Chapter 19: You called me a cat?

Arianna arrived at her parents house. She looked at the house, the same house and the same occupants of it. Everything is the same except for herself.

She’s not that naive girl she used to be. That girl that allowed her stepmother and daughter to bully her and once poured a hot coffee on her face. She was scalded at a time because of them.

But her father had refused to see it. He never saw her pain or maybe he didn’t care to see it. He never cared. She left and over the years, had learnt to be strong.

She used the doorbell and soon, the door was opened and she stepped in. She met her father and stepmother at home and Elisa seated at an extreme end.

Ten years have passed but that unfriendly stare from her sister was still there. She ignored her and sat down “I’m here father” she said not saying hi to any of them.

Ned Jason glared at his daughter. She’s grown into a beautiful woman, matured and beautiful. She’s the most beautiful one among his both daughters.

“Where is your manners, Arianna? Couldn’t you say hello to your father and I?” Emily Jason reprimanded her.

“I left it at home. Please lend me yours!” Arianna snapped at her and Emily was surprised. Huh, Arianna had grown wings. She glared at Arianna and felt like dipping her long nails into her eyes.

Arianna eyed her. She wants to teach her manners, huh? She should teach her own daughter first before doing the same to her.

Ned Jason coughed slightly. He needed to intervene and not allow them both to start a fight. He knew Arianna never returned home all these years because of Emily and her daughter Elisa.

“How have you been Arianna?” Ned asked but his daughter didn’t answer, rather she looked at her wristwatch. She had timed herself. If her dad isn’t through with what he has to say to her, she would walk away and only come to see him at his graveside.

Ned Jason saw his daughter’s attitude and sighed softly. “You have been away from home for a long time, as long as ten years ago. But I keep track of all that has happened to you all these years.

Your failed engagement to Ethan and…” Ned Jason was saying when Arianna interrupted him. “Will you just go straight to the reason you invited me, please?” she said.

“Okay then. I betrothed you to the eldest son of Keyamo family. And it’s time to fulfil my promise to them. I took a loan many years ago and I couldn’t pay back. I will go to jail if I can’t pay except if I give my eldest daughter in marriage to the eldest son of the family” Ned Jason explained.

“How is that my business? Is that why you invited me here, to tell me you are throwing your daughter to a certain family who has a history of drug trafficking and illegal acts just to pay off your debt.

Give her off in marriage to whoever you want. But don’t invite me to their wedding because I won’t come. If that’s all, I take my leave” Arianna declared, pretending not to understand her father’s words.

Ned Jason and Emily exchange glances. “Arianna, have you always been this stupid or you learnt to be stupid? Did you hear what Ned said at all?” Emily asked.

Arianna glanced around her, as if looking for someone behind her that Emily might be talking to “I am talking to you, Arianna Jason. Who else answers to that name here?” Emily tucked her.

“Oh me” Arianna said and continued “I learnt to be stupid. I enrolled as an apprentice in the school of stupidity that was established and run by you, Emily Jason!”

Emily felt like puking blood. How dare Arianna say such words to her? How dare she call her the founder of stupidity? Her guts, the audacity of her!!!

“Arianna!!” Emily yelled, her fury was visibly seen. Her neck veins Popped out and her complexion flushed with redness.

“Arianna, you are so impossible. You left this house, mom and dad were worried about you. And now, you only think to insult and provoke, mother” Elisa yelled at her sister.

“Where is the cat that just meowed?” Arianna asked, looking at the floor and pretending not to see a thing.

Emily became more furious. Arianna dared to call her daughter a cat? Who the hell does she think she is, she dares to pick on her and her daughter?

“You just called me a cat, me, cat?” Elisa bellowed. She came over and was ready to fight but Ned stopped Elisa and told her to go to her room.

“Why would Elisa go to her room, Ned? When your rascalous daughter insulted me, you didn’t say a thing about it. Now my daughter is trying to help out and you said she should go to her room?

Was it my fault that her uncautious mother got run over by a truck? How was it my doing that Arianna comes here to insult me and then call my daughter a cat” Emily quarrelled.

Ned Jason ignored his wife and glared at Arianna “You are getting married to the eldest master of the Keyamo family in a few weeks time. Get ready and don’t think you can run away from me this time” He commanded.

