Inaya's POV

I was about to argue with him when his priceless daughter Karisa called with a sweet tone and Father turned to look at her with the brightest smile ever.

He had never for once looked at me that way, "When did you come here?"

"Father, you don't have to be too harsh on her," Karisa hugged Father.

Karisa was the trophy daughter everyone wanted, the beautiful smart daughter who was always obedient and made their family proud. Even better, she was a doctor, when has Father never been proud of her.

"I don't want to be harsh on her but she keeps bringing me," Father complained, "Not like she is bringing me out for good reasons."

"I will talk to her," Karisa flashed me a small smile, "I will make sure she apologizes to that professor."

"Why should she?" Mother's voice echoed in the room, and I smiled, "How dare he hold a disciplinary hearing for my child?"

"This is why she has become like this, you have spoiled her rotten," Father raised his voice at Mother, "Can't you see she was wrong?"

"How was my daughter wrong? Can't you see he is purposely on her case, maybe he just wants money or status or something," Mother yelled back at Father, "We will both handle it, nobody, even the media, won't get a whim of it."

"Chloe," Defeat rang in Father's voice as he called Mother's name in a low tone.

"Mother....." Karisa called, and Mother raised her hand in the air, stopping her from speaking any further.

A smirk made its way to my face. This was the reason why Mother was my best friend; she understood me in ways no one did.

"Inaya," Mother gently touched my face, "You should go prepare for the wedding and leave that man to me, I will handle him."

I jumped into Mother's arms as my heart filled with happiness, "Thank you, you are the best."

The smirk on my face was visible as I walked towards Father, I held his hand and pushed the document into it, "I guess I won't be needing it anymore."

Karisa is getting married to the son of a presidential candidate. That's good; I will definitely make sure to use his influence.

I will make sure Professor Marcel loses his job by Monday. I won't stop there; I will make sure he becomes homeless and has to beg on the street.

I needed to clear my head, so I took a bottle of alcohol from the wine storage and went to my room, "Why are you here so early?" I asked Eveline when I saw her sitting on my bed, "What's that?" I added when I saw something on the bed.

"That's why I'm here," Eveline stood up from the bed, "I got multiple pregnancy test kits so we can confirm if I am going to be an aunt or not."

"I....."

"Inaya," Karisa called my name when she entered my room without knocking, "Why is that here?" Karisa looked at me waiting for an answer."

My eyes locked with Eveline, "It's mine," Eveline laughed, "A girl gotta be conscious."

"Sure, you should go get ready, the groom will be here soon," Karisa held my hand as she said to Eveline, "I want to talk to you." I nodded my head and followed her outside.

Karisa was my favorite sister; she was my ride or die. She might be my half sister, but to me, she is my sister. Even if she scolds me in front of others, she will make sure to make them respect me and she was the sweetest person ever. She can never be wrong.

"I know you are angry at the moment, I just wanted to reassure you that everything will be okay, Father is angry at the moment but you should talk to him later," I rolled my eyes mentally.

I jerked my hand away from her hand, "Is that why you called me outside? I thought maybe you wanted to help me out with the issue on ground."

"I will help you with that, don't you trust your sister?" I nodded my head, "I called you out to please ask you to behave just for today."

"Are .... Are you trying to say I always misbehave?" I couldn't help but scoff loudly.

"I'm not saying that, I just want you to be on your best behavior today, just for today and I promise I will make everything alright again," Karisa stretched out her pinky finger, "Promise?"

"Promise," I made the pinky promise with her, "I should go get ready so I will welcome the guest."

"We will take the test after the wedding, the guests have started arriving," I removed my clothes and entered the bathroom.

I had a quick shower and rushed to get ready. I didn't need much after all I wasn't the one getting married.

I wore a red silk open-back dress, I threw a black blazer on it, and wore black heels. I did a nude makeup and packed my hair into a high ponytail.

"You look beautiful," I said to Eveline when she stood in front of me. She was wearing a beautiful blue long-sleeved short gown, black heels, and her hair in loose curls.

"Let's go welcome the guest, we might find our husbands here," Eveline jokes.

"You know I don't care about that right now, I love my life this way and I would never trade it for anything," I picked up my phones from the bed and threw it inside my purse.

