Irony...

The long break had long began, and for some reasons peace had reigned in Sarah's home. The house was peaceful or you could call it silent. Every one locked up in their own rooms, occasionally seeing each other during meals.

The silence was interrupted by occasional loud chattering from the girl's room. Their short lived laughter were loud and disturbing. When they realized they had made too much noise, they giggled and continued with their phones.

This few weeks had been filled with stories and sweet tales about boys and friends and barely about studies. They enjoyed each other's company.

Another usual outburst of laughter echoed down the stairs, into Sarah's ears in the kitchen. She was preparing for the arrival of her husband from his six months business trip as he called it. She had refused help from her children, afraid they might end up poisoning the food. That was how irrational Sarah could get.

Sarah was a soft, yet very strong lady. When it came to emotions she wasn't that strong. Through the years she had developed a very terrible attachment to her husband. She wouldn't do anything without his permission. She wouldn't be blamed, she was blinded by love, or was it love.

Sarah shook her head, to shake off the irritating voices of her giggling daughters. She couldn't get annoyed, at least not now. She had to look her best, as wrinkles appeared on face when ever she was mad or pissed off.  She quickly dished out the fried rice and grilled chicken in to a fancy pot like plate. It was massive and fully decorated with gold toppings. She brought out the red velvet cake from the oven and carried it out to the dining table. She had gone all out for her husband. Food for a king.

In a matter of seconds, Sarah was up in her room getting ready for his arrival. She slid up a body huge red dress. Her curves still very obvious, Ann got hers from her mum. She pulled up her hair in a bun and did her usual light make up. She was radiant. Her skin was still smooth but little traces of old age graced the skin on her palms. But in all she was beautiful.

The girls looked at the time and almost immediately their smiles disappeared. They too had to get ready for his arrival. With heavy sighs, they nodded to themselves, supporting each other with their smiles, they got to their feet. Ann put on her usual track shorts and a simple top, combed her hair and she was good to go. She was not one to play dress up for a man, and the man was their dad. She never had regard for him anyways, and she didn't fail to show it.

On the other hand. Angel was the obedient child. She had great regard for her dad, she did everything he wanted and how he wanted it. You would think she acted like a loyal pet when ever she was around him.

Ann had always envied how close Angel was with their dad. Their dad could do anything to make Angel happy, she was living in a self con in school that was highly expensive. She was made comfortable and she usually envied that. She knew she could not possible be as obedient as Angel. So she shoved off the thought, immediately as it comes.

While going through her clothes, a tear escaped from Angel's eyes and she immediately wiped it out. She held her head up, picked up her black turtle necked dress and went to the bathroom to change.

Ann had insisted on sharing the room with her, after her series of nightmares. Angel had fought against it, but her sister was adamant. Ann wanted to help her and was doing that. But she could never let Ann see her body, she never changed in front of Ann. And Ann was okay with that, she knew was actually intruding.

In a few minutes the family was downstairs, in the tastefully furnished sitting room. The celling was as far as heaven was from earth. The cushions were golden and the walls painted plain white. It was a kingly setting. They all sat down. Sarah stole deep glares at Ann, cursing her in her mind for putting on normal house clothes. She could have said something but she decided to keep her cool. She needed it. She just hissed at intervals.

Loud car horns filled the silent estate. It was persistent and wouldn't stop till a small man, ran out of a mini house in the large compound, he opened the gate and two luxurious cars rolled into the compound. A Huge man came out of the first, ran and opened the man for the owner of the house. A man dressed in a black suit, hopped out of the car. He removed his dark glasses and looked around the compound. Checking every inch with his deep havel eyes.

The little man, the gate man after closing the gate, ran towards him and bowed, greeting him in his local dialect.

"Onyeze!!! " he hailed him with his hands in the air, while stealing glances at the huge man as he reached for his brief case. The little man cheered louder cause something was going to drop. Something huge he had silently prayed.

"Okasiakasi" he hailed more, now jumping on his tiny feet, he was running out of words, so he eyed the huge man even more. A smile appeared on his face as the huge man threw a little Wan of naira notes on his head and then walked into the house. The gate man continued his praising, raining more blessings while, trying to pick up the notes that had flown away from his head. He ran after them. It was a funny sight.

The family stood, hands in front of them and head bowed, except for Ann, she still sat, pressing her phone, Gina's addiction had rubbed off on her. The man stood in front of his family and a smile appeared on his face, as his eyes rolled up and down his wife, a bigger smile appeared as he scanned Angel and nodded in approval.

A quick frown took over his smile as he's gaze met that of Ann, as she sat there, legs spread and eyes starring back at him. She was the only one that could do that in that whole house. The man dreaded her as well as she did him. He left the starring competition with the young girl and went ahead to hug his wife.

"Sarah"

"Raphael"

They hugged each other, or you can say, he was hugging her. Her hands were still straight, as she bowed.

"I'm  so happy you are back" ignoring that, he let go of her and smiled down at her. Patted her shoulders and moved to Angel.

"Angel" Angel shook at the sound of her name but was quick to readjust her self. She had to be well behaved after all. She let him hug her and she melted in his embrace. I bet you it was not the romantic melting, there was something more. She force  a smile on her face and he smiled back too.

He moved over to where Ann was seated, and glared at her.

"Ann"

"Dad" she replied almost immediately with force. As if the words fought through her throat and finally made its out. He walked back to his wife and they continued their silent discussion which involved only their eyes. The girls moved up to their room.

*

"How dare you disrespect your father like that?" Sarah thundered as she bursted into the girl's room. Angel sat on the bed, still and toning out their raging mother.

Ann who knew the anger was directed at her stood with force as her mum stumped towards her. She had always tried getting used to her mother's rage, especially when it was going to be physically. Every time she shivered as her mum came closer. Fear filled her dark eyes as they searched for the love in her mother's eyes but they were no where to be found. Giving up she lowered her head.

"Are you mad?" Sarah was closer now, and a hard slap landed on her face. She fell on the floor, not of pain but of weakness. She was tired of being treated in that way, hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she remained face downed on the floor, at her mother's mercy.

Angel still couldn't look at their direction, but the sound of the slap had her jerked up, as she too felt tears roll down her cheeks. She was never one to challenge her mum or even anybody.

"Behave next time, little devil" Sarah look down at her child, hissed and walked out the room, shutting the door behind her.

And a deafening silence fell in the room as well as the whole house.

******************

"You won't do that" a gentle voice echoed from a  little house at the back of the main building. It was abandoned tho. It was located at an isolated part of the huge house. No one was allowed near it.

Ann had grew worried for her sister. Angel had left the room, all dressed up as if she was going on a date. She had inquired about the new man in her life but Angel was silent. She just left.

Bored, Ann decided to take a walk round the house, and yet again she caught herself listening to a discussion she shouldn't be listening to.

"She needs to be tamed." A husky voice followed.

"You can't." the tiny voice came out strong this time. But after a few seconds, "Please. Leave her alone." the voice sounded defected.

"I won't have that" the man's voice, shook the house.

"Please, I am begging you. I am enough for you. Please."

"She's ripe." the man voice sounded dismissing. He was actually not listening to the pleading voice. He had made his decision.

A/N: the drama thickens.
I promised Myself that this book won't be long, and I think am going to stick to that.

So what do u guys think about this chapter?

Tanks for reading👀❤️❤️❤️