Chapter Nine

Richard paced to and fro in his room while his mother tried to calm him down, he had initially thought his father was bluffing earlier on but two suits were sent to his room with the instructions to try them on. The packages carried the signature of the most expensive and famous designer whom only the Sanchez could afford.

"Calm your nerves Richard." Elena advised.

"It's easy for you to say that Mom, you're not the one getting married to death." Richard blew hotly.

Elena sighed, no mother would watch their child walk into a death trap but they had no choice hence she could only hope he'd survive the ordeal.

"We have no intentions of doing you harm, we're left with no choice, if you don't get married to her then we all will be dead." Elena explained.

"I'm better off dead now." Richard lamented.

Elena knew no words could soothe a man walking into his own grave and she could oy urge him to try on the suits. Richard's eyes were filled with tears as the thought of leaving behind his perfect life for the unknown hit him, if only he had a brother then he would offer him in his stead, he broke down and held him mother tightly.

"Mom, please save me, I don't want to die." Richard cried.

Elena couldn't hold back her tears as well and cried as she patted his head.

"I'm sorry son, but you're the only son I have and this is the only way." Elena apologized.

Richard intensified his cries and Elena had to run out of the room to her own room, she couldn't bear the sight of her beloved son crying, Marco was shocked to see his wife drenched in tears with her eyes swollen.

"Elena?" Marco called out.

Elena crashed into her husband's arms and cried bitterly while he couldn't do anything to soothe her, he was grieving inside of him.

"Please find another way, let's not plunge our only son to his death." Elena begged.

"We have no other choice Elena." Marco said, defeat evident in his tone.

Elena disagreed with this and cried louder, a knock on the door interrupted Marco.

"Who's there?" Marco roared in anger.

"Kyle." Came the voice behind the door.

"What do you want?" Marco yelled.

"I'll be leaving for a personal business and I won't be back till evening tomorrow." Kyle announced.

Marco was infuriated and marched to the door, he flung the door open and slapped Kyle across the face while Kyle stood still as if nothing had happened.

"You ungrateful bastard! Your family is going through a hard phase and you're trying to leave us now to attend some stupid business of yours?" Marco shouted.

"I'm sorry Dad but I'm not really a part of this family, am I? You always remind me that I'm adopted and must never claim to be a Davidson." Kyle said calmly.

"You little piece of trash!" Marco yelled.

"I'll leave with your permission." Kyle said humbly and turned away to leave when Marco grabbed him by his shirt.

"Where do you think you're going?" Marco demanded.

"I've been useless to you isn't it? I'm just your house help whom you adopted under the pretense of making me your son, your real son is out there getting married, don't pay attention to trash like me and get him married to the richest family in town to live his life like royalty!" Kyle spat out bitterly.

He was tired of having to deal with their excesses and planned on leaving the house after Richard get married, he had saved enough to rent himself a decent house downtown and live with Melinda peacefully.

"Since you badly want to be our son why don't you take Richard's place and get married to the Sanchez daughter instead?" Marco suddenly said.

Kyle's eyes widened in shock and couldn't believe his ears.

"I can't do that, I'm not your son." Kyle said defensively.

Marco let go of his shirt and smirked.

"But no one would know that isn't it?" Marco said mischievously.

Elena was confused.

"What are you saying Marco? Are you trying to deceive Sanchez? Away with Kyle, he's useless." Elena said bitterly.

"You've been bearing the name Richard since we adopted you right? You even got a college degree with that name and your middle name is Kyle isn't it? You'll fit in just fine. Wipe your tears darling, we have a groom for the death wedding!" Marco said triumphantly.

Kyle shook his head and ran to his room, tears filled his eyes as fear gripped him. He knew Marco never bluffed and this dangerous suggestion of his would work out just fine. When he was adopted he was brighter than Richard and got good grades hence Marco had him change his first name to Richard while Richard used all the credentials he accquired and took credit for his excellence, they were that dubious.

Afraid he'd be forced into doing what he doesn't want, he fled from the house and went straight to Melinda's place. She wasn't back from work yet so he went to the cafe she worked as a waitress. Melinda was shocked to see her boyfriend out of the blues and took a break. Kyle took her to a silent place and explained things to her.

"Your Dad is forcing you to get married in Richard's stead?" Melinda asked in disbelief.

"I'm afraid so, and he's a monster, he'll do exactly as he said but I'll never get married to anyone if it isn't you, I love you with my entire life and will do anything to keep you, I'll wait for you at the train station by nine tonight, I'll sneak back home and take all my belongings and money, together we'll flee downtown. I have a friend there who we'll stay with for few weeks before we get our own place, I came here to tell you that okay? Please be safe." Kyle said hurriedly and before she could respond he kissed her forehead gently and went off. His plans were set in motion.

Kyle snuck into his room and took all he needed, he was about to successfully sneak out when he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head and passed out.