Mabel.

“If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

“I have something to say.” A lady on a wheelchair raised her hand . “Actually, I have a lot to say.” Mabel said with a smirk on her face.

Officer Thompson switched on the tape recorder before asking the lady who was on wheelchair to tell her story. He wanted to ask the young man who was pacing in the interrogation room to wait outside but he decided not to. The man's wedding had just been crashed by his fiancée who had been missing for a while so he probably had a lot going on in his head right now.

“Go on.” the officer said.

“It all started some few months back when Desmond called and told me he wanted to come have dinner with his dad. I had asked him why the rush and he explained to me that his dad might most likely get him someone else to marry if I didn't show up for the dinner.”

“Okay?”

“Well I went for the dinner and it turned out great. His dad loved me and gave us his blessing. Desmond later called me that night and said his dad had promised to call his friend and tell him the marriage between Desmond and his daughter weren't going to work out. I had thought everything was settled until I was kidnapped from my home.”

“Well do you know who kidnapped you and why?” the officer asked.

“At first I didn't, but then I was taken to an abandoned building where Desmond new bride to be was waiting for me, she ordered them to beat the hell out of me until I stopped breathing. A stranger found me where they had dumped me and had taken me to a hospital. Luckily for me, there was no permanent damage done. The doctor said I will be back on my feet in a few weeks from now.”

Desmond couldn't believe his ears. Amanda had been behind the disappearance of Mabel all this while and she said nothing?

Desmond could remember how he had searched for days for the whereabout of Mabel and came out with nothing. In as much as he didn't want to, he couldn't help but blame his dad for all of this. If his dad hadn't given Amanda the impression that his son would get married to her, she wouldn't have done all of this. Desmond could remember clearly the very night his dad had called him into his room to talk about Amanda.

---

“Do you know who she is?” Chief said, handing a picture of a young beautiful lady to him.

“Yes dad. She's the daughter of your friend, Chief Ferdinand.”

The Chief smiled. “Isn't she beautiful?”

“I guess. Why are you showing me her picture dad?”

“Well it's because me and her father had agreed to get you two married, so that our two companies can come together as one.” the chief replied, the smile still on his face.

Desmond was confused. He didn't know if his father was pulling his legs or if he was being serious.

“What? I have a fiancée.”

“You do?” The old man asked surprised. “How come you haven't said anything about her or even brought her home for dinner?”

“I was planning to.”

The old man sighed. “So you can't do this for your old man?”

“If I had been single dad, maybe I would have dad but I'm in love with Mabel and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”Desmond said before walking out of the room.

“So do you want to press charges.” the voice of the officer brought Desmond back to reality.

“Yes I do. I've gathered enough evidence against her these past few months and I want to make sure she ends up behind bars.” Mabel replied.

Officer Thompson sighed and switched off the tape recorder. “Alright ma'am, that will be all for now. We will keep in touch.” he shook both of them before exiting the room. He knew they both needed time to themselves and they didn't even wait for him to close the door before they both fell into each other's arms.

---

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