'm leaving without you, forget it. I'll wait till you're done, then we can go together." Judy stated

firmly.

"What about the Winfreys? Who knows what they'll do if none of us are there to represent our family.

I'm just saying, if you leave now to meet them there, I'll just be few minutes behind. This way you can

handle things before I arrive, especially double checking the authenticity of the marriage documents."

Livy commented.

"That's not the case... " Judy spoke but was interrupted by Livy.

"Or don't you trust me?... What's the case mom? Do you really have no faith in me?" Livy questioned

accusingly.

"Of course that's not the case either. I just...i know you wouldn't do anything stupid or out of character

today. I mean, you do know what I'm capable of, don't you? If you ruin today, you'll never find out the

truth about your sister's death." Judy wittily warned, making Livy freeze.

Judy never intended to tell Livy that her sister's death wasn't an accident but a murder.

But, Livy had been so quiet since her dinner date with Markian, and all of a sudden this morning she's

all bold and confident. Trusting isn't a commodity Judy gives out easily.

And if Judy knows anything about her daughter, it's the fact that she would never -on a day like this-

want to arrive at the venue of her wedding alone.

She is only confident and bold when she is trying to pull a fast one.

If Livy thinks she'd fall for such miniature lies and deceit, then Livy really doesn't know the woman who

gave birth to her.

So, incase her subtle threat to ruin Markian and Castlehill wasn't enough motivation for Livy, she had to

give her an unarguable reason to show up for her own wedding today.

"Wha...what did you just say, mom? How...how could Sophy's death be a murder? And why? Why...I'm

I just finding out about this?...Mom!" Livy yelled.

"I didn't want to worry you about it, but at this point it's inevitable for you not to know the truth before

you enter that household. Listen Livy, I didn't want to, but it seems I have no other choice. Sophia won't

rest in peace until her murderers are punished, but I need your help for that. This should be your sole

purpose now as her twin sister."

And with that, Judy kissed her daughter on the forehead and left the room, knowing exactly the spark

she had just ignited and hoped it's enough to get Livy to go ahead with this marriage without qualms.

Livy was left with goosebumps as the path of her mischief suddenly turn icy cold and freezing.

If Sophy was murdered, why didn't Markian say anything about it? Was this the reason he wanted her

to disappear?

What had she promised him that day? Yes, she had promised she would leave town and not show up

at the courthouse today.

Was that his plan all along? To emotionally blackmail her as to make her agree with him till she is

willing to get her mother into trouble today if she fails to turn up at the courthouse?

What a fool she has been, her mother was right about her all along.

If he is trying to protect his family and himself, then why shouldn't she try to protect her own mother's

pride and respect as well?

Though she doubts he could have killed Sophy, but all the same she still needs to find out who in the

Winfrey household did.

Friday- 11:45am- Courthouse

In the mist of the chaos and tension, Markian pulled out his phone to dial Daniel's cellphone number.

He would feel a lot better if he knew were they were at the moment.

Unfortunately, the call went through, but there was no response.

He dialed the number a second time- he could hear it ring as though the owner was right in the room-

but still no response.

"I'm so sorry for being so late everyone, I got held up on my way here. Please forgive me." A voice

called from the back, catching everyone's attention.

'That sounds like Livy's voice' he thought, 'but how is that possible? Livy is suppose to be halfway out if

town by now, so how is she here? No...why is she here?' he asked in despair, but got no answer.

So he slowly turned to the direction of the voice, praying and hoping it's not Livy. But his eyes met a

dazzling Livy walking down the isle of the courtroom.

She's wearing a beautiful strapless knee-length straight cut white gown, with a white blazer.

Her heels were not very high, but the sound of them hitting the tiled floor is enough to send everyone

on mute display.

But to Markian, the sounds of her heels is the most unbearable and deafening sound he had ever

heard.

The only thing her presence brought to his is a spiral of conjesting anger.

If his memory is retentive enough, he clearly remembered pleading with this lady to leave town today

with his cousin.

'Daniel!' he growled under his breathe. Why is he here with her? Why did he bring her here?

We had a deal, and she gave her word so why did she go back on them?

'I'm a fool to have trusted she was being sincere when she told me that she would leave.'

