Two

“Dan Anthem!” Sebastian called angrily and Dan looked in shock.

“Are you shocked? Has your ego been broken?” asked Carissa, looking at Dan reaction. “Should he have called you Sir?”

“Dan Anthem.” he called again. “This is my family matters, and outsiders like you ain't allowed to interfere.” 

He warned and this offended Dan as he smirked at him.

“Ohh, baby, it's okay. Who doesn't know Dan? He isn't an illiterate after all, he can notice your presence and that's an honor for him to note that he is speaking of the honourable of Vlo oil company.”

Karen said, and Dan, drew her closer to himself by holding her waist.

“You are right.” he nodded.

While they were still talking, Mrs. Cherry returned seeing the bucket on the floor and mop in Sebastian hands she angrily carried the bucket up and, Just as she made to pour the soapy water on him, someone stopped her from behind.

“What do you want to do Cherry?”

 The lady held the bucket and Mrs. Cherry stared at her with open eyes.

“Aunt Ava!” 

Karen called happily yet in surprise.

“Ava?” 

Mrs. Cherry called, dropping the bucket to the floor and Sebastian, moped the dirt immediately while he did that, most of Dan's friends made jest of him.

“Ohh it's me Cherry, surprised to see me?” she said smiling broadly and walked towards Grandma Hailey.

“Mother, live long.”

 She said and touched her feet while grandma Hailey, reluctantly blessed her head.

“I wasn't expecting you to be here.” Mrs. Cherry said with mixed feeling.

“The interior and exterior of your house are well decorated. I can see you are swimming in massive wealth. Hahaha”.

She said, as she called on one of the servants and got a glass of drink from them while she went to sit on the cushion sipping the wine thoughtfully.

“You know, aunt Ava, is very bossy.” 

Karen, whispered to Carissa, who had been staring at her for a long time.

“You know, life is just like this Cherry, be the bad guy, become the hero and win all things. But to what end?”

“It is a special day for us Ava, I believe you to respect that.”  

Mrs. Cherry said displeased.

“Absolutely. Where is your son-in-law?” 

She asked and no one turned, neither did anyone say a thing.

“Karen, where is your husband?” 

Karen, looked at her so embarrassed but didn't show it in her reactions.

“Aunt, I'm yet to be married. I have a fiancée.” she replied curtly.

“Wasn't it your husband your mother was abusing?” she said with a smirk and Karen, frowned.

“You know, your mother is fond of abusing people. Trust me, we grew up together.”

“And you are what? Full of evil and a cheat”.  

Grandma fired but, Ava held her cool.

“Aunt, whatever you saw, Sebastian deserves it. Meanwhile, he is Carissa's husband not mine.” 

Karen, said openly as she stared at Sebastian, who felt daggers just been pierced into his heart. The only woman he loves keeps turning him down each day.

“But he is the son-in-law of this family.” Ava pushed further and just then, Sebastian made himself noticed by Ava, who smiled sweetly at him.

“Ohh here he comes. Your husband Karen.”

“Aunt, for the last time, he isn't my husband. This poverty stinking thing can't be my husband.”

“And he isn't my son-in-law.”

 Added Mrs. Cherry.

“Whose husband are you?” 

Aunt Ava, asked Sebastian, who couldn't utter a word because, his heart was shattered as he may just end up dropping a tear. He proceeded to point his hands, but Karen, already left to the stage holding the mic.

“Hello everyone!” 

She held the mic firmly, as everyone turned their gaze and attention to her. Grandma Hailey and the rest of her family wondered what she wanted to say.

“I thank every one of you for honoring this invitation and making today special for us. You all have been a part of this success story, and I say a big thanks to you. That being said, most of us know I'm a very easy-going person and I hate people with a negative vibe.”

She said and paused as everywhere went deaf with silence.

“I put away negative people and I appreciate those with positive vibes and keep them in my league. So, there is one person in our mist today we all need to acknowledge.” 

She said, and everyone looked at each other's side.

“Most of us who frequently visit or are very related to this family and the Marcus mansion, will know him while some of us, do not know. Sebastian!”

She called harshly and everyone turned. Seeing this, Carissa heart jumped into her tummy, she could say what her sister was about to do. Sebastian, stared at the smiling face of Karen, and there was no doubt about what his heart was telling him currently not to trust that lady. But, the smiles got him as he walked to the stage to meet her.

“Someone is surely going to meet their Waterloo tonight.”  

Dan, laughed wickedly as he watched him walk up the stage in his shady shirt.

“Thank you.” 

She whispered and Sebastian,smiled.

“I want us to acknowledge Sebastian Katerina. What an awful name, right?  But don't think much about it. Well, this is for my aunt.” 

She spoke and Sebastian, wondered. aunt Ava, maintained an expressionless reaction as she stared at the young girl on the stage.

“You think Sebastian, is the son-in-law of this family? And my husband. I'm sorry to tell you that, he is nothing. He isn't my husband. I don't even love him. He isn't the son-in-law of the Marcus family.”

She said, and Carissa,felt ashamed while grandma Hailey and Mrs. Cherry nodded their head in satisfaction.

“Such a wretched orphan, someone of no class and reputation, can't be my husband and son-in-law of this family. I accept that he helped me that night and saved my life. Mother asked what he wanted in return, and he chose me. But, I didn't choose him. It's a pity he has to pay for that one mistake as a servant in this house.”

“But, we signed the marriage papers.”

Sebastian, spoke up and everyone burst into laughter.

“We were deceived by your appearance. You made the whole thing. You were stalking me and listen, we are getting a divorce!” 

She stated clearly to him and that broke his heart greatly.

“A son-in-law should be reputable and accountable, responsible and should be counted on. Sebastian is the opposite of it all with his worn out shirt. Ask him, he will tell you it's the color.” 

She mocked with an embarrassing laugh.

“Dan Anthem is my fiancée and in weeks time, we will be getting married. This is for everyone here to note and Sebastian,is nothing whatever happened between us, was some things on papers and besides, he isn't married to me.”

Dan, felt on top of the world with those words coming from Karen.

“Who is your wife loser? Trying to reap where you didn't sow.”

Someone from the crowd shouted.

“Whose son-in-law are you? You want a high name, huh?”

These questions kept echoing in his ears as they all laugh him to scorn. He couldn't say anything about Karen, she just rejected him. It's all his fault, what has he been thinking, he can get such a girl by being wretched.

“I'm ain't wretched, I can work hard.”

 He murmured to himself as he bent his head in shame and with the side of his eyes, he can see Dan holding Karen's hand as they both smiled.

“You will be leaving this house, and you have to get those papers burnt.”

Mrs. Cherry rudely said to Sebastian, dragging him down the stage.

“You are such a bad luck.”

Scolded grandma Hailey.

“He will go nowhere and nothing will be burnt.” 

A voice spoke from behind as everyone looked back, moving aside.