Chapter 4

A lady on a red fish tailed dress with a lot of opening at the back of the dress and long slit from the bust down to her stomach. Was seen seated at the edge of a king-size bed in a pink decorated room. She held her phone with a gloomy face

After Lora Lan got dressed for the occasion she sat at the edge of the bed dialling a number but the receiver kept rejecting it, not giving up she kept dialling the number.

Not until a knock came in.

Out of frustration, she shouted, "come in!!!"

"Mother it's you," Lora said

"You are ready... Why are you not out yet" Loreen said

"I am waiting for brother Charles... He is my date for tonight" Lora said happily

"Your engagement with him will be announced today," Loreen said feeling ecstatic

Lora immediately leapt for joy,  she was Soo happy because she has waited a long time for today, the day her engagement to Charles will be announced

Lora is the adopted daughter of Loreen and her late husband, ever since she was brought into the Lan family she has always been betrothed to him but Charles has always seen and taken her as his younger sister but the case is different when it comes to Lora as she considers him her future husband so when she got the news her engagement to Charles will be announced today she was ecstatic.

"Really mother... I have waited for years for this... Right from the onset... But I don't think he will be happy about it ... He considers me his sister and I think he has another woman" Lora said feeling depressed

"Well, I don't acknowledge any other woman aside you... If there is just like the other woman we will drive her out of his life" Loreen said with an evil smile on her face

"Ok mother I trust you"

While they were chatting happily a knock came in

"Ma'am young master has arrived"

Lora leapt for joy, she was so happy

"Mother did you hear that... He is here... He is finally here... Come on mother let's go down" Lora said happily

"Are you that happy?"

"Of course mother... Mother, please check me out... How do I look?" Lora asked smiling from ear to ear as she kept staring at herself

"You look beautiful... Beautiful" Loreen complimented

..........

When they got to the mansion admired it with her mouth open

"Oh my goodness!!! So such a place do exist... This mansion is precisely a castle... Look how huge it is... I was such a fool to have thought Brian's mansion is the largest in the world... Just how rich is this man" Amanda thought with her eyes widely open trying to regain her composure.

"Shut your mouth, Amanda... Behave yourself" Charles warned

"I am sorry Charles... I have never seen a house this huge... I Can't believe I am stepping into a castle... Can I hit you? Maybe I can regain my composure

"Childish" he replied

Amanda and Charles walked in hand in hand like a loving couple, all eyes were glued on them, there aura and temperament suited each other

One was cold and domineering, he had no expression on his face like always, one could hardly tell his thoughts, he exuded this aura of danger and coldness, his resolute and cold handsome face was as perfect as God's blessing on the human race. He was like a god a monarch who descended from heaven.

While the other had a good and calm temperament she exuded this aura of meekness and also kindness she is the absolute opposite of her partner standing next to her

People were not only focused on there aura but also on their good looks as they were not to be underestimated, they were both the most handsome and beautiful in the banquet some people also had the looks of surprise, shock written on their faces because that's the first time the young master of Lan cooperation is bringing a date to a banquet after the disappearance of his ex-fiancee.

When they stepped in others stopped to check their selves and dresses

Charles took Amanda upstairs to meet grandma Karen, the oldest in the Lan family.

The moment grandma Karen saw Amanda she fell in love with her, from her smile to the way she talks and comports herself, to her Sense of humour grandma Karen just love this new granddaughter of hers.

"Where did you get this lady, Charles... I love her" grandma Karen said with eyes filled with praises

"She is my wife grandma" Charles commented

"She is your wife... This is the best gift I received today... Well, I am satisfied with her I love her... I am satisfied with my birthday present"

Grandma Karen brought out a beautiful bracelet from a well-designed box as she tries to put it on Amanda's wrist who pulled out her hands immediately.

"I am sorry grandma Karen that bracelet looks expensive I can't accept it," Amanda said

"Please accept this you remind me of my young age... Please accept it so I won't feel bad" Grandma Karen persist

Amanda looked up to meet the eyes closed of Charles who gave her a sign of approval.

Amanda accepted the black tennis diamond bracelet.

The solid 16kt white gold bracelet has interlocking links containing 40 full-cut diamonds. The brilliant diamond is pong set 3,00 carats total weight and have a wonderful clarity of s12-l1. The bracelet is durable and lays beautifully on Amanda's wrist.

"Thank you, Grandma," Amanda said sincerely 

"Grandma you will have to excuse us," Charles said

But was told to go alone as she wanted to chat with her new granddaughter

"One more thing grandma, please keep this between us, I will tell the rest of the family tomorrow," Charles asked.

After Charles dropped that statement he made his way downstairs to greet the other guests as there were a lot of dignitaries present, on his way down he met Lora who kept tugging at him

"Brother Charles" Lora greeted happily

But was ignored by Charles, not minding his cold shoulder as she has gotten used to it she continued chattering

"Mom said our engagement will be announced today," Lora said happily

"What was that" Charles asked filled with surprise

Her statement made him stop in his tracks

"Mom said our engagement will be announced today" Lora repeated her statement

Charles immediately got rid of Lora to look for his mother.