The guests had already begun to arrive, so Eveline and I went to the garden to greet the important figures. The wedding was to be held in our garden, but I don't know about the wedding reception.

"The bride should be ready soon. When do you think the groom will get here?" Eveline asked a question I didn't have the answers to.

"I don't know and I don't care," I gave her the nicest answer my brain could find.

My eyes fell on Father and Mother who were casually talking to Henry Henderson, one of the most powerful presidential candidates and businessmen. I didn't know my family had such connections to invite him to my sister's wedding.

"Wait, wait, is it the Beckham Henderson we all know?" My eyes looked at Eveline with confusion, "The groom's name is Beckham Henderson."

My eyes darted between the board where the names were written and Mr Henry Henderson who was standing with my parents.

My mouth hung open in surprise when I realized that it was The Beckham Henderson who was getting married to my sister, "There is only one Beckham Henderson."

The surprise on my face turned into a smirk when it clicked that it would be extremely easy to render Professor Marcel useless.

"I'm so excited, I should text the Brooks siblings to hurry up," Eveline gushed excitedly.

I understood her, many people don't know the face of Beckham Henderson, we only know the name and it would be such an honor to see his face.

I was more than excited, not only was I going to see Beckham Henderson's face, but I was going to be his in-law. Oh, I couldn't help but think of the power that comes with it.

A small frown made its way to my face when I saw my sister's bodyguard rush past me to Father. She said something in his ear, and Father's demeanor instantly changed.

"What's going on?" Eveline asked and I shook my head.

I hurriedly grabbed Mother's hand when she was about to walk past me, "Mother what's wrong?"

Mother sighed deeply, the lines on her forehead were visible as she lowered her head in disbelief, "Karisa is nowhere to be found," Mother's voice came out in a whisper.

Inaya's POV

"What do you mean the bride disappeared from the house?!!" Father yelled at everyone in the room, "Weren't you supposed to be looking after her? Why do we even pay you such an amount if you can't do your work," Father yelled at Karisa's bodyguard.

"I'm sorry sir," Karisa's bodyguard apologized with her head lowered.

"How does that make sense? Not one security saw her leave this house," Father said to no one in particular.

"Father, instead......."

Father folded his hands in front of my face, "Inaya, please not now."

I nodded my head and kept my mouth shut, I just wanted to give a suggestion.

"Let's check the CCTV," Alex, my self-centered, annoying older brother, said from nowhere.

"That was what I was trying to say," I muttered under my breath.

"Y'all better pray someone kidnapped her," Father glared at Karisa's bodyguard before he walked out of the room.

I nonchalantly watched the CCTV footage with everyone. Deep down, I knew there was no way someone would kidnap Karisa from the house; she must have been somewhere inside the house.

From the footage, we could see Karisa leaving the house by herself, she drove out of the compound using Alex's car.

Alex pointed at the big screen, "She drove out with one of my cars and that's why no one knew she left."

"Mr Valentino," An unknown man called, "Mr Beckham has arrived and they are asking for the bride?"

Father nodded his head, "We will be right down."

Mother held Father's arms in tears, "Honey, what do we do?"

Alex sighed miserably, "Karisa removed my car tracker, she left it at home, now we can't track her."

"Inform the guest that there will be a three-hour delay, make up any believable reason, and in the meantime, secretly dispatch security to search the entire city, turn every single stone until you find her," Father said and walked away.

Alex grabbed my wrist and dragged me to an empty room, "Have you gone mad!!" I yelled as I freed myself from his hold.

"According to the CCTV, you were the last person to see her. What did you tell my sister to make her run away?" Alex spat his usual nonsense.

"You are older than me, so behave like one before I lose it," I warned, "Don't go around spewing nonsense, else you might lose your tongue."

"You know I can't stand you, I wish I can kill you right here and right now," Alex gritted as he showed me his fist, "I will make sure you leave this house soon, I will make sure to ruin you the way your prostitute of your Mother ruined this family."

"Alex!!" I fumed, "That's enough."

Alex burst into laughter, "I told you never to raise your voice at me."

I hated Alex because he hated me, ever since I could remember he had tried to make things difficult for me. I always ignored him and this time I will ignore him too.