This was Livy after all, the same girl that didn't put up much of a fight when she was told to marry her

late sister's husband.

'How could i have put all my faith on her? Now i have no contingency plan- nothing'.

He was so confident she wouldn't go back on her word. And among all the bad decisions he'd ever

made, trusting Livy was the worst of them all. Markian mentally slapped and cursed himself.

It's evident he was furious as he walked down the isle heading towards Livy. Only to get to her and

brush right pass her in a swift manner, as though she's invisible.

She have never been so scared as she was right this moment. She really thought he was coming to hit

her or something for breaking her promise.

Instead he passed her and went straight to Daniel who was few feet behind her. He grabbed his cousin

by the collar and dragged him outside the room.

Daniel have only seen his cousin this angry before, and he knew exactly why he was furious.

"Explain yourself!" Markian ordered.

"I did as you told me. I waited for her outside the Luthel mansion like you requested. When Mrs Luthel

left, I was sure Livy didn't leave with her- so I continued to wait

. Few minutes later, Livy came out of the mansion and got into my car, but she was in tears," Daniel

explained.

In a fit rage, Markian hit the wall behind Daniel where he was backed and was being interrogated. The

loud thud startled Daniel a bit, but he didn't move.

"And you fell for that? Are you a fool or just plain stupid not to recognise the trap-tears of a drab when

you see one?" Markian profusely questioned.

"She is not a drab. On the contrary, she has feelings and that's why she's here- for your sake. She told

me that.... " Daniel spoke but was interrupted by another voice he recognized firmly.

"You tried to stop Livy from coming here?" Heather questioned disappointedly.

The guys were a bit surprised as to how she appeared there, and to what exactly she had over heard

them say. But Markian was too preoccupied to be bothered by her presence either.

"Markian, did you ask her not to go ahead with this marriage?" she questioned sternly when she didn't

get a reply to her first question.

Heather had noticed something was off with Livy since the dinner date she had with Markian.

Livy was not so talkative, but on their first outing she had let lose and had a great time. But yesterday,

there was something different and cold about her.

She barely smiled, not even once and it wa cans just disheartening.

Now she knows why the poor girl was in such a sour mood. Markian had told her to leave town on her

wedding day.

It wasn't enough she had to go through an arranged marriage, but she also had to face an emotional

blackmail from the man who is to become her life partner?

How could he be so insensitive and selfish?

"And if I did, what is it to you?..." Markian asked rudely but continued.

"...If your brother wasn't so stupid and incompetent, she would have been halfway across town by now.

It's all his fault, and now...now I have to go in there and marry that despicable woman" he concluded

distastefully.

"If we weren't family, I would've gone back in there and expose you to everyone. How could you do

such a vile thing? That poor innocent girl has been through so much, the lest she expects from you is

your assistance and support. You were not the only one who lost a dear one when Sophia died, you

know. Livy lost her twin sister too, and to top that off she's being forced to marry a lousy, self-conceited

man like you. You should be grateful and not trouble her, because you don't deserve her one bit."

Heather reprimanded.

"Humph...Like I care..." Markian started but Heather interrupted him.

"I'm not done! The next time you think to plot such shenanigans, keep my brother out of it. I know you

really don't care about anyone except yourself, but I do care about my family- you inclusive, so listen

carefully. Do not try to cross Mrs Luthel again, she's not as subtle as you think she is. Thank goodness

Livy made it here on time if not, your head would have been on a platter faster than you could say the

words; 'I'm sorry'. Let's go back inside, Daniel" she stated as she gently dragged her brother back

inside the room.

'Innocent? Sweet? What does she know? If only she knew how deceitful Livy was as a human, then I

will appear as the bad guy here' Markian thought.

He really wants to go in there and put an end to this whole madness, but he can't.

That selfish wench is here already, so if he makes any wrong move now his family would suffer for it.

And for the very first time, he wishes he could just disappear.

He is feeling very heavy with anger, and his chest is hurting from the constriction that held on to his

heart ever since he'd set his eyes on his soon-to-be nightmare of a wife.

If marriage to a Winfrey is what she wants so bad, then that is what he would give her. But like he

promised her, she would wake up everyday wishing she had never forced him to do this.