"Guess who's here?"Doris's face turned sour as soon as she heard that voice."Oh hi Alan, what a pleasant surprise!" Her mother exclaimed with fabricated enthusiasm. "How did you know where we were?" Her mother was a terrible actress. Even a four year old would be able to tell that she was lying."I didn't. I just wanted to come here ro relax, like I always do when I feel stressed and on getting here, I was draw in by the face of a very beautiful angel." He smiled at Doris but she looked unmoved."If you'll excuse me… I have to find my husband." She stood up to leave but Owen stopped her."I'll find him." He dusted the sand away from his pants and put on his sandals."What?" Doris asked to make sure she heard him right."Nathan, I'll go and check on him." He repeated, his face bleak of any expression.Doris was surprised at his offer. "You… want to help me… to find Nathan?""Yes, not because I am fond of him, but because I don't want you parading in the hot sun. So just stay here, an
"Hey Nathan! " He stopped in his tracks and turned to face the person calling him. "Doris wants you to get something for her." Owen said as he stood in front of him."What?""Uh… sweet.""Sweet?" If Doris wanted something, she would have just texted him, instead of asking Owen to come after him."Yes, she said she was craving something sweet and she wants you to get it for her.""Oh alright." Something about Owen's demeanor made Nathan suspicious but he shrugged off the feeling."My advice, get it from the supermarket across the road, their products are top quality." Owen said with a plain voice."Okay. Any reason you're telling me this?" Nathan had to ask, this was the nicest that Owen had been to him in a very long time. Normally, Owen wouldn't care where he went. In fact, he would want him to buy something bad for Doris so he would get another for him to tag him a bad husband."My sister wants something, so I am recommending a good place for her… is that a bad thing to do?" He soun
Around after three, the rest of the family finally returned from their beach picnic, oblivious of the situation at home."What kind of a mother are you?" Granny Castiel accused as Doris's mother entered the living room. "Do you even have human sympathy in you?!""What have I done wrong this time?""Did you know your daughter has been looking for her husband?""He's not a child mother, he'll resurface when he is good and ready." She replied nonchalantly."Can you hear the garbage you're spilling from your mouth?! Are you in your right mind at all?" The old woman couldn't scream too much but she did her best in making sure she was loud enough for everyone to hear."Definitely I am, I don't see why Nathan's disappearance should concern me in any way!""Don't you dare raise your voice at me." Her voice had a warning edge to it, almost like she just made a threat."Well don't talk to me like I'm a little kid!" Evelyn shot back. "Everyone here knows that I do not give a fuck about that boy,
Nathan opened his eyes slowly but they felt heavy. His left eye was swollen so he could barely see through it. His mouth felt like he had been trying to chew on rocks.His wrists were sore and badly bruised, and he felt like they could snap at any minute. Nathan wasn't a doctor but he was sure he would have broken a couple of ribs, hopefully nothing else.His captor walked in, a pleased smile on his face. "Aw look at your face," he touched Nathan's bruised cheeks. "It looks so messed up. Can you see the problem you brought upon yourself?" He removed a little towel from bis pocket and dabbed at the blood stains on his face. "All this will be over if you just comply to my demands."By his demands, he meant signing a form saying he would never go near Doris forever, and that if he did, he would have to serve time in jail. "Not on your life." Nathan spat, then he groaned due to the pain that came with every word he spoke."Do you realize I could kill you here and nobody would know?""Go a
"What?" "Nathan, I know where he is." Owen repeated more firmly. "I can tell you where to find him.""Are you sure about this Owen? You know that this issue at hand is a very delicate one." Granny Castiel inquired with a straight face."Yes." He saw that two officers were present along with Doris and Friday, he wasn't expecting this much people but… summoning his courage, he went on anyway."You know the thing is, Alan told me he loves my sister and that he wants to wed her," he stopped to look at Doris. "… and I told him I would help him.""Knowing fully well that your sister is already married." Granny said with a stern tone."Yes, but I believed I was doing the right thing for my sister.""The right thing… the right thing. Why is it that you and mother refuse to see that Nathan and I are in love with each other?. Why can't you see that we're meant for each other?. Why do you always have to be like this? Nathan and I have been together for so, so many years and you still haven't be
"You're probably so disappointed in me." Owen said after he was alone with their grandma."Yes. You know why?""Why?""Because I know you acted out of your hatred towards Nathan, and not your love for your sister."She was right. "I'm sorry.""Are you though? Are you really sorry… or are you just begging so you don't have to go to jail along with your partner?""I'm really sorry grandma. I just… I thought Alan would be in the better position to care for my sister.""Why? Because he's rich?""Well yeah, I mean he has the qualities and everything one can use to cater for a wife.""Hmm, is that what your mother puts in your head?""My mother–""It's alright. No need to get agitated, I won't say anything bad about your mother. But I will yell you this Owen, your sister loves you dearly, she loves your parents, she loves this family… but she can't live with you forever, neither can she keep living for you. She has to live for herself, and that means doing what she wants, when she wants… a
"Hey you," Doris poked her heard inside through the slightly open door. "How are you feeling?""Very much okay and ready to go home."Nathan was already tired of sitting in a hospital but Doris felt like he hadn't spent enough time there."You need to rest." She said, the firmness in her voice making it sound like an order, but Nathan knew she was merely concerned."And I already did, since yesterday. I'm well rested now, it's time for me to leave this place.""Be patient, you will be discharged–"Tomorrow, I know but I really don't think I have to spend another day just laying in bed. Besides, our bed is more comfortable.""You'll get to lay on our bed once you've been discharged… tomorrow.""Whatever you say doctor. So, how are things going with Alan?""He's still in police custody but," Doris didn't know how she would tell Nathan about the deal her grandmother made."But what? Talk to me Doris, what's going on?""Grandma made a deal with Alan's mother.""Deal, what kind of deal?"
Doris froze in her steps as Alan snatched a gun from the police officer in front of him and aimed it at her. She knew she was supposed to run, or at least move out of the way but she couldn't.Fear crept into her mind and drilled her to the spot she stood. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Nathan running towards her but before she could warn him, it was too late. She heard the loud bang of the gunshot and Nathan was bleeding terribly. She watched in horror as her husband fell to the ground and soon he was covered in a pool of blood."No, no, please stay with me." She felt horrible and her entire body was trembling badly.Her mother amd cousins ran inside but Owen and her father stayed, but neither of them moved to where they were. The police officers tackled Alan to the ground and hurriedly cuffed him.Granny Castiel rushed to them and pressed her slim hands hands on Nathan's wound… not that her small hands could do anything. "I already called the ambulance and they're on thei