Chapter 3 Welcome to Hell.

TOBY.

“I’m waiting, you know. We have to get there on time!” My dad snapped from downstairs.

And where were we going?! – The Coker’s house. “Mum, I thought you somehow managed to change his mind. I don’t want to get married and definitely not to fat and ugly Ruby!” I shouted at mom.

Then a stupid maid who was cleaning up my room chose that moment to drop one of my beautiful vases. “Are you just stupid?! Do you even know how much that costs? How would you even know when you were born and bred in poverty. Idiot! You are fired!” I snapped at the girl who was already crying and scared. She quickly ran out of the room. Stupid maids! She knew better than to be so careless when I was boiling.

“And mom you didn’t answer me!” I directed my anger back to my mom who flinched at the tone of my voice.

“Sweetheart, I tried but you know how your dad is, he never listens to me. He’s even adamant on it been that girl.” My mum said calmly trying to be careful not to anger me the more. If left to mom, she’d always do what I want. She loved me so much and would always do things my way. But then she could be a devil when I wasn’t involved, but she wasn’t so wicked and mean like people paint her to be.

—Okay, admitted. She was always so mean to other people, especially her employees and maids so people hated her a lot but she was always loving and kind to me so to me, she’d always be the best mother ever.

My last hope right then was Ruby, I just had to hope that she threw enough tantrums against the marriage enough for them to forget about the whole arrangement, it didn’t even make any sense. While we were in the car, My dad spoke what I had been expecting from him which was why I wasn’t throwing too much tantrums. “I’ll advice you to be on your best behavior when we get to your in laws’ house. Don’t you even dare to pull a stupid stunt!” He warned while I rolled my eyes.

“But dad, I still don’t get the pact at all. They are not even that rich, are you doing this because he’s your friend? I even heard that their business is typically getting ruined, they literally have nothing to offer us.” I said, hoping to bring up points that would cause my dad’s mind.

“I decide what is of help to us and what isn’t. Do your part and leave the rest for me, although there’s a major reason I can’t let out to you now but this is also a way to pacify the public that have been protesting against our schools, saying we harbour criminals and bullying just because they are rich. If we show them that we are getting our one and only son married to an average girl, they’ll probably see us in a better light, so yes, we are benefiting a whole lot too.” Dad explained while I just kept quite since I wasn’t even surprised.

Of course, it was to pacify the public as usual, everything in our family revolves around keeping our image. Soon enough, we got to the Coker’s home and I wasn’t really impressed about their house, it was in a good neighborhood but not a rich nor wealthy one, they were totally average.

A huge bald man who I recognized as Mr Henry Coker and a very pretty slender woman who I assumed would be Mrs Coker was standing at the entrance of the door to welcome us when we drove into their compound.

My dad greeted Mr Coker, grinning widely and the women did the same while I just watched them awkwardly.

“Toby Toby! How have you been?” Mr Coker greeted like we were best pals or something while I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and instead said a simple ‘fine.’

We walked inside towards the huge dinning room and took our seats. “Sapphire! Ruby! Our guests are here!” Mrs. Coker shouted. A young beautiful girl I recognized as Sapphire came running down the stairs carefully due to her heels. She was dressed in a pretty flowery dress and looked so cute as usual. Sapphire looked like she was in her twenties but then I knew that she was just nineteen. She had always looked older than her age.

She greeted my mom and mom was quick to respond to her greetings but even when Ruby greeted thrice, she acted like she didn’t hear her and I couldn’t blame her. She was practically dressed in something that looked like a rag, a stupid baggy trousers and some faded shirt, she didn’t even bother to make some effort to look good for the dinner. She looked as ugly as I remembered even though her fat now only remained at places like her hips and bust. I glared at her as she walked towards my side. It was pretty evident that even my mum was utterly disgusted at her.

I smirked knowingly and I could see the corner of Mrs Coker’s lips form into a mocking smile secretly. I guess nobody liked Ruby and I was very happy about that for virtually no reason at all. Mom still didn’t acknowledge her, so she just went back to her seat with a disappointed and dejected look on her face.

“Hey, Toby! You’re still as fine as I can remember!” Sapphire greeted as she took a seat on my left while Jupiter sat on my right.

“I know right?” I said in a cocky manner.

“Ruby dear, your dad told me that you’ve come to conclusion about this, so would you like to share it with us?” My dad asked with an extremely sick sweet voice.

What was this man up to? He was hardly ever nice. Being nice doesn’t just run in our family. “Uhm, yea… I… I agreed.” Ruby stuttered while I spit my wine back into the glass cup.

She agreed?! She fucking agreed?!

“Oh, I am so glad about that. The wedding will all happen so fast. And my son can’t wait to make you his wife.” My dad said smiling.

Indeed!

My mom was glaring at her the same way I was. Oh, Ruby, you just made two worst enemies. I just wonder how you’ll survive us.

Welcome to hell, dear wife.