Arianna picked up her bag and said “Send my best regards to her. Goodnight” she declared and walked out briskly.

Arianna got outside and turned to glance back at the house. She left ten years ago and returned to be angered. She doesn’t know when she would step her feet in that house again.

These people are so annoying. Call her to tell her she would be getting married to the eldest son of that drug addict. The man was a drug addict and so are his sons.

What is her business with her dad owning a debt? If he needed to get a loan, why didn’t he go to the bank? All his riches had gone down the drain because of the woman he married.

Her father used to be a well to do. He might not be wealthy but he was comfortable. He could afford all that he needed and had considerably fat savings. What happened?

She looked at her wristwatch. Genesis hasn’t called her, that means they were not coming yet. She would rush home and pretend not to have gone anywhere.

“Eli has been taken by Jace Hudson’s men” Richard announced. He stared at Genesis and the latter didn’t yet understand. Jace Hudson, is he the same as Chase Hudson, the popular guy?

“Jace Hudson? Is he related or is he the same person as Chase Hudson” Genesis asked. She knew about the name Chase Hudson.

“No. Jace is the eldest master and Chase is his younger brother. He’s the CEO of Hudson’s holding. And I must say, Eli is the spitting image of Jace and Chase Hudson” Richard explained.

Genesis just found her seat, and sat down. Is Eli in any way related to the Hudson’s? And now being taken away by the eldest son of the Hudson’s family.

“What do we do now, Richard? Arianna wouldn’t be able to have a peaceful night’s rest without Eli by her side.

Let’s get Eli back and if we need to involve the police, let’s do it. This is similar to a kidnap case. Let’s do something, Richard” Genesis suggested.

“Jace Hudson is not just anyone we can pick a fight against. I can only find a way of confirming that Eli is with him and then we wait until tomorrow morning” Richard suggested.

Genesis nodded and said “okay”

Richard decided to call Chase. But the latter was not answering his phone. He tried several times and it’s the same story.

Chase was at a party, dancing and getting high with a woman. His hands on a woman’s waist, making her back side rub against the region of his manhood.

Soon Nicolas came to inform him that his elder brother called and said they should meet the next day at the hospital. The DNA test is required now.

“Has the boy been found?” He asked and Nicolas said yes. He dragged the lady and stormed out of the club. He heard his phone vibrate again and saw that the caller ID was Richard.

The venue was still a bit noisy and he shouted into the phone “Hi Richard” Chase said as soon as he answered the phone.

“I need to see you, Chase. It’s about a boy…”Richard was saying when Chase spoke loudly again “Yeah I already know about it. I will be having a DNA test done tomorrow for me and the little cutie.

I have a lot to talk to you about, about Arianna and I think tomorrow will be best for us to talk about it..” Chase was saying as the lady tiptoed and kissed his chin.

“Ahhh baby… I’m on the phone” Chase said and Richard heard him. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then” and hung up.

“Eli is having a DNA test with Chase tomorrow morning at the hospital”Richard announced, staring at Genesis.

“That means Eli is with Jace Hudson then?”Genesis assumed and Richard nodded. There was a long silence between the both of them until Genesis asked “do you have any suspicion that Eli might be…” she trailed off.

Can Arianna have slept with Chase Hudson and didn’t know he was the one or could she probably know and don’t want to accept the reality.

“I have suspected it for some time now. Have you seen Jace and Chase and Eli, placing their pictures side by side?” Richard asked and Genesis squinted.

There is indeed a resemblance and she slowly turned to glance at Richard, the latter nodded.

“What do I tell Arianna? She’s expecting me to return with Eli tonight” Genesis said, worried and confused.

“I will talk to her myself,” Richard replied and dialled Ariana’s cell phone number. “Hello Richard…” The conversation went on. Richard pleaded with her to let Eli stay that night away from her.

Arianna was not comfortable with the idea but Richard coaxed her and told her that Eli was in good hands.

Reluctantly, Arianna agreed and told Richard she was taking the greatest risk of her life by allowing her son to stay away from her the entire night.

Richard told her that the next morning, she would be with her son. The conversation ended and Genesis sighed softly.