I glared at him with tears in my eyes before I walked to my room. I was about to open the door to my room when I heard laughter coming from inside, I wiped the tears off my eyes and entered the room like nothing happened.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked Eveline, Hayes, and Keona with a smile on my face.

"I brought pregnancy kits, painkillers after abortion, snacks, and pads for you," Hayes raised the bag, and I took it from him.

I might have a lot of family issues but being with these people makes up for it.

"Thank you, that's why I love you and I will marry you," I laughed as I looked at the contents inside the bag. "How do you know this is the product I use?"

"I have seen it a lot of times," Hayes said as he pointed at the pads on my dressing table, "I will set the date, ma'am."

"Shouldn't we be heading down for the wedding?" Keona asked.

"The bride is nowhere to be found," Eveline answered on my behalf.

"What? How? Why did she run away? What's going to happen now?" Keona asked a lot of questions at once.

"I don't know," I took the bottle of liquor from Hayes' hand and drank from the bottle, "The wedding might be called off."

"Is your Father the type to do that?" Keona asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Let's let the adults handle this one," I passed the bottle of liquor to Eveline, "There is no need for us to go down for the wedding, let's just have fun up here."

"Aren't you taking the test again?" Keona asked as she pushed her glasses up.

"Later, but for now, baby, let's get drunk," I winked at Keona as I brought out a bottle of alcohol from under my bed. "We don't have to do much tonight, no smoking, just alcohol."

LED lights were on, music turned on to the highest volume, and alcohol in our hands as we danced the night away while awaiting the return of the bride.

I opened my eyes when I felt someone tapping me, "Mom?" I sat up on the floor, "What are you doing here?"

I looked around the room, my friends were sleeping on the bed, five empty bottles were on the floor, and the music was turned off.

"Your dad wants to see you," I nodded my head. I was about to stand on my feet when I fell back to the floor.

Mother handed me a bottle of water before she helped me up on my feet, "Is Karisa back?" I questioned and Mother shook her head, "Why does Father want to see me?"

"I don't know, let's go before you wake your friends up," I glanced at them before I walked out of the room.

The members of our household were panicking when I entered Father's reading room, "Why did she run away?" One of our relatives asked Father.

"Now our head will be in shame," Another said and I rolled my eyes.

I wasn't interested in this drama. Karisa had a boyfriend; she could have told everyone instead of agreeing to this wedding. Now she is causing us such drama.

"Father you sent for me," I said, making my presence known to everyone.

"Inaya," Father sighed, "You are close to her, do you know where she might be?"

I shook my head. I looked at the wall clock. "It's been four hours already. Shouldn't you inform the guest of the situation?"

"Inaya, an alliance like this comes once in a blue moon, I just can't get rid of it," Father explained.

I wasn't interested in hearing any of this. I just want to be back in my room today and think of how to get rid of Professor Marcel.

"Brother, how about we proceed with the marriage?" One of the relatives said with excitement in his eyes.

"But the bride isn't here," Father sank into his chair.

"Then we can replace the bride," Slyness dripped out of our relatives' tone.

"You want someone else to take my Karisa's place at the altar?" Father rose from the chair.

"You should do what is right," His eyes brightened as he stared at Father.

"What are you saying?" I know I shouldn't interfere in adult affairs but what the fuck, "Uncle, how can you even think that way? Let's just cancel the wedding and whenever Karisa returns you will know what....."

"You shouldn't speak when elders are speaking," Alex interrupted me arrogantly.

"Alex, how many times have I....."

"Inaya," Father mumbled, I stopped whatever I was going to say to that lunatic Alex and turned to look at him with confusion.

This wasn't the way Father normally called my name. I knew something was wrong and watched patiently to understand what was wrong.

"Chloe, you should get Inaya dressed in the bridal gown, she will take Karisa's place at the altar tonight."

Inaya's POV

"Dad!

Father!!

Honey!!" Alex, Mother, and I called at the same time.

Those were the words I never expected to hear from my Father's mouth.

"I can't let this alliance go," Father stated with authority, "Never."

A gloomy look made its way to Mother's face, "How can you ask my younger daughter to marry her sister's husband?"

"Beckham isn't Karisa's husband," Father explained to Mother.

"Have you forgotten they already......"

"That's enough!!" Father yelled shutting Mother up, "I have made my decision and that's final."