......

After a long chat with Grandma Karen Amanda made her way to the garden in other to receive fresh air as she needed it.

After standing for a while she felt a pair of two sharp blades shooting at her,  she turned and scanned her surrounding but saw no one.

Amanda decided to work further a little bit far away from the noise of the banquet as she needed some time alone, but the more she walked the more she felt someone was trailing her but the moment she checks she found out there was no one

Amanda got to an open-air where there was no one but her

"This is what I want..." Amanda thought 

"Hey beautiful"Amanda's thought was cut short by the voice of a man who startled her

"Who are you... You scared me" Amanda said like a frightened cat

"I am sorry... My name is Samuel... Nice to meet you Amanda" Samuel said

"I got the news that you are Charles wife," Samuel said with a smirk

"It's good you know... You won't want to try anything stupid" Amanda warned

"Don't be paranoid Amanda I came to introduce myself... You will be needing my help soon... until then my name is Samuel, he said as he made to leave but all of a sudden he stopped in his tracks

"Don't go any further it is dangerous" Samuel warned

After dropping those words Samuel left without turning back, feeling scared Amanda followed  as she went back to the banquet were she found Charles who has been in search for her

"Where were you," Charles asked angrily

"I am sorry Charles I went out to receive some fresh air" Amanda quickly cleared the air.

"Do not move around... Stay put... Where my eyes can reach you it is dangerous out here" Charles warned.

Feeling hungry Amanda went to the food section as she picked some desserts and freshly made drink to accompany it, she went to a quiet place at the side of the banquet to enjoy herself.

Halfway through the meal, she saw a shadow of a man standing in front of her, Amanda quickly raised her head thinking it was Charles but her hope was shattered when she saw a strange face.

"Not the person you are expecting?" He said

"Yes" Amanda replied not looking up as she continues to enjoy her dessert

"I like it... You are straight forward" He said

"Forgive my manners my name is Michael Lan" 

"You are also a Lan," Amanda asked with a lot of food stuffed in her mouth

Amused by her expression he went on to reply

"Of course I am, you are quite amusing"

"Oh" Amanda replied

"This is the first time I saw my brother bring a lady to a banquet," Michael said

"Isn't it a good thing"

The both of them chatted happily with loud laugh unknown to them all there action was caught by eyes like that of a hawk.

"By the way, I love your birthmark... It is beautiful" Michael complemented

"Wow, you are the first I am hearing that from... Thanks for the compliment"

After a while of discussing Michael left to attend to guest while Amanda continued in her adventure of searching for dessert

"The rich are something... How could they ignore these sweet desserts for fake smile and kisses" Amanda pouted

While she was about picking a dessert, her hands stopped mid-air, she felt her arm tighten as it was being held by a strong force.

Amanda knitted her brows together as a result of the pain she felt on her wrist. 

She raised her head with displeasure to a fat man with a big stomach and a brown tooth. Being disgusted by him, she tried getting rid of him but she couldn't. His arm on hers was too strong.

Others couldn't interfere as he is one of the special guests of the Lan family and the dining is located a little bit far from the main banquet and little people could be seen around.

His name is Mr Liu, people were a bit scared of him because he is one of the top five richest men in basin city, even the Lan family accord him with respect. 

"You are a beautiful lady... Just spend the night with me... I will pay you well" Mr Liu said

With a look of disdain, Amanda said"You are disgusting... Let go of me... I am not interested"

But her words fall into deff ears as he kept pulling her out of the dining hall whenever she resists he just pulls her hair and she complies.

Unable to pull her anymore he called his guards to help him out.

Amanda kept praying in her little heart for Charles to find her. She is not always like this, ever since she met Charles she noticed some changes in her. She always finds a solution to her problem anytime but right now she is secretly calling on him, she does hate this feeling as it makes her weak and she hates being weak.

"You took the wrong lady Mr Liu," 

"Finally the magnetic voice I have been waiting for, my saviour is finally here," Amanda thought to herself

"No, I didn't Mr Charles... She is my catch for this night"Liu replied with his brown set of teeth

"The lady your men are mistreating is my wife... You wouldn't want to get on my bad side" Charles said with a face like that of a devil, in that instant his usually cool face became ugly and red from anger.

Anyone close to him will have to watch their every breath and steps as everywhere turned cold, even Mr Liu got intimidated by his present look but it lasted for a while as he got back his usual demeanour 

"She's just a woman... Give her to me it is just a one night stand and...

Mr Liu's words were cut short by a heavy fist to his face which got him on the floor

"You were saying," Charles said as he drew close to him

Not feeling satisfied with the first blow he went on in destroying his face as he kept on feeding him multiple punches.

Whenever Charles is at rage they just allow him to do whatever he wants to do to vent so no one dared to stop him.

Once Amanda got freed by the help of Charles men she ran to him trying to stop him... But he refused to listen to her

Mr Liu's face already got destroyed, if he carries on he will end up killing him because of her Amanda thought to herself

"Please stop it Charles I beg of you," Amanda said to him