RISE OF THE GREAT SULLIVAN

chapter five

Erica became angry. She could not stand the insults anymore. She decided to leave with her husband.

"Sullivan let's go." Erica said to Sullivan.

They were about leaving when Bella stopped them.

"Where do you think you are going?" Bella asked.

"Home of course." She replied.

"And who gave you the permission to do so?" Vivian asked her.

"I'm tired of your insults and disrespect towards my husband and I, I can't take it anymore!" 

"Shut up!" Vivian shouted at her. "You will stay here until we tell you to leave!"

"You can't tell me what to do, I am already married" Erica said.

"Married to who? Who told you that the family has approved this marriage of yours?" Bella said.

As the confrontation between Erica and her cousins continued, Vivian's husband said he had something important to say.

"Well, I have a little brother that is not yet married, and if you guys will allow Erica to end her marriage to this man here and marry my younger brother, then I will get the invitation for all of you." He said.

"Woww, this is good!" Erica's mother said.

"Of course, you know my husband comes from one of the five great families in the society so he can help you all." Vivian said with pride.

"And can he also help us appease the wrath of Jason Jabs?" One of the elders asked.

"Yes of course!" Vivian's husband assured.

"Since  I come from one of the five great families, I have a higher chance of meeting with Jason Jabs and once Erica becomes a daughter in law to the family, Jason Jabs will stop his revenge against her and the family."

The whole family was happy with the news.

"Then it is settled!" One of the elders said.

"Erica will get married to your younger brother!" The elder announced.

"What?" Erica was shocked.

"You mean you want to sell me off to his brother because of common party invitations?"

"Shut up Erica, you useless girl! How dare you call the Dragon General's party common? Do you know who the Dragon General is and the caliber of people he has around him?" The elder shouted at Erica.

Erica started crying, she looked at her mum for support.

"Mum, please say something." She pleaded.

"Erica there is nothing I can do, besides Vivian's husband is from the great Trafford family, they have all the influence we need, please try to understand." Her mother said.

"But Sullivan here has said he will help us settle the issue with Jason Jabs, he has even called for us to get an invitation to the Dragon General's party." Erica said, crying.

"Keep quiet!" Vivian shouted.

"Who is Sullivan? How dare you compare him to my husband's family? Don't you know who the Trafford family is and the influence they wield in society?" Vivian asked.

"I don't care, I will not marry anyone apart from Sullivan!" Erica insisted.

"It seems you have finally gone crazy!" Vivian shouted.

"I have always said that you are a very selfish and self centered person, you just pretend to be good in public so people who don't know you will think you are a good person, but you are actually a very wicked person." Vivian said.

"Just imagine the nonsense she is saying." Bella chipped in.

"She knows that marrying into the Trafford family will be beneficial to this family but she is deliberately being wicked!" She added.

"I don't care what you all think, it's hard to believe that my own family will do this kind of thing to me!" Erica cried.

"I will not marry anyone apart from Sullivan!" She insisted.

Immediately, one of the elders walked up to her and slapped her hard.

"Shut up, you stupid child, who do you think you are to make decisions for yourself in this family?" He asked.

Erica was shocked, she held her cheek and began to cry while her cousins mocked her.

"Look at her, crying like something serious happened to her." Bella said.

"Don't mind her, that's how she exaggerates things to get sympathy from people." Vivian added.

"Cry all you want Erica, but you will get married into the Trafford family and secure us invitations to the Dragon General's party." Bella said.

At this point, Sullivan became angry.

"What is wrong with everyone in this family?" He asked.

"Why are you all wicked towards Erica? What crime did she commit to make you all treat her like this?" He asked angrily.

Turning to look at Eric's mother, he said.

"I can't believe you can will do this to your own daughter, how can you stand what is being done to her and even support it?"

"Will you keep quiet, you commoner!" The elder shouted.

"Who gave you the right to interfere in our family's matters?" The elder asked Sullivan.

"It is not his fault, I blame Erica for having such low taste in men that she cannot distinguish a commoner from a great person." Vivian said.

"It is actually his fault, because he was the one who rushed in to rescue Erica from Jason Jabs and put us all in trouble." Bella explained.

"No wonder!" Vivian exclaimed. "That's why he felt like he is already a member of the family."

"Now let me tell you" She faced Sullivan "The fact that you were stupid enough to rescue Erica from Jason Jabs does not mean you have the right to talk in this family."

"You are a nobody and so you should know your place and remain there!" She said pointing her index finger at him.

"Erica will marry into the Trafford family and that is final!" The elder said authoritatively.

Erica started crying and pleading with them but they continued to haul insults at her. 

Sullivan was angry and was about to shout at them when the door opened and a woman wearing a suit walked in.

"Good morning." She greeted them.

"Good morning." They replied.

"Am looking for Mr. Sullivan Douglas." She said,

They all thought the woman was from Jason Jabs and that Sullivan was in trouble, so they quickly pointed at him.

The woman walked to where Sullivan was and gave him a brown envelope.

"These are the invitations for the Dragon General's party." She said,