CHAPTER TWO

He walked to the mansion, thinking things might change tonight. That grandmother will start looking at him the way her husband used to look at him. Even if it brings a bit impact, that will be okay with him.

But that was all nothing but helpless hopes. He walked into the mansion, and for sure, people had left. But the places were messed. Wine grasses everywhere you look on the table and wine bottles. Plates of food and all kinds of things that needed to be cleaned.

He sighed as he walked where everyone stood around grandmother. Giving her their second presents. He walked with his little box behind.

Then he stopped as everyone notices him. Moving aside for grandmother to look at him. He smiled at the woman, but she was just glaring at him.

“I. G-got you a-something,” he stammered as he walked closer. All of them looking at him like he was food that just arrived at the table but you didn’t order it.

“What could you possibly get that will match to what I got her or what others here got for her,” a man of Trevor’s age spoke.

He wore an expensive-looking suit like all the males. And he was Mubanga’s husband. The second to Eliza.

They all talked amongst themselves. Agreeing to what he just said.

And for sure, he saw boxes with expensive labels on them. Some I could say a drawing on necklaces and all kinds of expensive accessories. She was even putting on a gold necklace that one of them probably got for her.

“Trevor, we don’t have all night. And the house is waiting for you. Unlike you, we all have to wake up early to go work and bring food to feed you,” the mother to Eliza spoke.

Agreeing to be a leave in son-in-law was turning out to be bad for him. But again, because of his wife, he had to stay and try to tame the family. To get them to like him. Or at least look at him a bit differently.

He walked closer and handed his box to grandmother. She hesitated a bit and then got it, like some filthy thing that will give her infections or something bad.

She opened it and took out a locket. She looked at him and threw the locket at him.

“How dare you disgrace my husband? Did you think this will make me like you because it looks thoughtful in your stupid eyes? That is some cheep necklace and you put my face and my husband in that thing. You better get out of my sight,” she spat.

He took the necklace and put it in his pocket. It was the only thing that Mr. Noah left for him before the man actually kicked the bucket. And he thought it would help him in any way. But once again, his efforts were not appreciated.

“You heard her, get out of here. I can’t believe grandfather forced my sister to marry you low life loser. Get your filthy body out of our sight,” Eliza’s elder brother spoke and pushed him away.

They lifted him and threw him away from them. “Just clean. That is what you are good at. Stupid boy,” the other brother spoke, and they walked back to everyone.

He saw them laugh as they carried on presenting their expensive things to grandmother.

After a while, they all left for their rooms, and he was left cleaning the house. Making sure it is spotless. No dirty or he will get it in the morning. Each day was worse than the last.

He felt like giving up on life. He tried attempting suicide many times. But each time he remembered what Mr. Noah used to tell him. There is always a silver lining.

“I don’t see that sir,” he looked at the picture of the old man on the wall. “Why did you allow me to marry into this family? Why did you even take me in? You should have left me in the streets. At least there, no one treated me this bad. But now I’m tied here because you married me to your granddaughter. I can’t just leave her,” he spoke as he looked at the old man smiling back at him.

He wiped a tear away as he took out the locket. “You told me this will change my life. But look where I’m. It hasn’t done anything. I just got humiliated even more,” he cried.

Then, as he heard someone walked downstairs, he walked away from the picture and carried on cleaning. Taking all the tables all by himself to the garage. Sweeping and watching the dishes.

“You serious thought the locket was going to make her happy? Trevor, I Pit you sometimes. I don’t even know why you are still here,” Eliza spoke as she walked to get water into the freezer.

I turned to her. She was now in her nightdress.

“Because if you Eliza. I can’t leave here without you. You are my wife and I will do anything for you. Even staying here and doing all the work. I will do it,” he spoke. If only she treated him a bit better than others. Supported him in some way.

“Keep dreaming. Grandfather forced me. I never liked you and I will never love you. Now just leave this place for your own good,” she told him and left the kitchen.

He doesn’t even know why he was still holding on to that grimmer of hope. Why, he still thought she would love him. Because she has proved time and time again that she doesn’t care about him.

But he was still willing to endure everything. Because Mr. Noah told him they never give up on family. But he told him many things and look where he was now.

He sighed as he finally finished everything. His eyes feeling shut and his body feeling like a huge rock has struck him.

He went to his bed and just slept. Trying to forget about tonight. Looking at the locket and why Mr. Noah thought it will change his life.