"Father I cannot get married to a man I know nothing about," I disagreed with Father's decision.

"When you get married to him, you will know him," I burst into laughter.

"I have never listened to you before so I won't do that today," I made myself loud and clear. Getting married at this point in my life was a NO, and getting married to the man my sister was arranged to be married to was a bigger NO.

"Inaya can never get married to Beckham Henderson," Alex yelled. Obviously, he doesn't want me to be more powerful than him, so he won't agree, and I hate the fact that I was going to support him today.

"If you don't marry him then I will cut off everything and render you penniless," Father threatened.

I giggled mentally, I wasn't the right person to threaten, "Do you think I care?"

I have enough money in my slush fund to take care of me for years. Mother wouldn't let me go penniless, Karisa would never do that, and Alex would provide for me as long as I don't have access to this family wealth.

Father locked eyes with me and said to Mother, "You have one hour to convince your daughter."

"I will be in my room, excuse me," I said and walked away from Father's reading room.

I didn't want to wake my friends up so I went to Karisa's room. I searched around the room for any clues, but there was nothing. I called but it kept taking me to voicemail.

This wasn't the plan, I have to think of something real fast because only the almighty knows what Father may do next.

"Inaya," Mother called calmly and I dropped my phone to give her my full attention.

"Mother, why did you come here? Shouldn't you inform the guest of the situation?" I held her hand and led her to sit on the bed.

"Inaya," Mother touched my face with love, "Have I ever asked you for anything?"

I think I knew where this was going, I shook my head, "Mother please don't ask me to marry a stranger."

"Inaya," I stood up from the bed and I saw sadness in her eyes, I couldn't bear to look at her, "If they leave here today then our heads will be hung in shame, it will be difficult to gain face in society and nobody knows what Mr Henry Henderson will do."

I wasn't going to fall for this, "Mother please don't involve me, Father will take care of his business."

"I understand but what of everything I have built over the years, what of everything your biological mother built for you before she died?" I felt my mother closely behind me, "Would you let that go down the drain?"

I can't destroy my life by being married to this man. I know nothing about him; he could have a disability, he could have mental health issues, he could be a drunk or an abuser.

"I don't want to hurt you, but you should know you raised a selfish daughter who doesn't know how to sacrifice for others. I'm sorry," I apologized and walked out of the room without sparing her a glance.

"Inaya!!" Mother yelled in the hallway. I ignored her and continued walking. "Then you leave me no choice." I turned to see what she was talking about.

My soul almost left my body when I saw Mother place a knife to her wrist, "You have to choose today."

"Mother!!!" I yelled and it brought some attention to us.

"Chloe!! What madness is this?" One of our relatives asked.

"I just want my daughter to choose, or else I will kill myself right here and right now." Tears rolled down Mother's eyes.

I'm sure Father made her do this; there was no way Mother would try to manipulate me this way. What did Father tell her to convince her?

"Mother, we already talked about this," I furrowed my brow as I took sluggish steps towards her, "You don't need to act this way."

"You shouldn't tell me how to act," Mother said, "I just want you to fulfill just one thing for me, it will give you a very happy life, I'm your mother I will never make the wrong choice for you."

"It wasn't about the wrong choice, I'm not ready to be married, that's too much on me," I couldn't even tell her that I might be pregnant.

"Okay then," I guess you have made your choice, "I don't deserve to live if I can't give my daughter a better life."

Everything happened so fast that the next thing we saw was blood dripping from Mother's wrist, "Mom, what have you done?"

"Honey," Father ran to hold Mother in his arms, "Call the doctor."

"Don't..." Mom held Father's shirt weakly, "Don't.... Let... me just die."

"Mom!" I yelled, "You are losing blood."

"When..... I die, please allow my Inaya to bury me, allow my Inaya to be at the front carrying my coffin," Tears rolled down Mother's face.

"Get any doctor!!!" Alex yelled to no one in particular.

"Allow me to die," Mother cried, "At least I will die knowing my daughter loved me."

Why was she like that? I'm sure Father put her up to this. Why was he doing this? If it were Father in this situation, I wouldn't even bat an eye, but it was Mother, I can't allow anything to happen to her.

"What are you doing standing there? Make a decision!" Father shouted as if his life depended on it.